Tag Archives: KEXP

Seattle Peach 100: Sharlese Metcalf

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Seattle Peach

A Northwest girl, through and through, the latest installment in the Seattle Peach 100 was born and raised right here in the SEA. As a young lady, Sharlese Metcalf (or DJ Sharlese aka DJ SH6RL6S6) had her on-air debut as a DJ thanks to college radio at KGRG at Green River Community College. Since her return to the Emerald City, Sharlese has become a household name for many music fans in this town, thanks to her work as a DJ on the world famous, KEXP. Years ago now, she started as a volunteer and has worked her cute little buns off for her recent ascension to full-time host of Audioasis.

In addition to having one of the coolest DJ gigs in the city, Sharlese has also been holding down monthly parties at the Wildrose called Brush Off for what seems like forever. Following a loose DJ/local live band/DJ formula, the party has developed a reputation for building a sense of community as fans can expect to hear lots of different kinds of music, and always from their own backyard. Last year, Rxch Wxtch asked Sharlese to DJ one of the very first Second Sight parties, and was immediately invited into this ever growing collective of DJs and event production gurus. This girl stays busy–on top of all her DJ antics, she’s also done guest writing for the Stranger and even made a guest appearance on P Smoov’s popular mixtape, Face Scrunchers Vol. 2, where she reads a spoken word piece.

A local music diehard since birth, Sharlese is one of the peachiest ladies in this fair city. She is, without a doubt, a boss bitch runnin’ shit, and she is sweet as pie while she does it, without even trying. Her warm, welcoming personality and infinite wisdom has been a source of inspiration and mentorship for many people across the city, Seattle Peach included. Her promotion couldn’t be more deserved–Sharlese is fated to take over the world. To learn more about what goes on in that gorgeous head of hers, read Sharlese’s Seattle Peach 100 Fact Sheet below!

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Seattle Peach 100: Trent Moorman

Posted on April 21, 2011 by Seattle Peach

Trent Moorman, master of the membranophone, first caught Seattle Peach’s attention back in 2008 when I first saw him play with Head Like A Kite. Trent has played with, like, every single band in Seattle, including but not limited to the Saturday Knights, Sleepy Eyes of Death, Gabriel Mintz, Fresh Espresso, Mad Rad, and Metal Chocolates. He has deeply immersed himself into the world around him, involving himself in such projects as the Songs For Eating and Drinking series, Cafe Vita’s GIVE compilation, the Go! Machine events, the massive Head Like An Espresso Truck live collaboration, and he has been known to pop into KEXP from time to time to lend a hand. Seattle Peach was thrilled when Trent started writing Soundcheck, his weekly column in the Stranger, and even more excited to hear of his publishing aspirations.

Trent has always stood out in my eyes because of his genuine smile, welcoming presence and unique mind. He always just seems so happy to be alive. His writing style is magnetic and eccentric, especially for music journalism, and he always seems to find the most clever and specific means of description. He is very playful and from what I can see, compulsively creative. Seattle Peach picked Trent for the 100 because his tenacity is so motivating. It’s hard to sit stagnant and not dive head first into your passions when you know that there is someone like Trent hustling around the city.

Check out Trent’s Seattle Peach 100 Factsheet to find out more. He filled it out in the conference room at the Stranger offices donning his “thinking cap” (see photo below):

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Happy Hour Thank Yous from Seattle Peach

Posted on July 20, 2010 by Seattle Peach

The Seattle Peach Happy Hour at Homegrown last Friday was awesome! Thank you so much to all of you who came–and major thanks to Big Rob of Homegrown and Members Only Records for hookin a peach up with a sweet spot to throw a little shindig. I also have to shout a big peachy thank you to Sharlese of KEXP’s Audioasis, who kicked out the jams while we sipped free beer from Mama Peach and Seattle Peach champagne cocktails, munched on peachy Homegrown sammies, and caught up with friends. Also, big ups to Jeff Lawrence, aka DJ 100Proof for designing the poster and lending a hand on the sound front. Jennifer Petersen of Sport’N Life Records gets big hugs and kisses for leading a great discussion on women in hip hop and for just being her amazing peachy self.

The first year of Seattle Peach has been absolutely amazing. I have had the pleasure of working with some of the most talented musicians, designers, stylists, photographers, make up artists, hair stylists, videographers and graphic designers that this town has to offer. Seattle Peach is eternally grateful for all who have volunteered their time and talents to this project. The happy hour event was more than I could have hoped for. Below you will find a gorgeous set of photos taken but the magnificent Miss Janae Jones. As always, keep it peachy!
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Happy Hour Just Got A Little Peachier

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Seattle Peach

Very exciting news on the Seattle Peach happy hour front! Jenn Petersen of Sport’N Life Records fame will be speaking at the event on July 16. Jenn’s work with female-centric party professionals, Cafe Society, has been a big time source of inspiration to this little peach and I am thrilled that she will be tackling the topic of Women in Hip Hop at Seattle Peach Happy Hour. As someone who has been fascinated by the power dynamics of women in the music industry since I first discovered riot grrl when I was 15, I find the unique gender politics of hip hop to be a mysterious world full of complicated issues, and I can’t wait to see what Jenn has to say about it.

