THURSDAY
MARCH 25

ARO.SPACE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY
(ARO.space) See Calendar Box, page 51.

EARTHA KITT
(Jazz Alley through March 28) Eartha Kitt's visit to Jazz Alley gives rise to a lot of questions. What happens when a 71-year-old woman acts sexy? She may have been born about five generations ago, but the self-proclaimed "sex kitten" is sure to slink as much as ever. And just how did Kitt get her funny accent? It's kind of Frenchy, but she's from New York City. Moreover, who convinced her to play the wicked witch in Ernest Scared Stupid? Just about the only thing that is beyond questioning is that Kitt is cool as shit, and her stage mannerisms are an American legend. -- Nathan Thornburgh

SILKWORM, RED STARS THEORY, DIANE IZZO
(Crocodile) Chicago's Sugar Free Records further demonstrates its knack for signing excellent artists with Diane Izzo, whose raw country sound possesses a darkness most women exploring the Alt Country genre shy away from. -- Kathleen Wilson


FRIDAY
MARCH 26

ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION, ANDREA PARKER, HIVE, AUDIO ACTIVE
(ARO.space) Andrea Parker is a "classically trained electronic musician," and not just because she can locate middle C. She's an accomplished cellist who's forged her own dark, muted electro sound with an artist's heart and a master engineer's ear, making standout listening EPs like "Melodious Thunk" and "Kiss My Arp." And she's not a bad DJ either, as her recent DJ Kicks indicates. She'll move from a DJ gig with Philip Glass to a Depeche Mode remix without breaking her stride, and her upcoming appearance at ARO.space with like-minded cohorts Asian Dub Foundation, Hive, and Audio Active is sure to provide a refreshing, intelligent perspective on dance music. See also Live Preview, page 27. -- Matthew Corwine

ENGINE 54, TURNTABLE BAY, BUGS IN AMBER
(Old Redmond Firehouse) Turntable Bay may be only two, but they make enough noise for 10 times their number, with main man Vic stalking the stage like a dyslexic panther in heat and drummer Scott pounding out a veritable storm on his syn-drums (or whatever the hell they're called). Their sound is still rudimentary, perhaps, but no one can deny their ambition. And, as the album title tells you, they use No Samples. -- Everett True

HOVERCRAFT, C AVERAGE, BUNNY FOOT CHARM, TWO TON BOA
(Capitol Theater, Olympia) I'm really upset. Last week, I wrote all these clever things about how that band of weird old people, Hovercraft, liked to keep repeating the same film of rockets taking off over and over again because they couldn't be bothered to tape anything else from the Discovery Channel. You remember that, don't you? And then some stupid poopy-head at The Stranger credited my writing to Everett True! Like he has any ideas of his own! Anyway, I think Hovercraft play their music much too loud because they don't have any ideas, and C Average are great because they have cool collections of Dungeons & Dragons figurines back in Olympia. There! -- Tommie Pickett, age 9 1/2

THOMAS LAUDERDALE AND CHINA FORBES, 3 LEG TORSO, JORDAN CORBIN
(Baltic Room) What the word "swank" is truly about. The driving force behind Portland's spicy retro ensemble Pink Martini is joined by that act's classically trained main vocalist, New York City resident China Forbes, for two nights of breathtaking, rarely experienced entertainment. Don't miss it. -- KW

OCTANT, THE THRONES, TOT FINDER
(Breakroom) As if it isn't enough that Octant possesses a "robot," which simultaneously flashes cute electronic traffic lights and beats the drums -- and a girl who sometimes slips on stage from the shadows like a Dick Tracy spy -- the band also has mournful, poignant, sparse tunes to die for. Kinda like if electronic pop had never gotten over its rudimentary love for John Fred & the Playboy Band. -- ET

AN EVENING WITH NANCY WILSON
(Crocodile) Tonight it's Nancy Wilson (of Heart) who'll be playing an intimate set for Seattle, culled from her solo acoustic material featured on the recently released Live at McCabe's Guitar Shop. Be sure to stick around for her sweet cover of Paul Simon's "Kathy's Song." -- KW


