Sub Pop Slurps the Best Soups at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
One of the most important questions I get asked while working at the airport isn’t, “How do I get to my rental car?” or “Is there a smoking section in here?” or “Are you the Duty Free store?” but rather, “What is the best food in the airport?” A person who has just met me has now put his or her stomach in my hands. It presumes that I am closer to a ‘foodie’ than a garbage rat, and it’s not a question I take lightly.
So, what is the best food in the airport? It depends on what kind of food you like. Do you have time to kill and cash to spend on a ‘nice’ meal? Do you want a gut-punch of food that will ensure you pass out during your flight? Do you want some kind of regional fare to the Seattle-Tacoma area? Does flying make you nervous, ergo, you want comfort food with no surprises? Are you vegetarian? Those are just some of the questions that run through my head when confronted by the question of where to eat in the airport, but lately, I’ve only had one type of food on my mind.
Soup.
It’s warm, flavorful, hearty but not too-filling, and usually can be found at an affordable price point (although I can’t wait for the day that I have three martini lunches at Anthony’s on the regular). I know what you’re probably thinking, “There can’t be that many soup options at the airport.” Well, guess what, there are so many soup options at the airport, it’ll make your fuckin’ head spin. I asked some of my co-workers for their favorite soups at the airport, and learned more about soup than most folks will ever need to know in their lifetime. So, here’s a practical knowledge bomb that will help you fight off the winter doldrums before your next flight:
Waji’s Udon Noodle Soup: Here’s what you get with their udon noodle soup: A delicate broth, thick noodles, fish cake, and the longest cylinder container I’ve ever eaten out of. Getting to Waji’s involves a trek down to the end of the C Concourse, but it’s definitely worth it.
Wolfgang Puck Gourmet Express: I’ve heard rave reviews of their butternut squash soup, a dish I haven’t yet tried, but I was quite impressed by their cup of tortilla soup, which came with nice flourishes like cilantro, avocados, and a complimentary roll.
Dish D’Lish Soup of the Day: Part of the fun of going to Dish D’Lish is the surprise of what kind of soup they’ll have that day. With our store being open 7 days a week, our staff has tried to come together to decipher Dish D’Lish’s daily soup schedule, but we’ve yet to crack the code, and we’re always left in suspense. We have been treated to the likes of chicken and rice stew, cream of artichoke soup, and even a curry. (Dish D’Lish, if you are reading this, please bring back the curry).
Maki of Japan Miso Soup: It’s miso soup. When done right, miso transcends all description. What more can you want?
Beecher’s Soups: While Beecher’s Handmade Cheese might be well-known for its mac n’ cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches, they also offer more than just a nominal tomato soup. There’s a tasty french onion soup, complete with croutons and cheese that can stand alone, along with a rotating seasonal; at publication, the seasonal is a nice vegetarian chili. Is Chili a soup? A stew? Who cares. Pair it with a bread roll and you’re set.
Wendy’s Chili: OK, so if I’m gonna include Beecher’s chili here, then I have to throw in Wendy’s chili, as well. If you haven’t eaten it in a while, Wendy’s chili packs more of a punch, with meat and plenty of beans. (They don’t call it Rich & Meaty Chili for nothing). Order it off the value menu with a side salad and baked potato, and you’ve got a 3 course meal for under 10 bucks.
Qdoba Mexican Gumbo: So while we dive into the stew realm, Qdoba’s gumbo is a playful concoction for when your typical enormous burrito gets boring. (But I’m pining for the day that they roll out a pozole).
Ivar’s vs. Anthony’s Clam Chowder: Look, I’ll be upfront with you all. I might love soup, but overall, clam chowder grosses me out. Something about the milky creaminess of it just never sounds appetizing to me, but maybe one of these days I’ll come around. Ivar’s and Anthony’s, two venerable local Seattle seafood chains with locations in the airport, both serve clam chowder, and I feel obligated to include it here. Simply put, a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport soup list wouldn’t be complete without their inclusion, but you’ll have to try these out for yourself.
