Not to say that our humble clusterfuck of a city is devoid of activity, though. The initial installation of Club Club at Chop Suey last week went--to go with the Brit theme--smashingly, as DIY go-go dancers gyrated behind screens of vintage film footage and DJs spun everything from garage to pop along a regional theme. The next ClubX2 destination is being determined as you read this. Also coming up is a display of holiday debauchery that requires your participation on Friday, December 17, as The Stranger celebrates Xmas cheer(s) with bad Santas, Christmas covers, holiday punch, and more second-rate decorations than an Aurora Avenue diner. And that's just the half of it. Mark your calendars--it's on at the Crocodile. And this week, Tablet's punkrockforlife editor Dan Halligan and I will face off in a battle of the turntables Thursday, December 2, for the Croc's happy-hour DJ set. That one's from 5:00-8:00 p.m. if you want to swing by.
Local music signings and such: If their apparel is any indication, the Hollowpoints--who are releasing a new record, The Black Spot, this February on Duane Peters' Disaster label--have been sponsored by the skate gods of Vision Street Wear. If only I hadn't trashed that robin's-egg blue, long-sleeve Vision shirt from high school... The Crystal Skulls, a local jangly art-pop act with a sizable buzz, are releasing a new record in March 2005 on Suicide Squeeze Records. Check out two of their tracks at www.crystalskullsonline.com... The Cripples and New Luck Toy are releasing a new 7-inch on Dirtnap this month... And for all you Love as Laugher fans (who might've seen former Seattleite Sam Jayne on SNL with Modest Mouse a few weeks back), that band is at work on another full-length for Sub Pop due in 2005; for now you can pick up Jayne's limited-edition The Supernatural Sessions on Luckyhorse Industries some time this month and see him perform with Iron and Wine December 12 and 13 at Neumo's.