Unsmashable Records

East Portland Blog reprint- Tommy Keene show 1/28

2012-02-03T11:19:00.000-08:00

Tommy Keene – The Parson Red Heads – The Riffbrokers – Jan. 28 – The Sunset, Seattle, By Steve Stav

By admin, on February 3rd, 2012

Tommy Keene - Sunset Tavern, Seattle 1/28/2012. Photo by Steve Stav. All rights reserved.
Seattle maintains an open marriage with roots music, and has been noted for its dalliances with grunge and hip-hop. However, the Jet City has held pop music — jangle-pop, folky pop, avant-garde pop, power-pop — dear to its heart for quite some time. It’s a reliable mistress.

Seatown seemed a fitting stop, then, for eternal guitar wunderkind Tommy Keene on a week-long jaunt up the coast coast. On a Saturday night at the city’s most pop-revering establishment, and sandwiched between two top-notch acts, one of the country’s most under-exposed great talents delivered a speaker-rattlling tutorial on how a pop-rock show should sound and feel like.

The Riffbrokers, Sunset Tavern, Seattle 1/28/2012. Photo by Steve Stav. All rights reserved.
Hailing from the Crenshaw/Costello/Lowe school, lyric craftsman Nick Millward and his band, The Riffbrokers, were a logical pick among the dozen or more bands that could have suitably kicked off the evening’s festivities at the Sunset Tavern.

Acknowledging the presence of greatness, The Americana-accented Riffbrokers brought their “A++” game, interspersing some of their best material among offerings from their new EP, The Green Key Will Let You In. Longtime friend and Seattle music veteran Chris Cline had been recently added on second guitar, and a perfectly seasoned sense of melody and “place” was evident in his playing. A nice addition to a perenially promising, yet underdog outfit whose salad days are still ahead.

The Parson Red Heads - Sunset Tavern, Seattle 1/28/2012. Photo by Steve Stav. All rights reserved.
It takes big stones to follow an icon on a bill; Portland’s Parson Red Heads proved within a matter of minutes that they possess enormous talent, as well. Still touring on the strength of their Mitch Easter-engineered, Chris Stamey-produced 2011 album, Yearling, this quartet defies easy comparisons like a leadoff hitter battling a junkball pitcher. With an emphasis on harmonies and impressive, but never-flashy fretwork, the group echoes turn-of-the-70s folk-pop while remaining entirely genuine — and providing room for rocking beyond the genre.

And it was so effortless, the Red Heads’ set on this night. They’ve had years of practice, but the songs — well-crafted, compelling stuff — nonetheless spilled off the stage as if the band was sitting around a campfire. Frontman Evan Way has the sort of voice that really sticks with you, and the Red Heads exude the sort of warmth that’s impossible to not get sucked into. Altogether a great performance by a band that’s been places, but is headed for loftier elevations.

In between such memorable performances, Tommy Keene lit the place on fire. Arriving in a cab shortly before showtime, battling a nasty flu, the 40-year music veteran played as if he were at a command performance in a concert hall.

A concert hall with some minor technical difficulties, that is. After a few buzzes, squeals and adjustments early on, the sound pumping off the stage got better and impossibly better as Keene’s set progressed.

Tommy Keene - Sunset Tavern, Seattle 1/28/2012. Photo by Steve Stav. All rights reserved.
And progress he did, through a less-than-an-hour blaze of glory that presented staples such as “Turning On Blue,” “Back To Zero” and the calling card, “Places That Are Gone” to a crowd peppered with equal numbers of curiosity seekers, admirers and diehard fans.

“Diehard fans” might be an insufficient term for those in Tommy Keene’s cult of followers. A fellow staked out his place at the lip of the stage well in advance, his Baltimore Orioles cap representing shared roots in Maryland — where Keene was a top draw on the greater D.C. circuit before landing a major label deal in the early 1980s. Between songs, a woman in the crowd proclaimed her adoration, adding that she’d seen Keene open for the Style Council in ’84; it was rumored that a contingent of fans had flown cross-country for the occasion.

