IQU CD RELEASE, FCS NORTH, DJ MASA
(I-Spy) IQU celebrate the release of their terrific, sample-happy latest, Teenage Dream. See Bio Box.

CARRIE AKRE
(Gordon Biersch) Carrie Akre's new album, Home, is great--painfully real and soulfully refreshing. Perhaps you should go buy it at Pacific Place, and then go directly upstairs to see her at Gordon Biersch. She was in Hammerbox and Goodness, but Home (featuring Reggie Watt of Maktub and Harris Thurmond of aforementioned Hammerbox) is just the solo artist and a few friends--a document of her pain, experience, reality, and growth. Carrie Akre is one of those enduring Seattle musicians who preceded and withstood the "Seattle Scene," and is still around to put out good music. NATE LEVIN

THE DROVE, THE DROP
(Breakroom) This show benefits Home Alive, which is your first good reason to go. Your second reason is the fact that there will be rare motorcycles and scooters on site. The final reason you should attend this show is to see the Drop, who want very much to play their melodic, psychedelically infused guitar rock for your tweaked-out, revved-up motorcycling asses. Please do get home safely, always with a partner. JEFF DeROCHE

THE GOSSIP, THE VOGUE, ENTERTAINMENT, DIVE KISSERS
(Paradox) The Gossip's bluesy garage punk boasts a wailingly good frontwoman who sings her face off, routinely whacks herself on the backside, and offers up infinitely more soul than one is inclined to expect from a band of their genre. The Vogue is a youthful punk art project whose singer (Johnny of Blood Brothers) renders a schticky, vacant, Iggy Pop-like fuck-doll performance that routinely whips the all-ages crowd into a rabid frenzy. This will be a show for boys and girls of all persuasions. JEFF DeROCHE

BRIGGAN KRAUSS' 300 with WAYNE HORVITZ & KENNY WOLLESEN
(OK Hotel) When it comes to experimental out-jazz, the music is fervent enough, obscure enough, and far enough ahead of its time that religious metaphors are in order. And if Seattle's standard out-jazz musicians are minor prophets (the musical equivalent of Billy Graham), then the OK Hotel's Krauss-Horvitz lineup is like Jesus playing with Mohammed, backed by Buddha on the drums and Moses on the keys. It's that deep. Like many prophets, Krauss currently lives in New York City, so catch him while you can, but beware: His screeching, halting alto sax speaks in tongues, and most of us may not be ready to understand his avant-garde message. NATHAN THORNBURGH

SWAMP MAMA JOHNSON, SOUL SALAD
(Tractor Tavern) Anyone who has spent a night listening to live music in Ballard knows that the Scandinavian district houses Seattle's most guilt-free and poser-less music scene. From rock to roots, there is pound-for-pound less pretension out there, and Swamp Mama Johnson are no different. They are neither the most cutting-edge nor the most authentic; they just want to please crowds up and down the coast with their upbeat and engaging rhythm-and-blues shows. NATHAN THORNBURGH

ST. BUSHMILL'S CHOIR, NORTH AMERICAN BISON, THE WIRE TAPS
(Breakroom) This is Irish music made for and played by the horseshoe-throwing, pickup-driving, hard-drinking segment of our proletariat. It's a larger and more talented population group than you might think: St. Bushmill's Choir's punk-laced Irish standards have garnered a large following of people who are experts at tying one on. So go cheer the band as they rescue Irishness from high-culture wannabes like those femme Riverdancers, and return it to the average American worker, who may or may not be Irish, but sure drinks like it. NATHAN THORNBURGH

HUGH MASEKELA
(Jazz Alley) Masekela is coming to town to promote his new CD, Sixty, which--though it has its moments--doesn't have the groovy funk that turned the kids on when he had that "Grazing in the Grass" hit back in '68. His years in self-imposed exile, during the era of apartheid in South Africa, led him to NYC, where he met Harry Belafonte and recorded the music he is loved for. Back in South Africa, Masekela has been able to record in his homeland again. One of the projects I'd just love to hear is his South African Broadway version of King Kong. Why can't that go on tour? KREG HASEGAWA

