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IRON COMPOSER: ANNA OXYGEN VS. REGGIE WATTS
(Crocodile) See Stranger Suggests, page 25, and preview, page 37.
THE ANSWER, WHERE EAGLES DARE, FIVE GOOD REASONS, THE BACKUP PLAN, CLAYMORE, SIX DEMON BAG
(The Paradox) See All Ages Action, page 55.
MERCIR, THE SATURDAY KNIGHTS, SABA, TRICK DECK
(Chop Suey) Mercir's new self-released record, As Small As the Center, is being celebrated tonight and if I have anything to say about, it will explode soon thereafter. They're bitter at times, but still naive enough to see beauty. They're a little shy, but still confident enough to be so totally sexy. The beats are subtle, the vocals are soft, the sounds are haunting, but how much sense it makes when all pieced together is chill-inducing. MEGAN SELING See also preview, page 41.
LARRY CORYELL
(Triple Door) This Texas-born guitarist could be considered the American John McLaughlin without inspiring much controversy. An integral figure in jazz-rock fusion, Coryell brings a fiery intelligence and nuanced, melodic sensitivity to this oft-maligned genre. Whether in group or solo settings (the man has played with nearly every important jazz artist of the last 40 years), Coryell treads a fine line between ornate bombast and controlled fury. And, like Al DiMeola or George Benson, he can get baroquely flowery on your ass, too. His work for Vanguard Records in fusion's halcyon days (1968-75) bears a scorching technical extravagance and caustic tone similar to that of Hendrix and Sonny Sharrock. It should be interesting to see if time's muted Coryell's inflammatory attack. DAVE SEGAL
THE DECEMBERISTS, THE GOSSIP, DEERHOOF, XIU XIU, THE PUNKS
(Neumo's) As they venture out on this brief jaunt spotlighting Kill Rock Stars bands, the Decemberists have put finishing touches on their third album, which is literally being mixed even as I type these words. Have I heard it? Reader, I have. Is it awesome? No. It is OSSUM! It has the maritime pallor of its predecessors, with (at the risk of extending an already overworked metaphor) even more fire in the belly. Speaking of ossum, have you ever seen the Gossip? Their live shows, which fuse gospel, blues, punk, and noise, are inspiration itself. Deerhoof and Xiu Xiu are both admirable, as well. I'd call that a good show. SEAN NELSON
HILARY DUFF
(KeyArena) Mandy? Britney? Christina? Jessica? Lindsey? Avril? Mary Kate? Ashley? I'd happily have sexual relations with any of them. (Well, okay, not Lindsey. She's too skanky and horrible even for me.) The shrewd marketing of these young ladies plays right into the (sweaty) hands of grown-ups everywhere who still pine, Humbert-like, for the girls who left them panting so many years ago, when lust was new. So, what's the problem with Hilary Duff? I wouldn't fuck her with Paris Hilton's dick. Absent the sex appeal by which most of these horrible adolescentinas live and die, Duff is left with no appeal. No voice, no chops, no charm, full stop. She's the biggest zero going, which is why she'll probably be the biggest star of them all. SEAN NELSON
GLIS, NOXIOUS EMOTION, TAU FACTOR
(Vogue) Insurance companies suck. That's something Mary Jo Nowakowski, a well-liked local business owner (www.axovus.com), knows all too well: Recently, she was diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, she can't afford insurance, so she and her family have to pay the full cost of her treatment. To help her out, Mary Jo's friends are hosting a benefit featuring industrial bands GLIS, Noxious Emotion, and Tau Factor, with another benefit to follow. There'll also be a kind of goth auction, with gift certificates from Aurifice Internet and Coffee Bar, Lucky Devil Tattoo and Piercing, MusicWerks industrial record store, and more. ERICA C. BARNETT
STEVE-O (FROM JACKASS)
(Premier) You've seen him stick shit up his ass, down his throat, and into his flesh that the laws of physics and good taste should never allow. Now see him in person, as Jackass' non-Hollywood counterpart performs a show that's part standup, part stunts, and part improv, as the former clown (yes, he actually went to clown college, as those who've seen Steve-O: The Early Years DVD know too well) takes the stage with fellow Jackasses Weeman and Chris Pontius. In the words of the main attraction himself, Steve-O's stage show is "a horrifying display of alcoholism and self-mutilation." Ah, the visionaries of modern entertainment. JENNIFER MAERZ
FRIDAY 9/10
BRAND NUBIAN, ODDJOBS, SHARKEY
(Chop Suey) See My Philosophy, page 47.
Yeah! fest!
(Eagles Hall, Olympia) See Live Wire, page 45.
