Aural Pleasures (11/14 - 11/20)
Tuesday 14th
>>> P.O.S. at Chop Suey. P.O.S. is one of the latest hot MCs to "blow up" (the term being relative since this is still very underground hip-hop we're discussing here). In any case, there's an opener called the Cleveland Steamers, and how could you not want to see what that sounds like?
8pm doors; $10. All ages.
>>> Hot Chip at Neumo's. Hot Chip blurs the line between the electronic and indie worlds, coupling bleeps and bloops with nouns and verbs. Former local producer Jeff Samuel even did a well-regarded remix for them that they probably won't play, but the original song is worthy of attention too.
*Song samples on MySpace
8pm doors; $12adv. 21+.
Wednesday 15th
>>> Ray LaMontagne at The Paramount. Ray LaMontagne's sandpapery voice and soulful acoustic guitar tunes put him in the same arena as great folk-pop artists like Cat Stevens and Tim Buckley. If he doesn't sing us all to sleep, it'll be a great show.
*mp3: "Til The Sun Turns Black"
8pm; $32.50-$41.50 (not including fees).
>>> Asobi Seksu at Chop Suey. Yep, the NYC shoegazers are back in town again, and this time they've got noisy up-and-comers Toyko Police Club in tow.
*mp3s: Strawberries, I'm Happy But You Don't Like Me
9pm; $10.
Thursday 16th
>>> Minus The Bear at Neumo's. Experimental Seattle band gets road trip philosophical on the atmospheric Menos el Oso.
*Sample tracks on MySpace
8pm; $12. All ages, bar w/ ID.
>>> Elvis Perkins at The Tractor. Elvis Perkins is like what would happen if John Lennon grew up in New England. Smart, witty folk-rock with lots of la-la-las.
*mp3: "Ash Wednesday"
9pm; $12.
>>> The Album Leaf at Chop Suey. Sub Pop melodic lo-fi electronic masters with a great new album. Chop Suey isn't really the best venue for that sort of thing, but we're still hoping to be hypnotized by the drummer. Dirty on Purpose and The Lymbyc System open.
*mp3: Always for You
*More free tracks on MySpace
9pm; $10 adv. 21+
Friday 17th
>>> The Decemberists at The Paramount. These theatrical brainiacs are on tour in support of their fantastic new album The Crane Wife.
*mp3: Engine Driver
*YouTube: The Apology Song by Seattle 2nd graders
8pm; $25-$27. Tickets here.
>>> Dan Bern at The Tractor. A few years ago, Dan Bern was being hailed as the next Bob Dylan. Truth be told, he still sounds a lot like early Dylan, and his latest album is an evocative testament to our shifty times.
*mp3: "Breathe"
9pm; $16.
Saturday 18th
>>> The Grates at Neumo's. Australian garage rockers bring their high-energy live show to the states. Visqueen and The Village Green open.
*Free tracks at MySpace
8 pm; $8 adv/$10dos. 21+
>>> The Divorce at The Crocodile. Good 'ol Seattle rock. We'll even forgive them for being Myspace friends with The Lashes.
*Sample tracks on Myspace
9pm; $8adv/$10dos. Tickets here.
>>> Akimbo at The Comet Tavern. Akimbo are a shouty hardcore type act that put on a great show when we saw them open for someone in the past. Here you get to see The Ruby Doe open for them.
9pm; $5.
>>> Ladyhawk at the Sunset. Dirty, catchy blues-rock straight outta Vancouver.
*mp3: Dugout
9pm; $7.
>>> Southern Culture On The Skids at The Tractor. Where are you gonna go for your Southern Rock fix? Well, not Southern Rock exactly... Kinda like if CCR and The Paladins had a kid, but it was raised by Dick Dale.
*YouTube: Corn Liquor
9:30pm; $15.
Monday 20th
>>> UW School of Music voice students present an all-Schumann program at Brechemin Auditorium. Historical remarks by George Bozarth, professor of Music History.
7:30pm; $5
>>> UW School of Music Contemporary Group at Meany Theater. Directed by doctoral student Juyong Kwon, performing works by Boulez, Poulenc, Takemitsu, Parmenter Piston, and Stravinsky.
7:30pm; $10
[Photo courtesy of gregoryperez]
