THURSDAY 12/27

MATT JORGENSEN +451, GREGG KEPLINGER TRIO
(Rainbow) In the world of hiphop, the "old school" tag tends to be reserved for those who've managed to stay true to the spirit of yesteryear while still keeping things fresh. In today's jazz vernacular, however, there is no fully equivalent expression. As with the "oldies" crowd, the nostalgic pleasure centers of the majority of jazz's aging patrons are stirred by the stylistic superficialities of "traditionalists" rather than the primarily spiritual connections of "old school" types--such as the two fine drummers on tonight's bill. Both men are steeped in tradition but don't wallow in it. Of special note is the more "out there" Gregg Keplinger, an underground drum-scene celebrity known not only for his soulful free-jazz convictions, but also for his world-class expertise as a drum maker (for Elvin Jones) and drum tech (for Matt Cameron). He'll be keeping it real with some fellow Seattle-based veterans of distinction, Wally Shoup and Dan O'Brian. If today's jazz scene were to suddenly revert back in time to its streetwise roots (à la today's hiphop), players like Gregg and Matt would certainly feel more at home--as would I. JAMES KIRCHMER


FRIDAY 12/28

ERNESTINE ANDERSON w/THE RICH DANGEL BIG BAND
(Jazz Alley) Part of the Garfield High School (the best high school on EARTH--see Marriott preview below) musicians' hall of fame, Ernestine Anderson has grown to be a legend. Starting her excellent career at the age of 12 with the Russell Jacquet big band, she has since recorded more than 30 albums, performed at all the major jazz festivals, and is a four-time Grammy nominee. She did the same week-long "into the new year" set at Jazz Alley last year, and although I enjoyed myself in her company, I have to say it was a little weird. It might have just been a strange night, but she was singing with a big band that she found somewhat overpowering, so she kept trying to hush the musicians down. Picture this older black woman repeatedly waving her arm (sometimes even saying, "Back!") at a dozen white men, cowering with their horns in response. A big band is supposed to have a big sound, so the players seemed confused and a bit put off. She'd let them have solos every once in a while, but it seemed that she wanted them all in the other room. I forget which big band that was, though. Perhaps Rich Dangel knows how to treat the lady the way she likes. BRIAN GOEDDE


SATURDAY 12/29

VENDETTA RED, BLOOD BROTHERS, THE LASHES
(Downtown YMCA) See Stranger Suggests.

BLACKALICIOUS, LIFESAVAS, BOOM BAP PROJECT, PALE SOUL, DJ TRE
(I-Spy) See preview this issue.

BLYSS w/PAUL VAN DYK, BLACK EYED PEAS
(Stadium Exhibition Center) See Stranger Suggests.

THE HO-HO'S, GUESTS
(Crocodile) If you didn't catch the Murder City Devils' swan song at the Showbox this past Halloween, chances are slim that you've witnessed the "mostly male" Go-Go's tribute band the Ho-Ho's in action. As far as cover bands go, the Ho-Ho's do a straight job outside of the guys-in-dresses schtick, and the only gal in the group, standing up as frontwoman, sounds a hell of a lot like Belinda Carlisle. On the whole, the Ho-Ho's are like what the Go-Go's probably were in their earliest days--a little rough, but undeniably full of potential. If you love the Go-Go's, or just like cover bands, check these guys and girl out. Otherwise, how else are you going to get to hear "Lust to Love" these days? KATHLEEN WILSON

KULTUR SHOCK, GUARDIAN ALIEN
(Sit & Spin) The Stranger simply does not give enough love to Seattle's Kultur Shock. It's not because the band is bad, but because we are ignorant hipsters who wouldn't appreciate world music even if we wanted to--with the possible exception of Charles Mudede, who is, among other things, a megalomaniacal buffoon. But Kultur Shock is not technically world music anyway. It's just a very "international" band, with members from Bosnia, Bulgaria, and Japan. Kultur Shock's newest album, Fucc the I.N.S. (on Kool Arrow records), blends its members' Balkan folk traditions with guitar rock, groove-oriented electronics, horns, politics, humor, and bathos. It was produced by Billy Gould from Faith No More, a fact that the band's very funny guitarist Val Kiossovski was quick to point out in a brief interview I did with him last February. More importantly, he was quick to note that while Kultur Shock's early audiences were more ethnically identified with the band's members, over the past year or so "lots of people with long hair and hairy armpits... the whole thing" have been heading out to the shows. If you've never seen this band you should check it out. It's a hoot. JEFF DeROCHE