THE WRENS, THE SWORDS PROJECT, THE LIGHTS
(Crocodile) You couldn't ask for a more appropriate bill in these anxious times. New Jersey's the Wrens make screwed-up, muscular guitar rock with guts and nervous energy to spare. Portland's the Swords Project transform the patient textures of instrumental rock into gripping shapes that actually feel like songs, and not just dynamic exercises. And then the Lights, who make astringent post-punk music that is so spare and punishing you almost don't notice how smart and pleasing it is. If there's a better local rock LP than last year's Beautiful Bird, I hope I hear it someday. SEAN NELSON
ABBA COVER NIGHT FEATURING THE DIVORCE, THE TURN-ONS, THE SATURDAY KNIGHTS, THE GIRLS, THE LASHES, KURT B. REIGHLEY, HYPATIA LAKE, MISS MARGIE, VERONA, AND MANY MORE
(Graceland) Normally, I'm not much of a cover-night gal. Hearing a bunch of bands influenced by some seminal act play reverential covers to said band is about as fresh an idea as hearing someone yell "Freebird" in a club. But tonight's ABBA cover night feels different--as it's unclear if any of these bands have been influenced by the saccharine Swedes, and the variety of Seattle bands undertaking a homage ranges from hiphop to new wave to punk, indie, and shoegazer pop. Should be quite the party. JENNIFER MAERZ See also preview, page 41.
NUMBERS, RODS AND CONES, OCS
(Paradox) Numbers' tightly wound music makes Talking Heads' "Psycho Killer" and Devo's "Uncontrollable Urge" sound like breezy Eagles hits. Tense and nervous? Gawd, yes. Robotic and spazzy? Certainly. Angular and abrasive? Indeed. So stiff they're kinda funky? Right on. Contort yourself two times. In John Dwyer's OCS project, the Coachwhips guitarist unveils his sensitive, introspective side. The recent Two (Narnack) veers away from Coachwhips' scalding garage rock into ramshackle bedroom/front-porch recording curiosities. With OCS, Dwyer finds his inner Sentridoh, and slaps it silly. Two is full of just-messin'-around acoustic-guitar pickin' and synth bleepin', out of which occasional sparks of casual brilliance shoot. DAVE SEGAL
THE RUBY DOE, HELL PROMISE, NEW FANGS
(Sunset) Until their new record comes out in January of next year, the only way to get a good dosage of the Ruby Doe is to see 'em live. Or, you could be me. Because as someone who has wicked mad connections (uh, actually I just lucked out), I have heard bits of the new material appearing on said upcoming record, and I'm happy to report, that for you Ruby Doe fans, it'll be worth the wait. With the intensity of a rock-and-roll thunderstorm, and the complexity of an edgy and mathematical attack, the Ruby Doe is smart. They sneak up on you slowly, but they hit really fuckin' hard. MEGAN SELING
DEEP PURPLE, JOE SATRIANI, THIN LIZZY
(White River Amphitheatre) Deep Purple should've taken the advice of their 1974 album--Burn, probably their last good one--and gone out in a blaze of booze, hookers, and speedballs. Alas, these British hard rock virtuosi and steadfast faves of many a Guitar Center employee plodded on way past their primes and now come off as more paunchy than raunchy. Still, Deep Purple have enough killer songs in their canon to make this wallow in nostalgia worth enduring the pathetic sight of wrinklies banging their balding heads to the Purple's bombastic parade of rifftastic AOR staples. So "Hush" your carping, haters. DAVE SEGAL
SATURDAY 9/11
TUSSLE, the yellow swans, eats tape
(Punkin House) See Stranger Suggests, page 25.
CROOKED JADES, FOGHORN STRINGBAND
(Tractor) See Border Radio, page 37.
Yeah! fest!
(Eagles Hall, Olympia) See Live Wire, page 45.
RECAPTURE THE FLAG! FEATURING THE CATHETERS, THE INSURGENCE, BOTOX AFTERMATH, THE HOLLOWPOINTS, RABID DOGS, DREADFUL CHILDREN, MURDOCK, THE AUTHORITIES, AMERICAN EYES
(Vera Project) See All Ages Action, page 55.
CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION, SIR MIX-A-LOT, OUTTASITE
(Neumo's) Daddy's home... and he'd love for you to prance that hot vote right over here, baby boo. With Sir Mix-A-Lot and his nasty jawns at the helm, No Vote Left Behind invites absentee voters to bring in their paper ballots, and obtain forms to switch your standard ballot to absentee, so you can vote even if you're on vacation! Amazing how that works. Children of the Revolution also turn out for the cause; they imbue straight rock with serviceable Latin swing, but are best when blending the multinational band's roots--Middle Eastern, Greek, some tablas here and there--and outstanding, elegant flamencos with singer Yva Las Vegas. Outtasite are a hiphop/rock band that sometimes backs Sir Mix-A-Lot, which must a big job for a dude with such a big Johnson (as detailed extensively on his 2003 release, Daddy's Home). Most importantly, it's crunch time; while political motivators from Chuck D to Fat Mike have combined voter activism with live shows for months (and years), Election Day looms and these final actions take on graver meaning. Make your vote heard! JULIANNE SHEPHERD
Stranger Personals
SUNDAY 9/12
JAKE FAIRLEY, obelus, zion 12
(CHAC Lower Level) See Data Breaker, page 53.
