From the Jan 15 – Jan 21, 2004 issue

Music

Up & Coming

THURSDAY 1/15


THE PALE, ROCKY VOTOLATO, LIMBECK
(Graceland) See All Ages Action, page 47.

FEED, THE MORE, FIASCO
(Crocodile) Seattle's Feed won plenty of dedicated fans with the power-pop indie rock on their 2001 EP Safer Than Driving, and while their 2003 self-titled full-length is by no means a disappointment, it tends to dally a bit despite being perfectly suited for radio play. As for opening act the More, Jon Dombrowski's deadpan singing style is only one of the band's musical aspects lending to comparisons with early-'90s British buzz rock. KATHLEEN WILSON

BLACK CELEBRATION, THE JEUNES
(Chop Suey) The Jeunes play passionate, propulsive rock that glimmers with the steely darkness of Joy Division and the rangy lushness of Opal--guitar-led and blustery in the most enveloping of ways. If they sound like your cup of tea, be sure to check out their fine EP, Four Songs. KATHLEEN WILSON

FRIDAY 1/16


THE PROTOCOL, VERONA, THE CATCH
(Crocodile) See Stranger Suggests, page 21.

SWELL, HEATHER DUBY, BLACK NITE CRASH
(Chop Suey) See preview, page 31.

QWEL, SLEEP AND PALE SOUL, BYRDIE, DJ KITMAN, DJ TOPSPIN, THE FRAGGLE ROCK CREW, GUESTS
(Vera Project) See Stranger Suggests, page 21.

THE KING COBRA, DOOMSDAY 1999, WIKKID, JAMIE STEWART, GUESTS
(Aftermath Gallery) Tonight is the release show for the King Cobra's new eponymous CD, out on Troubleman Records. The disc displays complex, dirgy art metal layered with repetitive riffs from an Olympia trio that includes Rachel Carns of the Need (and was produced by the Fucking Champs' Tim Green). They're paired for this show with Doomsday 1999--the ex-Teen Cthulhu kids who come off like Andrew W. K. gone death metal--and New York's Wikkid. JENNIFER MAERZ See also preview, page 31.

GHIDRA, HERZOG
(Lo-Fi) The word "thrash" takes on very different meaning when you put the word "free" in front of it (and I mean the concept of free-sound, not the price)--especially if you use the term to describe a group comprising some of the most respected out-jazz/avant artists in this city. Ghidra's thrash aesthetic has less to do with Pantera and more to do with the nebulous space where punk, metal, and "the angularity of post-Beefheart aplomb" collide like comets, creating exploding experiments in sonic dissonance. The band features alto saxophonist Wally Shoup, guitarist Bill Horist, and drummer Mike Peterson, and has toured with noise constructionists Ruins. Tonight they perform with Kinski offshoot Herzog, the improv side project of the Sub Pop space-rock band. It should be a perfect pairing of aesthetics as well as a chance to check out a fairly new, intimate space with an amazing view of the Space Needle. JENNIFER MAERZ

COHEED AND CAMBRIA, VAUX, JAMISON PARKER, BEAR VS. SHARK
(Graceland, early) So I pick up Coheed and Cambria's new CD, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3, because I hear they're popular with the kids. I put it in the CD player, and WHAT!? The opening track is a phone ringing, a girl saying "Hello?", and then some mathy orchestra shit kicks in? And that's cool? Then, into the second track you finally get to hear the lead singer's uh... vocals. And once you hear him sing, you want him to stop. The lyrics alone are enough to make me cry. Not 'cause they're good and on target, but because they're über-dramatic and dumb. They're cheesier than Dashboard singing, "Your hair is everywhere/screaming infidelities." It sounds like they take themselves really seriously, too, and that's just a bummer. I couldn't make it through track three before screaming and causing a ruckus in the office. Vaux, on the other hand, just might save this show. Screamy and hard, intense and to the point--they ain't gettin' arty, they're not trying to be epic... they're just laying down the rock. Thanks, Vaux, for not having weird sound clips and Iron Maiden vocals... unlike some headlining band we don't need to mention. Oh wait, I already did. MEGAN SELING

