THURSDAY 10/27
REVEREND GLASS EYE, BABY GRAMPS
(Sunset Tavern) See Border Radio, page 69.
CRUNK NIGHT
(War Room) See Stranger Suggests, page 35.
mike dumovich, ghosts I've met, whiting tennis
(Tractor) See CD Reviews, page 58.
SUNN O))), BORIS, EARTH
(Neumo's) Japan's Boris are a chthonic font of egregiously detuned guitars and tormented larynx shredding. Their psychotropic, heavy-me(n)tal attack fits in extremely well with the Southern Lord label's milieu of demonic drone/dirge detonations and Richter-scale bass tremors. Akuma No Uta contains overdriven, Mainliner-esque Stooges homages and masterly mastodon belching that'll toll familiar bells to Earth fans. Speaking of whom, Earth are riding suitably low in the wake of their excellent new Hex: Or Printing in the Infernal Method, a thrillingly desolate foray into doom-tastic twang and decay. DAVE SEGAL See also preview, page 49.
HEAVY TRASH, THE SADIES, VINYL AVENGERS
(Crocodile) There seems to be no quit in Jon Spencer, so this kind of stripped rockabilly side project was probably inevitable. The Blues Explosion's endless touring has grown weighted with feigned fury, so Heavy Trash feels like a welcome breather for Spencer. Side-greaser Matt Verta-Ray is also taking a break from his noisier gig with Speedball Baby. Weary yet blessed with slick hair and well-worn geetars, Trash present a fine formula for goodtime hillbilly wannabeing. The Sadies open, then back up the dapper Trash. ERIC DAVIDSON
ARMITAGE SHANKS, THE FALL-OUTS, THE RUNS
(Funhouse) You know, the best snotty UK-style punk always comes out of the UK, doesn't it? You can force all the sneering accents you like, but garagey street punk sounds extra brash from blokes like Armitage Shanks, a group that's known to be "in cahoots with the Billy Childish." Their song "Drowning, Not Waving," is wittily bittersweet, as the singer tells his lady, "I'm drownin' but you think I'm waving" to simple four-chord pop. JENNIFER MAERZ
THE DECEMBERISTS, CASS McCOMBS
(Showbox) Owning a Decemberists album makes me feel a little less bad about not paying attention in high school. The band's last two albums, Picaresque and 2003's Her Majesty, are the sonic equivalent of CliffsNotes for slackers like me who slept through World History and Comparative Lit. Lyrically ruled by lofty literary referencesâthe Portland group is named after an obscure band of 19th century Russian revolutionariesâDecemberists mainman Colin Meloy writes oddly nautical songs that must've been inspired by reading Moby Dick a thousand times. Given, Meloy's weird croon isn't for everyoneâBlender called him "donkey-voiced"âbut for those who get it, brainy never sounded so hot. MAYA KROTH
FRIDAY 10/28
wally shoup, nels cline, greg campbell
(Consolidated Works) See CD Reviews, page 58.
CRYSTAL SKULLS, WESAFARI, VELELLA VELELLA
(Vera Project) See preview, page 56.
OKKERVIL RIVER, BAND OF HORSES, THE BATS OF BELFRY
(Crocodile) See preview, page 49 and page 54.
ROCK 'N' ROLL SOLDIERS, THE VACATION
(Studio 7) Named after a Radio Birdman song, Eugene's Rock 'n' Roll Soldiers have come a long way from that stinkin' hemp-filled sinkhole they call home. Now signed to Atlantic Records, the band is all high kicks and High Life, recalling the pomp and party stance of such greats as the almighty Riverboat Gamblers. Like the Makers on a great day or the Gamblers on a winning streak, these Soldiers fight the good fight for choruses you can chant down the halls ("kickin' and a-screamin'/slappin' and a-fightin'/creepin' and a-crawlin'/we're comin' for your daughter/like a barbarian") and a pace that leaves sweat stains no spot cleaner can remove. JENNIFER MAERZ
FORGET THE GREY, HEAVY HEAVY LOW LOW, PRAISED BY THE MASSES, RUTHLESS
(Ground Zero) Heavy Heavy Low Low's thick as molasses hardcore comes with piercing guitars and sludgy vocals that scream words far more terrifying than any horror flick. The band angrily charges into demonic breakdowns while growling voices make creepy admissions like, "You would make the prettiest rape victim/god damn," and "I envision (more more more)/snapping your neck (more more more)/tilt back your head and fucking take it." Uh, yeah. Happy Halloween to you, too, fellas. MEGAN SELING
LOVE AS LAUGHTER, SAM CHAMPION, THE CAN'T SEE
(High Dive) Along with exceptional songwriting skills and a glorious sense of classic-rock abandon, Love as Laughter have something else in common with the Replacements: a penchant for unpredictable live performances. Some LAL shows have blown me away and some have left me wondering whether front man Sam Jayne had an anvil dropped on his head prior to set time. This may be reason to avoid them in club settings, but I think it's exactly why you should always catch their shows. Whether it's a watertight wonder or a ramshackle mess, a LAL gig is inevitably riveting. Show up early for openers the Can't See, a newish outfit fronted by local treasure John Atkins and driven by Thomas Wright's unique, fluid drumming. HANNAH LEVIN
SATURDAY 10/29
LOVE AS LAUGHTER, SAM CHAMPION, THE CAN'T SEE, TIM SEELY
(Vera Project) See Friday's preview.
