MY MORNING JACKET, SWEARING AT MOTORISTS, TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
(Crocodile) See preview this issue.
MODEST MOUSE, VLLFS.JMG
(Showbox) See Stranger Suggests.
MUSHROOMHEAD, LAMB OF GOD, EIGHTEEN VISIONS, FIVE POINTE O
(Graceland) Like many bands in the genre, it would be easy to dismiss Cleveland's nĂĽ-metal outfit Mushroomhead as a bunch of mask-wearing testosterone addicts aping Faith No More (not unlike many bands in the genre). But these guys aren't just another Slipknot or Mudvayne. Their creepy, apocalyptic aesthetic feels more psychologically menacing. By adding industrial electronics and sinister lyrics on songs like "Solitaire Unraveling," the octet has staked out a small but distinctive portion of the nĂĽ-metal landscape. By comparison, the musicians of Richmond, Virginia quintet Lamb of God are heavy-metal purists, showcasing precision double kick drums and blistering guitar riffs that recall Pantera more than the hiphop-hardcore fusion that seems to be dominating the metal universe these days. DAVID SLATTON
MODEST MOUSE, FCS NORTH
(Showbox) See Stranger Suggests.
DEADLY SNAKES, CATHETERS (CD RELEASE), THE NERVES
(Crocodile) See Stranger Suggests.
DEAD KENNEDYS, PORTRAIT OF POVERTY
(Graceland) First off, nostalgia is almost always a bad idea. With or without Jello Biafra, going to see an aging, post-punk, post-hardcore Dead Kennedys rehashing songs from Frankenchrist... or watching Biafra attempting an incendiary performance of "Let's Lynch the Landlord" (21 years later!) would be nothing more than sad, sad, sad. Pathetic. It would be even worse than watching the increasingly transgendered and undead Steven Tyler swishing his lame bandanas around at some bullshit radio-station festival, because while Aerosmith was once a great band, it never took itself seriously enough to eventually embarrass itself. The Dead Kennedys, however, did take themselves seriously. They were political, inspired, raucous, and even important in their heyday, and now they are OVER. DONE. PERIOD. And here's the real kicker, in case you haven't heard already: This Dead Kennedys "reunion" tour doesn't even feature Jello Biafra. JEFF DeROCHE
WU-TANG CLAN, LIFESAVAS
(Paramount) What can you say about the Wu-Tang Clan that would be interesting or new? I'm just going to take cues from the press release: "From the monks of an ancient temple in China... in a once forbidden world [the 'hood, a.k.a. Staten Island, a.k.a. Shaolin], at a time of incredible change [post-9/11], in the fastest growing economy on earth [CREAM!].... Like a sleeping dragon they were at peace with the world until it was time to awake, The Power, The Spirit, The Story [okay...], in a unique theatrical presentation [for sure] by an international creative team [Huh? Aren't they all from New York?].... Imaginative music, combined with high technology [turntables], lighting and a stage presentation [really?!]... a unique form of martial art, based on their spiritual beliefs [no doubt]. They called it Kung Fu." Okay, hold up... oh! My mistake. This is the press release for Shaolin: Wheel of Life, the martial arts dance piece that happens at the Paramount on Monday. I'm sorry. You can see how I got confused. BRIAN GOEDDE
RYAN ADAMS
(Century Ballroom) I'm drunk... and right now I'm soooo in love with me.... JEFF DeROCHE
THE HEATERS, ALL AMERICAN PLAYBOYS
(Central Saloon) Back in the day (maybe even before "it was killer") the Heaters were the ones everybody thought would make it to the big time. Fondly remembered as Seattle's own Cheap Trick, this power pop band was a favorite among the '80s live music circuit. Not much happened for the Heaters once grunge took over, but the band has re-formed and is giving it another go in this kinder, more power-pop-philic decade. Exercise, and take your vitamins. KATHLEEN WILSON
MR. LEN, MR. COMPLEX, EL FUDGE, KICE, STEADY ROC, SURGE SPITABLE
(I-Spy) This early all-ages show (7 pm) will be something interesting. Not only is Mr. Len a very interesting artist, he's also unpredictable. The former Company Flow DJ/producer might Emcee the night, he might DJ for Complex, or he might just spin records, according to I-Spy. Then again, he might juggle, he might do handstands. I can say for sure that his latest release, Pity the Fool: Experiments in Therapy Behind the Mask, is as psychologically startling and confusing as the title suggests. The tracks from Q-Unique, Mr. Live & Chubb Rock, and Lord Sear are wild and bizarre. And this Jean Grae?! I hope to hear much from her soon. We'll see what comes with Mr. Len's stage appearance. Mr. Complex is the Queens rapper who worked with Pharohe Monch on the 2000 Rawkus single "Stabbin You," and followed it up with two LPs, Complex Catalog in 2000 and Hold This Down in 2001. BRIAN GOEDDE