Backed by longtime Keene bassist Brad Quinn, along with Rob Brill (who was drumming in Berlin about the time Keene was opening for the Style Council), one of rock’s most under-appreciated storytelling guitarists concentrated on new material from the fabulous Behind The Parade album.

Second guitarist Jon Brill assisted Keene in transforming “Nowhere Drag‘s” tumultuous coda into a full-blown maelstrom (wow, what a song, it should be his new calling card); the twin-guitar attack continued with the aforementioned “Places” and upped the ante during an old Keene standby, a ferocious cover of Lou Reed’s “Kill Your Sons.” As the number — and his set — drew to a close, the singer hopped off the stage and riffed among the fans as far as his amplifier’s tether would allow.

The notion of “it doesn’t get much better than this,” was doubtlessly floating through a number of noggins as the lights went up and the crowd began to sort itself out. Within minutes, as cigarettes were lit in the chilly air out on the sidewalk, the other commonly held thought, “Why isn’t Tommy Keene a major star?” began to be ritually discussed.

It was a very good question.

– Steve Stav

Riffbrokers release new EP!

2012-01-28T08:03:00.000-08:00

The Green Key Will Let You In by The Riffbrokers

The Riffbrokers' new EP is a thought-provoking dessert served less than a year after the Seattle band's critically praised 2011 full-course, Every Pilot's Blinded By The Sun, hit the shelves.

Produced by the group's longtime comrade Johnny Sangster, Green Key marks the entry of former Evangeline and Low Land High guitarist Chris Cline into the Riffbrokers camp. Cline's distinctive, melodic guitar stylings punctuate frontman Nick Millward's gritty vocals throughout the EP's tracks, while Barb Hunter (Cobirds Unite, Visqueen) places her haunting cello in the center of "Cowboy Film."

Yes, haunting. Green Key proves to be a spell-casting departure, a contemplative diversion from the Americana-based power-pop the Riffbrokers are better known for. However, the band re-embraces their signature — in spades — with the EP's blistering and appropriately titled finale, "Reentry."

New Riffbrokers promo shots by Niffer Calderwood

2012-01-20T09:21:00.000-08:00

2012 Riffbrokers schedule

2012-01-17T16:50:00.000-08:00

Riffbrokers to open for Tommy Keene Jan.28

2012-01-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

The Riffbrokers are opening for Tommy Keene, LA powerpop icon at the Sunset Tavern in Ballard Sat. Jan. 28, '12.

show details, click here

Two Great Upcoming shows

2011-09-25T06:03:00.000-07:00

High Dive 513 N 36TH IN FREMONT, SEATTLE
SKYLARK 3803 DELRIDGE WY SW , WEST SEATTLE

UR 8th Anniversary Show

2011-09-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

Come see a host of UR bands celebrate 8 years of going nowhere fast, and Nick's 40th B-day. Hearts Are Thugs arise from the ashes of The Small Change. Also special Portland guests Have You Seen Julian?

Cool Beans!

2011-07-20T06:45:00.000-07:00

Espresso stand on I-5 near Stanwood, WA

Glad Girls, South Sound Bureau Chiefs Sat. July 16 @ Comet Tavern

2011-07-11T17:40:00.001-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/nmillward3#!/event.php?eid=110248019071025

Absolute Powerpop review of Riffbrokers EPBBTS

2011-06-13T06:21:00.000-07:00

The Riffbrokers-Every Pilot's Blinded by the Sun. Seattle's Riffbrokers are back with their fifth full-length, and it's more of the same no-nonsense power pop/classic rock that they have become masters at. Their sound is equal parts Tom Petty and The Replacements with a dash of Exile-era Stones thrown in, and the rocking "Better Angels" is the definitive proof of this amalgam. Nick Millward has just the right voice for this style of rock, and his bandmates provide a killer rhythm section. No bad tracks here, but more equal than others are the rocker "Mindset", the soulful "Calling All The Charlatans" and the catchy album closer "Thank You". No, thank you, Riffbrokers, for keeping the rock flame burning. http://absolutepowerpop.blogspot.com/