THE BAD THINGS, BABY GRAMPS, THOMAS TRUAX, THE MOONPENNY OPERA, GUESTS
(Jules Maes) See Border Radio, page 69.
THE SPITS, HEAD, GLENN OR GLENNDA, RAIN CITY SHWILLERS
(Funhouse) Seattle should be thankful for the Spits: unserious, Ramones-pilfering punk rock, 17-minute long albums, faked British accents, legitimately funny costumes on a regular basis, and a long-standing 206 area code. The Spits aren't afraid to dress their keyboard player like a robot or wrap themselves up in toilet paper and pour beer all over the place while they rip through their catchy little punk ditties. Really, every city needs a band like this, 'cause after sitting in traffic all day, working your shitty 9-to-5, putting up with meter maids, and having no backyard, a Spits show is exactly what you need. GRANT BRISSEY
SAMEER SHUKLA & THE PART-TIME LOVERS, DARCI CASH, THE LIVING BLUE
(Paradox) The Living Blue's third full-length, Fire, Blood, Water, attacks straight from the gate with "State of Affairs," a raucous opening track with jarring guitars and lyrics that insist "you'll never find another lover like me." The drums are heavy, the vocals reeling with cocky swagger... 30 seconds in and you're sold. But by the time you hit track six, "She Bleeds Pink," you want to scream, "We get it! You can rock!" while pleading for something else to happen. This band took too seriously the advice suggesting to "stick with what you know," making for a record that never sways far from home base. What's there may be good, but it's a bit redundant. I just recommend enjoying the Living Blue in small doses. MEGAN SELING
SUNDAY 10/30
REAL VAMPIRES HALLOWEEN BALL: MON FRERE, THE CATCH, THE HOLY GHOST REVIVAL, SIBERIAN, CATBEES
(El CorazĂłn) See All Ages Action, page 77, preview, page, 56, and Stranger Suggests, page 35.
BROADCAST, GRAVENHURST
(Chop Suey) See Data Breaker, page 75 and preview, page 53.
THE ROLLING STONES
(KeyArena) Probably the smallest venue you'll see these rock locomotives play in until you make that next bazillion dollars. Their new record is... well, really, who cares what the new record sounds likeâunless your name is Jann Wenner. JENNIFER MAERZ
WITHHOLDERS, ROBB BENSON
(EMP) Oddly influenced by hallmark performers Patrick Dempsey and Brittany Murphy, the Withholders are attempting to carve a yet untrammeled path down indie pop's well-traveled highway. I was lucky enough to have caught them the other week, live, at that recent '70s Soft Rock "hoot nanny." I was indeed "withheld," as it were. Otherwise, all I really know is "Valbert" sports a mean mustache and is ex-Malinks and "Albert," oops, "Aubrey" (sorry), was in, well, I believe she was a local TV star... in the Bay Area. Now she sings and rocks the skins, on which she is learning the importance of starting on the ONE. MIKE NIPPER
EXHUMED, INFERNAL LEGION, EMBALMED, VULGARIZER
(Hell's Kitchen) With its haunted houses and monster movies, the Halloween season catalyzes a bloodlust epidemic. One of the healthiest ways to satiate this craze is seeing Exhumed play punked-up, darkly humorous grind-metal tunes about necrophilia (arguably a victimless crime) and other corpse desecrations. The group's early albums aimed to nauseate, with intestine-intensive imagery and songs like "Excreting Innards." In 2003, Exhumed released the relatively subtle Anatomy Is Destiny, with its artfully ominous isolated-eyeball cover, ambiguous song titles and improved production. On this year's Garbage Daze Re-Regurgitated, Exhumed drops the Cure and Metallica into its meat grinder and compiles the still-twitching chunks. ANDREW MILLER
MONDAY 10/31
VENDETTA RED, SCHOOLYARD HEROES, THE LASHES
(Showbox) See All Ages Action, page 77.
