BENT
Bent's Halloween celebration should be off the proverbial hook. Promoter Ephraim Alexander (AKA Terso) has booked some of Seattle's most talented decknicians. Rising star Jeff Samuel--who has released beautifully streamlined tech-house for hot labels like Poker Flat, 7th City, and Trapez--has been getting heavy rotation from some of Europe's finest DJs. Orac Records boss Randy Jones always raises the roof with cerebral techno and booty-centric electro. Terso and many others round out this strong bill with a nutritious mix of techno, two-step, drum 'n' bass, and house. Aristocrat's Club, 220 Fourth Ave S, 748-9779, 21+, 10 pm-2 am, free before 10:30 pm, $5 after, $3 with costume.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 31
DJ JOSHUA RYAN
Former URB cover boy Joshua Ryan creates the sort of sweeping "progressive house" that finds its way into the superclub-filling sets of DJs such as Paul Oakenfold and John Digweed. Fortunately, Ryan brings a rare subtlety and subliminal funk to a genre often devoid of both qualities. His intelligently crafted debut album, By Design, accentuates pensive melodies and spacious dynamics while avoiding the hokey arpeggiated-synth buildups and cloying ambient breakdowns that make prog house and trance such earsores. Unlike many DJ-producers at his jet-setting level, Ryan can make you throw your hands in the air and still respect yourself the next morning. Last Supper Club, 124 S Washington St, 748-9975, 9 pm- 2 am, 21+.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1
BRANDY WESTMORE AND FRIENDS
Seattle mixtress Brandy Westmore spins tech-house with exquisite taste (i.e., it matches my own), delving into the back catalogs of all those forward-thinking labels (Perlon, Kompakt, Force Inc., Playhouse, etc.) that make Germany the undisputed world champ of intelligent dance clubs. Her buddies rock it, too. Jai Thai, 2132 First Ave, 770-7884, time, 21+, free.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 3
FOURTHCITY WEEKLY
Thee Outfit (Choncey Langford, formerly part of Seattle's finest IDM trio Lamplighter) is splitting for L.A. soon, so this is your last chance to catch his cryptically beautiful, richly textured armchair techno. If Warp Records decided to issue volume 3 of its legendary Artificial Intelligence comp series, Langford's music would deserve space on it. Lo-fi pranksters Pinky & Rex use toys and miniature thrift-shop instruments to concoct quirky, Dadaist soundscapes you hear when someone spikes your Froot Loops with LSD. With Tom Chi, Dave Peck, DJ Veins. Deep Down Lounge, 126 S Jackson St, 682-3242, 9 pm-2 am, 21+, $2.
