Prior to last year's Jawbreaker tribute night, no one knew just how successful a celebration of the defunct band would be. And then that warm July evening, as the venue began filling with fans, the rumors started buzzing: "Chris from Jawbreaker is here!" "The drummer is here!" It was true. Everyone in the venue was giddy with excitement as the legendary band's drummer, Chris Bauermeister, made his way through the room, chatting and drinking with fans and friends alike.
Now I can't promise any superstar sightings this time around, but because last year was so much fun, show organizer Chris Caballero has put together yet another Jawbreaker tribute night, this time featuring a (mostly) new crop of local bands.
2005's installment of the now-annual showcase features the Look, Patterns, Typical Ace, Tourist, Tex, Good Looks the Playboy, Siberian, People We Hate, and Sleepy Eyes of Death taking stabs at tunes like "Kiss the Bottle," "Chesterfield King," "Shield Your Eyes," and my current favorite, "Do You Still Hate Me?" The Thursday, July 21, show starts at 8:00 p.m. at El Corazón and costs $5.
Of all the bands, I'm extra excited to see Siberian, who, when they're not channeling their energy into someone else's greatest hits, are a fantastic and fairly young local band playing beaming indie pop. Their clean, quick guitars work well with the stunning vocals, as dynamic drumming gently crashes in the background. Upon first listen, I concluded that these guys would be the perfect opening act for a band like Snow Patrol. Except, were that to happen, Siberian would probably steal the show, becoming the victorious underdog that ultimately shows up its headliners. Siberian are far more dynamic and (if you can believe it) even more melodic than the aforementioned Scotland rockers. For the curious, Siberian posted their four-track demo on their website, www.siberianmusic.com. And should you want a hardcopy of the disc, you can e-mail the band at info@siberianmusic.com. Be prepared to melt and/or swoon.
On another note, I also want to quickly mention that the Vera Project is currently searching for a new batch of interns. Interested volunteers between the ages of 16 and 24 are invited to submit a resumé for the Booking and Promotions Assistant, Outreach & Partnership Coordinator, or Archive & Documentation Intern positions. More information (including job descriptions and requirements) can be found in the "Get Involved" section on Vera's website (www.theveraproject.org).
