Five things for local music fans to get excited about in 2013

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Sub Pop 25

Five years ago the stalwart scene fixture that is Sub Pop Records celebrated 20 years of “going out of business.” The festivities culminated in a weekend-long festival of Sub Pop acts new and old that featured the likes of Fleet Foxes, Seaweed, Green River and more than a dozen others at Marymoor Park. Little has been made public about the label’s plans for its silver anniversary but there have been whispers of something being planned. What those exact plans are have yet to be revealed. Expect news on SP 25 later this year.

Shabazz Palaces at SHBP 2010. Jason Tang photo
Shabazz Palaces at SHBP 2010. Jason Tang photo

Shabazz Palaces

Speaking of Sub Pop, Shabazz Palaces, the label’s premiere hip-hop act, should be making some noise this year. The group’s 2011 full-length debut, Black Up, topped many critics’ best-of lists (including my own) a few years back which means there are high expectations for whatever Shabazz Palaces does next. Matson on Music, one of my colleagues who always has a finger on the pulse of all things Shabazz, says a new record will happen in 2013.

Macklemore at WaMu Theatre in 2012
Macklemore at WaMu Theatre in 2012

A new Macklemore EP

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis had a massive 2012. It’s going to be tough for them to top the high-water mark that was The Heist but don’t think they aren’t going to try. According to Billboard, Mack & Ryan have plans to release an EP at some point this year. While that EP may or may not happen, considering that news came out back in October and a lot has happened between now and then, that doesn’t mean fans can’t get excited anticipating Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ next move.

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KEXP’s move

Last week the local music community was dealt a saddening blow with the news that Easy Street Records is closing its Queen Anne location. That means one less record store in town and one less spot for cool events like in-store performances. And while the Queen Anne neighborhood is losing that pillar of the music community it will gain another later this year (or possibly early next year depending on construction schedules) when KEXP relocates to the Seattle Center’s Northwest Rooms. The move is part of the reshaping of the Seattle Center and not only does it give KEXP much-needed newer (and bigger) digs, it also provides a larger space for in-studio performances that’ll likely be free and open to the public.

In Utero

In Utero 20th anniversary edition

Nirvana’s breakout album, Nevermind, turned 20 two years ago. The occasion was marked with a deluxe edition of the album, a concert in Seattle and other events. This year Nirvana’s final studio album, In Utero, hits the double dime mark and there are plans for a deluxe reissue of that record at some point this year.

As if that isn’t enough to get excited about …

Lucky ’13 is also expected to bring new albums from Modest Mouse (produced by Big Boi), Pearl Jam, Fleet Foxes, Alice in Chains, Mudhoney (who celebrate 25 years as a band this year) and the full-length debut by Reignwolf.

About Travis Hay

Travis Hay is a music journalist who has spent the past 20 years documenting and enjoying Seattle's music scene. He's written for various outlets including MSN Music, the Seattle-Post Intelligencer, Seattle Weekly, Pearl Jam's Ten Club, Crosscut.com and others.

View all posts by Travis Hay →

3 Comments on “Five things for local music fans to get excited about in 2013”

    1. Funny you mention that Patrick. I was just chatting with somone on Twitter earlier this morning who pointed out FF’s possible demise. I wrote a majority of this post a few weeks back and forgot to exclude the Foxes when it was scheduled to publish, but since they’re listed here now and there hasn’t been a formal announcement of Fleet Foxes breaking up I figured it does no real harm to keep them included. But you’re right, a Fleet Foxes album in 2013 is wishful thinking.

  1. Given what each of the band members is up to these days, I’d consider it more delusional than wishful thinking, but to each his own. 😉

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