The Stranger

The success of Hugo House’s literary series often depends on the headliner, and You Are Here has a great one: Cheryl Strayed, author of the Oprah-approved memoir Wild and the genius behind the Rumpus advice column Dear Sugar. But there’s not one bad or shaky name on the bill tonight: Poet and novelist Chris Abani, who always knocks ’em dead in Seattle, joins Strayed with local raconteur/novelist Jonathan Evison to create new work on the titular theme in conjunction with songwriter Joy Mills, who’s Seattle’s liveliest country-flavored act since Neko Case. (Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, hugohouse.org, 7:30 pm, $25) by Paul Constant

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Best known as the revolutionarily skilled drummer for archetypal psych-blues power trio Cream, Ginger Baker may be the most toxically nasty musician ever. A demonic tornado behind the kit who was the only Caucasian to infiltrate Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti’s ensemble, Baker inevitably alienated his bandmates, wives, and children—everyone except his polo horses. Jay Bulger’s doc captures Baker’s violent childhood, itinerant existence, financial and inter-band disasters, bitter personality, and dazzling musical gifts in a cancerous-warts-and-all manner. (Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, grandillusioncinema.org, 7 pm, $8) by Dave Segal

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On their early recordings, Psychic Ills played third-eye-rippling psych rock derived from the 13th Floor Elevators and Spacemen 3. They later ventured into stardusted drone and dub before returning to more conventional, easygoing rock moves with Hazed Dream and One Track Mind. Psychic Ills may not frazzle neurons as strangely and thoroughly as they once did, but their blissful boogie and hushed vocals evoke a heavier, trippier J. J. Cale—which is a great thing to evoke. (Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave, thecrocodile.com, 8 pm, $10 adv, all ages) by Dave Segal

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Little Uncle is a family-run Thai food stall tucked along the sidewalk at 15th and Madison, and it’s the closest thing to Bangkok’s famous street food you’ll find in Seattle. Its small rotating menu transcends the usual flatness of American Thai cuisine. Instead, the flavors dance and bounce off each other: bright chilies, cooling coconut milk, faint shades of vinegar and sourness. Their food tastes dynamic. Little Uncle always has pad thai—people love it—but order something new. (Little Uncle, 1509 E Madison St, littleuncleseattle.com, 11 am–8 pm) by Brendan Kiley

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The Pope of Mope sent us into a daffodil-flinging tantrum when he canceled his Seattle show back in November, citing his sick mum back in England (she’s feeling better now), so we’re more than thrilled to get our hopes right back up to where they started when we word-purged about him those many months ago. There’s no real need to describe Morrissey’s music—at this point, you’re either with him or against him. Word is this is the last time he’ll ever play Seattle, and if he stands us up again, “beware, we hold more grudges than lonely high court judges.” (Moore Theater, 1932 Second Ave, stgpresents.org, 7:30 pm, $62.50–$82.50, all ages) by Emily Nokes

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In 2011, the Huffington Post published an essay by Michael Kaiser, who lamented the “scary trend” of blogs, arguing that citizen-criticism was dumbing down the discourse and giving professional critics a run for their money (literally). Andy Horwitz and Jeremy Barker of Culturebot.org (pictured) strenuously disagree. Everyone’s a Critic launches their Citizen Critic Project, and a panel of Seattle culture people—including Tonya Lockyer, Matthew Richter, and myself—will show video clips and talk about the future of criticism. (On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, ontheboards.org, 8 pm, $12) by Brendan Kiley

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