Music

Up & Coming

HEATHER DUBY/THE MELODY UNIT/JOSH WHITE
(Crocodile) We have reviewed your list of proposed Up & Coming subjects for this week's issue, and we have a little problem. The conflicts database has shown that the Duby-White-Melody Unit write-up is strictly off-limits. According to our records, all of your eligible writers have some demonstrable connection to at least one of the performers on the bill. I feel it is incumbent upon me to remind you of this paper's bylaws, chapter XXIV, verse 14, sub-paragraph iii, which states: "Insofar as is ascertainable, no editor shall allow or allow to be allowed any contributor to the Up & Coming section who has any relationship -- including but not limited to personal, familial, financial, and social relationships -- to a subject of said section to write about said subject." Thank you for your kind attention. RANDY OCTOGENARIAN, Senior V.P., Stranger Ethics Division

TUCK & PATTI
(Jazz Alley) Whimsical: Puck & Tatti. Cute: Duck & Fatti. Hardcore: Fuck & Natti. Taboo: Suck & Daddi. Emotive: Luck & Saddi. Lite, sappy, and not worth the $15: Tuck & Patti. NATHAN THORNBURGH

KAMAKAHI BROTHERS/HUI ALOHA/

GEORGE KUO
(Century Ballroom) Nothing sells like Hawaii. There are the cruises, the shirts, and now the musicians. The Century Ballroom knows all about that: With just one Hawaiian musician -- from the duo Hapa -- they lured a number of patrons this winter. Now the Century figures that by headlining the Kamakahi Brothers, George Kuo, Hui Aloha, and other Hawaiian slack key guitar studs all at once, they can pack the house like a bowl full of fermented poi. NATHAN THORNBURGH

STUMBLEBUM
(Ballard Firehouse) Where to begin? The "Stumblebum Dancers"? The Stumblebum theme song (complete with its own dance)? The Stumblebum matches and coasters littering the club? Or the ill-advised cover of the Violent Femmes' "Add It Up" by guys who appear to be the Alderwood Mall's take on "alternative rock dudes"? Replace "alternative" with "mallternative" and "alt-rock" for "alt-jock" and you're only beginning to get the picture. I couldn't think of a more appropriate place to see this band than at the Ballard Firehouse. BARBARA MITCHELL

FRODE GJERSTAD TRIO
(OK Hotel, 8 pm) Calling Frode Gjerstad the best free-jazz sax player in Norway isn't really saying much, as his contemporaries (Jan Garbarek, for instance) never did venture "out" much. Gjerstad's passionate playing is relentlessly strong and consistently substantive -- so it's no surprise that he'll be accompanied by two of the baddest, most magical players around: New York's William Parker on upright bass (last here with Matthew Shipp) and drumming-legend-in-the-making Hamid Drake, blowing in from Chicago. JAMES KIRCHMER

JUNO/KINSKI
(Crocodile) Here's a bill made in heaven: two bands that both know how to use distortion and dynamics to create transcendent experiences. Juno's This Is the Way It Goes and Goes and Goes and Kinski's SpaceLaunch for Frenchie are filed right next to each other in my CD collection, and not because they follow each other alphabetically. Both bands are experts at the fine art of anticipation, lulling the audience with droning layers that slowly build until the music swells and threatens to burst apart. BARBARA MITCHELL

ALIEN CRIME SYNDICATE
(Showbox) Though some might say this town lacks everything except rock stars, you could also make a strong argument that most of our rock stars aren't of the vapors-inducing, pant-pant-AHOOOOGAH! type, which means they don't really count. Sure, they're smart and talented, but AHOOOOGAH!? I think not. Except for Alien Crime Syndicate, that is. Smart, talented, and check out that bass player. KATHLEEN WILSON

DOPE
(Moore Theatre) Sweet. Let's get a band together and call it "Dope." We'll do that thing where we put the microphone way up in our mouths and make scary devil sounds when we sing. We'll play at WCW Wrestling Extravaganzas and then sell some T-shirts. Then we'll brag that we sold drugs to buy our gear. Sweet. NATHAN THORNBURGH

DANDY WARHOLS
(ARO.space) Once upon a time, the Dandy Warhols seemed a sure bet for Next Big Thing status. They had it all: good cheekbones, a groovy faux-British sound, rock star attitude, and -- most importantly -- the songs to back it all up. Did the Brian Jonestown Massacre steal their mojo? Or does hanging out with Jane Pratt have the same band-killing effect as spending time with Winona Ryder? I'm sure they wouldn't agree, but I don't care if they ever become huge stars. I'm more than happy to see their deliriously good drone-pop in small venues like ARO.space. BARBARA MITCHELL

