Fine Prince: Eighties all Over, with a Bittersweet Twist

By Tony Kay | September 12, 2019

Somewhere around the middle of the eighties, pop evolved from the synthesized sparseness of Kraftwerk, early OMD and Depeche Mode, into a glossier, bigger style that was, in its own way, distinctly American.  Production became bigger and more epic, with keyboard hooks of Sistine Chapel-level spectacle and sparkle, gated and mechanized drums, and hooks that…

Read More

Hotels Bring Unknown Pop Pleasures to Conor Byrne Friday

By Tony Kay | July 25, 2017

Conor Byrne, that beloved Ballard pub normally informed by folk and Americana, becomes a hotbed of noir-informed musical intrigue Friday night. Seattle band Hotels takes to the stage, and I won’t mince words: You really should go. Night Showers, the most recent release from the band, wound up being one of my most cherished album…

Read More