Freakout Fest in Seattle lived up to it’s name as a post-lockdown come back for White Mystery. Miss Alex White and Francis Scott Key White rocked the Eagles Club at Salmon Bay Low in Ballard with an hour-long psychedelic set, complete with lighting by legendary projectionists, Mad Alchemy. The Chicago-based rock’n’roll duo kicked and shredded in custom, bright red snakeskin jumpsuits by West Coast couture shop, Rattleshake.
Seattle’s Freakout fest will hold its ninth edition this fall from November 11-14 at venues Tractor Tavern, Salmon Bay Eagles Club, Sunset Tavern, Conor Byrne, Hotel Albatross, Caffe Umbria, and CC Filson. This year’s lineup includes garage rock icons The Seeds, Matthew Dear, Seattle sludge greats Big Business, Cedric Burnside, Liz Cooper & The Stampede, reggae vet Clinton Fearon (The Gladiators), The Mystery Lights, Triptides, White Mystery, Vacant Lots, and more.
This year, Freakout has partnered with Mexico’s NRMAL Festival to curate a lineup of Latinx artists, including AJ Davila, Colombian electronic artist Cerrero, as well as Petite Amie, Margaritas Podridas, Myuné, Par Ásito, Carrion Kids and Los Honey Rockets.
Freakout is also highlighting Seattle’s Black rock scene with performances from Shaina Shepherd (who is signed to Freakout Records), The Black Tones, Beverly Crusher, Black Ends, King Youngblood, Marshall Law Band, and and Urban Heat.
Tickets for Freakout 2021 are on sale now and you can check out the full lineup, and listen to the official playlist featuring this year’s acts, below.
FREAKOUT FEST – 2021 LINEUP Cedric Burnside Liz Cooper & The Stampede The Seeds Big Business The Mystery Lights Matthew Dear Jamie Wyatt Levitation Room Clinton Fearon Acid Tongue The Vacant Lots Jarv Dee White Mystery Triptides Shaina Shepherd AJ Davila No Joy The Shivas Manatee Commune Smokey Brights Cerrero The Schizophonics Petite Amie Thee Sacred Souls Ohtis ZOPA (feat. Michael Imperioli) Michael Rault Evolfo The Grizzled Mighty Margaritas Podridas Pearl Charles Los Esplifs The Black Tones Hooveriii Beverly Crusher You Said Strange Monsterwatch Shadow Show Urban Heat PROVOKER Mala Suerte Death Bells Terror/Cactus Carrion Kids TeZATalks Tres Leches Par Ásito Black Ends Myuné Sebastian Adé King Youngblood Talaya. & Brandon Marsalis Los Honey Rockets Nathan Nzanga Jenny Don’t and the Spurs Chris King & The Gutterballs Caitlin Sherman Tennis Pro Biblioteka Stephanie Anne Johnson & The Hidogs,Warren Dunes Bird Language General Mojo’s Wild Powwers Spirit Mother Smoker Dad BOLERO! Boy Deluxe GLENN (ILLFIGHTYOU) Reposado The Copper Trees
As host of the Northwest music show, Eva Walker made this mix locals-heavy, with artists you need to know! She also sprinkled in some of her non-local favorites, both old and new. Artists include Beverly Crusher, Danny Denial, P.R.O. and more.
Eva Walker is the host of Audioasis, every Saturday from 6-9pm PT on KEXP.org, the KEXP app, or 90.3 FM in Seattle.
Our available The Weekly Mix podcasts see over 100,000 downloads collectively per month, with an individual podcast receiving over 10,000 downloads, mostly in just a week’s time. Our podcasts are available on most podcasting aggregators, as well as on KEXP.org and RSS feeds.
Francis Scott Key White • White Mystery • Chicago, IL
Time to give the drummer some…
…help loading gear into the club, and perhaps, a doobie. While garage rock is perceived as “raw and energetic,” the drummers of the genre are incredibly disciplined, hardworking musicians. Today we honor the heartbeat of the band, whose blood, sweat, and tears drive every performance. Here are eleven essential drummers you need to know.
Max Hiersteiner • Dirty Fences, Metalleg, Josephine • New York City
Don’t let his hilarious antics and “class clown” persona fool you, Max “Hersh Guy” Hiersteiner is an incredibly disciplined performer. Besides being a rock solid skin pounder, Max is a gifted skateboarder and athlete, and perhaps the funniest and most charming man we have the pleasure of knowing. Check him out in the Dirty Fences music video Judy Don’t Go.
Lamont Thomas • OBNOX • Cleveland, Ohio
To call Lamont “Bim” Thomas merely a drummer would be a massive understatement. Bim is a multi-instrumentalist, poet, producer, engineer, and exists in the highest echelon of rock and roll generals. He is a seasoned veteran of the Cleveland scene, a rock solid comrade in the trenches, and a true friend. Enjoy this rippin’ video “Molecule” from Obnox, one of his many projects.