RUSTY WILLOUGHBY/DEANNA KNUDSEN/

TALES FROM THE BIRDBATH
(OK Hotel) If you need proof that a large percentage of this city's musician population have forsaken crashing on the couches of strangers for respectable desk jobs, look no further than tonight's bill at the OK Hotel. Rusty Willoughby paid his dues with Flop and Pure Joy, and Ean Hernandez did the same with Sicko. Now they trade stories 'round the water cooler at local software company Saltmine with Knudsen (who's also part of Good-Ink Records). And although it sounds like a Fox sitcom waiting to happen, this is actually a damn fine bill. BARBARA MITCHELL

WAY MILKY/PORTERHOUSE QUARTET
(Rainbow) Discussions of emerging jazz musicians often center around the young kids who practice way too much. As Charlie Parker said, "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn" -- and Way Milky, led by local bass badass James Whiton (Millennium Bug Revue, Blue Glove Club), walk with that kinda attitude. Most of the band is headed off to India soon, rather than some lame "jazz camp." Fellow Portlanders the Porterhouse Quartet are similarly unpretentious, and love to cover Headhunters tunes. JAMES KIRCHMER

LUCKY ME/SUBMINUTE:RADIO/HAFACAT
(Graceland) Although he's known to most as a mild-mannered pop craftsman and former Posie, Jon Auer is one hell of a guitar player. The powerful, moody rock of Lucky Me allows Auer to unleash his inner guitar god. His playing perfectly fleshes out a lineup that features Nylene Schmeichel's potent vocals and the thundering rhythm section of Rob Williamson and Jade Devitt. Bring on the fog, strobe lights, and flashpots! BARBARA MITCHELL

DOC MARTIN/DJ EMILY/360 BPM
(I-Spy/Nation) Tonight's main attraction should bring out the old househeads in force, as well as the barely legal, water bottle-clutching warehouse urchins. Classic S.F. house from one of the godfathers of the West Coast rave scene is guaranteed, and Doc Martin will undoubtedly deliver. On the other end of the spectrum, Seattle's own 360 bpm crew of jungle bad boys, and their groupies, will take over the mezzanine. LEAH GREENBLATT

NEVADA BACHELORS/SYCOPHANT
(Sit & Spin) The word on the street is that Nevada Bachelors' forthcoming album ups the ante on the quirky pop of their Pop Llama debut. If there's one song even nearly as catchy as "New Money Parade" (I've spent entire days with the darned thing stuck in my head), I'll be a happy camper. Here's a fine opportunity to check out what they've got up their sleeves. BARBARA MITCHELL

MICHAEL PENN & AIMEE MANN
(Showbox) Largo -- a small, inoffensively elegant supper club in West Los Angeles -- has become a clubhouse nexus for a prodigious community of songwriters and musicians who have had less-than-satisfying experiences with the record industry. For the last couple of years, Largo fixtures Aimee Mann and Michael Penn have been doing a weekly night of casual acoustic looseness, sharing the stage and trading off on recent work while accompanying one another. They bring along a comedian to provide the between-song banter. The show has been so well-received that Mann and Penn decided to take it on the road for a three week tour. Tonight's banter provider will be the estimable David Cross, who once made me laugh so hard that my eyeballs popped out and fell in my drink. SEAN NELSON

KARAOKE W/SPENCER MOODY
(Breakroom) What can we say here that won't have people moaning and groaning about the Stranger's love of the Murder City Devils? Probably nothing. But that can't hide the fact that Spencer Moody can whip up some rowdy karaoke chaos, and isn't afraid to spaz out on stage. How many of you can say that for yourselves? ERIN FRANZMAN

PALADINS/DUSTY 45'S
(Tractor Tavern) The problem with a lot of music is that it isn't really meant to be played in front of a crowd. Not so with the Paladins and the Dusty 45's. The Paladins have been entertaining crowds with their particular brand of barroom rock for decades, and the Dusty 45's have made a name for themselves as one of the most satisfying live bands to emerge from the local No Depression scene. Odds are good that if you see folks staring at their cups at this show, it's because they're crying in their beer and not because there's anything less than top-notch entertainment happening on the stage. BARBARA MITCHELL

