THURSDAY JANUARY 19
TROY PIERCEIt’s maddening that Troy Pierce (AKA Slacknoise) isn’t playing in Seattle, but it’s well worth the hassle of zipping down to Portland to catch this blue-hot minimal-techno producer, who also plays in the superb Run Stop Restore with Magda and Marc Houle. Releasing for Richie Hawtin’s impeccable M-nus label, Pierce peddles ice-water-in-veins cuts that surreptitiously lure you onto the dance floor and make you feel funny (in a good way) once you get there. Pierce was born in Indiana and drew inspiration from Midwestern techno and house DJ/producers like Hawtin, Jeff Mills, Derrick Carter, and D-Wynn. Now based in Berlin, Pierce infuses techno with a sly, subtly creepy lubricity that fits well in sets populated by artists on the Perlon, Orac, Boogizm, Telegraph, and Circus Company imprints. Pierce is definitely in the ascendant; follow him closely. With Suppoz. Saucebox, 214 SW Broadway, Portland, 503-241-3393, 10 pm–2 am, free, 21+.
FRIDAY JANUARY 20
NECTAR, ARMY OF ONECapitol Hill Arts Center has been renovated (Innerflight’s organizers will be providing 7,000 watts of Mackie sound) and is now staging music events again. Seattle’s Innerflight Records kicks off its new monthly tonight (it’ll go every third Friday) with a record release party for Los Angeles multi-instrumentalist Nectar’s “Life (the Rhythm of),” which features remixes by New York’s Army of One and San Francisco’s Rick Preston. Nectar (Adam Tenenbaum) will play a live improv guitar set over Army of One’s DJ set. Innerflight’s J-Sun says, “These are very talented no-nonsense tech-house artists—funky, dark, and danceable, bordering on the electro-rock subgenre of house music, as well.” With J-Sun & Kadeejah Streets, Sean Donoghue-Neider, and James Galbreth. CHAC (Lower Level), 1621 12th Ave, 388-0521, 10 pm–2 am, $6, 21+.
BASHMENTJoin local beat scientists Rama, Kris Moon, Element, and Alibi for this new monthly, at which they hope to school you in the rambunctious intricacies of ragga jungle and dancehall. ‘Bout time we had a night like this here. Lo_Fi Performance Gallery, 429 Eastlake Ave E, www.lofiseattle.org, 9 pm–2 am, $5, 21+.