Dagger Zine Riffbrokers' review

2011-06-06T05:50:00.000-07:00

The Riffbrokers
EVER PILOT’S BLINDED BY THE SUN- (UNSMASHABLE)- This is this Seattle band’s 5th release and is yet another strong effort. For about a decade now, they have consistently delivered their uncompromising brand of garage/power pop with one solid release after another. This LP is no exception .It’s a fine collection of thoughtful songs by one of roots rocks most underrated acts. With an almost total disregard for fashion , the redoubtable Nick Millward and company forge on delivering their timeless brand of power twang. A lot of influences come to mind when listening to this record (Elvis Costello, The Jayhawks to name a couple). The Lyrics on this record are brilliantly understated and on songs like the poignant “Hard to Look At “ & “Please Forgive the Worst In Me” , Millward’s voice sounds like a whiskey filled, double pumper carburetor . He also once again wins indie rock’s annual Graham Parker Glass is Half Empty Trophy as he gripes on “Down from Down” the album’s third track, “ I’ve got more dirt than time now on my hands and I’m sadder than ten country western bands.” Although this release displays the band’s trademark first-rate songwriting, they also chose to lay down two souped up Gosdin Brother tunes to close out the album. Over the years this band has shuffled a few different players through the lineup, but the husband and wife team of Nick and Heather Millward continue to scratch out a place for themselves and march on with guitar straps around their necks and hearts on their sleeves. Most buzz bands don’t really deserve half the hype they get , The Riffbrokers do! www.unsmashablerecords.com DANIEL CRAIG
www.daggerzine.com

Coming Soon! New Dignitaries record on UR!

2011-05-18T05:26:00.001-07:00

Rocket Science, the debut album by Tacoma’s The Dignitaries, features
15 rip-roaring tracks that will positively give you the shakes.
Recorded at Egg Studios by the legendary Conrad Uno, Rocket Science is
a riff-heavy album that explores the highs and lows of a torrid love
affair. Rocket Science is packed full of great hooks (just like a
garage rock record should be!) and must be played loud for maximum
enjoyment.

New Riffbrokers CD Available on CDBaby

2011-05-11T02:45:00.001-07:00

2011-05-04T05:58:00.000-07:00

Every Pilot's Blinded By The Sun by The Riffbrokers

Riffbrokers CD release Fri. May 6- Sunset Tavern

2011-05-04T05:52:00.000-07:00

Labor Makes The World Run, Labor Runs The World

2011-03-26T11:56:00.000-07:00

Riffbrokers play Labor benefit April 1, '11 @ Comet

2011-03-26T11:54:00.001-07:00

Labor makes the world run

3/13/11
chorus:
Labor makes the world run, labor runs the world
cmon now sing it loud every boy and girl
labor makes the world run, makes it spin around-
wealth comes from the working class, it doesn't trickle down

Now fightin wars in other lands
will never keep us free
it's a dirty pair of hands
that builds prosperity
if you like running water and electricity
and roads to get around on,
it's not too hard to see..

rpt. Chorus

it's in the interest of the few
to make the rest believe
the myth the rich all got where they are
by rollin up their sleeves
it was the sleeves of other arms
that built those pyramids
and every rich man rests upon
the work that others did

Labor makes the world run, labor runs the world
cmon now sing it loud every boy and girl
labor makes the world run, makes it spin around-
wealth comes from the working class,
not the other way around..

New Crown Aruba cd!

2011-03-23T16:57:00.001-07:00

2011-03-18T07:43:00.001-07:00

2011-03-18T07:41:00.000-07:00

2011-03-08T07:24:00.000-08:00

Saturday March 12 8pm PST live on KEXP Fred Speakman and the Unsmashable Wrecking Crew- Toft, Maxwell, & Millwards. kexp.org

FREE Glad Girls EP download

2011-02-24T17:05:00.000-08:00

Free Download

2011-02-24T15:21:00.000-08:00

Free download of South Sound Bureau Chiefs CD

2011-02-06T12:41:00.000-08:00

Entire Riffbrokers catalog available for FREE DOWNLOAD

2011-01-26T17:22:00.000-08:00

Check out www.riffbrokers.bandcamp.com

2011-01-22T15:16:00.001-08:00

South Sound Bureau Chiefs new music

2011-01-14T11:00:00.000-08:00

SSBC will play Darrell's Tavern Sat. 3/5/11 with the Dignitaries and Girl Trouble

