All posts in: White China Gold

-
22 Apr 2011

I Scratch Your Back, You Scratch Mine?

Hi readers!

I’ve got one special request for all of you today and throughout this weekend. I don’t usually ask for too much, but I am looking for an influx of new music. I want to know what YOU are listening to and I want to hear what up and coming bands and musicians you think I should be listening to. The last time I requested this, you all were kind of shy on your responses, so I’m going to help you along by sharing with you what music I am currently listening to. Hopefully, you’ll be inspired to help me out.

Thanks!

Eliza Doolittle

I first heard of Eliza Doolittle a few weeks ago after watching her perform on Jay Leno. Her sound is reminiscent of a decade that reminds me of the 80’s, but I could totally be wrong. The girl is cheeky and sassy and her personality is clearly represented in her music. Almost immediately after I watched her perform, I downloaded her self-titled album.

Sounds like? Lily Allen

Favorite Tracks:

  • Pack Up
  • Roller Blades
  • Missing
  • Skinny Genes
  • So High
  • Back to Front

Foster the People

Okay, so I finally discovered Foster the People last night on The Vampire Diaries, but this was not my first time listening to them. This morning, I not only heard them on the radio, but found out that the band will actually be playing at Sasquatch next month as well.  You kind of know that something is up with a band when you are hearing about them a number of times within 24 hours from various outlets. Currently, they have only three songs on their EP, but that’s basically all you need to know about the band.

Sounds like? Empire of the Sun, MGMT?

Favorite Tracks:

  • Houdini
  • Helena Beat
  • Pumped Up Kicks

White China Gold

Thomas Hunter is truly a man of many talents. He is the guitarist of Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground and Wild Orchid Children and now he is debuting his first solo project White China Gold. I’m convinced that there is no one in the Seattle area right now that is as versatile as he is. His new album is absolutely beautiful and manages to capture the city’s essence perfectly in this new jazzy and serene sound. I cannot wait to see this man live on a stage someday soon because he is easily one of the best guitarists in Seattle.

Sounds like? Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground and Thomas Hunter

Favorite Tracks?

  • One-Footed Bastard
  • Window Mouth
  • White China March
  • Strange Sad Magic

Lenka

I have said everything I could ever say about Lenka and still after nearly three weeks of having her latest album entitled “Two” I have been unable to stop listening to it. Usually, it is at this point that I’ve exhausted the entire thing, but not this one.

Sounds like? Feist, Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson

Favorite Tracks?

  • Sad Song
  • Roll With the Punches
  • Heart Skips a Beat
  • The End of the World
  • Everything’s OK
  • Shock Me Into Love
  • You Will Be Mine
  • Here to Stay

The Dodos

Listening to the Dodos’ new album “No Color” can seriously make my day so much brighter. It is an incredible album to listen to from my study playlist, but also one that I can enjoy just about anytime anywhere. The band has been around for awhile so they are nothing new, but this album kind of is – therefore it is very relevant to this post. It’s as if every album they put out keeps getting exponentially better.

Sounds like? Fleet Foxes and The Shins

Favorite tracks?

  • Don’t Try and Hide It
  • Sleep
  • Black Night
  • Companions
  • Don’t Stop
  • Going Under
  • Good
  • Hunting Season
  • When Will You Go?

Oh look, that’s the whole album track listing right there, what do you know? 🙂

-
28 Mar 2011

Wild Orchid Children. Bow Down.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4eJm0O9sP0]

I have so much praise to give and they are to the following nouns: Wild Orchid Children, Seattle music, and Nick Simmons. Today, Seattle group Wild Orchid Children released their new music video for their psychedelic tune “Ahead of Us the Secret” and not only does the song kick ass, but the video will blow your mind. I’m not sure if anyone has realized this or if anyone has taken notice at all, but Kirk Huffman, Thomas Hunter, Kyle O’Quinn and co. are dominating Seattle’s music scene. I have been talking them up so much lately, but I promise it is because they deserve it. I’ve been a huge fan of Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground since they began and in the years that they have been playing, they have conquered Bumbershoot, Last Call With Carson Daly, and are single-handedly responsible for where their career has lead them. In addition to Kay Kay, the band members formed Wild Orchid Children – performing from a style of music that is almost exactly opposite from Kay Kay. This past weekend, the same members reunited with their first group, Gatsby’s American Dream, to perform at a sold out show at El Corazon giving everyone a piece of high school nostalgia. While all of this is going on, Thomas Hunter has been hard at work promoting his solo project White China Gold. Now, tell me there is another group of Seattle musicians frequently making the news as much as them. You can’t.

The music video is as long as a Lady Gaga video, but it is totally worth it even with the long intro. It was directed by my friend Nick who is incredibly talented both as a musician and a director so if you’ve got the time I totally recommend watching it.

Sir Thomas Gray – oh shooot I see your cameo! Wild Orchid Children, please just continue to kick ass.

This is a scattered post, but I am just amazed at what has come out of this and am so pleased to have come from such a great city full of passionate music and art.

-
15 Mar 2011

CityArts Profiles Thomas Hunter

Thomas Hunter is a man of many qualities and talents. First off, he’s known for being the guitarist in Seattle band Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground – but has also been labeled as one of the best musicians in the area. Secondly, Hunter has had a more recent solo project that goes by the name of White China Gold. In addition to his musical talents, he is a man of style, which is probably why CityArts Magazine has profiled him. Aside from his hand-me-downs, Hunter also rocks the curled mustache.

Anyways, I’d like to invite you all to check out this profile on him and to learn more about his music.

Were any style values instilled in you during your childhood?

Thomas Hunter: This one: if I constantly work to be a powerful human being, I can do anything I want and look any way I want and no one can fuck with me.

Source

-
02 Oct 2010

Thomas Hunter Records Album

In the Seattle music scene, Thomas Hunter is known for being an incredibly talented guitarist for Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground and Wild Orchid Children. When he is out and about, he is easily distinguished as the man with THE mustache. In fact, that may very well be the first thing that you notice when catching sight of him for the first time.

I actually had the chance to meet Thomas just a few weeks ago when he performed at Seattle University. This week, The Stranger published a new article about  his solo project and new album entitled “White China Gold.” While this is news to me, it certainly is no surprise. After all the success and praise that his two bands have received, I am excited to hear what Thomas will bring to the table next.

Read the article and interview here.

Listen to his three songs here.