JESUS & MARY CHAIN COVER NIGHT W/THE TURN-ONS, SPIDERBITES, BLACK NITE CRASH, THE LASHES, AND MORE
(Neumo's) See Stranger Suggests, page 25, and Some Candy Talking, page 79.
THREE IMAGINARY GIRLS ROCKSTAR KARAOKE W/MEMBERS OF HARVEY DANGER, THE CATCH, THE SPITS, KUMA, THE DIVORCE, THE FASTBACKS, THE MALINKS, AND MORE
(Crocodile) See Stranger Suggests, page 25.
JON AUER, ELENI MANDELL
(Sunset) Fuck Britney for calling her Frankenstein's-monster-mishap album In the Zone, because (a) clearly, she's not; and (b) she's left a gross, frosted-pink smudge on a concise description of the rush a legit artist feels when inspiration flows unabated. If any musician is truly "in the zone," it's Eleni Mandell. Since 1998, the L.A. singer-songwriter has made six seductive records and toured relentlessly, going from playing to a couple dozen patrons at the Crocodile to keeping packed houses hushed on weekend nights. You know how, in film noir classics, there's always a singer at that roadhouse the couple on the lam ducks into? That's Eleni. Except instead of sticking to jazz, or country, or nicotine-stained blues, or rockabilly, her captivating new Afternoon incorporates elements of all those genres. So refreshing--like someone actually opened the drapes and let some sunshine into that dingy old dive on the lost highway. KURT B. REIGHLEY
PIEBALD, THE JEALOUS SOUND, NORTHSTAR, DOWN TO EARTH APPROACH
(Graceland) I'd hate to say anything bad about Piebald and then go to the show and find out that they completely rock, but I'm guessing that won't happen. The once hardcore darlings turned indie-rock darlings turned straight-up-goofy-pop darlings seem to be on that slippery slope downward, and there ain't no goin' back. (And their pop songs are average at best.) But Piebald's live shows are always fun, and if you think about it, the band really has been more about good times than about making flawless music. The Jealous Sound, on the other hand, write sparkly clean pop songs that have my heart flying around the room trying to grasp onto Blair Shehan's smooth vocals as they escape from his lips. And live, the band manages to pull off that same warm, bright feeling as on disc. So final verdict? Eh, what the hell. The show's only 10 bucks. MEGAN SELING
QUINTRON AND MISS PUSSYCAT, THE DEAD SCIENCE, THE YOUNGS
(Chop Suey) Originally part of the same Bulb Records roster that spawned Wolf Eyes, Andrew W. K., and 25 Suaves, Quintron is the world's premier organ maestro/instrument inventor/New Orleans party emcee hybrid. His early albums for Bulb, released in the mid-'90s, were one-of-a-kind, lo-fi documents of a mad scientist at work. More recently, his early 2000s party-rap makeover presaged an unfortunate deluge of lame "indie-rap" hipster acts--but don't blame him. His most recent album, Are You Ready for an Organ Solo? (Three One G), is too cheeky and ironic for its own good--in fact, it sucks--but his live shows are still as sweaty and entertaining as ever. Go see him, and if you get a chance, ask him when he's going to release the songs from his 2001 Drum Buddy infomercial tour. WILLIAM YORK
FRIDAY 6/11
THE CATCH, THE INSURGENCE, DECEITFUL DEVICE, THE JOLIENS
(Old Fire House) See Underage, page 61.
PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES, THE RED LIGHT STING, BLUE SKY MILE
(Hell's Kitchen) Just back from playing the Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona (with the likes of Primal Scream, the Pixies, PJ Harvey, Liars, !!!, Wilco, and Mudhoney), Pretty Girls Make Graves are about to take a few months off after nine months of touring. And though they lost a member a while ago when guitarist Nathan Johnson bowed out to devote more time to his family--and was temporarily replaced by Les Savy Fav's Seth Jabour--Pretty Girls are now officially a four-piece. They're also already writing songs for their next album before they take off to the UK in two months to play the Reading and Leeds festivals, and then they go out for yet another European tour. If you can't make the trip out to Tacoma, don't worry--the band has a Seattle date scheduled in the very near future. KATHLEEN WILSON
SATURDAY 6/12
SKINNY PUPPY, TWEAKER
(Showbox) See CD Review Revue, page 47.
