Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2005
Wednesday, August 31
Earth, Wind and Fire + Chicago
Two retro tastes that go gaudily well together—horns, flash, tunes, feel-good overstatement, the works. EWF are of course by far the better band. White River Amphitheatre, 40601 Auburn Enumclaw Rd., 206-628-0888, 8 p.m. $35–$75
The Juan Maclean + the Long Ranger + Daylight Basement
SEE FEATURE, P. 67 (Long Ranger) AND CD REVIEW, P. 69 (Juan Maclean). Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $10
Midweek Beats DJ Spin-Off Finals
Can't afford the $10–$20 weekend covers? Wednesdays at Element are devoted to deep-funky-tribal house, feature live percussion, and cost absolutely nada. The final round of August's DJ Spin-Off has three bedroom mix-masters competing to win two decks and a coveted Friday night gig. Element, 9 p.m. NC
Rocky Votolato
The last we heard from Votolato was Suicide Medicine, wherein the local singer/songwriter intertwined death, confinement, and escape without a heavy hand or an overly earnest approach. Headliners Korby Lenker and the High and Mighty play bluegrass-inspired country-rock. Triple Door, 7:30 p.m. $10 adv./$12
Thursday, September 1
Grooverider + Fabio + Kid Hops
Goldie flaked on his appearance at the same club earlier this month, but hopefully this heavyweight pair won't disappoint the drum and bass die-hards. If they do, there's the reliable Kid Hops for ya, natch. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $15
Mary Lou Lord
When you're a busker for life the way Lord is, you can tour anytime. Luckily, she's still got some tailwind from last year's fine Baby Blue (Rubric). Dirty Martini headline; Haley Bonar opens. Tractor Tavern, 9 p.m. $8
Pearl Jam
In anticipation of Pearl Jam's eighth album, their people are offering digital bootlegs of the Gorge performance (the first in 12 years) and each show on the subsequent cross-Canadian tour. So if you've just gotta catch that Saskatoon gig, it'll cost you way less than a plane ticket. Gorge Amphitheatre, 754 Silica Rd. N.W., George, 206-628-0888, 7 p.m. $49
Richie Hawtin + Bruno Pronsato
He hasn't been up to much lately in recorded output, but on the decks Hawtin still regularly fires on all cylinders. So does local techno hero Pronsato, though "decks" isn't quite what we'd call his laptop performances. Showbox, 8 p.m. $18 adv./$20
Friday, Sept. 2
Bumbershoot
SEE COVER STORY, P. 21, GRID, P. 35, AND MUSIC PICKS, P. 55. Seattle Center, 11 a.m. $28 (one day)/$45 (two days)/$80 (four days), $8 ages 5–12 and 65 and over
The Donnas (DJ set) + Four Color Zack
Illicit, a new Seattle culture/fashion/music/art/creative writing magazine, launches its first issue in collaboration with the pandemonium of monthly Rags to Riches. Celebrate with DJ sets by the Donnas and Four Color Zack, magazines and treats. Come out for the arts . . . or for the party. War Room, 9 p.m. $5
John Vanderslice
Paranoia hangs over baroque-pop mastermind Vanderslice's fifth album, Pixel Revolt (Barsuk), but it's easy to miss among the gorgeous arrangements. Here, he'll celebrate the disc's release before heading back to town next month. Easy Street Records Queen Anne, 20 Mercer St., 206-691-3279, 6 p.m. Free
Robyn Hitchcock
The father of all rock's active cult heroes, Hitchcock loves this town so much he wrote a song about the airport. The Fell Swoops and Derby open. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $15
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers + the Black Crowes
Petty's such an annoying singer that it's easy to wish he didn't write such catchy melodies, but he does. Reunited after their umpteenth fight, Rich and Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes do the boogie thing better than is generally acknowledged outside their cult and not as well as you might hope. Gorge Amphitheatre, 754 Silica Rd. N.W., George, 206-628-0888, 7 p.m. $29.95–$59.95 Also Sat., Sept. 3
Vindaloo
Though they're fairly workmanlike—the curse of straightahead hard rock bands everywhere—local trio Vindaloo come up with a few nifty left turns on their new, self-issued Diary of a Traveling Salesman. Turn to Fall, Ryewire, and the Zero Points open. Showbox, 8 p.m. $7 adv./$10
