Portland band Radiation City plays the Biltmore March 17.

Preview – Radiation City and Deep Sea Diver at the Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver, March 17 2015

Two hot, young Pacific Northwest indie-rock bands are playing the Biltmore Cabaret Thursday (March 17).

Jessica Dobson fronts Deep Sea Diver. The Seattle band has just released its second album, Secrets. Dobson is a singer and multi-instrumentalist, and former member of The Shins.

The new album ranges from “rock experimentation to dreamy soundscapes, Kraut-esque drum and bass grooves to angular danci-ness, and full fledged orchestration to bare bones simplicity,” according (accurately) to a media release.

Jessica Dobson fronts Seattle’s Deep Sea Diver, at the Biltmore Cabaret March 17.

“Dobson has the voice and authority to tie it all together, and turn it into a cohesive unit that soars yet remains beautifully delicate and intimate.”

Live, the press release goes on to say, “the band has received acclaim for their festival-ready power and presence, Jessica’s larger than life guitar hooks, and their cascading layers that build upon each other until they reach their explosive peak.” Besides The Shins, Dobson has also played with Beck, Spoon and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Stereogum has called her “an incredible front woman.”

Deep Sea Diver, “Creatures of Comfort”:

Synesthetica is the third album from Portland’s Radiation City, and one that saw its fair share of troubles along the way to completion and release. Suffice it to say that, as the press release describe the record, “The band is sensual and synthetic in equal turns” with songs such as “the Bond-worthy” “Butter'” and “the explosive” “Milky White.” Listen below, and catch both bands at the Biltmore as they near the end of their tour.

Radiation City, “Milky White”: