Art Brut and the Hold Steady announced that their tour will hit Seattle on November 4 at the HUB Ballroom. I can think of other places I'd rather see these bands, but even at the UW, this should be one of the smartest rock shows of the year. If you can't wait, Art Brut are playing Bumbershoot on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at Broad Street Lawn.


The always-busy Kirk Huffman of local pop orchestra Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground has formed another band, called Wild Orchid Children, with some of his Weathered bandmates. Huffman told The Stranger's Megan Seling that the band originated on a trip to Black Diamond involving "the earth's fungus" and "vibrations... which rang the innards of our bodies and souls at such perfect pitches that our synapses began to receive messages and revelations." Anyone who saw Kay Kay perform at Capitol Hill Block Party has seen proof that Huffman and company can turn out a good show under fungal influence, so it's probably only a matter of time before they're sharing "the secrets to the eternal universe... and align[ing] the biosphere with the neosphere" on Last Call with Carson Daly.


As Chris Hong recently reported on Line Out: John Reis, the man behind Drive Like Jehu, Rocket from the Crypt, Hot Snakes, and Swami Records, has announced plans for a new band. The new band is called Speedo, after one of Reis's many stage names, and features Hot Snakes' Jason Kourkounis and Gar Wood. According to Reis, the band is "a combination of everything I've been a part of dating back to my prepubescent days in Pitchfork. Similar to Hot Snakes but not as sinister. Akin to the rockin' fun of RFTC but without the same kind of riffery." Awesome!


The residents of long-running all-ages venue/art gallery/studio the S.S. Marie Antoinette were caught living in the space illegally, and their lease has been terminated, effective September 7. The final show will be September 5, featuring the Sea Donkeys, TacocaT, Webelos, Lake of Falcons, and more. RIP, S.S. Marie.


Eric Howk, the Lashes guitarist who suffered a tragic, potentially paralyzing injury in May, will be playing with the band at Bumbershoot this weekend, according to the band. The Lashes play Saturday at 4:15 p.m. at the Broad Street Lawn if you want to go and show Howk some love.


Club Pop at Chop Suey got an unexpected visit from the police and fire departments on Thursday night. The show, featuring Canadian electro screecher Dandi Wind and Guitar Hero synth rockers Freezepop, was sold out, and there was a large crowd outside hoping to get in. The authorities decided it was too crowded inside during Freezepop's set, and declared that no one who exited the club would be allowed reentry. Hopefully, everyone learned a valuable lesson about fucking around with Guitar Hero.


On Thursday, Pitchfork reported that former Smiths frontman/current solo sad sack Morrissey turned down an offer of $75 million to do a 50-date Smiths reunion tour with current Modest Mouse sideman Johnny Marr. That anybody is able to offer that sum for a Smiths reunion is mind-boggling. That Morrissey is able to turn it down is impressive, or heartbreaking. But ultimately, it's admirable—I'd love to have seen the Smiths the first time around, but a reunion tour wouldn't really be the same. Better to listen to the old records at home alone and mope. It's how Morrissey would want it.

In far less expensive reunion news (maybe $40 and a couple cases of beer?), re-formed Tacoma rockers Seaweed play Saturday, September 1, at KEXP Audioasis live at the High Dive with Visqueen and Sunday at Bumbershoot at 9:30 p.m. at EMP Skychurch.


Capitol Hill's momentary monument to gay grime, Pony, continues to host some rad, low-profile shows. On Friday night, Ursula Android & the Ononos, Diamond Cut Diamond, Twin, and Gay Beast played the bar's boozy basement, and on Tuesday, the bar hosted Portland's Italo emissaries Chromatics and Glass Candy. Pony stays open only until its block of Pine Street (between Summit and Belmont Avenues) is razed to make way for condos sometime this fall/winter. Keep an eye out for more shows there in the coming months.recommended