In this modern age, it sometimes seems almost too easy to learn all the pertinent details of a musical act's biography with a simple click of the mouse.  Such is not the case with Seattle's Broomsticks.  Very little information can be found about this project, and the facts that are available are somewhat contradictary.  The band may be the project of one Barry Whitehead, it may be a husband/wife duo featuring Ruben Mendez and Lacey Swain, or perhaps, all three are involved.  There is rumor of Broomsticks involvement with the so-called "pizza party scene."  The band may be on a label called Haunted Horse Records, if said label does exist.  What we do know: Mendez and Swain are former members of punk act Charming Snakes, and Broomsticks will be opening for Chicago's Disappears and Brooklynites Obits tonight at the Crocodile.  If the dirty-garage track posted below, "Ghost," is any indication, this is a band worth investigating, so head down to Beltown tonight and see for yourself what Broomsticks are all about.  

Ghost by broomsticks

The Pharmacy are playing a string of shows around the greater PNW currently, but they'll be home in Seattle September 11 to play the mysterious grounds of The Black Lodge.  If you can find this all-ages venue, it'll be worth your while.  The band's latest album, Weekend, is their most refined effort yet.  They have dialed down the psych-pop angle and focused their efforts on more precise, compelling compositions, both lyrically and musically. 

THE PHARMACY - JOSEPHINE by SEAYOU

Though Seattle's folk favorites Dutchess & The Duke have folded, the beat goes on for frontman Jesse Lortz.  Lortz is back with a new solo album under the guise of Case Studies.  The World is Just a Shape to Fill the Night is a venerable attempt to instantiate Lortz into the upper echelons of talented songwriters who've struck it out alone- Leonard Cohen may be a stretch, but certainly Townes Van Zandt comparisons can be within reach.  Recorded with Greg Ashley (Gris Gris) and with help from friends including Crystal Stilts' Keegan Cooke on drums and guitar, The World is Just a Shape to Fill the Night is a well-tempered solo debut that slowly sinks its hooks into you with repeated listens.  The album is out now on Sacred Bones.    

Seattle nerdcore trio Supercommuter will release its second album, Products of Science, on August 16th on the Burn the Stereo label. With this release, the band members have once again proven themselves to be masters of multi-tasking: the record was composed primarily during their daily commutes, the practice of which gave Supercommuter its name. To celebrate the release of Products of Science, the band will perform at PAX http://prime.paxsite.com/, a three-day festival for tabletop, videogame and PC gamers, on August 27th at the Paramount in Seattle. And, as the band did with its debut self-titled release, Supercommuter will donate all the net proceeds to Child's Play, a game industry charity dedicated to providing toys and games to hospitalized children worldwide.