SWARMING HORDES, THE ABODOX, IRON LUNG, GOLGOTHAN SUNRISE
(Graceland, late) If you want a good sampling of just how hot shit Seattle's heavy instrumental artillery bands are right now, don't miss this lineup. Swarming Hordes live up to their name, releasing a maelstrom of noise from two people, like a less-artsy version of Lightning Bolt. With New Knife of the Berserker, the Abodox swabbed metal gashes with astringent out-jazz, making one of the most interesting, complex local releases from the heavy contingent in 2003. Iron Lung land high on the Abodox's recommendation list too, so this lineup sounds pretty kick-ass in my book. JENNIFER MAERZ

SATURDAY 1/17


ROCKY VOTOLATO, THE PALE, LIMBECK
(Old Fire House) See All Ages Action, page 47.

RICHMOND FONTAINE, CHRISTY McWILSON, GRAND CHAMPEEN
(Tractor) See preview, page 33.

COBRA HIGH, big business, EUGENE MIRMAN, THE CHARMING SNAKES
(Graceland) See Stranger Suggests, page 21.

YOUNGBLOODZ, DJ J STYLZ
(Showbox) As one who is of the opinion that the Dirty South has only produced one hiphop masterpiece CD, Atliens (which contains the classic "Mainstream" that featured the once-promising Goodie Mob), it's easy to understand why I wouldn't have much patience for Atlanta's Youngbloodz. For example, their new CD, Drankin' Patnaz, is produced by the most banal of Southern producers: So So Def's Jermaine Dupree, Ludacris' Lil' Jon, Nelly's Trackboyz, and Nappy Roots' Jazze Pha. Despite Youngbloodz famed skillz on the mic, this roster of commercial producers means that listening through the entire CD demands Herculean strength and the patience of a god. But many of my friends contend that the Youngbloodz's debut CD, Against Da Grain, was nothing less than a breath of new life in the stuffy business of rap music. That is what they say, but I'm still of the opinion that the Dirty South has done more to hurt hiphop than to help it. CHARLES MUDEDE

THE NEW MEXICANS, THE ARM
(The Hideaway) I'm growing seriously old waiting for the New Mexicans to have their full-length, Chicken Head Talking Diamonds, released and on the streets. (Luckily, I've had a rough copy since June.) Until the disc is freed upon the masses, we the masses will have to sate ourselves with another awesome live portion of the band's blazing, mid-'90s-informed math rock. KATHLEEN WILSON

SUNDAY 1/18


YO, SON!: DJ SCENE, DJ DV ONE
(Chop Suey) See Stranger Suggests, page 21.

CHRIS SMITHER
(Tractor) See Dunk by Noon, page 39.

MONDAY 1/19


THE DEAD SCIENCE, GHOST TO FALCO, MEGAWEAPON, HAMMER & THROCK
(Aftermath Gallery) See Stranger Suggests, page 21, and preview, page 31.

THE CATHETERS, FEDERATION X, THE LASHES
(Graceland) Federation X broke up--rumor has it so the bassist could do a little thing called "go to school" back east. So this is a rare chance to catch the band before they disperse again soon. Fed X's last album for Estrus, X Patriot, was recorded by Steve Albini, so you knew it was gonna be loud and crazy. Speaking of recording, this show should be a good showcase for new Catheters material; the band is releasing a follow-up to Static Delusions and Stone Still Days on Sub Pop this May. And rounding out the bill will be the feel-good power pop from the gossip-columnists-loving Lashes. JENNIFER MAERZ

VELLS, THE PAPERCUTS, BLESSED LIGHT
(Chop Suey) It should be no news to anyone who reads The Stranger's music section that I can't give Vells enough praise. The Seattle band synthesizes all that is good about pop--the bounce, the shake, the whimsy--laces it with chiming touches and sweet vocal inflections, and bestows upon local audiences one of the happiest-sounding performances (live and on their 2001 release, Vells) we're privileged to get. KATHLEEN WILSON

TUESDAY 1/20
Oh, crap on a cracker.

WEDNESDAY 1/21
I want your candy.

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