THE STARVATIONS, THE HOLY GHOST REVIVAL, THE BLESSED LIGHT
(Switch House) See preview, page 41.
HALO, JON LEE & RYNO, WESLEY HOLMES & KEN WALLACE
(Chop Suey) See Data Breaker, page 58.
SLEEPY WORKERS, GOLD RUSH
(Blue Moon) Local twosome Gold Rush makes old-timey tunes as delicate as a dusty lace negligee plucked from Grandma's attic. Using the understated backbone of Jan Norberg's guitar work and the haunting vocals of singer/tambourine player Mindy, the band conjures off-kilter blends of country folk and blues. Live, they're a stunning pair. JENNIFER MAERZ
P.O.D., BLINDSIDE, HAZEn STREET, LACUNA COIL
(Moore Theatre) True missionary musicians, the members of P.O.D. have brought brief rays of positivity to spiritually (and creatively) bankrupt metal-heavy lineups, including several Ozzfests. With their trippy transitions and brutal breakdowns, this jovial juggernaut embraces rap-metal's only intriguing elements while eliminating its ugly misanthropic edge. Instead of engaging in profane banter, frontman Sonny Sandoval typically addresses the crowd with "It's a beautiful day," "Let love lead the way," or "It's an honor and a privilege to be on this stage." Like Andrew W. K., P.O.D. can convert even hardened cynics with their refreshingly friendly presentation. On the radio, tracks such as "Alive" can feel overinflated with optimism, but in an arena setting, these smiley sing-alongs are difficult to dismiss. Not that every act should be powered by feel-good fuel, but without groups such as Pollyanna's Own Downtuners, commercial hard rock would be a pointless parade of pity-ridden self-dismissals and what's-the-point surrenders. ANDREW MILLER
VAUX, SCHOOLYARD HEROES, THE SENATE ARCADE
(Graceland, early) The Senate Arcade didn't win the Cutest Band Contest last month, but that isn't to say the local trio isn't adorable. But I know you're not shallow enough for that to be the only reason you'd want to check out the band. You're in it for the music, right? Well the music isn't as cute, but I mean that as a good thing because the music rocks too hard to be called anything cuddly. Heavy bass and guitar, pounding drums (imagine that, pounding drums)... if it's indie rock, there's definitely an emphasis on "rock." You wouldn't know it from their current EP, Vitamins Taste Like Dying, which, unfortunately, doesn't capture the same sort of raw intensity the live show has, but the release still isn't a bad first effort. And until you've seen lead singer Todd Schlosser perform in a four-sizes-too-small Hello Kitty tank top, well, you just haven't lived. MEGAN SELING
THE DIVORCE, THE TURN-ONS, SLENDER MEANS
(Graceland, late) Both the Divorce and the Turn-Ons are about to take New York by storm, playing the hottest and most VIP lairs, with plenty of Us Magazine/Page Six regulars already requesting attendance. Apparently, New York LOVES the Turn-Ons and the major rock press LOVES the Turn-Ons, as well they should because their latest album, East, is a wonder of reverb and pretty shoegazing rock. KATHLEEN WILSON
SUNDAY 6/13
NARDWUAR'S VIDEO VAULT, THE DEAD VAMPIRES, THE EVAPORATORS, CARTER BROWN
(Sunset) Nardwuar the Human Serviette, from Vancouver, BC, has made quite a name for himself, injecting a much-needed sense of humor into both the music profession and the profession of music journalism. The key to this Much Music VJ's approach is that it's less about being bratty and more about getting people to relax and act silly, and the same can be said about his band, the Evaporators, which turns absurd pop punk into playtime for both Nardwuar and his fans. Tonight Nardwuar opens the vault on his extensive interview collection (which ranges from Nirvana and Vanilla Ice to Slayer, the Strokes, and Tommy Chong, although I'm not sure what he'll show here) as well as getting the crowd to perform, on command, with the Evaporators. Keep on rockin' the free world. JENNIFER MAERZ
