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Seaweed Jack



Last Updated: 9/24/2009

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Country: US
Signup Date: 2/28/2005

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Thursday, August 16, 2007 
Seaweed Jack
Blue Moon
Seattle, WA

"More chain!" my friend yells drunkenly from the side of the small stage at the Blue Moon.

The singer of Seaweed Jack quickly answers her. "I took a chain class at Lowe's last summer," he says. "It was only like twenty dollars a week. I can sign you up if you want."

Chains? Yes, the singer of Seaweed Jack, who is also the keyboard player for Seaweed Jack, bangs a twenty-foot chain on the floor with both with his hands and feet, as him and his band make their pirate-infused racket. At one point, the singer was even generous enough to let the guitar player play with the chain, while the drummer pranced around with one of those marching band drums hanging off his abdomen.

The combination of the chain, the bass drum, the classes at Lowe's, and the prancing -- who knows what most bands would end up sounding like? But to be quite truthful, I think the chain may be just what Jack needs to start the party. It took a show that could have been just "pretty good" and into a stomping party at an old abandoned sea shanty (note: see their live videos on youtube).

On their webpage, it says that Seaweed Jack is the best band in Spokane, which is probably true. The most exciting thing about Seaweed Jack is not the chain; it is that they are an amazing band. The singer is odd, but he is a massively entertaining and talented showman. Meanwhile, the mustachioed guitar player looks like he stepped out of a montage from Almost Famous, sick chops and all. The rhythm section is as solid as (insert random pirate jargon here). On top of that, they throw a truly exciting live show. I think they might even be one of the best live bands I have seen in a while.

I am willing to bet my buried treasure on Seaweed Jack leaving Spokane for Seattle again, and, perhaps, even going on tour with one of those bands like Wolfe Parad, Man Man, or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Yeah, they sound like those bands, except with more pirate thrown in there.

They'll be back, but hopefully not at the Blue Moon.

Reviewed on 07/24/07 by Whitney Gould.
6:11 PM 
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Friday, August 25, 2006 
Seaweed Jack Will Take You To Their Special Island

It's true that we were already intrigued at hearing Spokane's Seaweed Jack [myspace] played pirate music -- so much so we left the warm bosom of Capitol Hill and trekked over to Fremont's High Dive last night for a genre-transcending experience. And if we're going to rave about a band, we want to do it up right, savvy?

Seaweed Jack is touring for their first album The Captain, which in 75 minutes offers a startling range of music. It's made to look like a black plastic 45rpm single. [Sample it here.] You've got your Tom Waits-y moments, your rockabilly, bluesy sea shanties, a riff on the Batman TV theme -- served up with a profligate lyricism that might remind you of -- in a less verbally preening way -- the Decemberists.

The band is Geoff Doolittle (vocals, keyboard, guitar, clanking chains), Anthony Stassi (drums), Von Stace White (guitar), and Jack Sheehy (bass). They play live with incredible energy and an array of instruments, including a marching band's bass drum. Doolittle's musical ambitions are refreshing, and if they aren't soon college-radio darlings we -- well, we should point out that we don't listen to college radio, but good lord, this music is perfect for blowing out actual dorm room windows, or just the still-uncurtained dorm windows in your mind.

Doolittle reminded us of Seth Green's musical alter-ego, and Sheehy's thrumming bass lines had us hypnotized. The anthemic "Open Faced Crab Sandwich" was the crowd favorite, sparking a lot of jumping up and down and what seemed like a genuine attempt to dance, while "Man Down," brought out for the encore, was a sung-spoken bit over drum and bass, punctuated with funked-up screamfest choruses. Nothing wrong here; this band is ready to go swash some fucking buckles.

-Michael Van Baker
The Seattlest
1:23 AM 
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Tuesday, May 23, 2006 

by Patrick Kendrick

Booking shows Tuesday through Saturday is stressful, to say the least. And hard-working bands like Seaweed Jack are the reason I can keep doing it. I would love to make them our house band every weekend, if only I could talk them into it. They're energetic, bright and professional, but more than that, any band that shows up early and stays until the last set ends is a group that is clearly in it for the music. They're great musicians and amazing people in general.

Seaweed Jack's live set is innovative and manic. At some point during each show, it inevitably begins looking more like a wrestling match than a concert: musician vs. instrument, locked in mortal rock combat. Don't expect to see any of the band members in the same place for very long or even playing the same instrument. When Brian White lays down his guitar to pick up chains and when Anthony Stassi steps out from behind his drum kit and picks up his marching bass, don't expect your ass to stay in the same place either: You'll be swept away by the undercurrent of sound and crowd. Punks, hip-hop fans, indie and metal snobs of all ages fall victim to Seaweed Jack, a smile plastered on their faces during and after the show.

It's infectious, and it's starting to spread beyond the dance floor. Right now, the freeway skate park is swarming with pushers listening to The Captain, upscale bookstores have it on heavy rotation, and I personally use it in place of an energy drink. (Don't tell my Sparks distributor.) That says a lot.

I have no doubt in my mind Seaweed Jack will have the success they are striving for. They can use my stage anytime, and I strongly suggest you get your ass out of the chair you're sitting in and up front at any stage where they appear. Pay at the door, buy the album, dance, and support. Repeat as necessary to make Spokane a place where great bands like this thrive. If not for yourself, at least do it for the kids.

Week in and week out, Kendrick books innovative shows into Rock Coffee on First Avenue, which shares a building with the Big Easy.


Publication Date: 5/17/06

5:55 PM 
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