FRIDAY 1/7SYCOPHANT/NEVADA BACHELORS/ JON AUER AND THE REACTORS(Breakroom) Here's a benefit for a helpful Ileen's employee, a good Samaritan who helped a person in distress change a flat tire on the freeway and got hit by a car for his trouble. It's okay if you miss the Nevada Bachelors -- nothing new there, and a general lack of class and style all around -- but Posies singer Jon Auer and Sycophant are two of the city's most talented acts, and, well, the guy got run over helping someone change a tire! What more reason do you need to go? KATHLEEN WILSONBULLET TRAIN TO THE SUN/THE CONGRADULATORS/ROCK STAR CRUSH(Tractor) One of my big gripes with music lately is that there aren't enough bands with good names. (Blink 182? Buckcherry? I think not.) So it's refreshing to stumble across a new band with a good name -- Rock Star Crush. It's so obvious that it's amazing no one has thought of it before, plus it's glamorous enough to imply rock stardom on its own -- which in itself implies that it's not being used by some boring, post-ironic indie rock band with bad haircuts and wallet chains. BARBARA MITCHELLSHUGGIE(OK Hotel) In all this talk about the "resurgence of rock," no one seems willing to admit that most of the bands being held up as examples of the genre's latest incarnation are little more than prefab poseurs. It's bands like Shuggie -- who have a genuine appreciation of real rock 'n' roll and the songs and talent to back it up -- who truly deserve the attention. If you believe that it can't be rock if there's not an overabundance of tattoos and attitude, stay home with your Buckcherry albums. Otherwise, get your butt down to the OK. BARBARA MITCHELLST. BUSHMILL'S CHOIR/HOG MOLLY(Graceland) This show will rock. Come to think of it, seeing Hog Molly and St. Bushmill's Choir would probably have been a really great way to ring in the New Year -- that is, if your idea of a good time involves great rock music, lots of liquor, and surrounding yourself with a bunch of people who believe that you don't need a lame-ass pretext like a holiday to let loose. BARBARA MITCHELL
SATURDAY 1/8ELVIS INVITATIONALS(Crocodile) We've all got a little Elvis in us, according to Mojo Nixon (except for the evil opposite of Elvis, the Anti-Elvis: Michael J. Fox, who has no Elvis in him...). Tonight's a great opportunity to test that theory, whether by bringing out your own Inner Elvis or watching others do the same. One of the reasons Elvis makes for great theater is that there's so much material -- and phases, levels of reverence, and outstanding outfits -- to choose from. BARBARA MITCHELLTHE MELODY UNIT/RED STARS THEORY/WELCOME(Breakroom) Red Stars Theory is impossible to take lightly, despite the fact that half of each song is as delicately structured as the other half is dense. Loud or soft, harsh or lush, the band always makes a weighty impression that, depending on your mood, can be either life-changing or merely contemplative. All good, regardless. KATHLEEN WILSONKINSKI(Elysian) It's shocking to realize that so few bands seem to understand the value of dynamics. That's definitely not the case with Kinski, who build their songs to impressive crescendos, moving from a quiet lull to a roaring swell with perfect ease. It's the kind of spellbinding magic that comes along none too frequently -- and it's right here in our backyard. Their magnificent EP SpaceLaunch for Frenchie occasionally calls to mind the dreamlike euphoria of Mogwai, or the Loop/Spiritualized/ Spaceman 3 school of driving, drone-based brilliance. Highly recommended. BARBARA MITCHELL
SUNDAY 1/9764-HERO/RED STARS THEORY/DAVID BAZAN(Fairhaven Auditorium, WWU, Bellingham) The folks at Burn Down the World must be doing something VERY cool to attract this line-up for their birthday bash. Three of the Northwest's current indie rock heroes share the stage tonight -- making that hour-and-a-half drive to Bellingham look like an insignificant price to pay for such a fine evening of entertainment. Red Stars Theory and 764-Hero are sure to mesmerize, and word has it that the new Pedro the Lion album contains some of David Bazan's best songs yet. Anyone wanna carpool? BARBARA MITCHELL
MONDAY 1/10TLC/CHRISTINA AGUILERA(KeyArena) Probably your last chance to catch the genius of T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chilli intact -- Left Eye is so out of there. The album version of "No Scrubs" doesn't even include her rap; it's only on the radio edit. The eight songs she wrote for Fanmail were rejected, and her guest rhymes with Lil' Kim and others have whet her appetite for something more than TLC can offer. Which may be a good move, or it may be an epic failure. TLC have brought a much needed sense of (I hate to use the term, but it must be said) self-empowerment to female mainstream R&B. "Creep"? Brilliant. Some scrub is cheating on you, so you cheat on him right back. None of this "Un-break My Heart" shit for TLC. Always a spectacle. ERIN FRANZMAN
TUESDAY 1/11TIGER ZANE/WOLF'S BANE/KERRY LAUDER BAND(Showbox) Tonight's show feels like the preliminaries for the next Lilith Fair -- three harmless yet unremarkable female artists sharing a bill. Nothing too adventurous or too exciting -- but probably enough of a reason for all those Jewel fans to leave their safe little suburban domiciles and venture into the land of live music. BARBARA MITCHELLPINETOP PERKINS & THE RUSTY ZINN BAND(Jazz Alley) It's nice to see energetic young cats like Bay Area guitarist Rusty Zinn working with legends such as pianist Pinetop Perkins (born in 1913), a longtime Chicago-based player and Muddy Waters Band veteran. He may not be a household name, but you've definitely heard his style. Pinetop helped set the standards many years ago -- and has been imitated endlessly ever since. JAMES KIRCHMER
WEDNESDAY 1/12LITTLE CHAMPIONS/WELCOME(Crocodile) Sometimes you hear great things about a band for ages, and when you finally see them, the music is rad but you can't get past the fact that the singer's voice is flat. But you can kinda tell that he's sick, so you give him the benefit of the doubt. On that basis, go see Welcome. Little Champions I recommend without reservations. I like that band. ERIN FRANZMAN