LIVING DAYLIGHTS CD RELEASE, REGGIE WATTS
(Sit & Spin) Whatever it took to get Bill Frisell on the Living Daylights' newest CD, Electric Rosary, it was worth it for Frisell's rather rambunctious solo on the track "I Dare U." On this, their third CD, they break into spicy funk and Eastern European, klezmer-infused jazz, which (though the liner notes clearly state that the Daylights are vegetarians) carries a hint of red meat here and there. Though I don't find the new CD particularly satisfying, don't let me fool you into not seeing the Living Daylights live. You'd be missing quite a party. KREG HASEGAWA

THE NEED, SARAH DOUGHER, THE PRIDS
(Graceland) If you live around here but aren't familiar with the Need, you're not alone. This band's undeservedly small following is an adoring cult of dykes and art hags (not mutually exclusive) who can't seem to get enough of the Need, with good reason. The band is a mere two exceptionally talented Olympia musicians--Radio Sloan (guitar) and Rachel Carns (drums and keyboards). Rachel is the primary (shrill, guttural, caustic) vocalist, and the diva. Radio, who sings as well, is more the boyish impresario, the guitar-playing maniac. They have a newer album, The Need Is Dead, which came out in February on Chainsaw records. Their songs are tight, abrupt '80s cutout art that carry perfectly in the '90s on the strength of the Need's musical precision and near-violent self-presentation. Portland's Sarah Dougher, who also performs in Cadallaca with Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney, has just put out a record of elegant solo songs, and promises to soften the bill gracefully. JEFF DeROCHE

DEADBOLT, COOKIE
(Sit & Spin) I watched him out of the corner of my eye as he bought beers for his friends and talked loudly about his promotion. He blabbered in a register that, even in the loudest dive, could drown out the jukebox. I tried not to get angry, but as I watched him lurch from one barfly to the next, slapping shoulders and joking condescendingly, my blood started to boil. I fell into a fog. I heard the drums, distant, then louder and closer, then war screams and chants rose like a swarm of bees over the drums' beating. I floated until I was only inches from his back. I touched his shoulder and spoke, in a voice that was not my own, "You have squandered your last chance, mortal--prepare to die." He squinted and reeled in disbelief, then vanished in a puff of smoke, banished to the Phantom Zone. Exorcise YOUR demons by watching Deadbolt, the only show you shouldn't miss. JUAN-CARLOS RODRIGUEZ

RYAN ADAMS, ORIGINAL HARMONY RIDGE CREEKDIPPERS, SHANNON McNALLY, NEAL CASAL
(Tractor Tavern) No Depression marks its five-year anniversary with a two-night bash at the Tractor Tavern.

NEIL YOUNG, THE PRETENDERS
(Gorge) It's difficult and sort of pretentious at this point to do a recommendation for Neil Young. I could say something like, "The man is an American classic, a hero, a rock and roll legend." You know his voice--nasal, tenor-ish, has influenced everyone from J. Mascis to the Jayhawks. His songs are sweet, lazy, and timeless: If you've grown up in this country, by now Young is embedded in your consciousness. The Pretenders boast Chrissie Hynde, and did songs like "Brass in Pocket" and "Tattooed Love Boys." What more should I say as recommendation for the Pretenders? JEFF DeROCHE

HARMONY RIDGE CREEK DIPPERS, RYAN ADAMS, NEAL CASAL, SHANNON McNALLY
(Tractor Tavern) Night number two of the No Depression anniversary party. See Stranger Suggests.

STRUNG OUT, NO MOTIV, THE DEVIATES
(Graceland) Anyone who is familiar with the Vagrant Records compilations Before You Were Punk and Before You Were Punk 2 (which both feature today's punk bands covering their favorite hits of the '80s) is familiar with the work of No Motiv and Strung Out--or at least familiar with No Motiv covering the work of Flock of Seagulls, and Strung Out giving their version of the Police's stalker anthem, "Every Breath You Take." As long as mid-tempo punk rockers No Motiv deliver their lovely version of "Space Age Love Song," tonight won't be a waste. MEGAN SELING

PAT METHENY TRIO
(King Cat Theater) There's a certain strata out there in the jazz world that includes John Scofield, Brad Mehldau, Joshua Redman, and Pat Metheny. In this strata, the jazz musician's job is to play hard, show off technical ability, but still be comprehensible. This is a nice strata. But that's the thing--it's nice. Who wants nice? Tonight, the Pat Metheny Trio will try to overcome niceness by playing hard bop, a somewhat dying jazz format. The lineup includes Bill Stewart on the drums and Larry Grenadier on the bass. KREG HASEGAWA

