DATZ COLD, PHILOSOPHY MAJOR
(Rendezvous) See Data Breaker, page 54.
TALIB KWELI, MF DOOM
(Showbox) See Data Breaker, page 54.
TILTED BLUE, SORRY
(Liquid Lounge) Tilted Blue are a still relatively unknown local foursome who will charm you with their melodic songwriting, indulge you with their comfortable U2/Radiohead influences (and if their website, www.tiltedblue.com/sounds.htm, is any indication, covers of those bands' songs), and impress you with their tasty guitar licks, which have abundant pop-rock melodies and harmonies to spare. Best of all? The show's free and at the Liquid Lounge, which serves an amazing Portobello Napoleon. DANA BOS
CAREEN, MERCIR, GRAHAM TRAVIS, IDIOT PILOT, TENKI
(Graceland) Idiot Pilot, a band I can't say enough good things about, had their fair share of praise in the All Ages column this week (see page 57), so I'll use this space to give praise to another local outfit you should familiarize yourself with right quick. Mercir finds influence in artists like Björk and the Flaming Lips. On their three-song EP, Prologue, the local trio takes you down a sonic path drawn by electronic blips and blops, guitar, piano, and sometimes dreamy, sometimes haunting vocals. "The War Room," my favorite track, is almost creepy, with this steady buildup of intensity that never really hits a climax but instead just ends, making it even more intriguing. In contrast, on "Fear of the Last Branch," Mercir gets all pretty, with an acoustic guitar and sad, gentle vocals. I don't know how it all translates live, but if they pull it off well (and something tells me they do), then soon I probably won't be able to shut up about them either. MEGAN SELING
BRILLIG STRING QUARTET
(Immanuel Lutheran Church) 'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe to celebrate this quartet's 25th anniversary with Mozart's Quintet in E flat, K. 614 and Beethoven's hefty Quartet in B flat op. 130. A bonus on the program is Stravinsky's seldom-heard yet compact 1920 Concertino, whose mournful, sometimes trenchant strains suggest Bartok filtered through Debussy. CHRISTOPHER DeLAURENTI
FRIDAY 5/28
THE NEW MEXICANS, BIG BUSINESS, THE FURTHER
(Graceland) See preview, page 33.
POST STARDOM DEPRESSION, THE BLACK PANTIES, RED TYGER CHURCH
(Crocodile) See Stranger Suggests, page 23.
TORTOISE, BEANS, THE ETERNALS
(Showbox) What happens post-post-rock? The mid-'90s genre that sprung from the experimentation of guitar-band boys assimilating techno, prog, and dub may have waned, but if you are Chicago stalwarts Tortoise you continue the work you set out to do, tightening your punches and refining your footwork. Not that they were ever in danger of being the band version of boxer Sonny Liston, but they have settled down. Their fifth album, It's All Around You, is their first without a lineup change and that stability means a more measured approach to the synths and ice-menthol jazz-based tracks. But the subtle funk energizes and there are always plenty of smart surprises. (Ironically, Jeff Parker's guitar steals the show in "On the Chin.") Live they are a mesmerizingly focused group, and hearing "Djed," in which they distill a presidential term's worth of indie impulses into a 20-minute song, is breathtaking. NATE LIPPENS
THE ACOUSTIC REIGN PROJECT, non grata
(Blue Moon) A motherlode of free improvisation at the Blue Moon. The Acoustic Reign Project features first-call acoustic bassist Michael Bisio, saxophonist Michael Monhart, and trumpeter Jim Knodle. They're promising a rendition of Albert Ayler's classic "Ghosts" and other raucous avant jazz. Non Grata, the outsized, rowdy flagship ensemble of the Monktail Creative Music Concern, opens. CHRISTOPHER DeLAURENTI
COBRA HIGH, IQU, SICK BEES, DJ FUCKING IN THE STREETS
(Chop Suey) Although it's still a few months until local electronic pop act IQU are able to put their new record into the hands of patiently awaiting fans, the duo has been picking up great momentum as of late. And well they should, as they play a blissful mix of theremin, guitar, turntables, and keyboards, one that boosts this band into a niche all their own in this city. JENNIFER MAERZ
THE TURN-ONS, THE GLASSES, THE ORPHAN PROJECT, THE MOST
(Vera Project) Power trio the Orphan Project are serious about their rock 'n' roll. So much so that all three of them tattooed a wide black band around their forearm with their logo, a sketchy red star, needled dead center. Live they are the essence of youth and energy. If one of them isn't bouncing around the stage, then another is leaping high off the kick drum--all while pulling off tight musical interchanges. As soon as the Orphan Project hits its first note, this poppy, punky group keeps an almost seamless, neck-breaking-paced set (sorry, no slow ones here). Tonight local start-up label Double Dos records and the Orphan Project celebrate their first CD release. WILL WAGLER
SATURDAY 5/29
ELECTRIC BLANKET, THE FALLOUTS, THE PULSES
(Hideaway) See Live Wire, page 44.