Wolf Parade have reunited after a 5-year hiatus and scheduled a series of residency shows (watch the trailer here) in North America and the UK for 2016. The band shared the news earlier this morning via their newly launched website and social media accounts.
New to Wolf Parade? We made this handy Beginner’s Guide playlist just for you!
The band had this to say about the reunion: “Hey-o everyone! The hiatus is over! We’re so excited to finally get back on stage together at these residency shows in NYC, Toronto, and London. We’ll be playing our favorites from from all the old albums, of course, as well as a taste or two of the new tunes we’ve been writing. Hope to see you there! XO, WP.”
Wolf Parade will perform at New York’s Bowery Ballroom (May 17th-21st), Toronto’s Lee’s Palace (May 24th-26th) and London’s Scala (June 14th-15th). Tickets are available now through wolfparade.com. UPDATE: Due to overwhelming demand, the band have added 2 more shows in Downtown Canada at Lee’s Palace! See the fill list of dates below.
2016 Residency Shows May 17 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom May 18 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom May 19 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom May 20 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom May 21 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom May 24 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace May 25 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace May 26 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace
May 27 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace
May 28 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace Jun. 14 - London, UK - Scala Jun. 15 - London, UK - Scala
Heron Oblivion have announced U.S. west coast tour dates in support of their forthcoming self-titled debut. You can listen to lead track “Oriar” right now on YouTube and Soundcloud.
Shows include: February 7th in Portland at Sabertooth Music Festival (with Built to Spill and Mikal Cronin); an album release show on March 3rd in Oakland at Starline Social Club; March 5th in Los Angeles at Resident (with labelmate Morgan Delt); And March 6th in San Diego at ‘Til Two. Additionally, Heron Oblivion will appear at Marfa Myths in Marfa, Texas on March 11th and Austin’s Levitation Festival April 29th-May 1st. (All dates below)
Heron Oblivion will be released on CD / LP / DL / CASS worldwide March 4th through Sub Pop, and is now available for preorder from the Sub Pop Mega Mart,iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and Bandcamp. LP preorders from megamart.subpop.com will receive the limited “Loser” edition on clear vinyl with white swirl (while supplies last), and there’s a T-shirt available on its own or in a $ saving bundle!
More on Heron Oblivion from WFMU’s Brian Turner: Pastoral pummel. Listening to Heron Oblivion’s album feels like sitting in a lovely meadow in the shadow of a dam that’s gonna heave-ho’ any minute. Members of this new San Francisco combo have put in time in both raging and relatively tranquil psychedelic sound units—this is the premise and the synergy behind this very unique and special new album (read more at Sub Pop).
Heron Oblivion, which features the highlights ”Oriar”, “Beneath Fields”, “Your Hollows” and “Sudden Lament”, was produced and mixed by the band and Eric Bauer in San Francisco at The Mansion.
What people are saying about Heron Oblivion: “…A raging new psych band.” - Uncut
“Expressive guitar lines laced with feedback sprawl out again and again without trailing away too far. Meg Baird’s serene voice harkens back to ’60s folk singers, subdued in a way that lends special gravity without being bombastic. Frankly, the group sounds exactly like what psychedelic rock should sound like” [“Oriar”] -Stereogum
“Not much of HO’s music lives online at the moment, but what’s there suggests a group— Ethan Miller, Noel V. Harmonson, Meg Baird, and Charles Saufley—who like to jam for long durations in the fuzzy, fiery guitar-laden zone where Neil Young’s Zuma meets Joe Walsh-era James Gang. (One track is called “Funeral Funk 49,” and while it’s not as funky as James Gang’s 1970 hit, it takes you deeper into trance land.) Heron Oblivion also claim influences from the Japanese power-psych label PSF and UK electric folk rock, and Baird’s vocals counterbalance the swarming sound with a dulcet breeziness. - The Stranger
San Francisco band Heron Oblivion (who just signed with Sub Pop) opened the night. Fronted by singer/drummer Meg Baird of the Espers (and a Philly ex-pat who’s sung backing vocals for Vile), the band set the tone for the night with some moody psych-folk/noise rock that was made all the more impressive when paired with Baird’s powerful, haunting voice. - Three Match Breeze
Tour Dates: Feb. 07 - Portland, OR - Sabertooth Music Festival (Crystal Ballroom)* Mar. 03 - Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club Mar. 05 - Los Angeles, CA - Resident** Mar. 06 - San Diego, CA - ‘Til Two Mar. 11 - Marfa, TX - Marfa Myths Apr. 29 - May 01 - Austin, TX - Levitation Festival * w/ Built to Spill, Mikal Cronin, Snakes ** w/ Morgan Delt
Mass Gothic have shared an official video for “Every Night You’ve Got To Save Me”, the iridescent new single from their forthcoming, self-titled debut. The exuberant visual, directed by Addison Post (Colleen Green, Solvey), follows group members Noel Heroux and Jessica Zambri on a wild night out in Manhattan.
