MINIMAL TECHNO IS THE NEW (KONRAD) BLACK
In a world swarming with minimal-techno producers, Konrad Black ranks among the best, as evidenced by his releases on the esteemed Minus and Wagon Repair labels, a mix for Berlin's Watergate club, and a residency at Berlin's Panorama Bar. The Vancouver-raised, Berlin-based Black combines rigorous, mind-altering sound design with buoyant, floor-friendly beats. His music sounds especially relevant during after-hours, when the hallucinogens really kick in and you get your second (or third) wind. His appearance in Seattle is a major event. Support comes from DJ Riz, Nordic Soul, and Innerflight resident DJs Rhines, Kadeejah Streets, J-Sun, and Manos. Lo-Fi Performance Gallery, 9 pm–3 am, $10 adv/$13 DOS, 21+.
PENDULUM'S OZ-SOME DRUM 'N' BASS
I've said some mean things about this Aussie outfit in these pages. Here's some more: Pendulum blend ordinary drum 'n' bass with mediocre rock in a manner that hits you like a sledgehammer coated in gooey cheese. True, that sounds like great fun to many people, but not your crusty columnist. With Innerpartysystem. Showbox Sodo, 8 pm, $20, all ages.
MONSTERS OF BASS TOUR
The Dirty Velvet Monsters of Bass Tour lands in Seattle with a monstrous whomp, delivering us London producer FreQ Nasty; South African–born, New York–based MartyParty (half of PantyRaid); and Australia's Opiuo. Mr. Nasty (who's worked with KRS-One, Fatboy Slim, and Kelis, among others) built his rep in the funky-breaks scene, which had roots in Big Beat, with releases on Botchit & Scarper and Skint. He's probably one of the few artists who's played Burning Man and has a mix in Fabric's long-running series. Now he's edging into dubstep and other basscentric styles, while still bringing the big-room dance-floor humidity and massively warped textures. Dude lives up to his name, if nothing else. Neumos, 9 pm, $15, 21+.
MENSA-LEVEL MOTORMOUTH MC BEANS
Beans has always been my favorite member of Antipop Consortium, and his solo career has yielded several great releases: Tomorrow Right Now, Now Soon Someday, Shock City Maverick. With the most authoritative delivery since Public Enemy's Chuck D and an articulate assassin with metaphors and similes, Beans finds startling new ways to big up himself while also puncturing the egos of other MCs. His new album, End It All, employs several guest producers (Nobody, Bumps, Tobacco, Four Tet) who maintain Beans' proclivity for fucked-up, funky beats and eerie atmospheres. With Suntonio Bandanaz and OC Notes. Chop Suey, 8 pm, $10 adv/$12 DOS, 21+.
