THURSDAY 6/15
YANN NOVAK, KAZU NOMURA, RACHELLE WILSON
(Gallery 1412) Creating compelling minimalist electronic works is one of the stiffest challenges a musician can set for himself. Seattle's Yann Novak has met this challenge with two excellent albums on his own Dragon's Eye label. Novak's latest, Meadowsweet, finds the producer/visual artist further honing his pointillist vision, as he forges marrow-tingling sonic nebulae. For such ethereal music, Meadowsweet packs a heavy emotional wallop (as you'd expect from a disc dedicated to his recently deceased mother). By contrast, Na frontman Kazu Nomura could be Seattle's Syd Barrett (without the acid-casualty destiny, I hope), with his spindly, quirky psych-pop ruminations and fragile vocals. DAVE SEGAL
SIFF 2006 FACE THE MUSIC ROCK PARTY
(Neumo's) For the past few weeks, SIFF has invaded just about every theater in town. As if that weren't enough, now the film fest has come to take over our rock shows. Every performance tonight features the music of SIFF, including songs by Devo, Pixies, the Police, Leonard Cohen, Harry Nilsson, Sigur Rós, and plenty more. And with a lineup exploding with local talent—Sean Nelson & His Mortal Enemies, Carrie Akre with Dave Dederer of the Presidents of the USA, the Girls, "Awesome," and the Pale Pacific—this event is sure to be at least entertaining, if not absolutely magical. MEGAN SELING
FRIDAY 6/16
MON FRERE, THE SATURDAY KNIGHTS, CASY & BRIAN, CAPITOL BASEMENT
(CHAC Lower Level/Vera Project) Casy & Brian (AKA Catbees) bang out chaotic electro-thrash on Dumpstered drums and Casio keyboards, and their songs are populated by a whole zoo of allegorical creatures (writing about humans is so trite). The boys will soon be leaving Seattle for San Francisco's warmer, more noise-friendly climes, so this show will be a going-away party of sorts. Casy & Brian are also getting ready to drop their debut album, a 20-song, animal-themed epic produced by Darrin Wiener (Plastiq Phantom) to be released on his own imputor? label. ERIC GRANDY
HIMSA, SKARP, HELL PROMISE, WIZARDS OF WOR, GRIEVOUS
(El Corazón) Unbelievable. A band as ferocious and razor-sharp as those blistering early Napalm Death albums, and it's fronted by a GIRL?! In a world of Avril Lavignes and Hilary Duffs, Skarp's Renae Betts is a sight to behold—an angel of death metal. As she screams and growls her way through Skarp's equally grindcore and punk-crusty catalog of songs, one has to wonder how this lovely lady has such unbelievably big balls. Equally unbelievable is the door price for this show—five metal bands for five bucks. None of Seattle's bangers have ANY excuse for not showing up for this amazing lineup. And I better see some girls there, too. KELLY O
AKIMBO, GREEN MILK FROM THE PLANET ORANGE, SEAN, BILL HORIST
(Funhouse) Green Milk from the Planet Orange boast that they're "the new wave of progressive rock," and I doubt anyone who's witnessed one of their balls-to-the-wall live blowouts would deny that statement's truth. Someone seems to have force-fed these Japanese rockers a gullet full of King Crimson albums with three fingers of hellfire crack, and the beautiful, Technicolor mess they've spewed out is a wonder to behold. World-weary hipsters, aging biker burnouts, and swooning teenage girls alike all appear to piss themselves over this band (in a good way), so chances are you will, too. JOSH BLANCHARD
BEND-IT EXTRAVAGANZA: BOBCATS, LITTLE PARTY & THE BAD BUSINESS, BRANCA, DOOMHAWK, MONDO TRASHO
(MPowerment Lot) As a prelude to Pride weekend, shake your ass over to the MPowerment Lot (at 10th Avenue and East Seneca) to check out Bobcats' oversexed, electro-dance jams headlining the Bend-It Festival's kickoff concert. Planned, organized, and run by queer youth and volunteers, every Bend-It event is FREE! Friday's show will be full of synth-punk sass, a performance by the United Colors of Dance, and the arch, theatrical metal of Doomhawk. With a drag fashion show, films, and workshops at Hugo House and other venues throughout the weekend, Bend-It rallies queer youth and their allies in three days of DIY art, education, and celebration. Check out www.bend-it.org for more information. CHRIS HONG
VISQUEEN, LLAMA, THE RHEAS
(Tractor) Oh, Rusty Willoughby, how you've always controlled our little pop heart. It all started back in the mid-'80s when Pure Joy burst onto the music scene, then it was the pop genius of Flop, who boldly played hooks and melodies when it wasn't in vogue. After a stint with a reunited Pure Joy, Rusty is back with his new creation, Llama. He's hooked up with Scott Sutherland of the Model Rockets on bass and Jim Hunnicutt of Pure Joy on drums. The old boy is living in Arizona now, so catch him while you can. BRENT COLE
SATURDAY 6/17
THE COPS, THE EMERGENCY, ICEAGE COBRA
(Crocodile) See Stranger Suggests, page 23.
