THOSE GOTHS ARE touchy. It seems I riled them a bit with my review of their "private" club in the alley. They typed their Gash-stained nails ragged firing off e-mails about how I don't understand the goth community, and how they don't want me in their club even if I did. Like I set out to infiltrate their dark ranks or something. Then I get one from a "Concerned Citizen" telling me to check out some lame newsgroup because I'm being "threatened and slandered" on it. Get in line! Next thing I know, Mr. C. C. lets fly with his manifesto centered around closing the place down, going all Richard Lee with his accusations, claiming to be a "member," and that's why he knows the evil deeds taking place under the sidewalk. Lean in close, because I don't want this to get out, but between you and me, the bartender serves, hold on... flaming drinks! Run for the hills.

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I joined a Stranger caravan headed out to Emerald Downs to do a little betting on the ponies, mostly because a gal called Another Barfly was running in the fourth race. Everything's going well until I notice the End's morning mouth, Andy Savage, is in the house. Then I see the End is actually sponsoring the evening, and later on, "Alternative Rock" band Kry is going to entertain the beer-swilling, hot dog-scarfing crowd. (A word of advice I wish I'd gotten before hand: Don't go near the chili-cheese dogs, and certainly don't try to put out their fire with an ice-cream Drumstick.) I don't know who Kry is, but I do know that anyone who follows a Cure cover with a Sublime one is definitely an Alternative Rock band, and I'm glad to see the End getting out there for the local Alternative Rock community.

The next evening it was off to the Breakroom, where most of Seattle's hipster elite was gathered for Song Sung Blue, a night of karaoke hosted by Murder City Devils frontman and shiner-owner Spencer Moody. Emily and Sally from Faster Tiger left their own show over at the Elysian in order to sing their hearts out with the rest of the jolly crowd. For those who were wondering, country standards were the most popular choice of the evening. Karaoke nights are popping up all over town. The latest: Sunday nights at the Cha Cha.

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Taking time out from his tour duties with R.E.M. last week, former Posie Ken Stringfellow and his band Saltine played in L.A. at Spaceland. In the audience was a very drunk Elliott Smith, who, though in his cups, managed to buttonhole Ken and tell him what a fine singer and songwriter he was. Or is that shinger and shongwriter? Also at the show was Rebecca from the very first Real World, which is not to be confused with the sorry Seattle edition. Saltine is set to release its first 7" this fall.

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Marigold is finally in the mixing stage of their infamously forthcoming record. The dang thing is supposed to come out early next century. In other local recording news, John Wesley Harding says the new Minus 5 album is "amazing." Minus 5's Scott McCaughey says John Wesley Harding's new material is "great."

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More JWH news: Petula Clark was spotted at the Crocodile as she checked out Harding's set. Afterwards she grabbed a booth with Harding, Gerald Collier, and Supersucker Eddie Spaghetti.

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Red Stars Theory's James Bertram was just one of the rock stars attending the sneak preview of Detroit Rock City, which is, for the record, the Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Movie Ever Made. It opens on Friday. Don't miss it.