SOMETHING NEW: DEBUT PERFORMANCES
(Secluded Alley Works) Secluded Alley Works (just off one of Seattle's sketchiest corners, 12th and Yesler) is doing some refreshingly raw, unshiny, un-dot-com-Seattle shows like this one, which reveal musical collaborations heard here for the first time. Members of Old Time Relijun, Suffering and the Hideous Thieves, Olympia's rough and rootsy blues-punk band the Gossip, and local heroes the Blood Brothers will let us hear their new side projects. Blood Brothers bassist Morgan Henderson appears with his new electronic project Y.K.K. No audience has ever heard any of the music played here tonight, so this promises to be a more highly conceptual "art evening" than the usual event of just having bands play in an art gallery. Aside from that, what can one say about the Blood Brothers? They rule. For those of us who were never easy with our town in boomtime, every event like this is like the first birds and buds of spring after a long, glitzy winter. GRANT COGSWELL
LENNON
(Crocodile) Lennon confused me entirely. Here's a woman who apparently respects hard-edged music, but on her debut album, 5:30 Saturday Morning, Lennon--or her label Arista--threw in songs that simply shouldn't appear on this disc. Lennon opens with "Property of Goatfucker," and these lines: "Mommy's in the closet finding God/I'm on my knees finding you/Bring myself just low enough/To do what you want me to do." All right! Turn on The Man Show, pop open some brews, and let's relive our high-school football years! What with my testosterone pumping I'm ready to get blotto and have a Black Flag "TV Party." But then it all falls apart. By the closing track, you realize that Lennon didn't release a hard-cuttin' record and you feel betrayed. Instead, she's branched out into 12 different musical styles and is waiting to see which single sells the most. This way her career won't be set into one specific vein, be it Sarah McLachlan piano ballads, AC/DC rawk, or Tool meets Brian Eno industrial. One more thing: If she even tries to act like a badass tortured rock star at the show, I'm storming the stage. Anyone with me? BRYAN BINGOLD
RIGHT ON!, THE HOSPITALS, THE SULTANAS, PARTY OF EIGHT
(Industrial Coffee) Right On!'s debut single, "Buried Alive" b/w "Love," will be released soon by Royal Records in Paris, France. "Love," built around a hammering, repetitive two-chord guitar riff, is one of the band's best live songs, part "16"-era Buzzcocks and part Outsiders/Q65 '60s Dutch-beat. While not sounding like the Sonics or Wailers, Right On! has the same raw, real spirit and energy of the great Northwest bands of the past, infusing it into Rob Vasquez's catchy but non-obvious songs. Dan Wood and Charlie Ryan make a great rhythm section, bringing to mind the whomp of the Creation. It seems strange that no Seattle labels have signed Right On! given that this is one of the best bands around. The Hospitals are a new band from the Portland underground scene that's recently given us the Hunches, Flip-Tops, and Hank Pym Experience. The Sultanas is the latest project from Renton garage kingpin Jesse Lortz. Members of the Amazing Spider-Men backing up several female vocalists, the sound is said to lie somewhere between the Shangri-Las and Thee Headcoatees. HEATH HEEMSBERGEN
AKIMBO, DROWNING IN LETHE, VATS OF BLOOD
(Kirkland Teen Center) Akimbo is a rare and special hardcore band. Singer/bassist Jon Weisnewski is possessed of a mighty, delightful scream, an endless supply of fevered stage presence, and a keen, natural knack for finding the thick, melodic hook in every song. The three-piece puts out an enormous amount of sound, and there's so much energy in the stage performance that it's impossible to not enjoy it--unless, of course, you're not a fan of heavy, melodic hardcore. Look for a new Amalagate Records release, Harshing Your Mellow, scheduled to be made available any time now. Maybe it will even be available at this show, I'm not certain. JEFF DeROCHE
ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE, KINSKI
(Graceland) See conflicting previews this issue.