SATURDAY
MARCH 27

3 COLOURS RED, CESSNA, SUBMINUTE: RADIO
(Crocodile) My cousin Alex says that I should get out more and see some bands who can really -- as she puts it -- rock! What, so I can stare and giggle at their tattoos like she and her friends do? No way, Alex. Rock music isn't just about looking at boys you like and boasting about which ones you've kissed, when we all know you haven't kissed anyone anyway. Except K. J., but he doesn't count because he'd kiss anyone. And he's TWO YEARS YOUNGER THAN YOU! So I'm not going to bother seeing the stupidly named band 3 Colours Red. (They can't even spell "color" right!) They play loud "punk" rock music, apparently -- and they're from England. Yeah, I bet. There's nothing I hate more then people pretending to speak in fake English accents when they're actually from Spokane, WA. And saying they like the Sex Pistols. Oh, verydaring, I don't think! To like a band that's older than my granddad! I'm staying home. -- TP, age 9 1/2 Er, Tommie. They are from England. But you're right when you say they suck. -- ET

OZOMATLI
(ARO.space) Named after the Aztec god of dance, this Los Angeles-based big band reflects not only their hometown's ethnic rainbow -- but also its entire spectrum of soulful street sounds. Imagine, if you will, a working-class block party, replete with an MC, a DJ, horns, plenty of percussion, and socially conscious lyrics sung in Spanish and rapped in English. They deliver a killer combination of hiphop, funk, and a full array of Latin and Caribbean grooves. If you dig old-school WAR, you're sure to identify with Ozomatli. They're lookin' to have fun, raise awareness, and free your ass, no matter who you are. -- James Kirchmer

TURNTABLE BAY, BAKUDAN, DJ TANGIBLE
(Breakroom) See Fri March 26.


MONDAY
MARCH 29

ALANIS MORISSETTE, GARBAGE
(KeyArena) Just this last week I finally came out and admitted to my friends my fascination with Alanis Morissette -- a fascination that reaches back to her first album, Jagged Little Pill. Ever since first hearing "You Oughta Know," I have struggled to understand my obsession. Is it her voice? Her blatant lyrics? Her"tortured" soul? The answer, I have discovered, is her mouth -- such a massive piehole that, when agape, it engulfs my common sense and sends a rush of teenage hormones coursing through my brain. Listening to her latest, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, the girl's gaping abyss continually flashes across my mind -- the gate of pearly teeth opening as she utters, "Thank you India/Thank you terror/Thank you DISILLUSIONMENT!" for example -- and I blush boyishly, feeling both giddy and ashamed. Thank U, sweet Alanis. -- Bradley Steinbacher


TUESDAY
MARCH 30

GEORGE CLINTON & THE P-FUNK ALL STARS
(Fenix ) See Calendar Lead, page 41.

JETS TO BRAZIL, JIMMY EAT WORLD, SENSEFIELD, PEDRO THE LION
(RKCNDY) Jets to Brazil is comprised of members formerly employed with bands such as Jawbreaker, Texas is the Reason, and Handsome, and straddles the line between sing-along pop-punk and intense post-hardcore. Jimmy Eat World plays the kind of hazy melancholia that leaves you hurt and dumbfounded when their unexpected and perfectly timed punch to the gut knocks you to the floor. -- KW

H. B. RADKE AND THE JET CITY SWINGERS
(2218) The stench of cigars may serve as a sort of yuppie pheromone in this lavish Belltown bistro, but if you're just there for the music and can ignore your fellow patrons, then Tuesdays at 2218 aren't so bad. That's because H. B. Radke does a good job fronting, and his players do a good job playing. The style ranges from swing to Sinatra, with some asinine medleys thrown in. As a singer, Radke often doesn't finish his phrases like he should, but he is just flamboyant enough to keep your undivided attention. Did I mention that there's no cover? -- NT

ERIK FRIEDLANDER'S TOPAZ
(On the Boards) Maybe you've heard this innovative New York-based cellist/composer with his other band (Chimera), or with Dave Douglas, or John Zorn -- or perhaps with Courtney and Hole on MTV Unplugged. He's a versatile, classically trained virtuoso, and this new band finds him interpreting a bit of Dolphy and Miles, getting funky for the first time (albeit in a very modern, avant-garde kinda way) -- and once again pushing the envelope, this time with brothers Stomu and Satoshi Takeishi (bass and drums, respectively), and Andy Laster (sax). Like Erik, who can already be considered one of the finest cello players of our time, they're smart, adventurous, and never boring. Sounds like mighty good company, doesn't it? -- JK


WEDNESDAY
MARCH 31

SPARKLEHORSE, VARNALINE, VOYAGER ONE
(Crocodile) See Calendar Box, page 47.