March 30-April 5, 2005
Wednesday, March 30
Ben Lee
SEE CD REVIEW, P. 51. Crocodile Cafe, 8 p.m. $12.50 adv./$15
Pinetop Perkins
Sure, there are lots of veteran blues players, but pianist Perkins probably claims seniority on all of 'em—he's been playing professionally for nearly 80 years. He'll be accompanied by guitarist Peter Dammann, drummer Carlton Jackson, and bassist Don Campbell. Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, 7:30 p.m. $18.50–$20.50
The Reputation
Other than James Spader and John Cusack in True Colors, law students are generally not total badasses. Elizabeth Elmore is (well, was) the real-life exception, now a frank and tough songstress whose post-Sarge outfit hasn't yielded the sales or critical breakthroughs it deserves. We're out of order?! SoundScan's out of order! The record-buying public is out of order! Catwalk, 7 p.m. $7
Thursday, March 31
Na: Noriaki Watanabe + Shinsuke Yamada + Kazu Nomura
The Japanese-born UW-schooled experimenters Na make a very justified appearance at SAM's After Hours program, and we couldn't be happier. It's good to see SAM pushing at its limits by including some rich neoimprov, and it'll be interesting, to say the least, to hear what the trio cooks up. Seattle Art Museum, 5:30 p.m. Free
The Robot Ate Me
People mumble all the time, but amplifying it over depressive bedding-swaddled four-track fiddlings doesn't clarify anything, sorry. Catwalk, 7 p.m. $7
Shonen Knife + Gore Gore Girls
Between the Japanime freak-out pop of Shonen Knife and Detroit's white-vinyl-clad garage rock revivalists the Gore Gore Girls, you'll have had more than your fill of hot chicks and offbeat hooks 'n riffs. Both bands are definitely worth seeing on their own accord; the pairing qualifies as a bonanza. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $13 adv.
These Arms Are Snakes + Death From Above 1979 + Big Business
Two of Seattle's most successful art-metal exports—the headliner a brittle, paranoia-spewing post-noise powerhouse and the Biz a deafening two-man sludge factory—sandwich flavor of the month DFA 1979. Good thing the Torontonian upstarts more or less live up to their buzz, doling out conspicuously impolite drum, bass, and synth beatdowns. Neumo's, 7 p.m. $10 adv./$12. Big Business will also play Easy Street Records Queen Anne at 5 p.m.
Friday, April 1
Autolux
We've talked up this L.A.–based dreampop trio as much as anyone in the last couple of months, so by now you should know the drill: trippy, delay-laden guitar waves, rainy-day boy-girl cooing, and blistering skins. No dark drugs required. Bliss out. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $10 adv. Also at Easy Street Records Queen Anne, Saturday, April 2, at 1 p.m.
Codebase
Been a while since this good local electro dude's put out a full length, so maybe he's got some new stuff up his sleeve. But we'll be happy if he doesn't, too. Capitol Hill Arts Center Lower Level, 8 p.m. $5
Chris Corsano
Improv specialists have been eagerly anticipating the Seattle appearances of Massachusetts' Chris Corsano. Thanks to his highly skilled yet wonderfully loose-reined hammering, the Paul Flaherty/Thurston Moore/New Weird America–associated drummer is the It Boy of the experimentation scene. While here, he'll collaborate with Wally Shoup, Bill Horist, and more. SeaMonster Lounge, 9 p.m. $5. Also at Gallery 1412, Saturday, April 2–Sunday, April 3.
Dizzee Rascal
SEE FEATURE, P. 43. Neumo's, 8 p.m. $20 adv.
Ida
If the idea of more whispery folk sounds suspicious, rest assured that this upstate New York troupe has the melodic goods, as you can hear on their newest, Heart Like a River (Polyvinyl). Paradox Theater, 8 p.m. $10. Also at Tractor Tavern, Sunday, April 3.
IQU + the Turn-Ons + Mon Frere
From electronic whimsy (with serious beats) to neo-Britpoppiness to synthy dancey rock, here's one of the nicest local bills of the week—and it's cheap and all-ages. How can you resist? VERA Project, 7:30 p.m. $7 with club card/$8
Reverend Horton Heat
Let's get shticky: Add a little reverb to your half-interesting tunes, decorate it with the right period-piece outfit, and presto! Instant cult. That said, the live show is pretty fun. Premier, 8 p.m. $20 adv./$22
XXX Audio + Ms. Led + Infomatik
The former Suite G has actually been open as High Dive for the better part of March, flaunting an admirably diverse array of local rock, Americana, and DJs. They found three winners for their formal grand opening—Infomatik's high-wire cold wave will clash just right with Ms. Led and Triple X's lady-led, whip-smart power pop. High Dive, 10 p.m. $7
Saturday, April 2
Stars
Even if you distrust the new wave of Canadian indie rock, Stars' lovely jangles are worth attending to, even (and here's the tricky part) live. Apostles of Hustle open. Neumo's, 8 p.m. $10 adv./$12
Monday, April 4
Buck 65
SEE SW THIS WEEK, P. 41. Showbox, 8 p.m. $20 adv.
Tuesday, April 5
Breaking Benjamin
Let's see—the name's violent and asinine, unless they're talking about changing a hundred. Could they be . . . nü-metal? Ding! Yet, despite the obvious death knells of their genre, BB has cranked out a few minor MTV hits, even one that Billy Corgan didn't inexplicably co-write ("Sooner or Later"). Sensitive! Grungy! We need a shower! Showbox, 7 p.m. $18 adv./$20
Oh Snap
Here's a good idea: A night devoted to mash-up bootlegs, the Frankensteinian pop-song pairings that have given us such classics as "The Magnificent Romeo" (Basement Jaxx + the Clash) and "A Stroke of Genius" (Christina Aguilera + the Strokes), amongst many others. Come dressed in half a suit and half a dress! OK, don't. Baltic Room, 9:30 p.m. $3
The Soundtrack of Our Lives
Now that we've been inundated with it for four decades now, classic rock had to go somewhere to nest, and it has: the Nordic countries. See Sweden's Soundtrack, who do the guttural vocals and groovin' riffs thing with a fair amount of aplomb. Canada's much-feted Dears open. El Corazon, 8 p.m. $15
