Music
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Down North It doesn’t matter how “cool” you are; when Down North starts playing, you’re shaking your tail feathers on the dance floor with everyone else. The funk-rock quartet mixes a little of James Brown’s stage presence with Hendrix-like guitar riffs to create a sound that’s downright impossible to resist; think a funkier Bad Rabbits with the retro feel of Bruno Mars. Front man Anthony Briscoe knows how to command an audience’s attention, and the band is able to keep them interested with that signature blend of funk and rock. Down North has been known to add a few brass musicians to its live show, so if you’re lucky, things could get real funky. With the Fabulous Party Boys, Graig Markel and the 88th St. Band, Megan Wilde. 21 and over. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St.Seattle, WA 98122 $12 adv. Saturday, January 3, 2015, 8pm
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NoRey Though NoRey can easily be labeled as folk-rock, hints of its global makeup give its sound a little diversity. Singer and acoustic guitarist Alejandro Garcia is from Bogota, Colombia; singer Vicky Bowes and brothers Dave (bass) and Mike (percussion, vocals) Swallow all hail from England; and electric guitarist Nick Nanry is from Detroit. The band formed in California, but now call Seattle home. On NoRey’s second album, Untie Your Arms, Garcia and Bowes’ accents come through just enough in their vocal harmonies to make an impact, and Nanry’s electric guitar adds a bit of rock-&-roll grit. It’s an eclectic sound to match the eclectic lineup. With The Horde and the Harem, Fredd Luongo. 21 and over. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave., Seattle WA $8 Saturday, January 3, 2015, 9pm
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Peter Quirk After ringing in the New Year with his band, the Cave Singers, at Tractor Tavern, singer Peter Quirk will hit the stage for a solo performance. Quirk’s distinct voice is the focal point of the quartet’s latest, Naomi, at various points yearning, crooning, and even howling over an indie-rock base. Quirk is rolling solo tonight, but with as versatile a voice as his, the audience should have no trouble staying interested. With S, Finch Wolfe, Corey J Brewer (Dragon Lounge). 21 and over. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., Seattle, WA 98122 $5 Tuesday, January 6, 2015, 8pm
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The Jayhawks Depending on the song, The Jayhawks are a little bit folk, a little bit country, or a little bit rock & roll. And on some songs, the Minneapolis quintet behind “Waiting for the Sun” and “Save It for a Rainy Day” is a combination of all three. The band gained fame with this blend after forming in 1985, but member departures and hiatuses have slowed its rise. The Jayhawks are still at it, though. In 2014, the 1997 lineup (Gary Louris, Marc Perlman, Tim O’Reagan, Karen Grotberg, and Kraig Johnson) reunited for a tour in support of the reissues of its fifth, sixth, and seventh releases: Sound of Lies, Smile, and Rainy Day Music. With Trapper Schoepp. All ages. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., Seattle, WA 98105 $26.50 Tuesday, January 6, 2015, 8pm