Also confirmed is our totally amazing DJ, none other than Sharlese of KEXP’s Audioasis. Seattle Peach thinks Sharlese knows what is up. We have discussed an “electro/hip hoppy/kinda girly/but also whatever” set, and obviously Sharlese knows what the hell she is doing, so Seattle Peach happy hour may very well turn into Seattle Peach happy little dance party hour at Homegrown Sustainable Sandwich Shop on July 16 at 4PM (put that shit in your calendar!). We have some other peachy surprises up our sleeves which may or may not involve a peach colored leotard. Just sayin’.

Keep it peachy!

(Photo of Jen with Cafe Society Co-Founder, Sarah Walczyk by Abbey Simmons; Photo of Sharlese with St. Vincent by Blush Photo.)

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Seattle Pride 2010

Posted on June 26, 2010 by Seattle Peach


Let the Pride festivities commence! I know some of ya’ll are already nursing your hangovers from last night’s blow out, but Seattle Peach is saving her energy for tonight’s party train. The two extravaganzas on my list are at the Wild Rose and at Havana, where both venues have beefed out their space for a full blown gala of gayness.

Wild Rose is hosting their annual block party style live music showcase headlined by illustrious Portland electro duo, Glass Candy. Other notable sets will be from QueerBait, Fresh Espresso, Luxury AK and Sharlese from KEXP (sharing DJ duties with DJ Tim). Seattle Peach wants to give a hat tip to the Fresh Espresso boys for bringing hip hop into the Pride celebration. Hip hop has a history of homophobia, which is something that has always bothered me. Putting an end to that trend in the 206 scene is just another way Seattle can be striving to change the hip hop game in innovative ways.

After we catch the Glass Candy set, we will bounce across the street to Havana for “Hey Tranny, It’s Tranny” where we will get down hard to a drag-tastic dance party. With the homie, DJ Gameboy (and DJ Res) on the decks, live performances by Portland “Tranny Pop Sensation,” CJ & the Dolls and a host of other local favorite drag queens, it’s sure to be hot mess of glitter, sequins, feathers, and jewels. I just hope I can get all the glam offa me before I gotta roll out to work the next morning.

For all of you crazy kids that don’t have to be at work bright and early Sunday morning, slam that mimosa and coffee quick to make it down to Westlake Park by 11AM for the Gay Pride Parade. OG Peach, Dalisha Phillips, helped with one of the floats this year through her job at Communities in Schools of Seattle, which is an awesome organization that you should peep. Do it for the kids! The parade will make its way across 4th Ave to the Seattle Center where there will be a full day of celebratory activities to take part in. Mama Peach will be dancing in a flash mob set to knock everyone’s socks off at some point in the day, and the center will be packed with vendors so you can eat, drink and dance all day.

Seattle Peach will be capping the evening off with drinks with Mama Peach where we will cheers to her flash mob performance. I’m so proud of her! Then (if you’re not reconvening at Havana for the Queersucker Pride Closing Party) it’s off to a good night’s sleep. We have to remember to pace ourselves, friends. Next weekend is 4th of July.

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White Widow Weekend

Posted on June 18, 2010 by Seattle Peach

Seattle Peach cannot WAIT for the weekend to start. I’ll be a busy little bee, but it’s gonna be a total blast. After the first Dankce practice (rehearsal for Lisa Dank & the White Widows) since Hilary Paris (my WW partner in grind) left for Fiji, Lisa Dank is hosting a White Widows BBQ for us to meet all of the dancers who will be joining us for our performance at Bumbershoot this year. We have a ton of new stuff up our sleeve, and a half hour longer on stage than we usually get, meaning twice the danky goodness for you and yours to wile out to. Be at the EMP Skychurch at 6PM Monday September 6 for the most outrageous Lisa Dank set to date.

After the WW shindig, Seattle Peach is blasting off for the U Districy where the homie, Tyler Soverns, aka Rabid Child, is having a photo show at Upper Playground. With the flier promising a street BBQ, a trio of superdope DJs and the forecast promising bright summer weather (fingers crossed), this peach can’t think of a better way to start the weekend. Rabid Child has taken some of the best photos of some of the craziest parties I have ever witnessed (the Go! Machine snaps and the photos from the Magnetic Blackness release, both the Seattle and Bellingham sets, come to mind for starters). Titled “In The Grime Light,” if you were at Rabid Child’s SNAPS show at Greenwood Collective last fall, then you know that “grime” is the perfect word to sum up the debauchery in store. Plus Rabid Child’s extrahelladope photos look just that much more spectacular in large scale prints. You can learn more about Rabid Child on Line Out, where Trent Mooreman has a great little Q&A.