CAROLYN MARK, THE KITCHEN SYNCOPATORS, PURTY MOUTH
(Tractor) See preview, page 39.
SASQUATCH! MUSIC FESTIVAL
(Gorge) See preview, page 34.
THE FIERY FURNACES, DESTROYER, FROG EYES
(Crocodile) Essentially, Destroyer is Dan Bejar, and he is one hell of a fucking super-talented guy when it comes to versatility and command of history-informed rock that sounds totally brand new. Proof positive is his latest CD, Your Blues, which finds Bejar without his band (as on 2002's excellent This Night) and pulling out all the stops when it comes to his not having a problem with sounding like David Bowie, as he did so stridently on the New Pornographers' debut, Mass Romantic. Frog Eyes' 2003 release, The Golden River, also reveals a fondness for Bowie, but this time with a more '80s bent, and at times lends itself to other synth-driven pop of the decade, albeit the darker types. Together the two bands should make for a great show. KATHLEEN WILSON See also Stranger Suggests, page 23.
NW PUNKLIFE FESTIVAL
(Fun House) For those who think Folklife is a little too old-folky (despite its organizers trying to get a hip crowd involved by adding hiphop and local rock acts to the bill), here's where you can sit and stew to good music all weekend. NW Punklife has shows from 2 pm until last call today through Monday, all at the Fun House, with a $6 entry fee per day, as well as barbecues, Rat City Roller Girls, Naughty Nurses, and some little surprises. (Sunday there's gonna be wrestling between band sets and Monday promises a secretive "Old School Reunion Show" organized by Joey Pissdrunk.) JENNIFER MAERZ
THE VILLAINS, OBLONG POTATO, THIS IS HOW BABIES ARE MADE, MOBILE SEX PRIESTS
(Brick:House) Last year, the little brick building known as the Brick:House at Ballard's Golden Gardens Park had a successful run of all-ages shows. When summer ended, though, so did the Brick:House. Or so we thought! Brick:House is now looking forward to hosting another summer full of all-ages action. The season starts tonight with the Villains, Oblong Potato, This Is How Babies Are Made, and Mobile Sex Priests for only three bucks. The show is all-ages, of course, and it starts early at 5 pm. A schedule for other upcoming Brick:House shows (as well as more info about the venue) is at their website, www.artwithoutlimits.org. MEGAN SELING
SUNDAY 5/30
NW PUNKLIFE FESTIVAL
(Fun House) See above preview.
KANE HODDER, IDIOT PILOT, MON FRERE
(Paradox) See Underage, page 57, and Stranger Suggests, page 23.
THE SHINS, THE FRUIT BATS, DJ SUSPENCE, DJ ROY
(Neumo's) For those of you who couldn't get enough of the Shins and the Fruit Bats at Sasquatch! over the weekend, here's your chance to see them again in a much more intimate venue (and given the superstar success of the very talented Shins, this might be one of your only chances to see them on a stage this small). Keep in mind, though, this show is only for Sasquatch! ticket holders, and you have to show proof that you made it out to the Gorge by showing your ticket at the door before you pay to get in. JENNIFER MAERZ
FLIPSIDE
(Chop Suey) Whether you've got Monday off this holiday weekend or you're out to party until the work alarm shatters the next morning, Chop Suey has a newish Sunday-night weekly called Flipside, and it's worth checking out. Hosted by KEXP Street Sounds deejay B-Mello and DJ DV One, five bucks gets you all the hiphop you can shake your ass to, on a night when standing around sipping your drink ain't gonna cut it. JENNIFER MAERZ
MONDAY 5/31
NW PUNKLIFE FESTIVAL
(Fun House) See above preview.
