First, the Gnome would like to extend a hearty "welcome back" to some world travelers. The acoustic Posies wrapped up a world tour that took Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow all over Europe and then across the world to Japan. Assuming that they haven't killed each other, they'll appear at the Showbox on December 22, doing double duty in Big Star. Also returning from an extensive jaunt through Europe is Pleaseeasaur, the one-man musical wrecking crew who opened for Black Heart Procession in creepy countries like Poland.
Only a month ago, your curly-toed correspondent devoted this space to berating music people who'd behaved badly, yet it's deterred no one, especially not Snoop Dogg, who made a mockery of the marijuana laws of this city and state and had people chanting potty-mouthed slogans from the stage of the Showbox last week. The show was actually a coup for local promoters and for the radio station KUBE, who booked Snoop at a timely hour. The uncuddly canine MC had just rekindled his battle with ex-label Death Row, which had digitally posted Snoop's unreleased new album on a Web site. Meanwhile, Columbia Pictures filed suit against his Doggy Style Records, according to New Musical Express, claiming copyright infringement; the artwork on the Snoop-produced Doggy's Angels record, Baby If You're Ready, is the alleged culprit. And Snoop's own new album, The Last Meal, was just a few weeks from its December 19 release on Priority Records. Witnesses say that Snoop exhibited no signs of stress, playing all the hits along with his fresh-off-the-griddle fare, although he was, from all appearances, stoned out of his cornrowed skull.
Fellow tree-smokers the Dandy Warhols got bumped from the Showbox to the Catwalk in Pioneer Square because of Snoop's last minute appearance, which reportedly irked the Portland popsters (and wanna-be pop stars). They're no strangers to injustice, however; the Gap's barf-worthy scarf ads feature a song not off the Dandys' new disc but "Boys Better" from their 1998 release, The Dandy Warhols Come Down. Nevertheless, they're proud of their sellout; the band's official Web site touts the Gap ad along with mentions of a spot for Ford and placement in TV shows. The Gnome sends an imaginary congratulatory bouquet to you, Dandys, and another to Everclear's Art Alexakis, who may be in the running for an Oscar after his weepy-eyed portrayal of himself in the latest Behind the Music. Good thing we here in Seattle are safe from such tomfoolery. Or are we? You, um, betcha?
You can reach the Metro Gnome at metrognome@seattleweekly.com.
