Weekly Notable Shows
Highlights-and otherwise-from this weeks' music calendar.
Thursday, July 13
The Motet + Reggie Watts
Instrumental outfit the Motet—who fuse elements of Afro-beat, funk, Latin, and jazz with a dash of house and techno rhythms—are bringing soul singer and funnyman Watts along on their West Coast tour. Tonight's the second date, so expect an exuberant show—and Watts' far-too-hilarious comedy act as a warm-up. Nectar, 10 p.m. $10 adv./$14
Refugee All Stars + Cuchata
Neumo's, 8 p.m. $15 adv./$17
Linda Ronstadt + Livingston Taylor
Mom visiting town? Jonesing for a summertime romp through the vineyard? Whatever your excuse, this mellow show features two of soft-pop/folk's most memorable voices. Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14111 N.E. 145th St., Woodinville, 425-415-3300, 7 p.m. $49.50–$99.50
The Withholders + Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands + the Tea Cozies
Former Ellensburg, Wash., resident Mark Pickerel has gathered up the dust from the roads of that town, doused it in the sogginess of our town, and turned it into the moody little country album Snake in the Radio, recalling Chris Isaak, Lee Hazlewood, and David Lynch. Sunset Tavern, 9 p.m. $5
Friday, July 14
Blue Greens: Das Vibenbass + Specs One + Wd4d
This eclectic bill features the "dirty" jazz of Das Vibenbass, the hip-hop rhymes of Specs One, and turntablist Wd4d, along with break dancing courtesy of the Fraggle Rock and BYC crews. It's interesting enough to get you off the couch, even if it wasn't likely ConWorks' final concert. Consolidated Works, 500 Boren Ave. N., 381-3218, 9 p.m. $10
Bottle Rockets + the Tripwires + North Twin
Ever since the Bottle Rockets' "Indianapolis" first blew out of our speakers back in 1997, we've been suckers for their raucous blue-collar tunes. While their output of late has been a bit uneven when compared to masterworks like 24 Hours a Day and The Brooklyn Side, their latest, Zoysia, shows a slightly softer side to our working-class heroes and a wider range of genre play, including country and retro soul. Tractor Tavern, 9:30 p.m. $10 adv./$12
John '00' Fleming
Bang out with some trance from Fleming, who's been in the DJ game long enough to know a solid tune or two. DJ Chronus also spins. Element, 10 p.m. $10
Dr. Israel + KJ Sawka + Dub Gabriel
Quietly coming through town via the Lo Fi last year, the Doc is back to fix you up good with roots reggae, punk, and dub done up junglistic and toasty. As his 1998 Inna City Pressure was rereleased to critical acclaim last year, Israel's mastery of genre and style shows why he's outlived the "illbient" scene of the late '90s. Nectar, 10 p.m. $6
The Rakes + Every Move a Picture + Martian Memo to God
"Four London art-punk kids with the perfect fusion of David Bowie and The Buzzcocks . . . Why can't all bands be this fun?" Rolling Stone asks of the Rakes. We're a bit weary of this sort of setup, but you know never know when the hype could be true. Deserving of their own hype is local act Martian Memo to God, whose Psychedelic Furs–ish groove gets better all the time. El Corazon, 9:30 p.m. $12 adv./$14 All ages
West Seattle Summer Festival: 50 Ft Wave + John Doe + the Spoils + the Femurs + Capping Day + West Seattle Big Band + Spook the Horse + Green Pajamas + Mofius
California Ave. S.W. & S.W. Alaska St., 1:45 p.m. NC
Saturday, July 15
Black Eyes and Neckties + the Last Romance + the Primacy Effect + Dreams of the Crash
Vera takes Town Hall! As the all-ages venue readies its new home at Seattle Center, the shows booked by its organizers are spread about town, from someone's house to CHAC to this venue, which has more recently seen an astronomy lecture than a band as blistering as Bellingham's Black Eyes and Neckties. Town Hall, 7 p.m. $6 with club card/$7 All ages
Colby B's Birthday
Hey hey hey, the gang's all here! Celebrate with one of Seattle's hardest-working DJs at this free party, where her colleagues Jack, Lady Bob, Big 6, Julia, Blu, Amateur Youth, Queen Lucky, Ramiro, Jeromy Nail, Julie Herrera, LA Kendall, KRNL.Panic, Kid Hops, F.I.T.S., Porq, and MC Chompers give her a much-deserved night off. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. NC
Dego
Big, big ups to funky futurists Sun Tzu Sound, who've managed to lure production legend 4Hero's Dego to Seattle for the first time for their monthly Safari party. The man behind "Mr. Kirk's Nightmare"—heard if you've raved at all in the last 10 years—Dego's also responsible for excellent Reinforced drum and bass, broken-beat with Daz-I-Kue, and forays into pop production. Don't sleep! Baltic Room, 9 p.m.
