MAKING WAVES: The Blakes

What other band gets a crowd of arms-crossed concert-goers to raise their bottles of Red Strip and shake their fists to an anthem with lyrics like “Lama gama gama lama magoo!”?

The Blakes--Seattle’s own Garnet Kiem on guitar, Snow Kiem on bass, and Bob Husak on drums--played a farewell-and-good-luck show on Sept. 29 before taking off on a tour of the U.S. and Europe. Combining their booze-infused live show standards with exciting new songs from Souvenir, the show at Neumos was a complete slaughter.

Second albums often turn out to be a test; the music must actively live up to the first album, show some sort of progression without straying too far from the established sound. Ultimately the band must prove itself all over again. The good news is a built-in core of listeners, DJs, and critics willing to make that judgment.

Since their 2006 self-titled debut album, The Blakes made a name for themselves on creating a raw, energetic sound with catchy and simple, sometimes two chord songs. On their new album Souvenir, The Blakes successfully integrate their knack for creating unpolished garage rock while completely embracing the pleasing sensibility of pop.

The Blakes are set to perform a KEXP in-studio from the CMJ music festival in New York on Weds. Oct. 21 at 7 a.m. PST (10 a.m. EST), in addition to their three shows at the festival.

by Lauren Takores