Live Music Tonight: Broken Disco

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Broken Disco 2.2 Gone Fishin' with Mochipet, Lusine, Codebase, Recess, Dr. Mr. M'Chateau, the Googly, Jake J., visuals by KIlling Frenzy
Chop Suey, $12, 9 p.m.
As Mochipet, Daly City, Cali's David Y. Wang is a man who wears a purple dinosaur costume on stage, and cranks out his experimental dance music with undeniable passion. Having worked with artists like Spank Rock and Ellen Allien, he's now releasing an album of highly uncategorizable-but-let's-call-it-hip-hop on his own label. And tonight he's joining local artist Lusine, crafter of gorgeous ambient glitch, for Broken Disco's farewell-til-fall soiree. Starting as a collaboration between four ambitious promoters last April, the consistently banging party has never been afraid of odd lineups, opening minds in the process of loosening limbs. Take it from a temporary Central European resident who's tired of hearing Haddaway passed off as techno in the clubs: not every major city has such an exacting finger on dance music's pulse. Seattle's scene is one to be treasured. Whoop it up, and support BD-associated productions until their summer siesta is over.
— RACHEL SHIMP

Topics: Happenings

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Check It Out: Neon Nights

Who: Neon Nights
When: Saturday, May 10
Where: King Cobra (free show!)

Seattle trio Neon Nights pulls off the sweet trick of simultaneously conjuring the sounds of a Sunset Strip rock den and a Lower East Side NYC hardcore crust-hole, both circa 1987. The former comes courtesy of rippin’ riffs loud, thick, dirty, and devil-horned, and solos nimble and flashy — guitarwork that reeks beautifully of Schlitz, burning rubber, Ace Frehley sweat, and raw groupie sex. The latter comes mainly from frontman Lou Molitch’s unhinged shrieks — a hair-on-fire, I’m-being-chased-by-a-pack-of-demonhounds delivery that’s reminiscent of another Lou (Koller, of Sick of it All), cut with a smidgen of Sam Kinison. And Neon Nights hammers its crowds with tunes like “Born to Die Hard”� (“Knowin’ nothin’ but to keep keepin’ on/For the wine, the women, and the song/Gonna give it all I got, all I got ’til it’s gone”�) and “Party Song”� (“It’s a party, let’s party!/Hey, hey, hey, hey...yeaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!”�) with nary a trace of irony or calculated retroism. These guys really seem to live it. You may want to, as well.

Topics: Happenings

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We've Got Spirit

SW's Hannah Levin DJ's Tigertail tomorrow, May 9th for Ballard's "Hood to Hood" winning celebration.

If Seattle were high school (and at times, it's mighty close- ain't it?) and KEXP was our mascot (and at times...), then the award for most team spirit goes to......
Ballard!

The neighborhood rallied during last summer's pledge drive and won KEXP's "Hood to Hood" challenge by donating the most dollars to the station. And what do they get? KEXP will descend on the hood for an entire day (May 9th) of indie radio madness including the now bi-coastal John Richards performing his morning show duties live from Verite/Cupcake Royale, our very own Hannah Levin DJing at Tigertail, and much much more...

Topics: Happenings

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Live Music Tonight: Hoquiam

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Hoquiam, Kate Tucker & the Sons of Sweden, Debonair
Nectar, $7, 8 p.m.
Last month, in the Anne Bonny's tiny elevated loft, folks gathered around two siblings as they prepared to play their first live show together. The band, dubbed Hoquiam, was comprised of longtime local favorite, Damien Jurado and his younger brother Drake. "Hoquiam was originally started because I needed an outlet for the less conventional songs I was writing," says the elder Jurado of his new project. "It differs in that it is less polished and more abstract." The dynamic between the two made for a captivating scene. Drake manned the keyboard, midnight black sunglasses shielding his eyes, and mumbled barely audible jokes beneath his breath between songs while Damien, cradled the acoustic and shuffled through newly written lyrics, his characteristic cracked leather vocals blending together seamlessly with his brother's. The songs, inspired by the years the boys lived in Grays Harbor, Washington roll out like an eerie fog of memories, moments culled from the past and spread thin across grey ocean waters.
— AJA PECKNOLD

Topics: Happenings

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Live Music Tonight: Hank Williams Choir

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Hank Williams Choir with Stone Gossard, Brad Sinsel, Jeff Fielder, Mike Musburger, Barbara Ireland, Dejha Colantuano, Kieth Lowe, Hans Teuber, DJ Johnny Horn
High Dive, $13, 6 p.m.

