NOGGIN
"Noggin is noise!" proclaims the press release for this performance. Indeed. Violinist Michael Griffen and guitarist Eric Ostrowski have been shredding Western Washington ears for over 10 years. They're promising a rare acoustic set and a freely improvised, feedback-sculpting noisefest. Have your earplugs handy, but if your ears can take it without hurting (what other genre of music bares the physiological disparities among humans so plainly?), leave 'em off and delve into the timbral feast of distortion. Polestar Music Gallery, 1412 18th Ave at E Union, 329-4224, 8 pm, $6.
SEATTLE CREATIVE ORCHESTRA
Depending on the textbook, John Cage was either the most innovative composer of the 20th century or the Franz Liszt of our time, a musician loaded with great ideas but with too few great compositions to shine amid a musical firmament filled with Debussy, Stravinsky, Schoenberg, & Co. The reality is that a great composer is an experience unto her or himself, especially when it comes to Cage. The SCO presents a chamber ensemble concert of Cage's music and in true Cageian fashion, includes images from Sounds of the Inner Eye: John Cage, Mark Tobey, and Morris Graves, an exhibition at the Museum of Glass. HUB Auditorium, UW Campus, 543-4880, 4:15 pm, $10/$8.
BOB REES
Few percussionists are bold enough to do a solo show, but Rees more than held his own at the recent Improv fest. He performs two sets on drum kit, vibraphone, and various other percussion objects. Polestar Music Gallery, 1412 18th Ave at E Union, 329-4224, 8 pm, $6.
ICICLE CREEK CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Guitarist Ricardo Iznaola, pianist Francine Kay, and the Kairos Quartet play chamber music for classical guitar and strings. On the program: Gnattali's Sonata for Guitar and Cello, and Brahms' Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34. Stone Chapel Theater at the Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat, 7375 Icicle Rd, Leavenworth, 877-265-6026, 2 pm, $16/$14. Also Sat July 20 at 8 pm.
SUSAN WORDEN
I have no idea what oboist Susan Worden plans for her Master's Recital, but considering that the oboe is so damn difficult to play--I once bought an oboe reed, attached it to my clarinet, and nearly blew my brains out of my ears--anyone who got this far will probably be rather good. Brechemin Auditorium, UW campus, 543-4880, 7 pm, free.
SEATTLE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Along with works by Schubert, Fauré, Ysaÿe, and George Rochberg (revered for his early-'70s screw-the-serialist-bastards-I'm-gonna-write-tonal-music-even-if-it sinks-my-career stance), this gig features the premiere of Jeffrey Cotton's Sextet for Strings. Hmmm, a chamber music festival with one premiere out of 64 pieces? Sheesh, last year was a comparative oasis with one new piece in 50. Are all the great (or at least good) composers really that dead? Lakeside School, 14050 First Ave NE, 283-8808, 7 pm, $32-$15.