Stereogum says of “Every Night You’ve Got To Save Me”: “A jaunty pop track with shades of Dexy’s Midnight Runners, the New Pornographers, and the Shins. The song is incredibly winsome on its own, and the effect is only amplified by director Addison Post’s video, which features Heroux and Zambri chilling in NYC locales ranging from bar to sidewalk to bathtub (see video premiere January 11th).”
Mass Gothic will be available on CD / LP / CASS / DL worldwide February 5th through Sub Pop, and is now available for preorder from Sub Pop MegaMart, iTunes, Amazon, Bandcamp, and Google Play. LP preorders from megamart.subpop.com will receive the limited “Loser” edition on banana yellow vinyl (while supplies last).
Mass Gothic’s previously announced 2016 headlining tour begins February 4th in Philadelphia at Johnny Brenda’s and currently ends March 19th in Austin at SXSW. A complete list of tour dates might be found below. (spoiler: it’s down there.)
More about Mass Gothic: This year marks the release of Mass Gothic, the Massachusetts-bred, New York-based singer/songwriter’s self-titled Sub Pop debut. Written and recorded at home over four months during the winter of 2014-2015, it’s a stunning reminder of not just Heroux’s own remarkable talents as singer and songwriter, but how unbridled creativity can both sound and feel as well: Before Hooray For Earth had quickly become a fully-functioning band, it began as a solo project. No pressure or compromises—just Heroux, a four-track, and an irrepressible urge to “jot down all of the noise and music floating around in my head” and make it available to other people. “All I wanted to do was whatever I do when I’m alone and I’m unconcerned with what anyone else wants or expects,” he says. “I did my best to let go, and what came out was pure, uncut. It reminded me of the first few times I made music, when I was a young kid. I didn’t set any rules and I had zero expectations.”
The result is an expansive, often exhilarating set of guitar-driven pop that required very little editing when it was done (read more at Sub Pop).
[Photo Credit: Shawn Brackbill]
Tour Dates Feb. 04 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s* Feb. 05 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop* Feb. 06 - Chicago, IL - Schuba’s Tavern* Feb. 08 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry* Feb. 11 - Boise, ID – Neurolux* Feb. 12 - Seattle, WA - Columbia City Theatre* Feb. 13 - Portland, OR - Bunk Bar* Feb. 14- San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop* Feb. 16 - Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg* Feb. 18 - Denver, CO - Lost Lake* Feb. 19 - Kansas City, MO - Riot Room* Feb. 21 - Louisville, KY – Zanzabar* Feb. 22 - Cincinnati, OH - MOTR Pub* Feb. 23 - Pittsburgh, PA - Club Café* Feb. 25 - Allston, MA - Great Scott* Feb. 26 - Providence, RI - Columbus Theatre* Feb. 27 - Brooklyn, NY – Palisades* Mar. 10 - Washington, DC - Black Cat Mar. 12 - Savannah, GA - Savannah Stopover Mar. 16 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 17 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 18 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 19 - Austin, TX – SXSW *w/ Mazed
So Pitted have shared, “feed me”, a new track from neo, their forthcoming Sub Pop debut.
