From the Aug 5 – Aug 11, 2004 issue

Music

UNDERAGE

by Megan Seling

There's a new all-ages club in Tacoma. It's called the Paradigm (located at 1710 Market St), and already the venue is hosting a show (Fri Aug 6) that you really should consider attending. Not only is it a great chance to check out the nonprofit, volunteer-run space, but it's the perfect opportunity to get in on a newish band from Kitsap County called Arper.

"Arper formed with the intent of making beautiful, sparkling, Beatles-esque indie pop," says their website, and judging by the few MP3s posted at www.arpermusic.com, they're off to a very good start in achieving that goal. Pretty melodies, lush guitar work--everything sounds so gentle yet totally captivating. Some by Sea (who close out the show) will be perfect billmates with their Death Cab-influenced indie rock, while Glass People and the Woods start everything off.

But speaking of new stuff, the November Group is back together and playing a bunch of shows this summer. After taking a quick trip down the coast they'll make a stop at the Old Fire House on Saturday, August 7. Hit the show and you can pick up copies of their new EP, From Below Upward, for cheap. You can also download the new material for free from the band's website, www.thenovembergroup.com. Far from Arper's "sparkling indie pop," the November Group's furious political hardcore won't let you relax for a minute. Drums crash into guitars while lyrics like "We cannot wait/Our very lives may be at stake/Bring them all together/Ready?/Light it now!/We need you now!" fight to be heard through the thunderous instrumental collisions. The group also gets the award for best song title for "The Liberatory Potential of Hardcore Squandered by the Individualistic Manifestations of Sub Culture Diffusion, or Youth Crews and Hipster Fashion Do Not a Revolution Make."

Opening that OFH show is Mon Frere, whom you should have heard by now--if not, dude, get your ass to the show. Besides being some of the nicest kids in the world, they also happen to give the whole keyboard/guitar/drum trend a run for its money with sexy jazz-influenced numbers spiced up with badass attitude. Since winning EMP's Sound Off! competition in February, they've only gotten better as a band. So even if you've seen them before, come see 'em again. The show starts at 7:30 pm, and it's $6 at the door. MEGAN SELING

megan@thestranger.com

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