COMMODORES
(Emerald Queen Casino) I want to use this space to start a rumor that Lionel Richie will make a surprise appearance with his old band the Commodores at the Emerald Queen. After all, what the hell else is Richie doing these days? All his best songs this side of "Dancing on the Ceiling" were Commodores tunes, and he can hardly get away with singing "Brick House" by himself. NATHAN THORNBURGH

ROBERT WALTER'S 20TH CONGRESS/

LIVING DAYLIGHTS/ROOTJOOCE
(Crocodile) Since I first saw him this past summer, Robert Walter (Greyboy Allstars' keyboardist) has apparently been on a mission to tighten up his funk, as 20th Congress now sport a new drummer, and will be featuring the stellar Stanton Moore (Galactic) on their next record. I hope these developments have juiced up the band, as their catchy, effects-tinged, retro-souljazz could have used a more fiery delivery. JAMES KIRCHMER

INDIEGRRL BENEFIT

FOR THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA CENTER
(Tractor Tavern) The WTO's Seattle episode may be over, but the battle for your mind has barely begun. The number of well-circulated publications and television/radio stations NOT "parented" by major corporations is dwindling by the day. Given this increasingly troublesome scenario, the Independent Media Center's relevance is, of course, ongoing, and support must follow. And the music? There's five acts on this folky, poppy, jazzy, Indiegrrl-organized bill -- highlighted by the fine bands Aiko Shimada and Marit Peters. JAMES KIRCHMER

THE CATHETERS
(Breakroom) This is an early show -- 6 pm -- 'cause it's mixing all-ages and 21+, and therefore part of the crowd has school tomorrow. But the lovely Catheters will learn you a thing or two about rockin' out. ERIN FRANZMAN

EARSHOT GOLDEN EAR AWARDS
(Jazz Alley) If Charlie Parker were young and alive today in Seattle, do you think he'd enjoy hanging out at this stuffy "jazz" affair -- or do you think he'd rather be hanging over at Ezell's, lickin' his daily chicken in preparation for yet another night of improvised 360 bpm drum 'n' bass-hiphop mayhem? JAMES KIRCHMER

CROSBY, STILLS, NASH AND YOUNG
(Tacoma Dome) Maybe there's some truth to the fact that people mellow in their old age -- there sure do seem to be an inordinate amount of "never-thought-I'd-live-to-see-the-day-THEY-got-back-together" reunions happening over the past few years. Unlike, oh, say, the Eagles, this one feels like it's happening less for the money than for the opportunity to see if it's possible to re-create the initial magic. (I mean, Neil seems to be doing quite well for himself, if the $75 ticket price on last year's sold-out solo tour is any indication.) Should be a great show -- but if I were one half of a famous lesbian couple looking for a biological father for my kids, I think I'd pick Neil.... BARBARA MITCHELL

ALVIN YOUNGBLOOD HEART
(Jazz Alley) As the Fremont-bound Bay Area Rapid Transit train surfaces from the Transbay Tunnel and screams around the first curve south, West Oakland continues to rot underneath. Boarded up storefronts, burned out cars, and tent cities announce to the commuters above that Oakland is the home of West Coast blues, the place where the blues lives on despite the bull market. It's also the hometown of Alvin Youngblood Heart, who rips the traditional blues as well as anyone else touring today. Come to Jazz Alley to taste the beauty of West Oakland's pain for a few hours. NATHAN THORNBURGH

BRADEN BLAKE
(Gordon Biersch) Look, it's fine with me if more of you don't take advantage of the excellent musical events that the fine folks at Gordon Biersch are hosting. For free. That just means that it's easier for me to get a prime table and that my cocktails come more quickly, as I'm having a grand time sitting comfortably and watching some of my favorite Northwest songwriters. Tonight, for instance, I'll be enjoying an evening of lovely pop songs courtesy of former Super Deluxe singer Braden Blake. Sometimes, life is too kind.... BARBARA MITCHELL

COUNTING CROWS
(Moore Theatre) I stick by everything I said the last time Counting Crows were supposed to play Seattle. Whether or not hearing "Mr. Jones" makes you want to kill (and I'm pretty sure there are documented cases where this has actually happened), Adam Duritz and company are more than a one-hit wonder or a one-trick pony. There aren't a lot of bands out there who are capable of conveying genuine emotion in an intelligent fashion. Or intelligent material in an affecting manner. BARBARA MITCHELL

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