First Annual VIBRATIONS Free Outdoor Music Festival This Weekend!

In case you haven't heard, we at Cairo are supremely pleased to be hosting the first annual VIBRATIONS music festival this Saturday, August 20th at the amphitheater in Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill (a recommended event by the Capitol Hill Seattle blog!). The local press seem to be pretty stoked on the event as well. The Seattle Times' Andrew Matson had lots of nice things to say in an article that debuted online yesterday (and runs in today's Times print edition:

"Meeting place, fashion center, idea salon, record label and showcase for music — they all come together at Cairo, small as it is...the place is starting to look like the vortex of an exciting new movement, especially since the launch last month of Cairo Records, an attempt at bottling the energy around the space."

Read Matson's entire article here.

Meantime, Seattle Weekly's Erin Thompson has documented Cairo's upward trajectory as a local nexus for the arts in another new article:

"It makes sense that Cairo's looking to extend even further beyond their established family of bands—it's the same upward trajectory by which a one-room art gallery evolved into a festival-hosting, band-promoting, album-distributing record label."

Read more of Erin's generous write-up here.

And, for the link-averse readers out there, here's a reminder of the awesome VIBRATIONS line-up:

-Seapony
-Witch Gardens
-Charles Leo Gebhardt IV
-Stephanie
-Metal Chocolates
-Flexions
-Purple & Green
-Grass Widow

+ DJs from Voodoo Reverb and Actual Pain

The fun kicks off at 2 pm Saturday. For directions to Volunteer Park, click here. We can't wait to see you there!

Announcing VIBRATIONS--Cairo's Free Outdoor Music Festival!

Cairo is pleased to announce the first annual VIBRATIONS MUSIC FESTIVAL on Saturday, August 20th. This is a FREE outdoor summer concert event to be held at the Volunteer Park amphitheater featuring eight of the coast's best artists, with between-set DJs and more. Sponsored by Whole Foods, KEXP, and the Stranger, VIBRATIONS will be the last and best concert of the summer season, with a line-up that includes some of our favorite Cairo performers as well as some awesome talent that's never graced our space before:

-Grass Widow
-Purple & Green
-Flexions
-Metal Chocolates
-Stephanie
-Witch Gardens
-Charles Leo Gebhardt IV
-Seapony

The music is set to start at 2 PM on Saturday, August 20th, and last into the night. Building on the legacy of our highly-successful EXPO series of micro-festivals, Cairo is expanding our horizons, putting together this special one-day event for fans of awesome music and arts across Seattle.

Mark your calendars. The forecast calls for good vibrations.

To RSVP to VIBRATIONS today, click here.

Getting Funburned with CLGIV

How many different ways can I say his name?
My interview and photo shoot with CLGIV spanned about 3 ½ hours. In this time, I learned more than a few captivating tidbits about the musician: Leo once licked a puddle in 2nd grade, had (has?) a pet bee, has a custom design of Blackbird shoes named after him, and apparently has an alternate ego named “Svetlana Sexycat”.
Might I also add that when we met, he was very sunburned… quite a commodity in this dreary summer of ours.
Our interview, which was held outside, allowed Charles to conduct several costume changes--his glasses were replaced with shades and his jacket was removed 4 times during it's course: how fashion forward.
Charles Leo Gebhart IV, who is formerly of Unnatural Helpers and currently a solo musician, plans to spend his summer recording with Gold Leaves, ("I am so excited about that. I met this guy and told him how much I love his music, and he asked me to come play and record with him. So awesome.") Grant Olsen of Arthur & Yu's new project. Leo is currently on GGNZLA records (alongside Unnatural Helpers) so stay posted to see updated show dates and music releases.
(4 ways!)



See for yourself how just stylish this flaxen man can be.

"Svetlana Sexycat"

Wearing a Daniel J Mitchell original T.

Featuring Cairo original crystals and Blackbird original CLGIV shoes.

"This photo represents what I am doing right now. I am getting my photo taken by a giant camera. I am the girl in the picture."


