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..)

Fri 1-4
Benefit for Crocodile Cafe Employees
Coconut Coolouts
The Intelligence
The Girls
Das Llamas
Chop Suey $6 donation 8:00 21+
Another great lineup of local bands giving their time and talents to put on a benefit for the displaced employees of the Croc fiasco. Coconut Coolouts threw down a great high energy show opening for the Thermals last month and are due to make us all feel like we’re partyin’ in their garage again.

Sat 1-5
Elvis birthday tribute w/ The Roy Kay Trio,
The Still Creek Brothers
Conor Byrne 9:00 $??
OK, there are some conflicting reports or what is happening this night. The Conor Byrne lists the bands above while other sites say this: “Hosted by former Elvis drummer D.J. Fontana, this celebration features performances by premier Elvis impersonators Shawn Klush, Ryan Pelton and Donny Edwards, backed by the award winning Elvis Tribute Orchestra. Also appearing will be the Sweet Inspirations, who backed up Elvis Presley in concert from 1969 until 1977.” I don’t really care how this ends up. Either way… its Elvis and DAMN! what a friggen event!

Fri 1-11
THE SATURDAY KNIGHTS
DYME DEF
CANCER RISING
High Dive 9:00 $8
Just in case you didn’t get your fill of Hip Hop at Blue Scholars’ The Program, this is like the all-star lineup of featured guests from that event (sans Blue Scholars of course) The North West’s finest laying down beats all night for EIGHT bucks in one of Freemont’s only 2 viable venues shouldn’t be passed up.

Sat 1-12
NORTH TWIN
THE MALDIVES
THE TRIPWIRES
High Dive 9:00 $7
Following Friday’s Hip Hop event with a killer Alt Country show, the High Dive shows it’s range as well as taste. This is the place to be this weekend.

Sat 01-12
A GUN THAT SHOOTS KNIVES (Record release)
Guests TBA
Sunset Tavern 10:00 $7
More than just a concert. These guys are an experimental Star wars obsessed experience to be reckoned with. You’ll be sure to leave with a touch of the force. Kinda sounds like someone killed the Flaming Lips and made instruments out of their organs.

Wed 1-16
VAST VOID
TEMPO NO TEMPO
NEW FACES
SOMEONE
Funhouse 8:00 $5 That $1.25 a friggen band!
The show to catch this night is Tempo No Tempo. The Bay-area band has been banging away at Berkley for a couple years where they have gained much deserved praise for their dance-inducing rock music. The Funhouse should be hoppin this Wed night. Port Townsend pop trio New Faces lead Tempo No Tempo in with a sound influenced by the Arcade Fire and the Blakes and local Seattle headliners Vast Void finish the night with a grimey garage-punk set you won’t regret sticking around for. Damn, even openers, Someone, are a well timed psych and alt rock band worth showing up early for. Bring your A-game and your caffeine. It’s gunna be a big night.

Fri 1-18
THE FUCKING EAGLES, THE HANDS,
The Knast, Branden Daniels & Everyone Gets Laid
Comet Tavern 10:00 $?? (probably cheap! 6-10 bucks)
The Hands are what drew me to this lineup. They are grimy, ruckus, timeless, rock monsters from Sea town. Influenced by music of all eras. They are sandwiched in by some ever expanding Seattle talent. Dunno how much they are charging for this show but it’s the Comet. Likely to be less than $10

Sat 1-19
CIRCLE JERKS
Last Of The Beleivers (Featuring ex-members of Rise Against and Ignite)
Hit Me Back
El Corazon 8:00 $15
Holy Shit. I can’t believe these old M-Effers are still alive!! “I wanna destroy YOU!!” One of the biggest names in ’80’s hardcore punk. Get the leather cuffs dusted off and shave that fuckin corporate fascist coif back into a mowhawk.

Sat Jan 26
BOBBY BARE JR. with
members of THE DECEMBERISTS & TBA
Tractor Tavern 9:30pm ~ $12adv/$14dos
Now I’ve gone on and on about Bobby Bare Jr. Time and time again I’m impressed with the man’s live performances. Last time through he was with “his” band which was a more mellow rootsy country sound. Before that was bare-ass sweaty rock and roll. This time around he’s playing with members of the Decemberists so who knows what to expect, but chances are it’s going to be worth the $12

Fri 1-25
THE BRAVERY
Neumos ??????????
I can’t seem to get any info on this show but it’s on the Neumos’ site and the Bravery site. Just show up and see what happens…

Sat, 1-26
CAVE SINGERS guest TBA
Neumos 8:00 $?? guessing about 10-12
Seattle locals, The Cave Singers, signed to Matador Records in June of 2007. They have been steadily carving a niche for themselves with their hypnotic folk-indie stylings. Their first album Invitation Songs was fantastic and looking forward to seeing them live.

Sat, 1-26
RYAN ADAMS
The Paramount Theatre 8:00 $30-35
Alt Country, Singer Songwriter, Garage Rock. Wherever you want to pigeonhole him, he will not disappoint.

Wed 1-30
A SPECIAL ACOUSTIC EVENING WITH NADA SURF
w/opener PORT O’BRIEN
Triple Door 7:30 $20
The indie-pop trio’s sound will lend itself well to Seattle’s finest venue. It’s not often Kenny G kicks aside the smooth jazz to let the rock into this place so get it while you can.

Coming up in Feb… TESLA. Yeah man. Fuckin Tesla at The Showbox, Feb 1. Ooooow! 5-Man Acoustic Jam. Yeeeow! Love Song!!!

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