Every great performer should take a page out of Al Green‘s book and return a little affection to the fans sometimes. The ivory-suited reverend was in town last week sporting enough diamonds to light up the Paramount. But even more dynamic than the soul legend’s jewelry was his act. The two-dozen long-stemmed roses he handed out to the wailing, waving ladies in the crowd were just 24 of the ways he gave back a little love and tenderness. The roses, along with quips like “I’m gonna sing the lipstick off your mouth” and “Seattle, my love for you is more than a one-night thing,” added an extra glow to a crowd already amped to hear souped-up Green-style versions of songs like “Amazing Grace” slipped in among his originals. With a clipped little chicken dance and a perma-grin on his face, Green was a consummate performer, even at 58 years of age.
I doubt there will be any valentines of the floral variety for the crowd when Sonic Youth and Wolf Eyes hit the Showbox on Wednesday, July 14, but it still should be no less fervent a performance. The pair are in town after getting bounced off the canceled Lollapalooza tour (Detroit’s Wolf Eyes had been invited to that festival by its curator, Sonic Youth’s perennially cool Thurston Moore) and considering the infatuation both bands have for making art out of noise, they should be a pretty spectacular coupling. I e-mailed recently with John Olson of Wolf Eyes–a band that’s been described as making “ugly homemade” skree, pushing the concept of punk to the outer limits with heavily textured, at times highly agitating, and totally captivating sonic experiments. With a new record coming out in the fall on Sub Pop, and a generally big buzz for the band from the more avant elements of the underground, Olson says there “seems to be more interest in ‘experimental’ bands; our underground friends seem busier and such. More eyes are on it, but when it falls out of focus it’s just gonna go back to [the] depths. Our roots are in non-clubs and such. We have done a ton of tours in basements, colleges, barns, trash bins… We would [be] more than happy to return but blasting the kids [on a big stage] is rad. We are lucky but still bottom-dwelling goons. We know jams that sound like a dump truck full of tin garbage can’t be ‘popular’ for long, even if a crazed mutant is driving it.” Wolf Eyes have already released a 12-inch on Sub Pop, but there are high expectations for their September full-length, which should please those who crave massive aural bloodshed. “We set out to make the Reign in Blood for the 2000s,” says Olson of the upcoming album. “It sounds like complete world reversal. Like a thousand more aural definitions of ‘terror explosion.’ We are stoked.”
Speaking of stoked, Shoplifting recently released a great new 7-inch on Kill Rock Stars, “Hegemony Enemy” b/w “Talk of the Town.” The band makes no secret of turning a stark, post-punk dance beat into marching orders for the socially conscious, and these songs address issues of rape and assault as well as Big Brother-style corporate enslavement. The radical local act puts their issues to angular, art rock rhythms that sound as strictly defined as their ideals. And equally important, the band has been active around town setting up unusual shows–such as last week’s eclectic collection of bands at Polestar–which is gravely needed now that Drone Hill announced its final show and No Space events are infrequently advertised at best (although CoCA is still holding the occasional live-music lineup). There’s always the Punkin House, though, which is gearing up for the summer with a couple great shows. Starting this Sunday, July 11, it’s hosting the Wrangler Brutes (featuring Sam McPheeters of Born Against and Men’s Recovery Project) and the following Sunday they’ll have Japanther, Lipstick Pickup, and Dalmatians. Shows start at 7:00 p.m. with a donation requested for touring bands. For the address, e-mail Eric at partyhardcore@hotmail.com.
Also this weekend, don’t forget about the second annual I Sunk Your Battleship rock ‘n’ roll booze cruise. The two-deck (both indoors and out), two-bar boat will sail Elliott Bay this Saturday, July 10, loading at 10:00 p.m. at Pier 55 and leaving at 11:00 p.m. sharp for three hours of cool-kid Love Boat-style shit. The Fitness, Infomatik, and DJ Johnny Mayday will all play sets, and if it’s half as fun as last year it’ll be twice as fun as anything else you’ve got going on this summer. Get your tickets at www.isunkyourbattleship.com.