The Cops, Juhu Beach at High Dive

Fri, Jan. 18, the High Dive, $7
The Cops
Sunday Night Blackout
Juhu Beach

This will be a pretty entertaining show. You know the Cops, they usually bring it. Juhu Beach is awesome and up-and-coming; I saw them last month and was thoroughly impressed. I don’t know too much about Sunday Night Blackout, but I do know that they employ a female drummer and are bringin’ back the butt-rock—basically two aces in the hole for good times. Seriously, though, who’s doing butt-rock these days?

Popularity: 13%

LB Recommends: Other Shows for January 2008

Duders, dudettes, and ranchers (dude only),

As usual, Kevin did a pretty sweet job outlining the upcoming shows for the month. As usual, I have a few more to add. Here are some local shows that should (or should not, if you’re lame) be on your show-goin’, ass-shakin’, head-bangin’ radar. At the very least, they should all take precedence over even reading about the Bravery <shudder>.

Fri, Jan. 18, the High Dive, $7
The Cops
Sunday Night Blackout
Juhu Beach

This will be a pretty entertaining show. You know the Cops, they usually bring it. Juhu Beach is awesome and up-and-coming; I saw them last month and was thoroughly impressed. I don’t know too much about Sunday Night Blackout, but I do know that they employ a female drummer and are bringin’ back the butt-rock—basically two aces in the hole for good times. Seriously, though, who’s doing butt-rock these days?

Sat, Jan. 19, the Funhouse
Partman Parthorse
The Lights Bird Language
Pleasureboaters

This is probably one of the best triple-bills of the month. I’ve written ad nauseum about PMPH (look for plenty of new tunes). The Lights are local stalwarts who put out a very popular LP last year (Diamonds and Dirt). Pleasureboaters might just be the next big thing (and who also play 1/11 at the Fusion Cafe). Highly recommended.

Update: The Lights won’t be playing this show. Local group Bird Language will take their place.  Thanks, Ggary!

Popularity: 18%

My 10 favorite shows of 2007

Here it is, yet another year end list. Of the 110 shows I saw this year, I’ve decided these were my 10 favorite…

10. October 24th - Thurston Moore at Neumos. Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore touring in support of his second solo album, Trees Outside the Academy. To get an idea of what this show was like, imagine Sonic Youth playing acoustic guitars and violins.

9. March 24th - the Heavy Hearts at the Sunset. Read what the Seattle Weekly said about this show and what Three Imaginary Girls said about this show.

8. October 8th - Band of Horses at Easy Street Records (Queen Anne location). A special in-store performance for the midnight release of Cease to Begin. YouTube videos from the show here.

7. January 14th - Rob Dickinson at the Tractor. Former frontman of the Catherine Wheel on stage all by himself playing songs from his solo album as well as Catherine Wheel favorites.

6. September 1st - Tiny Vipers at Bumbershoot. A magical performance in the EMP Sky Church.

Popularity: 30%

Queens of the Stone Age at the Paramount 12/18

Josh Homme is a businessman. And his business is rock and roll.

Last week at the Paramount, I arrived in time for the thunderous first song, “Regular John” at the earlier-than-expected time just after 9pm. It was released on their debut album before most of the fans on the floor even had email addresses or I had a wireless device. But that song, and the ones the followed in the next 80 minutes, were surprisingly cohesive. The setlist represented efforts from all of their studio albums.

While there was no shortage of aural fuel for the kids in the pit up front, I was a little disappointed to find QOTSA’s presence quite a bit less personal than expected. For one, Homme scarcely spoke, only referencing the town in which they were playing by confessing his long-held desire to play the Paramount after living here many years ago. One might think that a band with roots in this city might engage the crowd a little more than, say, the fans in Topeka. (But then, does your barista at Starbucks give two shits that you’re ordering coffee in Seattle as opposed to somewhere else?)

Popularity: 30%

Unscrew the Croc Staff part 2

Three Imaginary Girls and the Chop Suey have organized another benefit event for the displaced employees for the Crocodile Cafe. It’s another great line-up with all the proceeds going to help clean up the mess on 2nd Ave

FRIDAY - January 4, 2008 @ Chop Suey
Coconut Coolouts
The Intelligence
The Girls
Das Llamas

$6 donation
8pm doors
21 and Over

Popularity: 27%

Holiday Treats - Free Albums from Llama

One of my long-time favorite bands, Llama has posted their self titled album as well as a new release (so far called Llama II) on their website for free download.

Llama plays a self-dubbed style of music called stew rock which-as the name implies-is a bunch of styles boiled up together. The songs tend to be short and simple, mostly bass and drum driven with that almost marching-band rhythm Spoon often employs. The hooks do tend to get stuck in your head so beware.

You can check out the site, see some alluring llama imagery and find the albums here

If you want to just give it a test run, my personal favorite is “Alright” from Llama II

Popularity: 26%

NWMB Recommends: Seattle Shows for January 2008

This month, the choices range from tributes for the “King’s” birthday to experimental rock at the Sunset. The highlights come from the High Dive in Freemont. The weekend of the 11-12, the High Dive stretches it’s musical range with 2 great lineups. 1 Hip Hop 1 Alt country. Jan 16th at the Funhouse smashes 4 worthwile bands into one night for a measly $5
(NOTE: New Years Eve recommendations can be found by clicking here. For the rest of the month follow the link below..)

Popularity: 48%

Unscrew The Crocodile Employees Benefit Show - Sun Dec 30th

As you may have already read, Crocodile Cafe owner Stephanie Dorgan closed the club a week before Christmas, leaving all her employees a voice mail telling them, in a way as gentle as getting bent over a keg in the back, that they were all jobless-and thus “screwed”.

The local music community is rallying to support them. Former Croc booker Pete Greenberg (now booking Chop Suey) has put together an incredible bill to benefit the former Croc employees with performances by members of
Fleet Foxes,
Peter Parker,
the Pale Pacific,
Siberian,
Triumph of Lethargy
Skinned Alive To Death,
Dave Terry (of Aqueduct),
Siberian,
Pleasureboaters,
J.Tillman,
Damien Jurado,
and David Bazan.
With DJs Kristoffer K and Roy (Rooha-that’s Canuk for Roy…).

This is a chance to hear some great local music and support the team that brought us so many nights of debauchery.

Chop Suey–1325 E. Madison St.

Sun-Dec 30th
7pm $10 21+

Popularity: 31%