And the interview...
Where did you grow up?
On Mercer Island.
What was your first concert?
I saw Skip Leader, The Red Aunts, Gas Huffer, Fits of Depression at The King Cat Theater in in 7th grade. It was one week before I saw Green Day for the Epitaph Records Punk’o’Rama.
How about one of your most cringeworthy memories?
I punched Michael St. Pierre in the stomach when he was climbing in between two trees on the first day of kindergarten. I still feel guilty about it.
What were you listening to as a kid?
I remember our family’s first CD, it was the Cirque du Soleil soundtrack, after we saw them perform for the 1990 Goodwill Games. My first cassette was “The Simpsons Sing the Blues”. Also “Deep Breakfast” by Ray Lynch when I was 10 years old… I still remember the tune.
Musically, do you have a favorite labelmate?
Yeah, Johnny O’Donnell. His record Hellbodies is still my favorite one. He is such a prolific songwriter. Also, I think Trent is the most amazing composer. He has a natural gift. It’s been a great experience knowing him.
Do you have a favorite Seattle venue?
My two favorite shows that I’ve ever played were at Cairo and the Jewelbox at the Rendez-Vous. They are good venues with an awesome audience, and both had a great spirit around the show. I loved the show at Cairo because there is no specific structure or framework to the space, so there is little distraction for the performer—they can be more involved with the audience.
Tell me a weird tour story, please.
Most notable was probably in 2003—I went on tour with the Catheters and our transmission in the van broke down in outside Indio, CA. Eight years later I was on tour with Missoula Oblongata and our van broke down. Our transmission died. In Indio, CA! We were stuck there for a week while we were waiting for the part. Very strange.
What is your staple article of clothing?
I really like polo shirts. I like a good collar. Most people would probably say my hair. I’m also really into my new polarized prescription sunglasses. (That explains the costume changes!)
What sandwich best describes your personality?
Today I had a salmon sandwich from Le Fournil on Eastlake. It was amazing. So I’m gonna go with that.
Thoughts on Sonic Boom closing and the death of record stores?
Aren’t we the problem? We can get everything for free on the internet these days. I feel as though people purchase merch at a show as a token of remembrance, not because they need the music. They can find it online.
Who in the world would you invite to dinner?
My grandfather CLG Jr. He died before I was born. Everyone I’ve spoken to said he was a phenomenal, considerate person. I would have loved to meet him.
Do you have an idol?
Well, I have an inspiration. Jonathan Richman—both musically and psychologically. I guess there’s no right word for it. He is a very self-aware musician. I remember first hearing his album and thinking, “I want to do music that sounds like this”.
Got any summer plans?
Yeah. I’m learning how to ride a motorcycle this weekend. I never learned and I always wanted to.
What would you do as a member of the opposite sex for a week?
Oh, I guess I’d do push-ups.

Ha, cool.

Hey! You can see this man in the flesh! Charles Leo is playing Seattle Weekly's REVERB Music Fest in October. See you then, friends.
Liv

All the happenings at Cairo this weekend!

Cairo's got a jam-packed weekend on tap for you all, starting with a show tonight featuring fizzy Seattle/Olympia rippers Naomi Punk, and esteemed Oly players American Vacuum and Gun Outfit. I'm just a little excited about this show, as you can see from these two articles (1,2). 8 PM tonight, all-ages, $5 at the door.

Tomorrow night, the good times continue with a concert whose awesome roster includes Charles Leo Gebhardt IV, Lindseys, and So Pitted (a new-ish group featuring members of SPURM and the Fabulous Downey Brothers). The fun starts at 8 PM, with the usual $5 entry and all-ages open-door policy.




Finally, on Sunday, Cairo is hosting a one-of-a-kind event: "The Mixtape Reading Series." While there won't be any actual cassette tapes played, shared, or sold, nine authors will be reading from their work, with the afternoon's guests divided into a "Side A" and "Side B." The event starts at 2 PM Sunday and will include:

Brandon Scott Gorrell
Tom DeBeauchamp
Jamey Braden (late of Wet Paint DMM)
Frances Dinger
Tara Atkinson
Ben Blum
Summer Robinson
Willie Fitzgerald
Matt Nelson

We hope to see you at one or all of these events!

Thanks to Everyone Who Came Out This Weekend

Both Friday and Saturday's shows were brimming with good times and totally packed--Saturday night's concert with Case Studies, Orca Team, and Charles Leo Gebhardt IV may have been the biggest Cairo show yet.

The Seattle Times' Andrew Matson posted a solid reviewof Case Studies' set which you can read here, and he captured some video from the performance which you can view below.



Orca Team wowed the crowd with their cover of The Intelligence's "The World is Not a Drag," which had been previously documented on video by the Seattle music blog The Finest Kiss. Here's a taste of what you missed if you didn't make it out:



If you have any photos or videos from either of the weekend shows, feel free to chime in in the comments section. We're going to be trying to post whatever pics or vids are out there whenever we find them.

Listen to a Cover of Orca Team's "Shane" and Get Pumped

On Saturday, January 15th, Portland retro-pop band Orca Team will perform at Cairo along with Jesse Lortz's new band, Case Studies, and the estimable Charles Leo Gebhardt IV. It's gonna be a truly rad show.

Some readers might be less familiar with Orca Team, despite the fact that they come up to Seattle for gigs pretty regularly. A good starting point might be the bitter ballad "Shane," from their self-released 2010 full-length Let it Go.



It was recently covered live by their SF pals Future Twin, to great results.



Keep checking the Cairo blog for more updates on this upcoming show.