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Mt Fog | Saturday, February 4
Seattle’s own Mt Fog describes her music as “forest folktronica,” evoking the push-and-pull relationship between the natural and the inorganic. Truly, it’s easy to listen to Mt Fog and imagine the swirling synths, insistent beats, and alien vocals reverberating around a misty Pacific Northwest wood. Mt Fog is the work of Carolyn B., an artist whose adventurous, elastic vocal style hit the sweet spot for fans of Bjork or Joanna Newsom, serving as the perfect accompaniment for her largely minimalistic electronica. Her voice phases in and out of recognition, warping and wrapping itself around chiming keyboards.
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While her sound may be otherworldly, though, Mt Fog keeps her feet firmly planted on the ground, as evidenced on songs like “Waiting Through These Years,” lamenting that the drudging obligations of everyday life interfere with an idealized existence of purpose – that getting a job doesn’t always give one the time or resources to save the planet. On February 4, Mt Fog will sweep through ALMA, along with two other wildly unique voices: Maya Marie’s soulful, powerful voice rides high atop a bed of ragged rock ‘n’ roll; and Cullen Cochran recalls T. Rex’s Marc Bolan by way of nocturnal, jazz-inflected psychedelia. This is a night of strong personalities – artists with styles as distinct as the seasons.
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Umi Wagoner’s Tacoma: Croissant Crescendos
Corina BakeryWhen it comes to pastries in the morning there aren’t very many independents you can go to that will provide both variety and quality. What usually happens is they have the quality but they sell out of everything before they even make it to the midday rush. As a small business owner it’s a good problem to have but as a consumer it can be devastating. There may be no worse feeling than thinking all day about the taste of a delicious treat and when you arrive it’s no longer there, it’s enough to make you skip your morning meetings to ensure to get that bite or slice of happiness to push you through a tough or busy day. If you can’t tell yet, I have been a victim of this. The other side of the coin is the cafe that only does one thing right, so every time it's the same thing and variety goes out the window. Corina’s really does both exceptionally well, what isn’t baked in house is sourced with intention and care and I usually learn about a company that I would want to be in the know about anyway.
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Umi Wagoner’s Tacoma: Italian Slices Tacoma Prices
APIZZANo one could have told Tacomans 5 years ago we would be on our way to having the best pizza selection in the South Sound. There was almost nothing around, there were the chains and possibly one or two moms and pops that serviced the neighborhood they were located but we did not have the pizza prowess we do today. Getting a slice is the easiest it’s ever been without going to the mall for something franchised and downtown Tacoma is leading the charge with the latest arrival - APIZZA.
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Make It To The Show: Snõõper 7/6
Look, I’m only human; you show me a band that’s as dedicated to oddness and spirited performance art as Snõõper is, and I’m bound to take notice. What began as a pure recording project between Nashville punk rocker Connor Cummins and animator/artist Blair Tramel eventually hit the stage in 2021. Suddenly Snõõper (the Project) gave birth to Snõõper (the Band) – which, yes, is how the duo distinguishes themselves. Sn õ õ per’s sound may be familiar to those who dug into the alt-rock underground of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s: hyperactive, punk-inflected tunes that roughly average around the one-minute mark, recorded in a quick-and-dirty way to cassette, with programmed drums and effects making the two-piece sound both bigger and less human.Tramel’s experience in art, as well as her history in early education, makes Snõõper a magnet for puppetry. Sure enough, their videos and performances are packed with handcrafted props and papier mache characters. Now that the duo has expanded to have an actual live band accompanying them, they seem to have even more freedom to let their freak flags fly. More than ever, they are able to access their sonic forefathers in Devo to create the most energetic blast of art-rock imaginable.Alma Venue:Thursday July 6thSnõõper, w/ Forty Feet Tall, MuñecaAll Ages, Doors at 7pm, Show at 8pm, $15ticketsinstagram
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Make It To The Show: Rocky Sandoval
Rocky Sandoval | Friday, March 24There are certain qualities that just can’t be teached. In hip-hop, things like flow, rhythmic complexity, and lyrical finesse can be learned and honed over time. But, then, there are those intangibles that come fully formed in artists – smoothness, for instance. A sense of poise and ease with words is one of things that just comes baked-in with some emcees. For a nearby example, we can look at the Tacoma-based Rocky Sandoval. Blending hip-hop and R&B, Sandoval has his finger on the pulse of what will get listeners up and moving, seamlessly blending storytelling with the kind of club-ready production that creates a concoction so intoxicating that you may be incapable of resisting that sexy vibe.