After a good nights rest, Lisa Dank & the White Widows will be heading down to the 253 to rock at the Grit City festival in Tacoma. This will be the last time we will perform before Lisa Dank blasts off for Europe where she will be playing a handful of solo gigs for three weeks. The White Widows will miss her, and it’s the last chance for you to see us perform before the end of July, so get your crew together and roll out to Tacoma on Saturday night. 6:30PM at the Swiss. Be there, suckas!

On Sunday I’ll be heading over to the first wedding I’ve been to in like 5 years. DJ Sean Cee (who has weekly residencies at Havana and HG Lodge) will be tying the knot with Miss Abbie Martin, who does the buying for the women’s section at Winner’s Circle (in between working at the Showbox and the Spectator). I don’t know them too well, but my man is tight homies with the little lovebirds. I’ll be rocking a flowy little navy blue number with a red belt that my girl Sharlese at KEXP hooked up (Thanks Sharlese!!!). I’m going to round out the ensemble with a pair of bright red high heels straight outta Oz. I sure hope they last, cuz the reception’s being held at Havana and Seattle Peach is gettin her dance on all night long. We’ll be goin strong late into the night, so Monday might be a little rough, but for good times like these, it’s always worth it.

Have a peachy weekend!!

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Kristen Truax Makes Me Blush

Posted on July 19, 2009 by Seattle Peach


I can not consciously talk about Seattle music or fashion without talking about Blush Photo. Blush (Kristen Truax) is a one-woman powerhouse of an operation, a brilliant rock photographer, and a very dear friend of mine. Going strong since 2006, Blush has uniquely captured the local music scene for the likes of GQ, Alternative Press, the Stranger, Seattle Weekly, Sound Magazine, and the Filter and KEXP websites.

Kristen possess an exceptional eye for composition and has a surefire knack for seizing that absolutely perfect moment on stage that sums up an entire performance. PLUS, she’s a totally radical chick with a killer sense of humor who is a blast to hang out with, whether you’re in front of her lens or just kickin’ it with her at Oddfellows.

Seattle Peach was dying to know what the latest haps is with Blush, so I shot her an email to see what was up:

You recently shot Sasquatch for Sound Magazine. What are some of your most memorable moments from the festival?
I ended-up contributing my Sasquatch photos to several Seattle blogs and publications, including The Stranger, Sound Magazine, KEXP and Gibson Guitar’s official website. This years festival was a million times more amazing than last years. I camped with (the Stranger’s) Kelly O and had a ridiculous amount of fun with my favorite Seattle buddies. I got to shoot portraits of two of my favorite bands, St. Vincent and Silversun Pickups and watched the sunset over the canyon with a new friend to the soundtrack of Nine Inch Nails performing live. It was simply beautiful. All of it was beautiful. 

Ever have any embarrassing moments on the job?
Adding a little humility to the interview, Brooklyn? I like that. Gosh, there are endless doosies and fuck-ups on my sets and shoots…comes with the territory of working with a lot of people. One “incident” comes to mind, although it’s probably more of a “Kristen-ism” than anything. When I shot Matt Brooke for Sound Magazine last year, instead of saying “Hey man, your music with Carissa’s Wierd was amazing!” Or “Gee wiz Matt, I think you’re the bees-knees!” I blurted out, “I’ve been in love with you for sooo long!!!!!” Oh Lord, I felt so so stupid the second the words left my mouth. His response was something humble, but the whole thing was so ridiculous. By the way, it’s totally true, though. 

What is your favorite venue to shoot at and why?
I get asked this question all the time and I always say Neumos. I was their house photographer for about a year and am still invited to shoot shows there. They truly are family there, which is a cool thing to have in the industry. 

Who do you think will be the next big thing to blow up out of Seattle?
Well, Blush! As far as music goes, I think those Mad Rad kids will be the ones to do it. Although they can be bunch of rowdy little shits, their music is solid and their energy is buzzing all over town. 

You just turned 28–what does this year have in store for Blush Photo?
As you know, Brooklyn, 27 was a crazy year from me personally. Blush kicked-butt, but I also had to make a lot of difficult decisions, and follow-through on them. It wasn’t easy to say the least, and right up until 11:59pm on July 6th I was ready for a new year, fresh start or however you’d like to look at it. My first focus as a fresh 28 year-old entrepreneur is my photography show I am hanging at Sole Repair during the Capitol Hill Block Party, and after that, L.A. 

* * *

Blush Photo is in the habit of hanging photo shows in rock and roll venues, such as her show at Neumo’s last spring, where she served as House Photographer, and her most recent show, “Make Me Blush,” which hung at the Gibson Guitar Showroom, where she serves as the sole photography consultant. Her upcoming photo show will be no exception, hanging in Sole Repair during the Capitol Hill Block Party weekend.

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