HEATHER DUBY, THE DEAR JOHN LETTERS, THE TERROR SHEETS
(Graceland) Look, I'm as sick as anyone of the mopey-assed slacker schtick that never seems to go out of style in these parts (and why can't the kids, like, wash their hair sometimes?). Look at them for just a second or two, and the subdued, repetitive post-folk and matted heads of the Terror Sheets' Joe Syverson, Brian Hoyne, and Chris Early may stylistically recall others from the whole quiet-is-the-new-loud scene. But give them a few minutes and you'll see that what are typical early-aughts indie rock clichés in the hands of so many others are unburnished gems in the hands of the Sheets. It's all here, often to great and subtle effect: the mumbly-mouthed words that take multiple listens to decipher; the deceptively simple churning, chiming song structures that leave you wanting more more more; the Simon-and-Garfunkel-meets-Califone vocalizing; the strummed guitars and beautiful nursery rhyme keyboards. Do you like Carissa's Wierd and Fruit Bats and Kathryn Williams and Iron and Wine? Cool, me too. See you at this show, early. MIKE McGONIGAL


SUNDAY 12/30

KING BRITT, DJ RIDDLER, JEROMY NAIL, ZION 12, RAMA
(I-Spy) See preview this issue.


MONDAY 12/31

THE SHINS, THE STANDARD, MINUS THE BEAR
(Graceland) See Stranger Suggests.

HEAVEN & HELL BALL: IQU, KINSKI, THE GUN ST. GIRLS, DJ SUSPENCE, MATT CORWINE
(Consolidated Works) For New Year's Eve: Imagine, if you will, that Kinski's music is the signal for the coming of the apocalypse. It's a bit of a stretch, but try it. Yes, imagine bombs dropping and mushroom clouds in full majestic bloom with every heady guitar swell. Imagine that war is happening on your home turf as you listen to the thunderous roil of drums and work yourself into the kind of ecstatic, trembling wax that only the chaos of New Year's Eve can elicit. And then, when the world has officially come to an end in the theater of your imagination, imagine regeneration in the form of IQU. With Michiko Swiggs on keyboards and DJ K.O. on turntables, IQU is exactly what the year following Armageddon Day would have to sound like. The duo's deeply textured electronic beat patterns, exotic "otherworldly" samples, and subterranean vitality (not to mention brash punk rock guitar sounds, theremin, and a gorgeous stage presentation), make the perfect soundtrack for your fledgling, imagined new universe. See also Stranger Suggests. JEFF DeROCHE

ZEKE, COOKIE, DIRTY BIRDS, FEDERATION X
(Breakroom) The last time I made reference to the Breakroom's decidedly crusty crowd, I received several threats on my voice-mail from employees of neighboring pizza joint Piecora's, daring me to dine at their restaurant and promising that if I did, my pie would include certain germ-riddled, staff-produced bodily fluids and solids among its toppings. YUM! And, might I add, HOW MATURE! So I guess I shouldn't plan to eat at Piecora's anytime soon, because though Zeke is a fun, crowd-pleasing, kickass band, it must be noted that ZEKE IS PLAYING THE BREAKROOM'S NEW YEAR'S EVE BLOWOUT, AGAIN. At least the club knows what brings in its crowd. KATHLEEN WILSON

