POP/ROCK by Erin K. Thompson
Captured Tracks
Portland haze-poppers Blouse.
Nathanael Keck
Gabriel Teodros.
Charles Leo Gebhardt IV/WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4
The ginger garage-rock man-about-town will play the lovable, jangly indie-pop songs that make up his solo material, most recently heard on last year's buzzy Begin Again. With Idle Times, Orca Team, the First Times. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442. 8 p.m. $8.
Detective Agency/SUNDAY, JANUARY 8
Detective Agency is a local, three-quarters female, breezy pop-rock quartet; their songs are innocuous and quietly charming. Tonight they play the Rendezvous' Grotto with Olympia's K Records–signed fuzz duo the Maxines. With Broomsticks. JewelBox/Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., 441-5823. 9 p.m. $5.
Blouse/THURSDAY, JANUARY 12
Last year this Portland dream-pop trio released a single on Sub Pop and a pretty, sighing debut full-length on Captured Tracks. Opening tonight's show are their Seattle haze-pop contemporaries Seapony. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880. 9:30 p.m. $8.
Ambulance/FRIDAY, JANUARY 13
The very young post-punkers of Ambulance competed in Sound Off! last year; though they didn't win the big prize, their darkly agitated and surprisingly mature brand of guitar rock is still worth checking out. With Friday at the Lake, Plant Party, Brandon Keeley. Q Cafe, 3223 15th Ave. W., 352-2525. 8 p.m. $8. All ages.
Sound on the Sound's Annual Birthday Party/FRIDAY, JANUARY 13
Our friends and fellow local-music bloggers at Sound on the Sound will celebrate with the raucous rockers of Dude York, power-pop favorites the Golden Blondes, and an ultra-secret headliner you'll have to find out about for yourself. Blue Moon Tavern, 712 N.E. 45th St., 675-9116. 10 p.m. $8.
Gold Leaves/SATURDAY, JANUARY 14
Arthur & Yu's Grant Olsen performs songs from last year's The Ornament, his Hardly Art debut as Gold Leaves: a gorgeous collection of opulent, moving pop-rock songs. With Cumulus. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 9:30 p.m. $8.
Youth Lagoon/THURSDAY, JANUARY 19
Youth Lagoon is 22-year-old Boisean multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Trevor Powers, who last fall released his debut, the glowing and extraordinarily tender The Year of Hibernation, to deserved critical praise. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442. 8 p.m. $12.
Ravenna Woods/FRIDAY, JANUARY 20
Seattle's favorite rock-acoustic-folk-toy piano-jamming band plays a tour kickoff tonight before a two-week jaunt down the West Coast. With A Lull, Deleted Scenes. Comet Tavern, 922 E. Pike St., 322-9272. 9 p.m. $10.
Girl Trouble/FRIDAY, JANUARY 20
Nearly 28 years after their first show, a Steilacoom battle of the bands, Tacoma's old-school garage-rockers are still rocking it live with all four original members. With the Pynnacles. Funhouse, 206 Fifth Ave. N., 374-8400. 9:30 p.m. $7.
COUNTRY by Gwendolyn Elliott
Steep Canyon Rangers/THURSDAY, JANUARY 5
These five string players from North Carolina nabbed acclaim as the bluegrass quintet that backed Steve Martin on tour and on his Grammy-nominated album Rare Bird Alert. Their peppy Appalachian stylings and resonant harmonies are the real thing, with or without that bluegrass version of "King Tut." Snoqualmie Casino, 37500 S.E. North Bend Way, Snoqualmie, 425-888-1234. 7 p.m. $25.
Risky Liver/FRIDAY, JANUARY 6
Risky Liver is the tongue-in-cheek Americana side project of the Starlings' Joy Mills, who performs alongside Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers bassist Mike McDermott and croons with an easy, rich sweetness and a twinkle in her eye. Conor Byrne, 5140 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-3640. 9:30 p.m. $7.
Elvis Tribute Show/SATURDAY, JANUARY 7
To celebrate both what would have been the King's 77th birthday and the Memphis label that launched his career, the Roy Kay Combo presents a special set of Sun Records tunes next to a host of Seattle bands, each with their own spin on Presley's timeless, iconic rock 'n' roll. With Lucky Lawrence, Miles and Karina, Levi Dexter, Marti Brom, Billy Joe Huels, Side Saddle, Marshall Scott Warner, Kim Fields with Lisa Angelatini. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 9:30 p.m. $10.
Hot Club of Cowtown/TUESDAY, JANUARY 10
This Austin trio makes fiddle-fueled Western swing fused with ragtime jazz—a toe-tapping, two-stepping style influenced by both Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli's gypsy jazz and the music of "King of Western Swing" Bob Wills, whom they cover on their new album, What Makes Bob Holler. With Rachel Lyn Harrington & the Knock Outs. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 8 p.m. $15.
Weatherside Whiskey Band/THURSDAY, JANUARY 12
Performing bluegrass and Americana covers along with originals, this five-piece, with members from Seattle to Whidbey Island, is a whiskey-swilling roadhouse outfit with jumpy two- and four-part harmonies. A new EP is slated for release early this year. With The Table of Contents, Relentless Rhythm Machine. High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., 632-0212. 9 p.m. $6.
Shivering Denizens/FRIDAY, JANUARY 13
Having shared the stage with the likes of David Allan Coe and Eddie Spaghetti, roots/rockabilly/outlaw country band Shivering Denizens keep things heavy and hopping with their blend of banjo, lap steel, honky-tonk piano, and attitude. With 800 Mile Monday, the Dan Family, Texas Rangers. Slim's Last Chance Chili Shack, 5606 First Ave. S., 762-7900. 9 p.m. $8.
Honky Tonk Angels/SATURDAY, JANUARY 14
Few lineups could combine the talent, personality, and gender specificity of these local bands (like SW favorite Zoe Muth and rootsy songstress Shelby Earl), led by soulful ladies with a predominantly country slant. With the Brambles, Kaylee Cole, the Rachel Mae Band, Side Saddle. Columbia City Theater, 4916 Rainier Ave. S., 722-3009. 9 p.m. $15.