THE GET UP KIDS
(Graceland) Get UP! (Get on up.) Get UP! (Get on up.) GET UP! (Get on up.) Get on the scene. (Get on up.) Get on the SCENE! (Get on up.) Like a sex machine! (Get on up.) All together now... DOW DOW DOW DOW DOW DER-DER-DOW-DOW! DOW DOW.... Oh yeah, sorry. From Kansas City, like Blink-182 crossed with Seattle's own Something Chronic Really Boring, and they play punk rock like punk rock is something that's only been just invented. Which, if you want me to get cosmic on your spotty American asses, it is. Get UP! (Get on up.) Get UP! (Get on up.) GET UP! (Get on up.) Get UP! (Get on up.) EVERETT TRUE

BUSH & GORE 2000 TOUR: RORSHACH TEST, SNAKE RIVER CONSPIRACY, BILE, N17
(Catwalk) The slogan for the Bush and Gore 2000 tour is "Sex and violence have never been better together!" We should mention that this will not be a fundraiser for either candidate. Rorshach Test will be headlining, returning to their native land in a bigger bus and with more causes to support than they probably know what to do with. Two hot topics on the tour are the fight against censorship and the West Memphis Three. Did you know that lead singer James Baker was a member of the Church of the Living Waters, the Olympia church that was consumed by satanic-ritual scandal and was a lightning rod for the debates over implanted memories? Oh yes. We will also see Snake River Conspiracy, from San Francisco. They are composed of the ex-bass-player for Third Eye Blind and a former-exotic-dancer-turned-singer. Snake River Conspiracy is the code name for the alleged JFK assassination plot. Rounding out the bill are Bile from New York and N17 (which stands for November 17) from Phoenix. JUAN-CARLOS RODRIGUEZ

THEE OLE CODGERS, BLUEGRASS DRIVE-BY
(Tractor Tavern) Danny Barnes is a name you should know. Like Bill Frisell or Wayne Horvitz. This Texas native, now a Vashon resident, has opened for the Butthole Surfers, recorded and gigged with Zeke, and played Bumbershoot last week with his legendary bluegrass group, the Bad Livers. Currently he's got two great bands in this town--Thee Heathen, where he plays guitar, and my personal favorite, Thee Ole Codgers, where he appears on banjo. Keith Lowe is on bass, and Jon Parry sheds something nasty on the fiddle. This mutant bluegrass group will kick your ass and you'll be a better person for it. KREG HASEGAWA

KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD
(Moore Theatre) "Guitar prodigy" is one of those terms that seems to carry quite a price with it: Like "Grammy Award Winner for Best New Artist," it's a phrase that appears to translate into "short shelf life," "start saving your cash now," or "soon to be appearing in the 'Where are they now?' file." Given that, young guitar virtuoso Kenny Wayne Shepherd seems to be doing a great job of turning his talent into an actual career in music. Tonight, Shepherd and his band bring their unique take on the blues to Seattle. BARBARA MITCHELL

WHEAT, CARISSA'S WIERD, MELODY UNIT
(Sit & Spin) Wheat pays a visit and Carissa's Wierd hits the road for Portland. See page 44.

BRANFORD MARSALIS
(Jazz Alley) I've always been suspicious of people who claim that the saxophone is their favorite instrument to listen to... they could be Quiet Storm freaks, or worse, Windham Hill consumers. But Branford Marsalis changes all that--he shares Quiet Storm's dedication to smooth aesthetics, but he also has an intellectual rigor in his music that makes it all worth it. So, yes, if the tenor saxophone is your favorite instrument, then go to Branford's show, but be ready to be challenged by one of jazz's most recognizable names. NATHAN THORNBURGH

MAN OR ASTROMAN?, BLACK HEART PROCESSION, SWEEP THE LEG JOHNNY
(Graceland) Art rock theatrics of the kitsch and the subdued variety will be on full display at Graceland. See Stranger Suggests.

MOBY
(Paramount) Baldy vegan bloke plays the Paramount. See page 41.