Erin Emslie • Hunx and His Punx • Los Angeles, California
Erin is the glamorous beat queen of rock’n’roll dreams. She’s the plucky drummer in Hunx and His Punx, the groovy bass player and lead singer in The Time Flys, among many projects. Erin Emslie has traveled the world playing rock n’ roll since most of you were in diapers. Watch her demolish the drums at a skate park in California.
Emi Morimoto • Shonen Knife • Osaka, Japan
If there was an award for the best posture in rock, Emi, formerly of Shonen Knife, would win it. Perched in a perfectly upright stance with a disciplined smile, Emi is a force of nature to behold. With her badass gloves and Angelic singing voice, she is the beat baroness of Osaka, Japan. When White Mystery toured with Shonen Knife back in 2012, her song “Psychedelic Life” was our favorite.
Jose Ceniceros • Monarchy Over Monday• Chicago, IL
Jose reminds me of a younger version of myself, if I had ten times more talent. Jose is the perfect combination of tight control and explosive volatility. He commands the stage and his band with shocking authority for his young age, while keeping guessing as to where his groove is going next. Keep an eye on this young star and watch Monarchy Over Monday cover The Replacements, “Alex Chilton.“
Mike Shoun • Thee Ohsees • San Francisco, California
Mike is fucking amazing. His legendary tenure in the golden age lineup of Thee Oh Sees spawned hundreds of soundalikes and wannabes. His legacy as a worldwide touring musician is forever revered by the real rock and roll community, and his work ethic and drive was so mighty he needed to be replaced by two drummers. Watch his legendary performance of “The Dream” at Pitchfork Music Fest in 2012.
Cedric Walker • The Black Tones • Seattle, Washington
If White Mystery was one half of a Ying Yang, our other half would be The Black Tones, featuring Cedric and his twin sister Eva. Raw chemistry, effortless telepathy, and overflowing with charisma, Cedric and his sister are a force to be reckoned with. Watch them holler for they’re mama!
Karissa Talanian • Strychnine, Wet Piss, Eye Vybe • Chicago, IL Photo by Lee Klawans
Connor Brodner • Twin Peaks • Chicago, IL Photo by Ian Laidlaw
Connor “Hammer Strength” Brodner is a true product of Chicago. Broad shouldered, determined, and unrelenting, he is the blue collar engine behind the world famous rock band Twin Peaks. A product of Chicago Public Schools and raised in the back yard DIY scene, Connor is a no nonsense hard worker that earned every bit of success that came his way. Check out this rad video for “Flavor.”
Stef Roti • Yoko and The Oh No’s • Chicago, IL Photo by Sound Dessert
There are certain drummers in the DIY scene that prove themselves to be strong backbones of not just their bands, but their entire communities. Stef is an incredibly focused and trained drummer in Yoko and The Oh No’s, as well as a talented booker, promoter, and business woman. She knows what she wants and knows how to get it. Check out the amazing Yoko and The Oh No’s video Love U.
Alejandro Morales • Running • Chicago, IL Photo by NRML
There is more to be said about Alejandro than this post can contain. He was a true artist, a brutal noise musician, and a frenetic and overwhelming drummer. He was an activist, a social worker, and a dear friend to all that knew him. He gave much of his own energy to lifting up those around him and propelling them to greatness. May his memory be eternal and his music be blasted at the great DIY show in the sky. Please enjoy this amazing video of Running at The Empty Bottle.
White Mystery nationwide tour, SXSW, West Coast shows!
03/11/17 Chop Shop Chicago, IL – https://goo.gl/TvytyS
03/14/17 Blind Tiger Kansas City, MO
03/18/17 SXSW Hotel Vegas Austin, TX
03/19/17 Burger Hangover Fest San Antonio, TX –https://goo.gl/Qgqc0f
03/20/17 Walter’s Downtown Houston, TX – https://goo.gl/AQmLCv
03/23/17 Kaiju Louisville, KY
03/24/17 Ace of Cups Columbus, OH – https://goo.gl/yodcH7
04/01/17 Turner Hall Ballroom Milwaukee, WI* – https://goo.gl/KExiGC
04/03/17 Memory Lanes Minneapolis, MN
04/07/17 Baby Bar Spokane, WA
04/08/17 The Shakedown Bellingham, WA*
04/09/17 Rickshaw Theater Vancouver, BC — Canada*** –https://goo.gl/l9CQNd
04/10/17 Crocodile Cafe Seattle, WA *** –https://goo.gl/mqdUTf
04/11/17 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR*** – https://goo.gl/oL1I9v
04/13/17 The Chapel San Francisco, CA*** – https://goo.gl/KD5vlh
04/14/17 The Chapel San Francisco, CA*** – https://goo.gl/9FseKL
04/20/17 RECORD RELEASE The Monty Los Angeles, CA
* Twin Peaks + White Mystery
***Twin Peaks + White Mystery + Hinds