DJ TERRY
(Baltic Room) See Stranger Suggests, page 35.
THE WORLD ABOMINATIONS TOUR: EXODUS, THREE INCHES OF BLOOD, CRISIS, WATCH THEM DIE
(El CorazĂłn) See preview, page 51.
HEROES & VILLIANS W/DJS BATMAN & ROBIN
(War Room) Your basic Halloween costumes usually come down to the good (slutty angels, funny ghosts) and the evil (slutty devils, mean ghouls). At tonight's All Hallow's Eve party, both sides will be in good company as superheroes man the turntables and everyone battles for the $150 costume prize. JENNIFER MAERZ
SCARY MONSTERS: THE PALE PACIFIC, VOYAGER ONE, MERCIR, PLEASURECRAFT, HALF ACRE DAY, THE ELEPHANTS, GUESTS
(Chop Suey) Tonight a dozen local bands get together to celebrate Halloween by paying tribute to David Bowie, a man who's seen more costume changes than Destiny's Child on their farewell tour. Titled Scary Monsters, this cover night will feature Bowie tunes reworked by local pop outfits such as the Pale Pacific, Voyager One, Speaker Speaker, Mercir, Half Acre Day, and Mono in VCF. The person in the best costume will get his/her bar tab picked up by the club (doesn't have to be a Bowie get-up), and all proceeds will benefit Hurricane Katrina relief organizations. MEGAN SELING
TUESDAY 11/1
metric, death of a party, lovely feathers
(Crocodile) See CD Reviews, page 58.
the deadly snakes, the unnatural helpers, the honey hush
(Funhouse) See CD Reviews, page 58.
THE BAD PLUS, MOCEAN WORKER
(Jazz Alley) Former drum 'n' bass upstart Mocean Workerâversatile electronica producer Adam Dornâaims to move folks with his dynamic funk jams that boast plentiful jazz samples (dad is famed Atlantic Records producer Joel). Midwestern jazz mavericks Bad Plus work in a more cerebral sphere while also covering classic-rock staples, alt-rock hits and Aphex Twin. Bassist Reid Anderson, drummer David King, and pianist Ethan Iverson are supporting their new album, Suspicious Activity?, which sports their usual cache of elliptically tumultuous and serene piecesâand an obliquely roiling cover of Vangelis's "(Theme from) Chariots of Fire." DAVE SEGAL
WEDNESDAY 11/2
RAVI COLTRANE QUARTET
(Triple Door) See Stranger Suggests, page 35.
WE ARE SCIENTISTS
(Crocodile) This new Strokes record... oh wait, I mean this new Bloc Party record... wait, who am I writing about here? Okay, right, they're called We Are Scientists. It's getting too hard to separate a band that sings about "slaves to fashion" from one that's bonded to the whole hetero-Morrissey wail/punchy dance-pop thing. That said, these guys are commercial-radio-rific and I'm sure they'll give the Killers a run for their Blender-profile money. I just can't help feeling like I've heard all these songs before. JENNIFER MAERZ
HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS, SILVERSTEIN, BAYSIDE, AIDEN
(Showbox) When set on random, my iTunes has the sad habit of picking the shittiest songs. It's partly my fault for even having such crap on my computer, but I uploaded it and then forgot to delete it, ya know? Anyways, there's this one song that keeps popping up, this awfully typical "screamo" tune that reeks of teenage melodrama and the twisted tenderness of a band like Taking Back Sunday. And that song is "Ohio Is for Lovers" by Hawthorne Heights. It's terrible and every band on this bill is just a lukewarm variation of that exact thing set to a different speed. Ugh. MEGAN SELING
JELLO BIAFRA, THE MELVINS, ALTAMONT, BLĂĂDHAG, BABY GRAMPS
(Neumo's) They're really taking the power tools to your bone marrow with this lineup. You'd have to have been living under a boulder colony to not know the ambitious experi-metal of the Melvinsâa legendary band now augmented by the members of Big Business. And then there's the sleazy, Southern-friend boogie of Altamont, Melvin Dale Crover in a purer (well, relatively) rock trio, where heavy riffs are delivered by the bongload and melodies are fuzzier than a handlebar mustache. And you've gotta love a band with a song called "El Stupido"âa QOTSA-like ditty that layers wry insults under giant guitar quakes. JENNIFER MAERZ