DIY had this to say about it, ”neo is one of 2016’s early head-turners, a first work that brings an eerie sense of purpose to sludgy, rough-edged punk.” … “The group deal in strange abstractions on their first work, employing dark, chugged guitar lines and vocals that sound like they’ve been zapped in a mad scientist’s lab. Capable of hypnotising and exploding in one fell swoop, they bring something different to the table. Case in point - ‘Feed Me’, a bizarre twist on guitar-led norms. Feedback plays as much of a part as the slimy, dragged-out pace (see track premiere Wednesday, January 6th).
The band have also just added European tour dates to their 2016 tour schedule, beginning March 4th in Paris at Mecanique Ondulatoire and ending March 12th in Berlin at West Germany.
Their U.S. tour continues this Friday, January 8th, with a show in Brooklyn at Palisades and ends January 12th in Philadelphia at First Unitarian Church. Highlights along the way include a few dates with label mates METZ and Startime International recording artists Bully (January 9; 11-12). Additionally, the band will appear at SXSW. (detailed tour info below)
You can also watch the band’s live performance of “rot in hell”, which was filmed at The Echo in Los Angeles for Red Bull Sound Select’s “30 Days in LA Festival (see Pitchfork TV November 24th).”
Sub Pop will release neo on CD / LP / DL worldwide on February 19th, 2016. You can (and should) preorder now from Sub Pop Mega Mart, iTunes, Amazon, Bandcamp and Google Play. And remember: LP preorders of neo through megamart.subpop.com will receive the limited “Loser” edition on white vinyl while supplies last. There will also be a time-limited edition T-shirt, hand-bleached by So Pitted, that is available only during pre-order so time, as they say, is of the essence.
More about So Pitted’s neo: These eleven tracks are lean and snarling rebukes, torch songs not in the traditional, unrequited-love sense, but songs that will torch your fucking house down. Screams and howls overtake chants and muttering, equal parts dejection, rejection, and convection, the hot, muggy air circling continuously. It’s fuzzy, angular, throbbing, and pounding, and still, ingrained in the songs by their makers, breathes that catchy quality present in so much of the music they love. Songs like “holding the void,” “rot in hell,” and “woe” crash over and over, turning under themselves like waves, but as the measures tick off, the dog-eared melodies and familiar themes begin to reveal (read more at Sub Pop).
What have “the people” said about So Pitted? Glad you asked: “Ragged, nonlinear, a little dangerous, “rot in hell” was one of the first tracks So Pitted wrote together, and the video is funny and surreal, featuring a friend of the band playing various band members. It feels like being at home at a basement show, ready to hit your head on a low ceiling bringing your amp down the stairs, buzzing with a little bit of nausea and excitement. It burns with the urgency of the music you need to make or you’ll crumple, music you’d be making whether other people heard it or not.” [“rot in hell”] - Impose
“It’s grimy and tormented all right, but intent on subverting the many adolescent cliches and connotations that come with grunge.” [“rot in hell”] -The Guardian
“…A raucous, inspiring noise, the buzzsaw melody is matched to wailing feedback - imagine Bikini Kill set against early Mary Chain and you’d probably be in the same ballpark.” [‘rot in hell”] - Clash Music
“…making a name for themselves with a sneery, warped, post-apocalyptic punk sound and wild stage show.” - Brooklyn Vegan
“So Pitted’s set called to mind Metz, Minutemen, Big Black, Pere Ubu, and Nirvana at their wildest” - FLOOD
“[A] Seattle trio who are basically unmatched in terms of sheer gonzo ingenuity. Live, the band combines anarchic heaps of guitar and childish melodies with plodding, sludgy rhythms. They understand just how powerful their live show is, too” - Portland Mercury
“What’s special and unique about So Pitted is that they not only clench to the demonic punk downpour and logger-heavy rock of the Northwest, but also to the nihilistic musical cannibalism of San Francisco weirdos Chrome and late-’90s San Diego artcore groups like the VSS and the Gravity Records camp. There’s a caustic demo quality to their sound that’s alien and distorted, liquidated to move units at the Gross Out. It’s not only thorny, horny, and repulsive, but angular, tangled and mangled.” - The Stranger
Tour Dates Jan. 08 - Brooklyn, NY - Palisades Jan. 09 - Boston - The Sinclair * Jan. 11 - Washington, D.C. - Rock & Roll Hotel * Jan. 12 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church * Mar. 04 - Paris, FR - Mecanique Ondulatoire Mar. 05 - Amsterdam, NL - Butcher’s Tears Mar. 07 - London, UK - The Shacklewell Arms (Free Show) Mar. 08 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Games Room (Free Show) Mar. 10 - Lille, UK - La Peniche Mar. 11 - Brussells, BE - Homepluged Mar. 12 - Berlin, DE - West Germany Mar. 15 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 16 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 17 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 18 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 19 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 20 - Austin, TX - SXSW * w/ METZ + Bully
Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas From Your Friends at the Sub Pop Airport Store:
Imagine this scenario: You arrive at the airport, on your way to see relatives for the holiday season. You have already bought and packed presents for each family member, when panic strikes. You have forgotten someone. You remember the stray facts from half-remembered phone conversations with loved ones this last year. Your sister had triplets; your cousin returned from the Peace Corps; your estranged uncle has been welcomed back for Christmas; grandma has a new boyfriend that she’s introducing to the family.
