It’s mid-January and you know what that means? Bullshit weather and questionable winter Seattle fashion. But you know what else it means? Shows by local rap superhero Mackned, black metal pioneers Venom, Inc., and new local favorite DoNormaal, all of which are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Here are all of the shows our music critics recommend this weekend—for more, check out our complete music calendar.
THURSDAY
1. Mackned, Sneak Guapo, guests
After a sort of coming-out party—a hugely successful crew show only four moths ago at the Croc, Ned has brought back a fresh handful of his emo-inspirational cohorts (and surfy Seattle rock group Snuff Redux) to grace the Belltown venue’s stage once again. Expect a full helping of Ned’s newest release, Celebrity Etiquette, to be slapped upon your ears at night’s end. TODD HAMM
2. T.S.O.L., Left Alone, and the Burnz
T.S.O.L., aka True Sounds of Liberty, are a long-running, old SoCal punk band. By my estimate, they’ve been active in some shape or form since 1979, including their goth-ish/death-rock phase in the mid-’80s AND a late-’80s hair-metal detour. MIKE NIPPER
3. Michael Gibbs and Bill Frisell
Guitarist Bill Frisell teams up with his former teacher for a performance at Meany Hall with the UW Symphony.
4. Funky Congregation
It’s baaaack! The Funky Congregation returns with top-tier Black Weirdos SassyBlack and Chocolate Chuck.
5. Yogoman Burning Band
Yogoman Burning Band are all about upbeat, maximalist, horn-laden funk. Fronted by charisma-oozing vocalist/conductor/drummer Jordan Rain, the Bellingham-based collective are influenced by Jamaican rocksteady as well as the party-starting brass bands of New Orleans.
FRIDAY
6. Shemekia Copeland and Naomi Wachira
Daughter of Johnny Copeland and a powerful belter in her own right, Shemekia Copeland updates the history of blues with her own idiosyncratic take on the genre: opening it up to modernity without undermining the earnestness and humor inherent to the genes of the thing. KYLE FLECK
7. Malaa
The fact that Malaa’s done a remix for Major Lazer & DJ Snake’s massive hit “Lean On” indicates that he has a keen aptitude for populist grooves, but he also shows an intense focus on funky bass lines and ear-prickling textures that suggest comfort in underground-club zones. DAVE SEGAL
8. Bushwick Book Club Presents: “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”
The Bushwick Book Club, known about town as a force for literary/musical good, have taken it upon themselves to translate Adams’s mythical vision into hummable four-minute pop songs, and if their history is any indication, they’ll do it justice. KYLE FLECK
SATURDAY
9. DJ Paypal and guests
An exceptionally pleasant late-2015 surprise, DJ Paypal’s Sold Out was a psychedelic grab bag of prog-footwork, bursting at the seams with ideas. Though Chicago’s juke sound was clearly the framework, Paypal doesn’t shy from phased breakbeats, soft rock samples, early ’80-s vocoder funk, and outré pop, crafting a glittering soundworld with one foot(work) firmly planted in 2116.
10. Research w/ Mike Huckaby and guests
Detroit club mainstay Mike Huckaby is one of the last of the vinyl-centric techno/house DJs. Format may not seem important to most clubbers, but to this long-time appreciator of DJ sets, more respect is due to those who mix and beat-match with their hands in real time with the original tools of the trade, unaided by computer software. DAVE SEGAL
11. Hollow Earth Fundraiser
Community-run DIY station Hollow Earth has been granted LPFM status—which means you’ll be able to listen to it on the FM dial hyper-locally in Seattle—but it needs to build a tower and meet all the city ordinance requirements. Tonight’s show is a fundraiser for Hollow Earth to help meet its $25,000 goal, and it’s packed with diverse local talent. BRITTNIE FULLER
12. The Tom Price Desert Classic
Since Tom Price, a masterful minimalist, was never part of Seattle’s pop,-metal, or grunge scenes, it’s easy to take him for granted, but that would be a mistake. From the U-Men to Gas Huffer to Monkeywrench, the singer-guitarist has stayed true to his garage-punk roots: no sellout moves, no major-label deals. KATHY FENNESSY
SUNDAY
13. Kingdom of the Holy Sun and Sugar Candy Mountain
Kingdom of the Holy Sun remain one of Seattle’s most reliable purveyors of concise, catchy psychedelia. Every cut on their most recent releases sounds like a single. And nobody in town channels the stentorian intonations of Mr. Mojo Risin’ like frontman Guido Anselmi. DAVE SEGAL
14. Venom Inc., guests
If you’ve heard the term “black metal,” then your life has been touched by UK metal band Venom. The power trio coined the term in 1982 to describe their rapid-fire and satanic approach to heavy music. Ten years later, that term became a rallying cry for controversial, avant-garde, and sometimes violent musicians dedicated to the most extreme music guitars can make. JOSEPH SCHAFER