2011-01-12T10:29:00.001-08:00

2010-09-14T06:08:00.000-07:00

Riffbrokers, Small Change to play at Fastbacks Tribute

2010-08-24T06:47:00.000-07:00

2010-08-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

Glad Girls @ Slim's Last Chance 8/7

2010-08-02T17:25:00.001-07:00

I Love Myselfs, Tacoma 8/6/10

2010-08-02T17:20:00.001-07:00

A Tribute to the Kinks! benefit for MusiCares Fri. 7/30

2010-07-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

The Small Change, Glad Girls, and The Riffbrokers will be among bands playing one to two Kinks songs for a tribute night at the Sunset Tavern Fri. July 30th.
Proceeds will benefit MuisiCares.
MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community.

2010-07-17T14:29:00.001-07:00

2010-07-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

2010-05-27T05:41:00.000-07:00

Riffbrokers in Tacoma tonight

2010-05-01T11:19:00.000-07:00

Tacoma's Weekly Volcano sez:

The Riffbrokers would sound perfect on vinyl. They remind me of a band whose LP I'd pick up on a stop in a record shop - intrigued by their name and a couple song titles, never having heard them before. I'd bring The Riffbrokers home and listen alone on a rainy day - utterly blown away. Then I'd become slightly obsessed with the band for a couple months, telling all my friends about The Riffbrokers, and the band's sound combination of Creedence Clearwater Revival and REM, but with a singer who sounds like a more subdued Elvis Costello. When my friends would rebuff my offers to play them the record, I'd decide that this music wasn't meant for them anyway. I'd be happy to keep it my secret.

[The New Frontier Lounge, with The Lund Bros, Jones Family Fortune, 9 p.m., $5, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

Upcoming Shows- something in a Friday night..

2010-04-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

Fri.5/28/10 FREE South Sound Bureau Chiefs and Glad Girls play Skylark, W. Seattle,

on Fri. 6/25/10 The Riffbrokers will be playing with Red Jacket Mine at Tacoma's New Frontier Lounge

Fri. 7/23/10 Reunion Show! Young Sportsmen, Eccentric Souls, Eightball Break

Absolute Powerpop sez:

2010-03-04T07:02:00.001-08:00

Seattle's The Small Change is back with Every Line in My Head, their third disc and followup to their quality 2005 self-titled debut. They're on Unsmashable Records, and they're kindred spirits with labelmates The Doll Test and The Riffbrokers. In other words, hard-driving power pop with garage and British Invasion overtones. "From the East Coast" gets you right into things with a propulsive guitar riff that underlines their passionate rock sound, while "Droppin' Petals on the Way Down" has an Elvis Costello feel to it. "Downtown in a Restaurant" finds them taking no power pop prisoners, and the title track is 2:10 of first-rate garage rock. Also like The Doll Test, they're not afraid to tackle political themes as "Nothin' 2 Say" and "Yer Torturin' Me" attest, although the songs work as power pop and rock as well.

Small Change CD for sale here

2010-03-02T06:22:00.002-08:00

Small Change live Jan. 29, 2010

2010-02-25T05:36:00.001-08:00

2010-02-25T05:31:00.001-08:00

The Small Change - Every Line In My Head
(Unsmashable Records)
by QuitterDan

As the Needle hits the groove on "Every Line In My Head", the 3rd long player from Seattle's The Small Change, I can't help but feel excited that some new old sounds are resurging and hoping to overthrow the current status quo of indie rock. As the opening track "From the East Coast" fades in, there's an electricity to this band, and with hooks reminiscent of Elvis Costello, Early Bruce Springsteen & The Stiff records catalog circa 1978, You can't stop feeling great while listening to this! Following with pummeling precision, "Every Line In My Head" reminds me how incredible power pop still is, while "Droppin' Petals on the Way down", "Can't Dance Wicha Honey", "Celebrate" and "Downtown in a Restaurant" all follow suit with solid songwriting, unbelievable hooks and sing along staying power.

