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A line formed around the block and then some on Wednesday, May 15 at Easy Street Records' new Queen Anne location, as fans of Elvis Costello waited patiently in hopes of getting in to see his in-store performance there. Diligence was rewarded with a chatty preview of Costello's new album, When I Was Cruel, including "15 Petals," which he introduced as "one for my baby, not as in 'one for the road,' but for the love of my life for the past 16 years." Sweet.
And while we're going down memory lane, an enthusiastic crowd turned out for Adam Ant tribute band Ants Invasion on Saturday, May 18 at Chop Suey. For those who wonder whether or not they pulled it off, the answer is a definite yes, although audience members whose introduction to Ant came via MTV and "Goody Two Shoes" looked a bit lost during songs from Kings of the Wild Frontier and Prince Charming. I got a kick out of the Faux Ant, who stood 6'3". I met the real version once, and talk about wee--he in Creepers and I in Converse, we shook hands and stood eye-to-eye as the introductions were made. Which would make him 5'2" or something....
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Here we go again, and may I remind you once more to kindly not shoot the messenger: The upcoming "U.C. featuring Isaac Brock and Dann Gallucci" show on May 30 at Chop Suey is RUMORED to be a stripped-down Modest Mouse date. Gallucci, who has collaborated with MM on several occasions, is set to join the band on its summer tour (he replaces Robin Peringer, who is now playing bass for 764-HERO); and Eric Judy and Jeremiah Green, as well as FCS North's Chad States, are RUMORED to be among the "surprise guests" to appear in this second installment of James Bertram's Luckyhorse Industries series. Last month's episode featured Love As Laughter singer Sam Jayne.
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Bad sport? The Crocodile was set to host a Spike Jonze tribute night on June 5, but the event's organizers have hit a snag. Originally, the evening was to feature local bands playing the songs of artists whose videos were directed by Spike Jonze. The idea was that the videos would be projected on a screen while bands such as the Divorce, the Lashes, Super Magnificent Action Trio, and others played along. However, Jonze decided he wasn't into that, and forbade the Croc from showing his videos. So now the bands will still play the songs, but the visuals, and exactly what songs will be chosen out of Jonze's extensive videography (the Breeders, Elastica, Beastie Boys, Velocity Girl, Weezer, R.E.M., and Björk are but a few of the many artists who used him) are up to wild speculation at press time. The following week They Might Be Giants will be feted--and they have graciously given the club permission to project their work.
