Pela’s Tour Cancelled - Billy McCarthy has a great fall.

I just saw that Billy McCarthy of Pela fell off the stage during a performance in Chicago. The show slated for tomorrow night (Mar 4th) at the High Dive has been canceled as well as the rest of the tour due to some severe damage to Billy’s hand. Belows is a video tour-blog from the hospital.

I hope my accidental exclusion of Pela from the Recommended March Shows didn’t somehow cosmically induce this. An excerpt fro Pela’s site continued after the break

Popularity: 22%

What I’m Trying To Say is - Bring Back The Rock!

Rockin the ass out of Valentines day in Fremont.
It’s all a bit hazy, but it’s slowly coming back to me in bits and pieces. Valentines Night in Fremont, I attended what I’ve dubbed as the Unintentional Valentines Music Festival. The High Dive and Nectar both had 8-band lineups peppered with local favorites-both were considerably cheap to get into ($7 and &10 respectively)-and both are practically across the street from each other.
The High Dive was home to the Great Valentines Day Massacre. MC-ing the going-ons, along with Coz from presenters, Nada Mucho, was the (in)famous KEG. KEG IS “The Lone Ranger of Rock.” Everything you could possibly imagine from a person with such a title is doubly true for KEG. We even more appropriately titled him the Mayor of Rockville as he introduced himself to almost every individual in the crowd, shaking hands with his right while tossing his hair out of his eyes with the left. He paraded around the place decked to the teeth in butt-rock gear complete with ankle bandannas, skull headband, wristbands, bangles, spangles and obligatory rocker mascara. Even fingering his flying V as he went. KEG thanked each and everyone for coming. He even introduced us to Lake of Falcons, (who knocked the back wall out of the High Dive, but more on that later.) And all that’s not even the impressive part. Aside from being the one-man glam-rock show that he is, playing drum tracks and looping them along with rhythm guitar, then thrashing the ever living crap out of the stage, this guy has the best “rock-kick” I’ve ever seen. Seriously, we’re talking entire boot above the head, like 10 times a song. Fuckin’ A! And in the tiny 1/2 hour set that he played KEG pulled out every quintessential rocker move imaginable. From leaping off of chairs and monitors, to playing the guitar behind his head and with his teeth (not at the same time of course, he’s just a butt-rocker, not a god). The set ended with Keg’s sing-along tune, “What I’m Trying to Say is - Bring Back the Rock!” and left us all completely dumbfounded.
And all of this happened after Lake of Falcons broke in the night with an incredible-albeit short-set. I haven’t even gotten to that yet. Frig, I haven’t even left the High Dive yet. There’s still another venue to visit here. But first, lets talk about this Lake of Falcons.

Popularity: 34%

Music for Lovers -Freemont’s Unintentional Valentines Day Music Festival

This Valentines day there is a strange anomaly happening in Fremont. Both Nectar and the High Dive have completely stellar line-ups scheduled consisting of sixteen, yes, count them, sixteen North West bands. 8 at each venue. Now the 2 places are not officially affiliated with each other, but they ARE officially right across the friggen street from each other. Now both are a great value on their own. Nectar is only running at $10 for the entire night. High Dive, even cheaper at $5 ($7 doors).

Now just consider this, pay the door fee at BOTH Nectar AND the High Dive. You would be dropping a total of $15 dollars and have access to all 16 bands. That means you can catch the Cops AND Partman Parthorse. Hell if you hate either, you have the option to head across the street and see someone you’ve never even heard of before.

It’s your very own valentines day music festival.
So, that’s the plan. Band listings are after the break. Both events start at 8:00

Popularity: 34%

The Purrs Keep Their Chemistry Together

Disclaimer: This a review of show that occurred more than a week ago, but due to illness and holiday bustle, it’s a bit late in coming. Since it was such a pleasant experience, I say, “Better late than never!” Believe me, if it sucked, I wouldn’t give a hoot OR pollute. Honest.

I remember when the Purrs were a “buzz” band. KEXP’s afternoon DJs couldn’t play enough of their self-released long-playing debut The Dreams Our Stuff Is Made Of, particularly tracks like the jangly “Loose Talk”, the perfectly-pop yearning of “She’s Gone”, and, of course, the dark psychedelia of “Taste of Monday”. They managed to convince Sarathan Records to release a self-titled combination of Dreams and 2004 EP No Particular Bar, No Particular Town, received with modest praise. Now they’ve come full circle to the DIY method with their latest, The Chemistry That Keeps Us Together. And while this sophomore effort may not have all the catchy, radio-friendly hits of the debut, it certainly makes up for it in terms of sonic fullness and song evolution. The quality of the songwriting is not limited to a select number of tracks, but rather runs through the entire disc. And the composition and lyricism sound more accomplished this time around, if not more jaded. As well, the group delves into more of the shoegazing guitar strategies of the 80s (My Bloody Valentine, the Jesus & Mary Chain), moreso than the melancholy California pop of the 60s.