MARRIOTT BROTHERS QUINTET
(Tula's) Garfield High School, Seattle's greatest high school and my alma mater (class of '95, muthafucka!) has produced some phenomenal musicians. Quincy Jones went there, Ernestine Anderson (who is performing at Jazz Alley this week) went there, Jimi Hendrix went there (he dropped out, but the halls still resonate with his genius), Bruce Lee went there (all right, he wasn't a musician, but he's still super-famous, and always deserves inclusion on the GHS fame list). You've probably seen jazzman and GHS instructor Clarence Acox somewhere in Seattle--he led the Ellington Sacred Music concert last week, and is definitely on the minor-fame list in Seattle. And now we arrive at Tom and Dave Marriott (wassup, fellas? 'Member me? Can I get on the list?), who studied under Clarence Acox. Dave studies trombone at the Manhattan School of Music, while composing and playing at international jazz festivals, and Tom, his brother--oh, wait, the press release says "Thomas"... it's like that now, huh Tom?--has played trumpet with the likes of Maynard Ferguson and Tito Puente. Needless to say, they are excellent musicians and wonderful performers. They will be joined by Geoff Harper on bass, Alex Guilbert on piano, Delvon Dumas on drums, and probably two dozen other musicians glad to share a Seattle stage with the Marriotts. In honor of this special occasion, let me close with an excerpt from an old Garfield cheer: "Any dogs in the house true dogs!?!?! Then what the hell are we!?!?!" BRIAN GOEDDE

ELECTRONIC BASH w/ROY DAVIS JR., CZECH, PETER CHRISTIANSON, DJ SMILE
(EMP) Unlike many other venues tonight, the EMP is not advertising that its New Year's Eve party includes a midnight champagne toast. EMP is where all the kids will go to kick it "in safety and style," as the organization's PR office phrases it. I usually rag on the EMP's concerts for the weird sterile vibe in there, but this kind of show might just suit the venue perfectly. Paul Allen's adolescent "music funhouse" fantasy is perfect for the clean, dolled-up, and nervous energy of the under-21 crowd. Electronica, from house to techno to anything else that's synthesized and uptempo, will pump up the digitized Sky Church, and the kids will scream for more. BRIAN GOEDDE

MAKTUB, SHAWN SMITH, PIECE OF SOL, KILLA B, VITAMIN D, DV-1
(I-Spy) If you wanna get your soul right this New Year's, you're not going to do any better than the throw-down at I-Spy. The bevy of talent includes the two ladies of Piece of Sol, who do a home-grown hiphop that's smart, soulful, and sexy from a decidedly female--yet universal--perspective. Also on board will be Shawn Smith, the golden throat of Pigeonhed, Brad, Satchel, and Bliss (y'all remember Bliss, right?) doing the solo thing. Don't know if he'll be strumming guitar or dishing up the epic piano ballads (the kind that prompted a Supertramp comparison from a particularly insightful friend of mine), but the result is guaranteed to be of the modern-day spiritual revival sort. Finally, Maktub is the inimitable Reggie Watts backed by some of the finer, funkier musicians in Seattle, serving up a heavy, dark, soulful brew that grabs you by the spine (grunge soul?). DAN PAULUS


TUESDAY 1/1

Stick to your resolutions.


WEDNESDAY 1/2

THE BEND, NO. 226 (CD RELEASE), SAETA
(Crocodile) There are many beautiful moments in Saeta's music, compliments of Lesli Wood's perfect, youthful vocals and Bob Smolenski's sonorous cello arrangements. But the real vocalist is Matt Menovcik, whose phrasing and delivery is more difficult to appreciate. Restrained and almost always on key, it's easy to call Menovcik's contribution to Saeta effective, but his voice literally drips with self-pity: At times I wonder if the man is actually dying some sort of slow, sad death, with just about every utterance coming out a soft, bloodied whimper. That's not an awful thing, necessarily. Perhaps it just means that Saeta's music is rendered that much more esoteric--the saddest of all persons in the world may find it the exact recipe for the consolation of irreparable heartbreak. Above and beyond Menovcik's voice, Saeta's music is haunting, atmospheric, and even transcendent. I just wish the band would either give the vocal duties over to Lesli Wood, or that Menovcik would let us out of his bedroom for a song or two. JEFF DeROCHE