Frontman Greg Collinsworth puts more passion in his vocals than an entire generation of Death Cabs & Modest Mice. The music behind Greg is tightly knit, with such strong hooks & able performances by Nick, Doug, Jason, and Ryan (last names be damned, these guys are your new best friends). In a sea of redundant "snore-core" bands, The Small Change erupt with fervor, passion, and pop hooks galore. All hail The Small Change!

www.seattlerockguy.com

Glad Girls CD for sale here

2010-02-19T17:18:00.000-08:00

Glad Girls with Dustin Riffbroker guesting on drums- Sat. Feb. 13, '10

2010-02-07T11:38:00.000-08:00

Download new Small Change album for free at www.thesmallchangemusic.com

2010-02-01T15:13:00.000-08:00

SSBC in T-town

2010-02-01T15:11:00.000-08:00

Overwhelming Colorfast- Toss Up

2010-01-06T16:21:00.000-08:00

Overwhelming Colorfast- Roy Orbison

2010-01-06T16:19:00.000-08:00

Heather and Kurt with OC

2010-01-06T07:52:00.000-08:00

Small Change "Dirty Little Girl"

2009-12-22T15:21:00.001-08:00

2010 UR New Year, New Decade- The Teens!

2009-12-15T07:11:00.000-08:00

Exciting stuff ahead for the new year at UR:
The first day of the year will kick off with Nick and Heather Riffbroker helping fill out Overwhelming Colorfast at a free show at the Sunset. That's Friday night- Jan. 1, also UR mates The Small Change, and Paul Lynde Fan Club.

Jan. 29 the Small Change release their new record 'Every Line In My Head' at the Sunset with guests TBA.

New material is in the works from The Riffbrokers, The Doll Test, The Glad Girls, and Ryan Maxwell's new project The Far Away Eyes.

While the I Love Myselfs are on a short break, Eric The Swede Olson has regrouped the nucleus of the old Lower 48 band into The South Sound Bureau Chiefs. Look for a recording this spring!

As always look for tweets for a free download demo of the week at our myspace site.

Overwhelming Colorfast Reunion Show in Seattle!

2009-11-28T10:41:00.000-08:00

Brothers Bob and Dan Reed are joined by Nick and Heather Riffbroker on guitar and bass to play a Seattle show one night only- Fri. Jan 1st 2010..for FREE! Overwhelming Colorfast released a handful of incredible records in the 90's of melodic psychedelic powerpop fuzz rock. Nick and Heather of the Riffbrokers were floored to be asked to stand in for this special occasion.
Guests will be local powerpop act The Small Change, and the psychedelic Paul Lynde Fan Club featuring members of Doll Test and Pure Joy.
9pm Sunset Tavern 5433 Ballard Av NW, Seattle WA 98107... 21 and over

2009-11-13T18:10:00.001-08:00

Glad Girls This Sunday

2009-11-13T18:07:00.000-08:00

Sunset Tavern Sunday Nov. 15 5pm

Riffbrokers Turn Ten

2009-11-02T07:14:00.000-08:00

Nick and Heather Millward formed the Unsmashable Riffbrokers in Boise, Idaho in the fall of 1999. A few years after relocating to Seattle, they dropped the first half of the name and used it to launch their own record label. The label became a DIY vehicle for a close circle of musician friends to release their own albums. Under the banner of Unsmashable Records, The Riffbrokers have self-released four of their own albums. In 2006 they contributed a song to a Buffalo Springfield tribute compilation on Not Lame Records.
In the first half of the '00s, The Riffbrokers toured the western states regularly, and even pulled off one haphazard cross country trip.
Nick Millward's songwriting is heavily influenced by Bob Dylan, The Byrds, and John Prine. The band's sound remains a blend of Americana twang with powerpop guitar and growling vocals.
The Riffbrokers will celebrate their ten years as a band by inviting friends onstage to perform their favorite Riffbroker songs. Friends include Michael Dean Damron, The Lund Bros.,The Small Change, Young Sportsmen, Crown Aruba, Aaron Taylor, 50 Grit, The I Love Myselfs, and Lowland High.

