(Neumos) Sly & Robbie have been in the music business since the ’70s and participated in the development not only of several mutations of reggae but also the globalization of the sound. Sly Dunbar plays the drums and Robert Shakespeare plays the bass. They are known for their tightness, their machinelike precision, and being simply a force of nature. The bass and drums on "Pass the Kouchie" (later replicated by the Musical Youth’s “Pass the Dutchie")? That’s Sly & Robbie. The drum and bass on"Two Sevens Clash" by Culture? That’s Sly & Robbie. The drum and bass on Grace Jones’s positively pornographic “Pull Up to the Bumper”? That’s Sly & Robbie. Indeed, I could go on like this for at least a month, so productive and prolific has been this duo that got its start in one of the capitals of pop music, Kingston, Jamaica. CHARLES MUDEDE
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Tonight the hedonists who run Shameless celebrate the release of Seattle producer Codebase’s Down for the Count EP. One of the remixers on that record, Berlin-based Aussie producer Deepchild, will headline with his driving, disorienting techno that makes you forget where and who you are. Don’t forget your ID! As for Codebase’s new release on Shameless Audio, the original “Down for the Count” is a classy, stomping house joint with rollicking piano vamps, an earwormy, warped pan-flute motif, and sassy acid squiggles. It sounds like a classic from 1991—a lovingly crafted, retro-fetish cut for learned ears and feet. Deepchild’s remix is a bracing, barreling techno makeover that’ll cause your inner paranoiac to sweat profusely. Distal’s radical reimagining roughs up the rhythm and overloads the low end while sanding off the acidic touches. Adlib’s Acid Abbreviation mix does the opposite, to wickedly psychedelic effect. Pick up a CD or USB of Down for the Count at the gig. With Aur0ra, Recess, Adlib, and Tyson Wittrock. Kremwerk, 8 pm-4 am, $15, 21+. DAVE SEGAL
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If I had all the words in the world, I would lavish praise on every band on this ultra-stacked local lineup for the always-legendary Eastside all-ages space Ground Zero's 20th birthday—but since I'm on a word budget, let’s keep this to the absolute must-see acts:
Iron Lung: Skull-shreddingly heavy powerviolence duo who also run one of the best punk labels in the city, Iron Lung Records.
La Luz: Dreamy doo-wop-garage group whose catchy pop songwriting is beach-readier than you are.
Dreamdecay: Strident, grave-shaking noise-rock band who not-so-quietly released one of the most surprisingly weird and excellent local records last year, NVNVNV.
Special Explosion: Eastside natives making truly Northwestern indie rock combining finely crafted hooks with whorled guitars and upfront vulnerability; one of Seattle's most promising bands.
Kithkin: Forest-dwelling, inventive weirdo-pop mavericks with a penchant for whimsical melodies—and lots and lots of drums.
Darto: Noisy, progressive slowcore-ish post-rock trio emitting a sort of lethargic-cathartic, guitar-centered sound. This is also the record release for their upcoming second LP, Hex, on Mother Image Records.
Criminal Code: Blistering Tacoma punk trio with a furious Midwestern wall of whirl.
Additional shouts to Elch, Seacats, Thee Samedi and Whitney Ballen on this well-curated, wide-ranging representation of local music. For the full lineup and more details on this crucial celebration of a long-standing all-ages sanctuary, visit http://gz.bgcbellevue.org/. Ground Zero, 3 pm, $8-10 adv/$10-12 DOS. BRITTNIE FULLER
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And here's all our recommended music events—tonight, tomorrow, and beyond!