Saturday, September 3
A Frames + Old Time Relijun + the Cripples
Dark chaos with an avant-punk slant (A Frames), swamp gospel-jazz (Old Time Relijun) and synth-garage (the Cripples) converge for a meeting of the moods. The one you're left with after the show is sure to require a hyphen. Sunset Tavern, 10 p.m. $7
Desi World
DJs Kazaan, Anshul, and Advent bring desi—an all-encompassing term for Indian/South Asian subculture—beats to Queen Anne with alternating weeks of Bollywood and Bhangra. Mirabeau Room, 9 p.m. $8 before 11 p.m./$10
Retribution Gospel Choir
Perpetually gloomy Red House Painters' Mark Kozelek once made AC/DC's "Shock Me" sound downright sexy, so it's not too far of a stretch to picture he and Low's Alan Sparhawk covering the Stones, Pere Ubu, and A Flock of Seagulls—which, along with interpretations of each other's songs, is what this wondrous Bumbershoot distraction is all about. No Wait Wait and Love Hotel open. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $10
Sunday, Sept. 4
Gerald Levert
The former lead vocalist for retro-nuevo '80s R&B giants Levert, Gerald's best known (and loved) for his magnificent 1987 single, "Casanova." He plays in support of Do I Speak for the World (Atlantic), released late last year, and Collaborations (Rhino), due on the 27th. Paramount Theatre, 7 p.m. $35–$55
Kitchen Syncopators + Jim and Jennie & the Pinetops + Baby Gramps
The headliners play sly jug band music, the middle group do much the same with bluegrass, and the opener ditto, only folk—for traditional-music lovers, a hell of a bill. Tractor Tavern, 9 p.m. $8
Monday, September 5
Mount Eerie (CD release)
The followers of Phil Elverum's Mount Eerie/Microphones projects are uniquely fanatical, and Elverum tends to offer his earthy, romantic art in bite-sized bits for the obsessive. This summer's No Flashlight: Songs of the Fulfilled Night and The Drums From No Flashlight are two more crumbs for the collection. Calvin Johnson, Faerie Talk, and Good Luck Mr. Gorski contribute vibes. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $7
Tuesday, September 6
Book of Black Earth (CD release)
Book of Black Earth drag dark keyboard lines and heavy riffage through thick sludge but, evoking demonized children and mini-Satans, it's the local band's vocals that really put the "death" in death metal. With Sunday Night Blackouts and Wizards of War. Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $5
Grand Buffet + DJ Jester the Filipino Fist
Pittsburgh rap duo Grand Buffet are said to be one of the most charged live acts in hip-hop—not all that difficult, granted, but we intend a (secondhand) compliment. DJ Jester, from San Antonio, fits right in with them, leaning on indie rock as much as hip-hop on his fine mix CDs. Sunset Tavern, 9 p.m. $7 E
UPCOMING SHOWS
Sept 8 Tori Amos, Chateau Ste. Michelle
Sept 9 Sigur Ròs, Paramount
Sept 9 Destiny's Child + Mario + Amerie, KeyArena
Sept 9 Oasis + Jet + Kasabian, Everett Events Center
Sept 10 Keith Urban, Gorge Amphitheatre
Sept 12 Maximo Park + the Bravery, Showbox
Sept 14 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club + Mark Gardner, Neumo's
Sept 16 The Black Keys, Neumo's
Sept 16 Overkill, Studio 7
Sept 16 Royksopp + Annie, Showbox
Sept 17 Aqualung + the Perishers, Showbox
Sept 17 Antony and the Johnsons + CocoRosie, Triple Door
Sept 17 Stellastarr*, Chop Suey
Sept 17 Styx + REO Speedwagon, Gorge Amphitheatre
Sept 17–18 Dead Can Dance, Paramount Theatre
Sept 19 Lyrics Born, Neumo's
Sept 19 Jaguares, Moore Theatre
Sept 19 Matisyahu + Mobius Band, Showbox
Sept 20 Xiu Xiu, Neumo's
Sept 20 Nouvelle Vague, Chop Suey
Sept 20 Santana, Everett Events Center
Sept 20 Neil Diamond, KeyArena
Sept 21 The Arcade Fire, Paramount Theatre
Sept 22 Ashlee Simpson, Showbox
Sept 23 Nine Inch Nails + Queens of the Stone Age + Autolux, KeyArena
Sept 24 The New Pornographers + Destroyer, Showbox
Sept 24 Akufen, Neumo's
Sept 25 Duncan Sheik, Chop Suey
Sept 25 Robert Plant, Chateau Ste. Michelle
Sept 25 The Queers, El Corazon
Sept 25 Isolee, Neumo's
Sept 26 Green Day + Jimmy Eat World, Tacoma Dome
Sept 27 The Notwist + Themselves, Chop Suey