TWILIGHT SINGERS, AFTERHOURS, JEFF KLEIN
(Neumo's) See Rocka Rolla, page 43.
THE WEARY BOYS, GROWNUP TROUBLE, SPARE RIB & THE BLUEGRASS SAUCE
(Sunset) When the Drive-By Truckers warned, "don't sing with a fake British accent" on their 2003 song "Outfit," they certainly weren't admonishing Austin, Texas, ensemble the Weary Boys. On their Jumpin' Jolie album, these fellas plunge into straight-up country, bluegrass, and rock, while flirting with gospel and Latin flavors, too. Yet their songs never feel like exercises in method acting. Regardless of the genre or style, the quintet make whatever they play sound remarkably off-the-cuff. And mesmerizing, too, right down to the instrumentals. KURT B. REIGHLEY
JILL SOBULE, MEGHAN HOUNSHELL
(Tractor, early) The essence of great standup comedy—the kind that makes you laugh, but also gasp, scratch your head, and maybe even cry—is simply telling the horrible truth, about yourself and everyone else, in the most vivid language possible. But because Jill Sobule is a songwriter, not a comedian, she has to do all that and more, setting her misadventures and musings to catchy melodies. Whether shadowing a boss after hours ("Karen by Night"), exploring alternative sexualities ("I Kissed a Girl"), or fantasizing about her neighbor on the Stairmaster ("Lucy at the Gym"), Sobule consistently evokes a gamut of emotions, with a flair for storytelling that rivals that of Amy Sedaris and Sarah Vowell. KURT B. REIGHLEY
SUNDAY 6/18
KEXP KIDS DANCE PARTY: JOHN RICHARDS, RIZ ROLLINS, DAREK MAZZONE, KEVIN COLE
(Chop Suey, early) See Underage, page 53.
CEX
(Chop Suey, late) See Data Breaker, page 51.
MONDAY 6/19
TAPES 'N TAPES, FIGURINES, COLD WAR KIDS
(Crocodile) The lure of tonight's show owes much more to the two opening bands than to the certifiably unspectacular Tapes 'n Tapes, whose tepid debut, The Loon, exhibits neither the luster nor the consistency of the landmark '90s albums to which it attempts to pay tribute. Denmark's Figurines, on the other hand, know the value of a well-placed hook, reminding you of all the reasons why you fell in love with Built to Spill in the first place. But the real draw this evening are the impossibly good Cold War Kids. The band's brazen, soulful blues rock exhibits all the vitality of old-time gospel while still retaining the swagger of '70s-era punk. NICK KOCH
THE BLACK ANGELS, LD SECTION II
(Chop Suey) See preview, page 33.
PSAPP, JOSE GONZALEZ AND JUANA MOLINA
(Neumo's) See Data Breaker, page 51, see also preview, page35.
