we're the red light sting!

i was absolutely sure i had posted about the red light sting before. but after checking our tags/labels, i realized that apparently i haven't. fear not though.. after this post, i'm going outside and kicking my own ass.

the red light sting were the best band you never listened to when the whole dance/indie/punk thing was big in the underground a few years ago (hot hot heat, yeah yeah yeahs, etc). take one part pretty girls make graves, one part blood brothers, and one part dfa 1979.. and you'll definitely get an idea of where the red light sting were coming from. i always thought they did an amazing job of standing out on their own though. while often being compared to the bands they toured with regularly from the seattle/northwest scene, they still had their own sound that was challenging, and made for an amazing live show. i had the privilege of seeing them on their last tour with gerling and daughters and good lord.. asses were definitely danced off that night. star shaped tambourine and all.

all the members have moved on to new musical and creative endevors (ache records, the epidemic, secret mommy, winning, baby control, etc).. these kids just don't stop. here's their full length album, split with hot hot heat, and 2 ep's for you to remember (or discover) them by.

the red light sting on myspace.

download their full length, hands up, tiger:


download our love is soaking in it:


download rub em down, rub em out:


download their split with hot hot heat:



- those pandas will get you in trouble!

(p.s. to anyone that does recall this band.. did anyone else have as big of a crush on zoe as i did? two words: jogging shorts.)

rocky votolato - v/seth warren 7" (1999)

here's a treat for you rocky votolato fans. back in '99 when he first started working on solo stuff, he released a four song 7" on second nature that featured violinist seth warren (who has provided strings and synths for a lot of seattle area bands). the songs themselves are definitely reminiscent of rocky's early work.. less folk-ish, more mellow. a nice grab if you don't already have it.

rocky votolato on myspace.

download:



- panda votolato

pretty girls make graves - good health (2002)

easily one of my favorite bands of all time, i'm kind of upset with myself for not posting about these guys (and girl) earlier. i mean, i'm sure there are plenty of you out there that're down with this band.. but perhaps there are some that aren't.. or perhaps it's been a minute since you've put this album on.

i remember hearing a couple of songs from them in either senior year of high school or freshman year of college. it took me a long time to find a physical copy of this album before finally coming across it at waterloo records in austin. the musical interplay between the members of this band is something that is totally missing in music today. intricate, noodling guitar lines weave their way through one of the dopest rhythm sections i've ever heard. all tied together with andrea zollo's sharp vocals and sharper lyrics. this was all made that much better by their live show. i saw them open for alkaline trio about five years ago, and i didn't even care (as much) about seeing alk3 live after pretty girls make graves were done.

it was definitely a shame to hear about the members going their separate ways last year, but they all have new projects going on. i'm way too lazy to post myspace links to their various bands, but i know if you go to pgmg's myspace page, all their new bands are in their top people. i do know that guitarist jay clark is in jaguar love with cody votolato (of waxwing/blood brothers fame) and johnny whitney (also of blood brothers fame). man.. the seattle indie music scene is so fucking incredible.

pretty girls make graves on myspace.

download good health:


- panda