In the 1990s, Gary Thorstensen held down guitar duties for Seattle’s powerful and noisy TAD while Julie D held down guitar duties for the math-groove Chinchilla down in San Diego. When their paths finally crossed 2014, the result was a resonance that alluded to their previous work while adding unexpected surprises, such as their shared love of power pop and 60s folk rock. More than a decade later, the results remain similarly powerful and occasionally quirky, but still showcase a palpable melodic focus.
As Guest Directors, along with drummer Rian Turner and bassist Charles Russo, they have continued to expand their chemistry while reinvesting in themselves and embracing their DIY ethic to write, record, release, and perform as much music as possible.
Since their debut in 2016, Guest Directors have become known as a powerful live act in the Seattle scene, and have shared bills with many excellent bands, including Ringo Deathstarr, Slow Crush, Alain Johannes, Love Battery, New Candys, and Brothers of the Sonic Cloth. They also co-founded and help run the annual Tremolo:Seattle shoegaze festival, in addition to performing on several of its lineups.
"Before You Get Broken" will be the band's 10th release in 10 years, and their second full-length album. Join the festivities at this record release show!
Combining sparkling melodies with wistful guitars and playful harmonies, Model Shop’s tightly crafted indie pop frames modern stories of love and longing through a nostalgic lens, like the lost soundtrack to a John Hughes Movie. Their tangrams of influence—from Math and Physics Club and The Ocean Blue to Built to Spill and Death Cab for Cutie—recombine into new shapes equally at peace on rain-soaked afternoons and hopeful spring evenings.
Planets in the Ocean, based in Seattle, is built on the long‑running chemistry between Robb Benson, Cassady Laton, and Gwon Chang. The band formed after the end of Stereo Embers, carries forward the melodic punch and harmony‑driven songwriting the three developed across earlier projects. Their sound blends Robb's soulful vocals, dynamic rhythms, and emotionally charged hooks shaped by decades of collaboration. After a run of well‑received Seattle shows and early studio singles, the trio completed their first full‑length LP. With a March 2026 release ahead, they’re stepping into their most fully realized chapter yet.
