Event

Asterhouse with Blade Palace

A deep love for the music of Jim Morrison was the seed that blossomed into Seattle alt-rock trio, Asterhouse. Earliest memories for brothers John and Russel Thornburg are of their mother playing The Doors records at home. Older brother, John, developed a reputation for belting out adult-themed Doors songs at childrens parties before his parents decided drum lessons would be a better way to challenge his growing love of music. Four years younger than John, Russ Thornburg got his first guitar at age 5 and the two have been making music together ever since.

Today, making music with Julio Posada, the third member of Asterhouse, is a joyful experience for the Thornburgs. For John, this joy is especially precious because it comes after a 10-year struggle with depression and OCD. During these years, John felt like he was in a coma. There were times when Russ wondered if continuing to perform was good for John, but he realized that it was the music that was carrying him through.

It is this firsthand experience with darkness that drives much of Johns songwriting. He wants people who may be experiencing their own version of this hell to understand that he has been where they are and he has survived. Some songs are desolate, revisiting the experience and others are more hopeful an invitation to enjoy life again.

The Thornburg brothers are very close. Thats immediately evident. They are also close to the ever present but mostly silent Julio who slayed his own demons growing up. Their collective experience has delivered Asterhouse to a place where they make music on their own terms. They also dont take themselves too seriously even though their songs invite deep exploration of painful places.

Most of all, Asterhouse offers an invitation: Come with us. Everything is going to be ok. Eventually.

Their new record, "Soul Vs. Skin" will be released this year.

Their new single "All Kinds Of Satan" has been receiving airplay on KEXP, a prominent radio station in Seattle, Wa.