The Seattle music scene had quite a good year in 2010. This meant there wasn’t a shortage of topics, or news items, for chroniclers of the scene like us here at Guerrilla Candy to write about. From Shabazz Palaces making an unforgettable public debut at Neumos to the hype-heavy Head and the Heart winning over thousands of fans, there was rarely a dull week of 2010 for those invested in the local music scene. So in case you weren’t paying attention, here’s a recap of the year that was for Seattle music:
- Jan. 01: Soundgarden announces reunion plans
Okay, so it was officially announced on Dec. 31, 2009 via Chris Cornell’s Twitter, but the old media folks are slow to pick up on this whole social networking thing (it’s a fad, right?) and nobody pays attention to the news cycle around the holidays anyawy. - Jan. 08: Shabazz Palaces public debut
It lived up to every iota of hype and The Stranger called it the concert of the year. - Jan. 21: Mad Rad returns to Capital Hill
Hispsters from all over the Hill rejoice as the ban on their favorite party band is lifted.
- Feb. 15: Sasquatch! launch party at the Crocodile happens
Surfer Blood headlines the show announcing the Sasquatch! lineup but doesn’t play Sasquatch! Another Sasquatch! launch party is expected to happen again next year. - Feb. 17: Hard Rock Seattle opens
Finally, a place in Seattle where you can pay $20 for a cheeseburger, see live music and look at a Sean Kinney drum kit - Feb. 28: The Hootenanny for Haiti happens
Star Anna blows away a room of local music vets including Duff McKagan and Mike McCready, setting the stage for what should be a big 2011 for the Ellensburg native. The show also sets the stage for the Hootenanny for a Healthy Gulf which was held two days before Bumbershoot.
- March 01: MTV’s $5 Cover: Seattle screens for the first time
Director Lynn Shelton’s love letter to the local music scene is a success, but MTV decides to shelve it for nine months. - March 06: Great Waves wins Sound Off!
The youthful battle of the bands gets a folksy five-piece from Sammamish for champions. - March 26: The Crocodile turns one
The new Croc celebrates successfully paying one year of rent.
- April 11: The Head and the Heart debut
And shortly thereafter sign a deal with Sub Pop. Okay, so it didn’t happen that fast, but man did they explode this year. - April 14: Brad and Friends show features reunion of Mother Love Bone
It was a big year for Shawn Smith who played a couple of Hootenannies, released two records with different bands and fronted a reunited Mother Love Bone. - April 16: Soundgarden plays its first reunion show
It was only one of three chances to see a Soundgarden show that was open to the public in 2010, which was sort of cool but also really, really lame. - May 08: The Gorge Amphitheatre gets a new stage
Sorry Live Nation, but that new stage really does ruin the view - May 14: SPJ honors Ear Candy
Once upon a time there was a music blog called Ear Candy and it was named best specialized blog in a five-state region by the Society of Professional Jouranlists … twice. - May 18: Capitol Hill Block Party organizers announce plans for a three-day festival
Local music fans say “yes please” while local music journalist groan “my feet are going to kill me
- May 29-31: Sasquatch! 2010 happens
Sadly, there was no one-man dance party - June 16: Mayor Mike McGinn’s nightlife plan is announced
Expanded late night public transit and staggered last calls throughout the city sound like good ideas to me.
June 25: Columbia City Theatre reopens
Finally the south end of town has its own beautiful room for music. - June 25: Malfunkshun: The Andrew Wood Story screens
The pre-grunge icon gets his due with this documentary which is set for worldwide release on DVD next year.
- July 23-25: Capitol Hill Block Party happens
As predicted Dead Weather were a perfect headliner and my feet were very, very sore. - Aug. 5: City Arts Fest is announced
The first year fest gets Big Boi, Gogol Bordello, Belle and Sebastian, Cat Power and She & Him to headline - Aug. 18: Ear Candy gets shut down
This listing doesn’t have a hyperlink because Ear Candy was shut down. Didn’t you read the bullet point? - Aug. 19: Seattle Weekly’s Reverb Fest is announced
More than sixty local bands in Ballard in one day? Yes, please. - Sept. 2: Shabazz Palaces signs to Sub Pop
The two SP’s join forces. Look for Shabazz to have a big 2011. - Sept. 6-8: Bumbershoot happens
To everyone’s surprise Courtney Love doesn’t break down on the main stage. To no one’s surprise Courtney Love flashes her crotch to a room full of journalists.
- Oct. 6: The Second annual City of Music Awards happes
Brandi Carlile, Clarence Acox, Scott Bowman and Gerard Schwarz are honored - Oct. 9: Seattle Weekly’s Reverb Festival happens
It really should’ve just been called Hobosexual Fest because damn they were good. - Oct. 14: EMP announces Nirvana exhibit
Move over Northwest Passage and make way for Nirvana - Oct. 17: Guerrilla Candy officially launches in beta mode
That’s right, I still consider this beta mode. - Oct. 20-23: City Arts Fest happens
All the fun of a festival without days filled with hopping between stages.
Oct. 25 Andy Kotowicz dies - The Sub Pop exec left a major mark on indie music.
- Nov. 4: Pearl Jam announces a live album for 2011 to celebrate 20 years as a band
Also in the works: Reissues of Vs and Vitalogy and a possible Pearl Jam festival. - Nov. 18: Sasquatch! 2011 details emerge
You’re getting four days, Foo Fighters and about 80 other bands in 2011. - Nov. 30: STG announces plans to make the Neptune Theatre a music venue
The balcony of the Atlantis-themed historic U District venue should make for a cool bar. - Dec. 15: MTV’s $5 Cover: Seattle formally goes public
Now you can learn about the 2009 local music scene at the end of 2010! - Dec. 15: Mayor McGinn announces a proposal for KEXP to live at Seattle Center
The mayor pays back the support he’s received from the music community. The downside? Expect plenty more pledge drives. - Dec. 15: The Head and the Heart sign to Sub Pop
It’s still not official, but lots of other blogs have confirmed the worst kept secret in Seattle music.