Topics: Happenings

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Live Music Tonight: Yo Majesty

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Yo Majesty, Does it Offend You, Yeah?, Champagne Champagne, L.A. Kendall
Neumo's, $12, 8 p.m.
I owe our own Hannah Levin for turning me onto Tampa-based Yo Majesty. Her write-up of the lesbian hip-hop group's 2007 Chop Suey show was enough to make me give their Yo EP multiple listens into 2008. Stylistically, Yo Majesty are Miami bass meets Southern crunk (ironically enough, think Luke Campbell beats) coupled with lyrics built to shock, awe, and educate. Of course, the very idea of three butch black women (at least one of whom is given to going topless on stage) rapping about "kryptonite pussy" and shouting choruses of "Fuck that shit" is a guaranteed ticket to glowing press write-ups. But press is nothing compared to the impact their act has on an audience. It's dirty shit, a middle finger shoved in the face of male chauvinist hip-hop. Did I say middle finger? I think I meant booty.
— BRIAN J. BARR

Topics: Happenings

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Live Music Tonight: Elbow

Elbow, Air Traffic
Showbox at the Market, $18, 8 p.m.
I'm certain that Elbow front man Guy Garvey was once that precocious child who simultaneously enchanted and annoyed the fuck out of everyone . . . except he never grew out of it . . . and then he started a band. Elbow has received plenty of endorsements from fellow musicians and critics alike over the years, all of it well-deserved. The Manchester-hailing quintet has established themselves as an intelligent band to reckon with, consistently delivering an evocative combination of imagery-loaded lyrics and finely layered instrumentation. But don't let any of that annoy you too much. Radiohead should have increased your tolerance for precocious musicians years ago. And compared to Thom Yorke, Garvey is an absolute doll.
— ERIKA HOBART

Topics: Happenings

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Wanda Jackson Twice In One Night

Best hustle on down to Easy Street Queen Anne tomorrow at 6 p.m. sharp, cuz the lovely rock n' roll legend Wanda Jackson will be performing for free! Sure, she's old enough to have been Elvis' girlfriend at one point, but that's all the more reason you should stand up straight and gaze upon her with the utmost respect! Not to mention, she's still a pretty damn down n' dirty performer.

If you can't make it to Easy Street, however, you can catch her later night at the Tractor...but that one ain't free, so weigh your options accordingly.

Topics: Happenings

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Live Music Tonight: The Swell Season

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The Swell Season
Where: Moore Theatre
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $32.50 - $37.50

When the storybook partnership that is the Swell Season won the Oscar for Best Original Song this year, the two stars of the art-house hit Once couldn't have looked more shocked. Glen Hansard offered up a humble, stunned thank-you, and when Markéta Irglová stepped up shyly to say her piece, she was unceremoniously cut off by the dreaded exit-urging music before she could get one word out. Host Jon Stewart saved the moment, ushering Irglová onstage again after the commercial break so that she could give a succinct but deeply touching speech about the importance of hope for independent-minded artists. The only thing more moving than that speech is the extraordinary power of their live performance. This show, like virtually every other stop on their tour, sold out in a heartbeat, so consider yourself lucky if you have your tickets already.
— HANNAH LEVIN

Topics: Happenings

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Live Music Tonight: Sons and Daughters

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Sons and Daughters, Bodies of Water
Neumo's, $10, 8 p.m.
"We want to be one of those bands that sounds like a different band with each record," said Sons & Daughters' guitarist Scott Paterson when I spoke with him two years ago. At that time, S & D were brand-spanking new, touring in support of The Repulsion Box, one of my surprise from-across-the-pond faves. Like their Scottish forebears in Fire Engines and Wire, Sons and Daughters played high-tension post-punk, all angular riffs and stiff-shouldered rhythms. Given Paterson's stated goal, who knew what their follow-up, This Gift, would sound like! Oddly enough, it sounds like The Repulsion Box, but with a bolder, more stylish haircut. The differences: Paterson no longer counters frontwoman Adele Bethel's brassy lead with Leonard Cohen deadpanning; the choruses are more memorable; the riffs are bigger and more anthemic. Top that off with shiny production by Suede guitarist Bernard Butler and you've got, if nothing else, a new and improved Sons & Daughters. What remains intact, however, is the unrelenting pace the band keeps with its songs. Their drive can be enough to wear a person out, but the energy they give off is no less inspiring.
— BRIAN J. BARR

Topics: Happenings

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