Hollow Earth Radio Showcases Local Favorites at the Black Lodge

 

March is an exciting time in Seattle. Not only do the rainy days lessen (if only slightly) and we get more frequent reminders of the that fact that we’re surrounded by some pretty great mountains, but local community radio station Hollow Earth Radio is host to Magma Fest – a month long showcase of up and coming musicians, local and national alike. The radio station, who is currently in the application process of getting a low power FM dial, puts on a series of shows throughout the month giving us a kind of overwhelming amount of options and opportunities for new live music.

Perhaps the most drawing show of this year’s was Friday, March 9, at the Black Lodge featuring Dude York and La Luz (shown above).  Whether riding the impassioned radio wave of Magma Fest or of the showcased bands’ rising popularity, the Black Lodge was awhirl with a youthful and attentive crowd. It was all too fitting for a community radio station to put on such a community show. There was a bake sale, volunteers running around the crowd selling raffle tickets and between-set endearingly shameless plugs for the station, in a fashion I can only imagine would make community radio pioneer Lorenzo Milam (founder of Seattle’s KRAB radio back in the ‘60s) proud. If the vibe of the show wasn’t enough on its own, the station couldn’t have put together a better night of local music.

Dude York played a set of dream poppy tunes that seemed almost to clean and pure for the Black Lodge but were nonetheless a thriving example of how well-crafted music can excel live and recorded avenues alike.  Even if you hadn’t heard any of the group’s music before, the set was engaging and distinguished. Then came La Luz. It is so wildly refreshing to see a group of women playing garage surf-rock – and playing it well. La Luz’s grim ambience was all too fitting for the Black Lodge in its dim and cozy splendor. The energy of the crowd had been steadily growing throughout the night (maybe slightly aided by the venue’s BYOB policy) and despite La Luz’s generally subdued musical styling, the band’s on stage energy matched that of the crowd’s. 

Local acts Detective Agency and Weird Bug opened for Dude York and La Luz. Both sets aptly contributed to a night that not only showcased great local acts, but also reinforced Seattle’s unbridled support of this established local music community. Well played be all, well danced by all, well done by all.

Visit Hollow Earth Radio here.