My heart is broken. Seattle's most beautiful-sounding band, Carissa's Wierd, has traded the Emerald City for the Rose City. Yes it's true, but it's so, so sad, and I still don't want to believe that Portland is now blessed with those two lovely voices and the hushed heartache that infuses every one of Jenn and Mat's songs. I command you to observe a moment of silence, then go down to the record store right this minute and pick up a copy of Ugly but Honest, one of the most goddamn gorgeous discs you're likely to hear in your life. Then cry yourself to sleep tonight because they're so gone.

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Here's a bit of tour gossip so hot and dirty that it made me blush: Very recently, a couple of local bands had a stopover in San Francisco, where they were joined by their label owner for a night of debauchery. Bar-hopping on Folsom Street, the label owner and certain members of both bands (many of whom are not of age) slipped into the back room of an establishment where a dozen or so men were goin' at it. Once enough beverages had been consumed, our local boys dove in enthusiastically while the straight and female members of the bands watched. That night set the tone for the rest of the West Coast tour--which featured plenty of pill-popping and decadent Beverly Hills shopping. One of the musicians is even rumored to have come back with a case of the clap.

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I'm sad to report that Bellingham's industrious Showoff or Shutup! got shut down last weekend. The four-day, all-ages musical bonanza started off in fine style Thursday at the Showoff Gallery, but Friday morning The Man paid a visit and pointed out a multitude of fire-code violations. Basically, the Showoff Gallery is a place of residence, not a business (Bellingham is the Olympia of the north, after all), and its organizers felt the distinction exempted them from trivial rules such as mandatory doors that swing out instead of in and capacity restrictions. Fire and zoning marshals said no more than 40 kids could gather in the space (whereas 340 were likely at the shows), and recommended several building improvements that would cost the club owners thousands of dollars. All was not lost, however. After some scurrying, pleading, and promising, the festival was moved to the basement at 20th-Century Bowling, which afforded attendees the option of food and drink as well as live music. (And, of course, the opportunity to flex those often neglected bowling muscles upstairs.) The sound in the basement was peachy; all of the bands played as scheduled; and the kids appeared to have a good time--but festival organizers were bummed nonetheless. Such lofty aspirations they had! For the time being, the Showoff Gallery is on forced hiatus, and club owner Frankie Hartzell is scrambling for a suitable space to present all the bands he currently has booked.