TUESDAY 6/20
SOUND TEAM, SOMEONE STILL LOVES YOU BORIS YELTSIN
(Crocodile) Yes, the band's name is Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. Get over it. I hate when rock writers drone on about a strange band name while ignoring the music. See, I've wasted too many words already! SSLYBY's new album, Broom, is a quaint pop record heavy on the melodies and free of ego and attitude. It's slightly coy, endearingly geeky... basically, it sounds like what having a crush feels like—a little nervous, a little giddy, and ultimately really happy. Sound Team from Austin, Texas, are a nice match. Their rock isn't quite as gentle as SSLYBY's; it's more about dance parties with Moog, piano, keyboard—all sorts of happy noise. MEGAN SELING
RADIO 4, SMALL SINS, HEAD LIKE A KITE
(Neumo's) Gang of—oh, sorry—Radio 4 have lived in their own shadow for the last five years, trying to fulfill the promise of 2001's genre-defining anthem, "Dance to the Underground." On their new album, Enemies Like This, they seem to have recovered a bit of that old fire, and there's a renewed sense of urgency and energy to their obliquely political jams. Though they've yet to live up to their obvious influences, Radio 4's live show should still be enough to satisfy the disco-punk faithful until the next coming of the Rapture. ERIC GRANDY
JOE JACKSON, RAUL MIDON
(Moore) While much is made of Joe Jackson's chameleon-like approach to his art, I don't care if he's in a jump-blues phase, scoring some crazy Japanese art flick, or channeling classic jazz—I just admire the guy's pure love of music. Truth be told, he's most compelling to me when he's sticking within pop parameters, but anyone with this much adventurous artistic spirit and enduring success deserves respect just for walking the planet. Oh, and for recording Look Sharp!, which, I'd argue, bests Elvis Costello's This Year's Model in the definitive new-wave/pop-punk category. HANNAH LEVIN
WEDNESDAY 6/21
CALEXICO, ERIC BACHMANN, SALVADOR DORAN
(Showbox) Okay, you basically have to die to be on a postage stamp, but what about one of those NEA National Medal of Arts? Isn't it time Calexico received theirs? Hell, Ron friggin' Howard has one, so why not John Convertino and Joey Burns? Since emerging as members of Giant Sand, the favorite sons of Tucson, Arizona, have never stopped moving, collaborating with Nancy Sinatra one minute, Iron & Wine the next. They can whip up spaghetti-Western soundtracks that leave Morricone weeping in his linguine, convincingly explore gypsy jazz and Portuguese fado, and, for an encore, simply make a succinct, subtle rock album like their latest, Garden Ruin. Let's put it in terms even W. could understand, i.e., clichés: Calexico are true American heroes. Of course, our president is notorious for overlooking the obvious, but the rest of us have no excuse not to honor Calexico with the highest praise possible. KURT B. REIGHLEY
DRIVEBLIND, THE THIEVES
(Crocodile) Last time the Thieves were in Seattle, I had to jet across town to see Thin Lizzy emulators/disco punks Diamond Nights as soon as the Thieves finished their set at High Dive. Seeing both those bands on the same night in separate venues just felt wrong; they seemed like a natural pairing, both because of their complementary musical styles (though the Thieves cut with a decidedly more metallic edge) and their hedonistic mindset. As fate would have it, some smart booking agent finally paired them up last year—but cruelly didn't route them our way. Regardless, I'm just happy they're here again, as should be any fan of lusty, hard-hearted rock played by obscenely attractive young Brits. HANNAH LEVIN
THE BRONX, PRIESTESS, RIVERBOAT GAMBLERS, WIRES ON FIRE: Tues June 27, Crocodile
HELLA, THESE ARMS ARE SNAKES, RUSSIAN CIRCLES, MC EUGENE MIRMAN: Thurs June 29, Neumo's
SONIC YOUTH, AWESOME COLOR: Fri June 30, Moore
SOCIAL DISTORTION, SUPERSUCKERS, NINE BLACK ALPS: Fri July 7, Moore
APPLESEED CAST, CRITERIA, RUSSIAN CIRCLES, THE LONELY FOREST: Mon July 10, Crocodile
TILLY & THE WALL, NOW IT'S OVERHEAD, JASON ANDERSON: Tues July 11, Paradox
JURASSIC 5: Tues July 18, Showbox
DIGABLE PLANETS, GUESTS: Thurs July 20, Neumo's
THE RENTALS, OZMA: Mon July 24, Neumo's
LL COOL J: Wed July 26, Showbox
CAPITOL HILL BLOCK PARTY: MURDER CITY DEVILS, COMMON MARKET, PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES, BAND OF HORSES, HIMSA, THE BLACK ANGELS, AND MANY MORE: Fri–Sat July 28–29, 10th Ave and Pike St
ENDFEST: RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, MODEST MOUSE, SNOW PATROL, WOLFMOTHER, EAGLES OF DEATH METAL, ROCK KILLS KID, NINE BLACK ALPS, THE SUBWAYS, THE GOSSIP: Sat Aug 12, White River Amphitheatre
DEVO: Sat Sept 9, Paramount
