POP/ROCK by Erin K. Thompson
Seattle Weekly Critics Jeremy Charles
Other Lives visits the Tractor on Sunday, December 11.
Joshi Radin
The Juan MacLean plays Chop Suey on Friday, December 9.
Location Info
Details
Related Content
More About
Expo 89/THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8– SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11
Cairo's annual arts extravaganza features a jewelry trunk show, an art opening, short film screenings, and of course live performances from some of the city's most innovative musical acts, including Flexions, Witch Gardens, Stephanie, Idle Times, and OC Notes. With U, Spencer Clark, White Rainbow, Pleasure Beauties, Stickers, M. Women, Secret Colors, Ilyas Ahmed, Ensemble Economique, King Dude, Tiny Vipers. Cairo, 507 E. Mercer St. 6 p.m. Thurs., NC. 6 p.m. Fri. & Sun., $8. 5 p.m. Sat., $8. All ages.
Papercuts/THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8
San Francisco songwriter Jason Robert Quever's old-school Byrds-y pop project Papercuts released its first album, the pleasurable Fading Parade, on Sub Pop earlier this year. Also worth listening to: Quever's beautifully nostalgic cover of Don Henley's "Boys of Summer." With Tim Cohen's Magic Trick, Yuni in Taxco.Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880. 9:30 p.m. $12.
Shimmering Stars/FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9
This Vancouver, B.C.–based pop trio released its full-length debut, Violent Hearts, on Hardly Art back in September. The album is full of highly relaxing sounds—floating melodies stitched together with fuzzy guitar textures and gauzy vocals. With Orca Team, Wimps. JewelBox/Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., 441-5823. 10 p.m. $7.
Other Lives/SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11
The Oklahoma indie-rock band Other Lives is becoming one of the breakout acts of 2011; they released their rich and colorful Tamer Animals in the summer, spent the fall opening for Bon Iver, and just announced that they'll be touring with Radiohead in early 2012. See them in a small space while you still can. With JBM. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 8 p.m. $10.
"The Rolling Stones"/SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31
There isn't a better band to spend New Year's Eve with than Seattle's punk rock–pedigreed Rolling Stones cover band—all six members are fantastic musicians, and, most important, you already know the songs are going to be amazing. So what iconic song will be playing when the clock strikes midnight? The high-octane "Jumpin' Jack Flash"? The sexy disco homage "Miss You"? The sentimental "Let's Spend the Night Together"? Only one way to find out. With Night Beats, Country Lips. Comet Tavern, 922 E. Pike St., 322-9272. 9 p.m. $12.
COUNTRYby Gwendolyn Elliott
Lindsay Fuller & the Cheap Dates/SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10
Next year, Lindsay Fuller's new album You, Anniversary will be released by Dave Matthews' home label, ATO. For now, the gravel-throated singer is just as down-to-earth as her driving, road-trippin' ballad "Ball and Chain." The Tractor will be prime viewing to catch the artist on her way up. With Lazy Susan, Eugene Wendell & The Demon Rind. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 9:30 p.m. $10.
Seattle Folk Festival/SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10
In its second year, the Seattle Folk Festival returns with three days of indie/roots concerts, jam sessions, and a flurry of folk-arts workshops to enliven the shortest days of the year. Saturday's double session will be a hootenanny of local and national roots talent. Bryan John Appleby, Kevin Murphy, Sons of Warren Oates, Youth Rescue Mission, Sean Flinn & The Royal We, Goldfinch: Noon. $15 adv./$20 DOS. The Canote Brothers, Anna & Elizabeth, Riley Baugus & Kirk Sutphin, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen: Appalachian Winter Concert, 7 p.m. $20 adv./$25 DOS. Columbia City Theater, 4916 Rainier Ave. S., 722-3009.
Michael Ray & the Plastic Sheets/SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18
This country-psych three-piece channels a bit of Brent Amaker & the Rodeo, often dressing all in black for that cowboy-in-mourning look, but their music is something like David Lynch meets Mark Lanegan in an old-West honky-tonk. With Izzy & the Catastrophics, Black Crabs. Comet Tavern, 922 E. Pike St., 322-9272. 9 p.m. $7.
Brian Setzer's Rockabilly Riot/THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22
With his latest release, Setzer Goes Instru-MENTAL!, the former Stray Cats frontman returns with an instrumental rockabilly album that redefines his big-band sound, allowing his lightning-fast guitar and quick-picked Western swing covers of Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs to shine through. With Slim Jim Phantom, Cousin Harley. Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151. 7 p.m. $35 adv./$40 DOS. All ages.
HIP-HOP by Todd Hamm
The Grouch/FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9
The fifth annual "How the Grouch Stole Christmas" tour brings a familiar cast of awesome characters, like legendary L.A. MC/producer Evidence, Grouch's Living Legend–mate Eligh, and Zion I. With good tidings and a great lineup, this night should be a happy Christmas [-themed rap show] to all. With DJ Fresh, Scribes. Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-4618. 8 p.m. $15.
Dom Kennedy/TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13
SoCal's Dom Kennedy has a lazy-sounding style that'll grow on you pretty quickly if you give it the chance. His songs are very hit-and-miss, though, and his lyrics are largely hard to relate to ("My jeans cost $240"; "I never met a girl in my life that wouldn't date me"), so he's there only for some; it'll be interesting to see if he can fill Neumos. With Skeme, Royce the Choice. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442. 8 p.m. $15.
Jay-Z & Kanye West/FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16
Two of the biggest names in music came together this year to put together a readily criticized testament to excess in Watch the Throne, an album that, for all its eye-rolling trappings, had more than a few rad moments. The show will undoubtedly be a large-scale production that will be as gaudy as it needs to be. Tacoma Dome, 2727 E. D St., Tacoma, 253-272-3663. 7:30 p.m. $49.50–$199.50. All ages.