Popularity: 25%

Even BETTER Bets for Dec Shows (Oooooo, burn!)

Hey, just wanted to trump the other lame “blogger” who did the first round of recommended December shows (I kid, I kid). Keep an eye or an onion peeled for these bands playing around in the next four weeks—I DARE you:

Partman Parthorse @ Wild Rose 12/7 with the Intelligence - We’ve kinda beaten this horse (heh, heh) to death, but who knew they were having shows at Seattle’s one-and-only lesbian bar? (what’s up with that sitch, anyway?) I didn’t, and I’m usually behind the curve. So it makes sense. Anyway, these guys rock.

Juhu Beach (w/ American School of Warsaw & the Oswald Effect) - I’m a new convert to the fandom of this band, and I’ve heard the Blue Moon isn’t quite the urine-scented dog kennel it used to be. Don’t know much about the other two bands, but hey, if you can’t get into the Yule Benefit (or refuse to get into it), this might be worth yer nickel. Actual price may vary. Saturday, 12/8 @ the Blue Moon Tavern.

Voyager One - Big lineup for the Loveless Records Holiday Party also happening Saturday Dec. 8th @ the High Dive: Other bands include local darling Carrie Akre, electroclashers The Girls (no girls in group!), the Blank Stares, & the Beltholes. I’m pushing for Voyager One on this one, who’ve made their living locally playing amazing ambient rock, while mesmerizing their audience with a dizzying array of video projections. And how.

The Purrs - Local psych-poppers the Purrs are celebrating their second record, The Chemistry That Keeps Us Together, steeped in 60’s guitar nostalgia and twangy self-deprecation. While I haven’t heard the entire disc, the tunes they’ve made available are pretty right-on, and their debut album was superb. For fans of Velvet Underground, Luna, & the Flaming Lips (Lady!). @ the High Dive, Dec. 14th with Brent Amaker & the Rodeo.

Pleasureboaters - I’ve only seen this band once, and I thought it was tremendously radical. Enough so to recommend a night with them @ the High Dive 12/20 with PWRFL POWER (!). Apparently, the High Dive is the place to be this month.

The Heavy Hearts (w/ the Whore Moans, Boss Martians & Wir) - The Comet Tavern hosts a Christmas Bash with one of my favorite local rock bands in existence: the Heavy Hearts. They bring the rawk with slicing guitar, in-yer-face-bass, and call-response dual vox. Since they’re dropping a new album in early ‘08, new songs are sure to abound. The Whore Moans will be in rock attendance as well. December 22nd @ the Comet!

Feral Children & the Trucks - Wow, the Comet hosts another bad-ass show on New Year’s Eve. Local buzz band (worth it) Feral Children play with electro-brats the Trucks, who always put on a great show. If you can’t catch FC at the Showbox on the 8th, be sure to show up for this one. Additional guest TBA.

That is all.

Popularity: 27%

North Twin - Local Alt Country Rockers SAT 7/7 $6

North Twin are bringin that smokey tavern and general PBR flavor to the High Dive on July 6th July 7th. These local Alt Counrty rockers may spark familiar with roots sprouting from former Seattle bands Radio Nationals, and Lazy Susan/Kim Virant Band. They are frequently seen keeping the good company of the stage slaying Mike D formerly of I can Lick any SOB in the House.

Having recently released their first full legnth album, Falling Apart (which I HIGHLY recommend) North Twin are planning to film Saturday night for an upcoming video, so shine your spats and getcher hairs did nice. You’re gunna have to be ready for your close-up baby!

They are playing the 7th as part of the KEXP Audioasis show that happens at the High Dive on the First Saturday of every Month. Something to certainly keep an eye on as lots of up and coming local bands play this event each week.

North Twin is billed to end the 6:00-9:00 set with Das Llamas opening. This set is airing LIVE on KEXP’s Audioasis. Joy Wants Eternity, Transfer, Say Hi to Your Mom, and Das Llamas showcase from 9:30 PM - close.

Audioasis is a promoter of local charities as well as local music, The July show will benefit Shoreline Solar Project. Shoreline Solar Project actively promotes the practical application of renewal energy and environmentally responsible practices to enhance the economic, ecological, and social environment of our community.

Tickets are a mere $6 adv $8 DOS for the whole friggen night! So come down, save the planet, shake yer butt, support a nice diesel rocker and maybe get famous!

Popularity: 45%

This Saturday

I’d go to this (Man Plus, Optimus Rhyme, Smoosh, Shorthand for Epic, Tim Seely, and Gabriel Teodros @ High Dive) if it wasn’t for this (Black Crabs are opening for Deke Dickerson @ Tractor [late show]).

Popularity: 32%