September 22-26, 2010

Okay, so there’s a chance I might, possibly, maybe… probably be biased, but as someone who’s watched this ambitious little Northwest festival blossom from humble beginnings in 2003, I can say absolutely: go or be sorry.

Quality performance and presentation have always been an integral part of Decibel, so to say this years fest will be better than the last wouldn’t just be unfair, it would be untrue. The line-ups are always solid. One of my favorite pastimes is wondering into showcases with people I’ve never heard of–or simply never heard–and with the curator prowess of Decibel it’s easy to be impressed by said “unknowns.”

What makes this year “Bigger and Badder” you ask? Well, because it’s bigger… and badder. Each year there are more artists, more venues, more conference activities, more of everything, and 2010 is no different. This year’s fest boasts a whopping 27 official showcases, spanning 11 venues with over 100 artists representing 15 countries. There’s so much going on, in fact, that it was necessary to add an extra day to the schedule. This year’s fest will start on Wednesday instead of Thursday, giving you even more excuse to call in sick on Monday morning. (But seriously, you’ll want to take Monday off.)

A lot of the same venues from years prior will be used, but there are some new additions. Seattle’s super-classy dinner theater Triple Door will be used again, as well as Neumos, Baltic Room, Sole Repair, Chop Suey, Motor and The Ilsander cruise ship. New to 2010 are Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya, Mural Amphitheater at Seattle Center, Pravda Studios and HG Lodge. The venues differ greatly, lending opportunity to don flip-flops and halter top, stilettos and cocktail dress or skinny jeans and your fly-est hipster scarf, and this defines one of the best things about Decibel: its range.

Nearly every type of electronic music is represented. You want house? Techno? Dubstep? Drum and bass? Shoegaze? Ambient? Tech-house? Hip-hop? IDM? Glitch? Broken beat? Electronica? Panty-droppin’ polkacrunkstep? (<– That one requires a costume… panties optional). Yep, it’s pretty much covered. Outdoor, indoor, early night, late night… there’s even some edumacation to be had. Granted, you’ll have to actually be awake before 5pm, but if you’re a producer, DJ, music industry professional or simply have an intellect that needs tickling from time to time, it’s likely something in the conference portion of Decibel will pique your interest. Primarily aimed at musicians and industry types, the conference is well-rounded with workshops and panel discussions regarding everything from music making to marketing to social trends and topics.

So down to the nitty-gritty: tickets or pass. Well, at $155 the passes are affordable and get you into most everything. For the die-hard who wants to wander, the pass will allow you to get into all unrestricted events regardless of whether it sells out or not (and if years past are any indication, most showcases will sell out). No waiting at the door for the dreaded one-in, one-out nonsense at venues filled to capacity and it’ll save you a ton of money on individual tickets. There are a few events the pass will NOT get you into, including the Mothership boat party and Optical 3 showcase, but even so, this is definitely the way to go. If there’s really only a few events that interest you, individual tickets are available via brown paper tickets. Buying in advance will save you money and keep you from waiting in lines at the venue to pay cover (assuming there’s any space left in the venue), so I’d highly recommend it.

COMING PREPARED

Seattle Summer 2010 was pitiful. The weather gods are angry or depressed or off their meds and they’ve decided to make us their whipping boy. July-September are usually the most beautiful months in the Northwest, and any other year I’d tell you to leave your umbrella and jacket at home, but for the first time in 7 years you should probably bring them.

Hoping the drizzle subsides, we’ll all keep doing our sun-dance and offer up the sacrificial lamb (a grande sugar-free, half-caf, no-foam, soy white chocolate mocha with whipcream and a joint… otherwise known as the “Seattle Speedball”) but judging from the looks of things it’s gonna be a bit dreary. So pack your shorts and tank-tops just in case, but also bring your hoodies, windbreakers and umbrellas… just in case. Forget your umbrella? No matter. It’s Seattle. SEATTLE. We’ve got plenty of ’em (though no self-respecting local actually uses one.)

COMPLETE MUSIC PROGRAM

This is a synopsis of the 2010 program. For complete details, including showcase descriptions, videos and music samples, visit the Decibel website.

Wednesday, September 22nd
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*Opening party*
Ean Golden  //  Kris Moon  //  Introcut
Doors @ 6pm / all-ages / Free
@ Pravda Studios : 1406 10th Ave
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*DNB Showcase*
Demo // Kid Hops // Aksion // Grym
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $8 at the door
@ The Baltic Room : 1207 Pine St
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*Ghostly International Label Showcase*
Pantha Du Prince // Gold Panda // Mux Mool // Lusine
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $15 adv. / $18 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Neumos : 925 E. Pike St.

Thursday, September 23rd
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*Room40 Label – 10 Year Anniversary Showcase*
Ben Frost  //  Grouper  //  Lawrence English  //  Rafael Anton Irisarri
Doors @ 6pm / All-ages / $15 adv. / $17 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Pravda Studios : 1406 10th Ave
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*FlyLo and Friends*
Flying Lotus  //  Eskmo  //  Lorn  //  Samiyam  //  Truckasauras
LED lighting & programming by audiopixel
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $20 adv. / $25 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Neumos : 925 E. Pike St
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*Simply Shameless*
MAIN ROOM – Dan Bell  //  Deepchild  //   Ctrl_Alt_Dlt
LOUNGE – 214  //  Recess  //  Menami  //  Adlib  //  Levi Clark
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $13 adv. / $15 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Chop Suey : 1325 E. Madison
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*LoDubs Showcase* presented by LoDubs, Various & Decibel
Distance  //  Clubroot  //  Monkeytek vs. Ryan Organ  //  Jon AD  //  Jagga Culture
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $13 adv. / $15 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ The Baltic Room : 1207 Pine St
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*Made Like A Tree Showcase*
Disco Nihilist  //  Struggle  //  Lioncub  //  Energy Flash
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $8 adv. / $10 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Sole Repair : 1001 E. Pike St