THRONES, CRICTOR, THE CHROMATICS
(Graceland) The Chromatics feature members of the Vogue, and while it sounds not entirely unlike that band (imagine a more raw version, maybe Mars Volta doing the Gossip?), the Vogue's bassist takes center stage to sing in the Chromatics. Crictor, you may know, is Seattle's newest two-piece metal band. Fronted equally by Warlock-toting guitarist Jenn Ghetto (Carissa's Wierd) and hard-hitting drummer Creighton Barrett (the New Mexicans), Crictor is without a doubt a rousing band. Look for Ghetto's recent birthday present--her bandmates have given her a sampler to add another element to the duo's already inventive sound. KATHLEEN WILSON
THE POSIES, THE LONG WINTERS (CD RELEASE), URBAN LEGENDS
(Showbox) God love those Posies. As for the Long Winters, The Stranger has certainly done its fair share of writing about the band's debut album, but since tonight is the CD release party, I figured I'd toss out one more write-up just to let readers know the show is happening. Oh, and again: God love those Posies. JEFF DeROCHE
Sorry Daniel.
BARDO POND, 31 KNOTS, FURSAXA
(Crocodile) Though it's been around for nearly two years, Philadelphia quintet Bardo Pond may have scored its biggest fan-base while serving as opening act on Mogwai's most recent American tour. Fronted by flute-playing chanteuse Isobel Sollenberger, Bardo Pond's far-reaching appeal stimulates fans of older psychedelic bands such as Hawkwind or Chrome, as well as neo-stoner (that's "experimental" to you highbrows) audiences keen on acts like Spiritualized and the aforementioned Mogwai. Portland's 31 Knots blends "experimental" with prog and math rock, making for a challenging but always rewarding live set. Opener Fursaxa is Tara Burke's (also out of Philly) solo project in which she employs keyboards, guitar, dulcimer, accordion, and other equipment to create what has been referred to as "acid folk." KATHLEEN WILSON
LOCAL 101: BEARSKIN RUGBURN, LLOYD'S ROCKET
(Re-bar) Bearskin Rugburn is a bright, fun, talented metal band that cracked my shit up at a recent Sit & Spin show. I was there to review the band, and in doing so I opined that playing metal in the year 2002 is inherently a tongue-in-cheek venture. I wrote that opinion to illustrate why it is I like Bearskin Rugburn so much: It's a metal band that enjoys itself. It's simultaneously self-aggrandizing and self-deprecating--a smart and truly winning combination as far as I'm concerned. Boy, those metalheads sure are a sensitive bunch of hair farmers, aren't they? Some irrelevant local metal website got all up in arms about my teensy little comment and posted my review, whining about how The Stranger is ignorant, or some such shit. I was then immediately barraged by a series of histrionic e-mails from hysterical headbangers across the globe, threatening to kick my ass, telling me how ignorant I am for so carelessly disregarding brilliant bands with names like Angel Corpse (really nice...) and Pungent Stench, and how insulting Bearskin Rugburn is for making fun of metal. "Fuck you!" wrote the hair farmers. "We're tired of having to defend ourselves against ignorant hipsters who make fun of metal!" Ultimately, I think the metalheads missed the point of my review, so just let me say this: Bearskin Rugburn is your friend. Bearskin Rugburn is a good band. I don't believe its members are "hipsters," and I highly doubt the members of Bearskin Rugburn are waging any sort of war against Angel Corpse and its ilk. What I said in my review was that Bearskin Rugburn was having FUN. You should all try it sometime. It's more rock and roll that way. JEFF DeROCHE
LAMBCHOP, DAVID KILGOUR
(Crocodile) See preview and Stranger Suggests.
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
(Moore) I'm the only person in the office of The Stranger who will admit to liking Rufus Wainwright. Why? Because Rufus is swoony, pretentious, and fey, and people just get all chickenshit about being associated with such things. But as far as I'm concerned, the freedom to be swoony, pretentious, and fey--particularly when it's done with Rufus' wit, commitment, and gorgeous melodies--is what makes living in today's world worthwhile. Rufus' self-titled debut album sounded like something out of a fin de siecle French cabaret produced by the Elephant Six collective; last year's follow-up, Poses, exploded in all directions, coming up with a wealth of sounds and textures, yet never losing that sweeping romantic feeling. Nothing I've heard in years has the lush, hopeful yet melancholy yearning of "The Consort," and it's partly due to the sheer dopey medieval fantasy of the lyrics. Love is just not cool, and Rufus Wainwright has the guts to be uncool along with it. The rest in the office are TOTAL LOSERS. BRET FETZER