Small Change, Llama , Tripwires Fri. 10/30

2009-10-29T07:05:00.000-07:00

The Tripwires, Llama, the Small Change

(Sunset) Seattle quartet the Tripwires write well-crafted pop/rock songs that suggest they've spent many studious hours with the brilliant catalogs of the Byrds, Nick Lowe, Squeeze, Gram Parsons, and other composers whose brainchildren have gone on to the stand the test of time with impressively erect postures. The Tripwires—seasoned scene fixtures John Ramberg, Jim Sangster, Johnny Sangster, and Mark Pickerel—understand the importance in their particular niche of memorable hooks, interesting dynamics, varied guitar tones, and passionate vocalizing. They proudly and staunchly uphold the verities of this traditional approach to music-making on their new album, House to House (Spark & Shine Records), whose public emergence tonight's show celebrates. DAVE SEGAL

Riffbrokers as X on Halloween

2009-10-29T07:04:00.001-07:00

Mountain Kids Fantasy, M. Bison, the Riffbrokers, Helen Chance, the Mangles, High Divide, Radiolake, Julia Massey

(Skylark) For the past three years, the Skylark has hosted the Come as You Aren't! Halloween battle of the bands, in which local groups are judged on their ability to impersonate famous musicians. Each band dons the appropriate costumes and plays quick 20-minute sets—the point is to get in, entertain the fuck out of people, and get out. And this year's lineup should be full of surprises, as bands like Radiolake, the Mangles, the Riffbrokers, M. Bison, and Mountain Kids Fantasy will, for one night only, summon the musical prowess of beloved artists such as Frank Sinatra, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Devo, and X. MEGAN SELING

Doll Test- "Future Self" Skylark 2008

2009-08-28T13:48:00.000-07:00

2009-08-16T15:01:00.001-07:00

Doll Test to play Skylark Sept. 25

2009-08-12T20:21:00.000-07:00

The Doll Test return to the stage after sabbatical with a slightly new line-up of personnel. John Troutman adds third guitar (like Skynard!)and the Small Change's Doug Stevens is on drums. Nick and Heather Riffbroker are lead gtr and bass respectively to frontman Scott 5's guitar and voice. They will bring the hits from EP 'Gasoline And Banks' as well as '08's smash album 'Mosque Alarm Clock'. There are a few new gems by Sc5 as well.
Opening the bill is an industrial powerpop outfit from Ghent, Belgium called Wallace Vanborn. Your grandma might die from their socialized medicine rock! Your health insurance premium may be through the roof- but shows at the Skylark are always free. Come drink and stare blankly- you'll regret nothing.

Free cover...21+...9pm skylarkcafe.com
* 3803 Delridge Way SW
* Seattle, WA 98106
* 206.935.2111

Wallace Vanborn receive free bass care in Belgium.

News from Glad Girls, Small Change , Riffbrokers

2009-08-11T06:22:00.000-07:00

The Glad Girls new EP is mastered and sequenced.
The Small Change is working on a new link to download the new album as well as past albums for free!
The Riffbrokers are turning 10 years old this fall. A big show is scheduled for November 7 at the Skylark. Guest bands will perform their favorite Riffbrokers songs.
Also Dagger Zine has posted this very short review of Weight of Line and Intersection-
HE RIFFBROKERS- WEIGHT OF LINE AND INTERSECTION- UNSMASHABLE- Kickin’ power-poppy roots rock with pure guts and determination (an a sense of humor too). No filler here, all 10 of these songs are worthy if your time but my pick to click is the 6-string bendin’ opener, “Told You to Go” and the closer, “End of all Things.”

New video for Riffbrokers' "Apology"

2009-08-06T04:41:00.000-07:00

Glad Girls

2009-08-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

The artists formerly known as The Build Up (since 2004) have renamed themselves The Glad Girls. The new EP is mastered and will be available soon- stay tuned!