YEAH! FEST!
(Eagles Hall, Olympia) See Stranger Suggests, page 25 and Live Wire, page 45.
POP SHOPPE RECORD SWAP
(Crocodile) For all you vinyl hounds out there, what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon (from 1-4 pm) than flipping through the record collections of a bunch of local music geeks? Today's the next installment of the Pop Shoppe Record Swap, where you can browse or buy from Seattle vendors and labels alike. Rick Friel (Jodi Watts) performs. JENNIFER MAERZ
MONDAY 9/13
GBH, CIRCLE JERKS, RED TAPE, THE MEAN REDS
(Showbox) I love the Circle Jerks! Their social influence is unfathomable, as it was bands like them that encouraged, independently, a swathe of working/middle-class kids into SOMETHING besides TV-pacified prickdom with an awareness, political and otherwise. Okay... GBH... I know I'll get shit for this, BUT... GBH always struck me as a poor man's Discharge; their saving grace was their humor! But... BUT then came their Fridge LP... and it was really BAD metal. Now, I know most ALL UK hardcore bands eventually went "metal," to some degree, but GBH, like most other spiked UK HC groups, didn't have the chops and I was the ONLY one to call 'em out as WEAK! Well, actually, I just refused to see 'em as HC any longer once they'd "crossed over." At the time, to ME, that kinda shit was like Dylan going fucking ELECTRIC, but everyone else mohawked, skint, or otherwise identifiable by a sleeveless jean jacket with a crudely rendered Corrosion of Conformity skull as the decorative "artwork," still loved them. Hmmm, but then maybe I just felt sorry for them kids as I'd been smart enough to make a stencil for my Crass-logo and COC-skull denim-jacket artwork. MIKE NIPPER
TUESDAY 9/14
GOLDIE, MC ARMANNI, INK BAILY
(Baltic Room) See Data Breaker, page 53.
OSCILLATE
(See Sound Lounge) See Data Breaker, page 53.
GIBBY HAINES AND HIS PROBLEM, THE WIVES, THE LOT SIX
(Chop Suey) It's depressing to hear how far this ex-Butthole Surfers vocalist has fallen. During the '80s, the Surfers dragged acid rock through a filthy back alley until it was grotesquely disfigured. Their four heavy-as-sin, fucked-to-hell albums from 1985-88 were stunning for their hideous distortion of psychedelica. But maybe the drugs finally caught up with this tall Texan. His new album, Gibby Haynes and His Problem, is utterly dispiriting. Hearing the once-great frontman go through the mediocre motions over exhausted garage rock, psych lite, and midtempo rockers '90s-era R.E.M. would reject is almost enough to make you sell your treasured green-vinyl copy of Cream Corn from the Socket of Davis EP. Almost. DAVE SEGAL See also Stranger Suggests, page 25.
WEDNESDAY 9/15
PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS, GIANT PANDA, IGUALES, MASSIVE MONKEES
(Chop Suey) See Data Breaker, page 53.
THE HENTCHMEN, THE DTS, THE HOT ROLLERS
(Sunset) With Detroit noise getting hyped to high heaven, diminishing returns should be an inevitable result, but the Hentchmen have remained steadfast and true throughout the whole ordeal. For over a decade, the Hamtramck trio have been peddling a speedy cars-n-girls teen beat, unfailingly faithful to (but never derivative of) the mid-'60s frat rock that fuels them. Their lean organ-drum-guitar lineup allows them to shake up arrangements with ease, which means one curveball riff after another aimed squarely at the pants. Always wildly kinetic in person, the Hentchmen bring wit, sweat, and showmanship to the surf/garage/punk arena, and are best enjoyed front and center with a can of Stroh's in each hand. A small beer joint like the Sunset is the perfect venue for such a show, so the advantage is all ours. FRED BELDIN
PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS
(Chop Suey) Habitual Cali crate-diggers Thes One and Double K have no intention of deviating from their old-skool hiphop steez. They possess awesome record collections (they surely get hard looking at shelves of old vinyl), and you can hear PUTS chop and loop said wax for maximum dopeness on their four albums. More laid-back than fellow back-in-the-day resurrectors Jurassic 5, PUTS still uplift with their fundamental funk jams that evoke summer parties and my hoops-playing days as a youth. With Massive Monkees, Giant Panda, and Iguales. DAVE SEGAL
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