TRANS AM, LES GEORGES LENINGRAD, MOVIES
(Chop Suey) Washington, D.C.'s Trans Am used to get a bad rap because they were shamelessly playing prog rock way before it was cool to have a Korg in the band. Now they've kinda been branded as part of the post-rock scene, but I'll take TA's sharp sense of humor and riffs on traditional rock bombast over the intellectually applauded bores Tortoise any day. There's something innately sexy in TA's electronically expansive music, a heaviness to their synths that presses into you during their live sets, when the trio's combined instrumental power is at its greatest. The last time I saw these guys in D.C., they were decked out in matching white suits, with the letters TA swirling on a screen behind them, and it was one of the coolest fucking things ever (and they were one of my favorite acts in Austin this year as well). These days the band members are split across an international divide, so tours will probably be few and far between. This show is to hype their latest release, Liberation, which was recorded in D.C. with the windows and doors open so the sounds of the city--sirens and all--could seep into this politically charged, mostly instrumental recording. JENNIFER MAERZ See also preview, page 37
FUNCTIONAL BLACKOUTS, TRACTOR SEX FATALITY, GUESTS
(2nd Avenue Pizza) Imagine if the Clone Defects corrupted the Riverboat Gamblers from a nice buncha wild beer-drinkin' punks into a noisier, dirtier, and faster fleet of loud, fast rules dudes. You'd have something close to the Functional Blackouts, a Chicago garage punk band that speeds through their songs like taking any breath deeper than a gasp for air would be a party foul, the kind of band that, when you're just listening to their CD, makes you feel the amps crashing, the pores soaking in sweat, and the lysergic acid damaging the brain. This is the first of two times these guys will be here over the next month, and this show promises to be crazy. First there's the pairing with our own Tractor Sex Fatality, a band that knows a little something about noisy, damaged punk itself, and then there's the 2nd Avenue Pizza setting--one of my favorites for claustrophobic-style venues because it always feels like I'm in some secret basement speakeasy. All in all, this show is one of my punk picks for the week by far, but remember to get there early. Showtime's at 6 pm. JENNIFER MAERZ
TUESDAY 6/1
ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE, SUBARACHNOID SPACE
(Crocodile) See preview, page 41.
ZERO 7, GUESTS
(Showbox) See preview, page 33.
DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL, THRICE, THE GET UP KIDS, VAL EMMICH
(Paramount) As the cliché goes, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Since I can't say anything about Dashboard Confessional without cracking a crybaby joke, I was going to shut up and let Dashboard's Chris Carrabba make fun of himself. But minutes into my search for incriminating Carrabba quotes, I grew tired of looking at Sir Sadpants, and found nothing that was really that embarrassing (save for a couple things about how he's "terrified" of getting on stage every night... boo hoo!). Godammit, my plan was foiled. I admit defeat. You win this time, Carrabba, but I'll get you next time! Next time! Mwahahaha! MEGAN SELING
THE MAGIC MAGICIANS, POPULAR SHAPES, THE PYRAMIDS
(Graceland) From their simply titled 2001 debut, Girls, to last year's self-titled follow-up, the Magic Magicians make not only an impressive amount of rock from just two members, but also a hell of a lot of fun. Just as he did when he fronted 764-HERO, singer/guitarist John Atkins is transformed into a head-swinging pop star on stage, and well, how many accolades can be heaped upon Black Heart Procession drummer Joe Plummer and his keen sense of percussive timing? If you're local, chances are you've already seen them at least once, but fun (and did I mention this band is pure fun?) is never something to turn down. KATHLEEN WILSON
WEDNESDAY 6/2
SAETA, COULTER, HIJACK THE DISCO
(Hideaway) See Some Candy Talking, page 73.
TENNIS PRO, HIJACK THE DISCO, GUESTS
(Fun House) Tennis Pro's album is called Happy Is the New Sad, which forces me to say that in my book, and so now and forever, Harmonies Are the Eternal Happy. These local guys have a bit of growing to do before they rank with their genre-mates Weezer and Fountains of Wayne, but songs about high-school girls and driving Dad's Camaro are something the pop lovers in this town (and there are a lot more of us each day) never tire of singing along to. KATHLEEN WILSON
