Aural Pleasures (12/12 - 12/18)

Tuesday, December 12

>>> Roger O'Donnell at Baltic Room. No longer part of The Cure, keyboardist Roger O'Donnell graces Oscillate to perform some synth-driven pieces from his first solo album The Truth in Me. With Christopher Willits.
10pm; $15. 21+

Wednesday, December 13

>>> Betamax at Old 5th Ave Tavern. Seattlest Kim's folktronic band-o-dorks takes over this Maple Leaf dive bar for a pre-holidays folk-out.
*mp3: Long Long Long
8pm; free.

Thursday, December 14

>>> Fourth Annual Holiday Bash at Chop Suey. Featuring Telefon Tel Aviv, who killed during the Decibel Festival, The Dead Science, Vellela Vellela, and SunTzu Sound, the lineup is all over the map, meaning there really is something for everyone, which is fitting considering it's a holiday bash.
8pm doors; $5. 21+

>>> The Ataris and Kill Hannah at the Showbox. Remember when Billy Corgan was like "Kill Hannah are the greatest band to ever come out of Chicago" or something like that? That was weird. Texting "SEA" to 35274 may get you free tickets to this.
8pm. All ages.

>>> Matt and Kim at Camp Nowhere. Brooklyn's version of Mates of State hits up a DIY all-ages venue in the U-District (4558 7th Ave NE). Before you go, know the house rules: "No alcohol, no dogs, no assholes." Playing with Holy Ghost Revival, the Pharmacy, and Yes Oh Yes.
*YouTube: Yea Yeah
7pm; $5. All ages.

Friday, December 15

>>> Rodrigo Y Gabriela at Chop Suey. Irish-Mexican folk-flamenco-metal duo Rodrigo Y Gabriela will blow your mind in that don't-mix-Guinness-with-tequila sort of way. Catch them in a small venue before their big headlining set at the Showbox in April.
*mp3: Stairway to Heaven (Live)
8pm; $20. Sold out. Try Craig's List.

>>> Pink Mountaintops at the Croc. Yes, they have cancelled shows in town nine million times before, but this time the Canadian 70s stoner rock throwback band promises they'll be there. For reals. Playing with Kinski and The Spoils.
*mp3: New Drug Queens
9pm doors; $10.

Saturday, December 16

>>> Pretty Girls Make Graves at Chop Suey. