Charlie Zaillian is a Seattle-based journalist in his early late 20s. A California native, he caught the music bug early, writing, editing and self-publishing his first fanzine, Distortion, at age 12. In high school, Charlie was editor-in-chief of award-winning student newspaper Crossfire. More recently, he worked as music director at Olympia’s influential KAOS radio, and currently writes for The Seattle Times and American Songwriter, among others. You can read his published work here.
On the eve of their final five U.S. shows, the post-punk trailblazers reflect on their surprise second act
With her unique drums-and-guitar setup and already-massive repertoire of lo-fi pop gems (over 400!) 27-year-old Clarke Howell is one of the Western U.S. underground’s best-kept secrets, but with her first proper LP The Well-Rounded Clarke and the Himselfs out, another on the way and two tours with Built to Spill under her belt that ought to change soon.
Nerding out on music and writing with the Bitch Magnet guitarist and author of the new punk time capsule Your Band Sucks.
Drawing upon the indie rock of yesteryear, Saskatchewan’s These Estates adds its own distinct voice. Meet the songwriting team behind not one but two of the smartest, most immediate LPs of 2014.
Back in the early 2000s, Constantines’ emotionally charged, blue-collar rock was a welcome anachronism. As the Canadian five-piece gears up for its first round of U.S. shows in five years, frontman Bry Webb explains why the timing feels right.
From 1987 to 2005, Silkworm made records for a small yet dedicated audience, and seemed like a good bet to continue into old age before senseless tragedy struck. With the alternative-nation era as its backdrop, Seth Pomeroy’s documentary ‘Couldn’t You Wait?’ chronicles the trio’s existence and legacy. Here, the Nashville-based director discusses filmmaking, music, and — naturally — his favorite band.
Six years back, San Francisco’s LSD and the Search for God released a five-song EP of top-shelf shoegaze, then went quiet. Now, with a series of new singles on the horizon, singer-guitarist Andy Liszt called to discuss LSD’s past and future trips.
In revisiting the jagged guitars and measured catharses of ’90s emo-core, this Bellingham, WA foursome trades navel-gazing histrionics for freewheeling pop-punk shoutalongs.
For comprising familiar punk, indie-rock and darkwave influences, multi-generational Olympia, Washington pop-rockers’ two new Tim Green-produced EPs are surprisingly hard to pin down.
Young Seattleites Special Explosion have, since 2010, wowed locals with ahead-of-the-curve musicianship, pop hooks and presence. On its vinyl debut, the indie-rock foursome enters adulthood.
Cosy Moments, out today, ends the space-rockers’ uncharacteristic six-year hiatus. Singer-guitarist Chris Martin explains.
Nineties-inspired heroics with a sludgy veneer, Vancouver’s Cascadia hits a timeless sweet spot where punk and shoegaze collide.
Much-missed Washington State post-punk trio Unwound revisits its sprawling 2001 swan song Leaves Turn Inside You with 13 choice live recordings from the band’s final U.S. tour.
Pretty Old’s stripped-down post-emo is sentimental but concise, and sometimes even uplifting.
A potent blast of D.I.Y. pop from a dank Northwest basement.
Co-ed Canucks mine post-hardcore song structures and math-rock time signatures, inverting a tired trend or two.
On Romantic Feelings’ self-titled debut, the Olympia, Washington trio’s contemplative indie pop scores high for musicianship and variety.
Though for rockers only, there’s a discernible sense of enjoyment and confidence to Police Teeth‘s 10 solid, unpretentious songs.