Filastine + Orkestar Zirkonium + DJ Michito + Poison Ring
"World Citizen" Filastine wowed crowds in this small venue last year, and returns again with the release of Burn It, which XLR8R praised as a high-art fusion of Middle Eastern rhythms, breakcore, hip-hop, and beat manipulation. Lo Fi, 10 p.m. $5
The Sword + Akimbo + Saviours
El Corazon, 7 p.m. $8 adv./$10 All ages
Warped Tour: NOFX + Rise Against + Anti-Flag + Thursday + Motion City Soundtrack + Underoath + Saves the Day + Senses Fail + Against Me + Less Than Jake + Joan Jett and the Blackhearts + Helmet + the Bouncing Souls + more
One of the most interesting lineups in recent years (Against Me! and Helmet! and Joan Jett!) might have some old farts braving the elements for this annual punk fest. It's rough out there—pack a water gun. Gorge Amphitheatre, 754 Silica Rd. N.W., George, 206-628-0888.
West Seattle Summer Festival: West Valley Highway + Knox + the Tall Boys + Haggis Brothers + White Trash Whiplash + Rocky Votolato + Oval League + Swamp Soul + Pearl Django + the Crucialites
California Ave. S.W. & S.W. Alaska St., 1:45 p.m. NC
Sunday, July 16
Awesome Color + the Shackles + S-S-S-S-Spectres
Ecstatic Peace signees Awesome Color work within the format laid out by their forebears the Stooges and the MC5, which is to say primal backbeats, crunchy blues riffs, and hypnotic repetition abound. At times, vocalist Derek Stanton chews his words in proper Iggy Pop fashion, other times he whines like his label's co-owner, Thurston Moore. While Awesome Color aren't terribly original, they are fueled by enough raw energy to merit multiple listens. Funhouse, 4 p.m. $6
Mr. Lif + Cage + Camu Tao + La Rue + DJ Swerveone
Where he delivered unapologetic, agreeably paranoid diatribes against the state of political affairs on I Phantom, Mr. Lif's latest Mo' Mega sounds like he's been sapped of his energies. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $12 All ages
West Seattle Summer Festival: Gypsy Soul + Electric Shades of Blue + Korby Lenker + Stick Shift Annie + Roller + Mark Pickerel + Ian Moore + Carrie Akre + Jonathan Kingham
California Ave. S.W. & S.W. Alaska St., 1:45 p.m. NC
Monday, July 17
An American Starlet + Lowlights + Campo Bravo
Hailing from the Big Bong country of Arcata, Calif., Lowlights revel in stoned country jams best suited for winding midnight drives down the Pacific Coast Highway. Mixing elements of '70s Americana with the explorations of space rock, Lowlights are masters of the interstellar two-step. Rendezvous, 10:30 p.m. $6
Tuesday, July 18
Richard Ramirez + Plethora + the Earwig + Syphilis Sauna
Local "trashtronica" splicer-and-dicer Patrick Urn's Syphilis Sauna just released the ambitious, enjoyable Electric Shepherd: An Audio Tribute to Philip K. Dick, which is timed well—as is this show of doom-tinged machinations—to the film release of A Scanner Darkly. Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $5
Thievery Corporation
Moore Theatre, 8 p.m. $25-$35
