From the Mar 25 – Mar 31, 2004 issue

Music

Parties Listings

by Dave Segal

FRIDAY MARCH 26



BEN WATT/BUZZIN' FLY

Everything But the Girl's Ben Watt shifted from melancholy pop-jazz and folk musician to house-music maven with the zeal of a true believer. Watt's conversion seemed to come after a life-threatening struggle with the autoimmune-system disease Churg-Strauss syndrome in 1992. When he regained strength, Watt immersed himself in DJ culture. On 1996's Walking Wounded he and partner/vocalist Tracey Thorn delved into triphop and drum 'n' bass, and Watt later began a London club night called Lazy Dog with Jay Hannan at which both spun warm, emotive, vocal-heavy house. Now rechristened Buzzin' Fly, Watt still peddles politely thumping, organic house that whispers "sophistication" to many and "ennui" to me. I'm not hatin', just shruggin', though I do like his suave remix of Low's "Tonight" on the forthcoming mix disc Buzzin' Fly Volume One. With Brent Laurence and Wesley Holmes. Chop Suey, 1325 E Madison St, 324-8000, 9 pm-2 am, 21+, $12 adv.

SONIC FICTIONS

This sounds like one of Seattle's more interesting monthly events. Hosted by Zion 12, whose affiliations include Zion's Gate and the now-defunct BSI label, Sonic Fictions aims to shatter the 4/4 monotony that passes for entertainment at many clubs. "My concept with this night is to present forward-thinking dance music from across the spectrum, connecting the dots between many styles, trying to reach that elusive gray area that exists between genres," Zion 12 says. "I tell all the DJs that play to reach deep in their crates and bring the music they love but may not get to play out a lot." For this installment, Z and Jeromy Nail will bring house and broken-beat tracks that range from Latin to tech-y to deep. Capitol Hill Arts Center, Lower Level, 1621 12th Ave, 9 pm-2 am, 21+, $5.

GLOBALISTA!

Dancers are in capable hands with Darek Mazzone (KEXP), Advent, and drummer James Whetzel at the controls. Tonight Globalista! celebrates Six Degrees Records' centennial release, Six Degrees 100. The comp features the cream of the world-beat movement, including Karsh Kale, DJ Cheb i Sabbah, Banco de Gaia, dZihan & Kamien, Bebel Gilberto, and Spearhead. Mazzone & Co. will likely play those artists and go deeper still into the planet's most far-flung grooves. ToST Lounge, 513 N 36th St, 547-0240, 10 pm-2 am, $6.

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