SHANNON WRIGHT, THE SWORDS PROJECT, SUFFERING & THE HIDEOUS THIEVES
(Crocodile) On her records, Shannon Wright plays almost every instrument herself, giving the already unsettling compositions a claustrophobic feel. Live, Wright's profoundly disquieting material seems even more intensely personal, though her backing band shares the burden. Wright's soft voice, in conjunction with her memorable melodies, offers listeners a false sense of security, which she shatters with jarring primal screams. Her 2004 release, Over the Sun, is a total eclipse, an emotionally exhausting descent into darkness on which raucous riffs crest and crash with Wright's disturbingly depressed delivery. Her elastic voice snaps at unexpected intervals, inserting cathartic climaxes into languid laments. But while Wright's overpowering anguish can turn her recorded tunes into bleak black holes, her absorbing, animated stage show adds nuance, reminding concertgoers that she isn't always in agony. This realization doesn't make her sorrowful songs less convincing, but it does make them easier to enjoy. ANDREW MILLER
THE BLOODY LOVELIES, THE BENNETT CALE PROJECT
(Conor Byrne) Local band the Bloody Lovelies might make you think of the Walkmen, Matthew Sweet, and T. Rex, or several other bands entirely unrelated, but one thing's for sure: They're great at blending pop with slinky-hipped rock. KATHLEEN WILSON
THE STILLS, SEA RAY
(Neumo's) This week's cure for insomniacs. Despite the big push from their label Vice and all the lemming-like praise from the press, Canada's the Stills have yet to rise above being a boring band with a boring album that plays boring live shows to boot. You won't need a glass of warm milk with this one. JENNIFER MAERZ
MONDAY 6/14
THE VON BONDIES, THE RUBY DOE, MIDNIGHT MOVIES
(Showbox) See preview, page 39.
THE BLOOD BROTHERS, CHALLENGER, THE MAGIC MAGICIANS
(Neumo's) See preview, page 43.
TUESDAY 6/15
THE STREETS
(Neumo's) See preview, page 37.
FATAL FLYING GUILLOTEENS, THE CHARMING SNAKES, THIS MOMENT IN BLACK HISTORY
(Crocodile) See preview, page 37.
PUFFERFISH, LOW SKIES, MIKE DUMOVICH
(Tractor) See preview, page 44.
WEDNESDAY 6/16
THE FITNESS, THE CRIPPLES, TYCO PARTY, THE SATURDAY KNIGHTS, DJ FUCKING IN THE STREETS
(Chop Suey) These headlining Seattle synth-punk bands match up like Alan Vega and Martin Rev. On their debut disc, Dirty Head (Dirtnap), the Cripples bolt into similar lo-fi/hi-NRG territory as Brainiac and Add N to (X), animated by Ross Marshall's scoffing garage-punk vocals. The Cripples' venomous synth attack and poisoned-candy pop sensibility are worth misaligning a few vertebrae for. The Fitness are more classically pop-oriented, but the quartet produces its share of sick keyboard emissions and maliciously fuzzed guitar tones, too. With Tyco Party, the Saturday Knights, DJ Fucking in the Streets. DAVE SEGAL
NO DOUBT, BLINK-182, PHANTOM PLANET
(White River Amphitheatre) Oh, fuck off. It's so easy to hate No Doubt. The long-reigning cheeseburgers of American pop--you've got your reportedly hung East Indian bassist with dyed-blond hair, your frequently nude drummer, your sexy front lady with the bad skin, your other guy (he's kind of generic)--shot to improbable popularity in the long, weird mid-'90s with their hyperactive, sometimes horrible hits about walking into spider webs and not telling cuz it hurts. And you know what? Some of us ate that shit up. Some of us were living in Southern California at the time, in broken homes and obese bodies, just trying to make it through adolescence, and we didn't know about good music and good radio stations yet because we had no friends yet, and we took whatever we could get our hands on, anything that could make us one ounce happier to be on this awful earth. Life is a fucking nightmare and any band, however scorched and plastic, who can make it a hair more enjoyable deserves a goddamn prize. CHRISTOPHER FRIZZELLE