If you are traveling in or out of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport this week, there’s no need to fear. Your friends at the Sub Pop airport store have you covered for last-minute gifts. Here are just a few that you can pick up at the store (while supplies last):
Loser Editions of Your Favorite Records:
Did you know that first pressings of new Sub Pop LPs are usually done on colored vinyl? We call this the “Loser Edition,” and the airport store always has a steady supply of the newest releases. You could take home Beach House’s Thank Your Lucky Stars (ultra rare glitter vinyl AND green vinyl), Deaf Wish’s Pain (clear with black), Flake Music’s When You Land Here, It’s Time to Return (orange vinyl), and/or many other varieties for people with differing musical/color tastes. Just look for the gold ‘Loser’ sticker on the front of each LP.
Sleater-Kinney Box Set:
Are you tired of scanning the resale market for last year’s Sleater-Kinney box set, Start Together? After thinking we sold out of box sets last winter, we stumbled upon a few more in a supply closet. Are we the last brick n’ mortar store in the world to have these in stock? Possibly. Do you want the hottest box set from last year, for this year? Here is your chance! We also still have a few Deluxe editions of this year’s superb No Cities to Love LP if you want to go all out and complete the discography.
‘Tis the Drinkin’ Season:
Now that I’m an adult, I’ve learned an important secret about the holidays: they are primarily made tolerable by alcohol. With that in mind, the airport store has plenty of options for you and your lushy-loved ones. Might you consider a Sub Pop branded Stanley flask, so your aunt can always have a supply of peppermint schnapps? And what about later, when you and your siblings want to do shots after dinner talk turns political? There are the always fashionable “Loser” and “Winner” shot glasses in-stock at the store. And why not plan ahead for the morning after, when you’ll need copious amounts of caffeine to feel human again? We also have our own Sub Pop roast of Lighthouse Coffee available for purchase.
Mark Arm Bobbleheads:
What’s a perfect gift for the Mudhoney-loving family member who has everything? We suggest purchasing the brand new Mark Arm bobblehead, er, I mean, ‘throbblehead.’ Who doesn’t want a little buddy to rock out with when you’re spinning all those classic records?
Dank Crystal Candles:
Are you unsure about what to get your quiet relative, the one who usually spends the whole holiday party holed up in his or her room? The airport store is proud to carry Dank Crystal candles in many different scents, each designed to enhance the aura of every room and delicately cover up even the dankest of odors. But what makes the Dank Crystal unique in the crowded candle market? Well, aside from being handmade by Sub Pop’s own Bekah Zietz, each candle has its own purified crystal inside. A Dank Crystal is the perfect present for ensuring some calm and relaxing vibes to conclude the year.
This just represents a small sample of gift ideas you’ll find at the store. We also have countless other items for the Christmas, late-Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa gift-giving season. So, remember to give yourself extra time at the airport for these next few weeks and stop by the Sub Pop airport store. Sales associates are standing by, eager to help all you slackers find the perfect last-minute present.
