This weekend’s musical offerings are so utterly plentiful, you’ll be faced with immeasurable Sophie’s Choices this Presidents’ Day Holiday. Happy hunting.
Tonight (Friday, February 17):
Cursive, Ume, Virgin Islands @ Neumos. $15 advance, $18 day of show. Doors at 8pm.
I’ve got all the respect in the world for Cursive’s influential variety of indie-art rock, and Ume’s femme-fronted pop possesses its rococo charms. But Virgin Islands, Seattle’s finest art-punks this side of The Cops (both of whom share lead singer/guitar attacker Michael Jaworski), could well steal the proverbial show .
Presidents of the United States of America with guests @ The Showbox at the Market. $2o advance, $25 at the door. Show at 8pm.
It says a lot about the lasting impact of Seattle’s comedic-rock clown princes that they can command the stage at the Showbox Market for three days (they’re also playing The Showbox Saturday and Sunday). Expect solid musicianship, rampant goofiness, and strong openers each night, but tonight’s warm-up roster includes The Fastbacks–assuming that legendary Northwest pop-punk combo haven’t imploded again, first–and as such should offer the most pre-Presidents’ bang for your buck.
The Coup, Theoretics, DJ Funkscribe @ The Crocodile. $15.50 (with fees) advance. Show at 8pm.
Only The Roots weave old-school funk instruments with the Here and Now as ably as The Coup, and their MC/Court Jester Boots Riley makes for one magnetic front-dude with his arch delivery and megawatt charisma (sometimes he sounds like a more politically-aware cross between Andre 3000 and Rick James). Expect to dance.
Saturday, February 18:
Saturday Family Concerts: THEESatisfaction @ Town Hall. $5 for adults with kids at the door, free for kids 12 and under. Shows at 11am and 1pm.
It’s not immediately obvious, but if you think about it, THEESatisfaction’s beats and melodies are more than catchy and playful enough to ensnare even the most attention-deficient moppet’s ears. And the notion of this politically-aware, very adult duo playing to an audience brimming with the small fry is a little like contemplating the late Gil Scott-Heron doing a guest shot on Dora the Explorer–which, if you think about it, is pretty damned cool.
Afrika Bambaataa, Gravity Kings @ Washington Hall. $10 advance. Show at 8pm.
He’s an indisputable rap legend, with one of hip-hop’s cornerstones, the immortal “Planet Rock,” and it’s been a couple of years since he’s been in this town. Bambaataa also beat Run DMC to the rock/rap punch by a good two years in his collaboration with John Lydon (Time Zone), “World Destruction,” the introduction to hip-hop for many gawky white kids.
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Vacationer @ The Crocodile. $13 advance. Doors at 8pm.
Blame those chipper Swedes in ABBA for giving birth to this delicious Danish Electronic pop ensemble. With hooks that gleefully plunder everything from funk to psychedelic rock to good ol’ disco and a lead singer who’s a dead ringer for Heidi Klum in Barbarella gear, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour provide the best dose of uber-pop sugar this side of the Spice Girls.
Anvil, Vultures 2012, Skelator, Motorthrone, Dominus Sabbata @ El Corazon. $15 advance, $20 say of show. Doors at 8pm, show at 8:30.
Anvil! The Story of Anvil is a wonderful Spinal-Tap-gone-Real-World documentary, but beyond that novelty, this Canadian trio continues to stomp out the heaviest metal, with streaks of meanness and velocity that changed the lives of people like Metallica.
My Goodness, The Young Evils, Don’t Talk to the Cops, TacocaT @ The Tractor Tavern. $10 advance. Show at 9pm.
If you’re surprised at the high-powered line-up at the Tractor, don’t be. The gig’s a sendoff to all four acts as they journey down to Texas for South by Southwest. I’ve already blathered on about the magnificence that is My Goodness’s two-pronged live garage-rock attack, but Don’t Talk to the Cops offer some of this ‘burg’s most party-centric (and hilarious) beats and rhymes, and TacocaT’s magically sloppy, spitfire continuation of the Go-Go’s retro-pop can’t fail to charm.
Down North @ The Seamonster Lounge. Free admission. Show at 10pm.
Yes, you read right. One of the Northwest’s most potent funk bands (it must be true–the SunBreak said so!) is playing at the U-District’s Seamonster. See ’em for free before they’re packing big houses where you’ve got to, like, pay money and stuff.
Sunday, February 19:
The Budos Band, Project Lionheart @ Neumos. $14 advance. Show at 8:30pm.
So what happens when a bunch of Staten Island high school band kids ingest too much Curtis Mayfield and middle eastern music? Well, if they’re lucky, they’ll sound like the backing for some Soul Train version of a Turkish belly dancer. In other words, a lot like The Budos Band. This outfit’s combination of alien influences and stone-cold danceability radiates to the crowd in a big way.
tantalizing! I don’t know which to choose!