Friday, September 24th
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*OPTICAL 1 – The Space Between*
Murcof  //  Robert Henke  //  Mark Van Hoen
Doors @ 5pm / All-ages / $25 adv. / $30 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Nordstrom Recital Hall (Benaroya) : 200 University St
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*RBMA On The Floor*
Modeselektor feat Pfadfinderei  //  Headhunter  //  Mount Kimbie  // Shlohmo  //  Teebs
LED lighting & programming by audiopixel
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $15 adv. / $18 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Neumos : 925 E. Pike St
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*The Art of Rhythm* presented by Starborne & Decibel
Beats Antique  //  Emancipator  //  Phuturerprimitive  //  Phidelity
Doors open at 9pm / 16+
$18 adv. / $20 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Motor : 1950 1st Ave S.
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*Planet Mu Label Showcase*
Starkey  //  Ikonika  //  FaltyDL  //  Ill Cosby
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $15 adv. / $17 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ The Baltic Room : 1207 Pine St
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*TRUST Showcase* presented by SunTzu Sound & Decibel
Trus’me  //  SunTzu Sound  //  Kid Hops
Doors @ 9pm / 21+
$10 adv. / $12 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Sole Repair : 1001 E. Pike St
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*dB Afterhours* – Mi Casa es su Casa
Dinky  //  Catz ‘n Dogz  //  LawnChair Generals
Doors @ 2am / 16+ / $18 adv. / $20 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Motor : 1950 1st Ave S.

Saturday, September 25th
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*dB in the Park – Saturday* presented by Decibel & Bass Drop
Bluetech presents: Satori Social  //  NastyNasty  //  Mat the Alien  //  Splatinum  //  PrEssHa + special guest TBA
Featuring live mural painting by NYC street artist Eric Orr (Serato)
Gates @ 12pm / all-ages w/ beer garden
ONLY $8 adv. / $10 at the gate
ADVANCE  TICKETS
@ The Mural Amphitheater in Seattle Center : 305 Harrison St
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*The Mothership Boat Party* presented by Uniting Souls & Decibel
FLOOR 1 – Mothership Label Showcase w/ Catz ‘n Dogz // Tanner Ross // Monty Luke
FLOOR 2 – Uniting Souls Lounge w/ Michael Manahan // Ramiro // Jeromy Nail // Deepvibez
Boarding begins @ 1:30pm – boat leaves @ 3pm / 21+ / $25 adv. / $30 at the door / PASSES NOT ACCEPTED
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ The Islander Cruise Ship : 1611 Fairview Ave E.
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*OPTICAL 2 – Tactile Immersion*
Fennesz  //  Oneohtrix Point Never  //  Noveller
Doors open at 5pm / all-ages / $25 adv. / $30 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall : 200 University St
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*D25 Showcase* presented by Resident Advisor & Decibel
Carl Craig  //  Kevin Saunderson  //  Monty Luke
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $20 adv. / $25 at the door / Free with dB Pass
LED lighting & programming by audiopixel
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Neumos : 925 E. Pike St
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*Beats Per Moment* presented by Abstract Earth Project & Decibel
VibeSquaD  //  Alex B  //  Low Limit  //  Machinedrum
Doors open at 9pm / 16+ / $18 adv. / $20 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Motor : 1950 1st Ave S.
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*Hotflush Label Showcase*
Scuba  //  Untold  //  Sepalcure //  Incyde
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $15 adv. / $17 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ The Baltic Room : 1207 Pine St
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*Fwd Thinking Organisms* presented by Alga-rhythms & Decibel
Tim Green  //  Tanner Ross  //  The Perfect Cyn  //  Sappho
Doors @ 8pm / 21+ / $10 adv. / $12 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Sole Repair : 1001 E. Pike St
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*dB Afterhours – Late Night Soul Kitchen*
Theo Parrish  //  Soul Clap  //  Pezzner
Doors open at 2am / 16+ / $18 adv. / $20 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Motor : 1950 1st Ave S.

Sunday, September 26th
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*dB in the Park – Sunday* presented by Harvard $treet Mafia & Decibel
Plastician  //  Mary Anne Hobbs  //  12th Planet  //  Praveen  //  Jimmy Hoffa  //  Just One
Featuring live mural painting by NYC street artist Eric Orr (Serato)
Gates @ 12pm / all-ages w/ beer garden
ONLY $8 adv. / $10 at the gate
ADVANCE  TICKETS
@ The Mural Amphitheater in Seattle Center : 305 Harrison St
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*OPTICAL 3 – Resonant Channels*
Mortiz Von Oswald Trio  //  Vladislav Delay  //  sanso-xtro
Doors @ 5pm / all-ages / $20 adv. / $25 at the door / NOT INCLUDED WITH PASS
ADVANCE  TICKETS
@ Triple Door : 216 Union St
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*Decibel Finale – Dub My Soul*
Monolake  //  Cassy  //  Luke Hess  //  Fax
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $17 adv. / $20 at the door
LED lighting & programming by audiopixel
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Neumos : 925 E. Pike St
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*Bubblin’ Showcase*
Kyle Hall  //  Ben Tactic  //  Lincolnup
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $8 adv. / $10 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ Sole Repair : 1001 E. Pike St.
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*Shift Records Label Showcase*
Press  //  Grym  //  Dirty  //  Dubtek //  Dash EXP  //  Surpass  // TZR  //  Lukki
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $5 at the door / Free with dB Pass
@ HG Lodge : 722 E. Pike St.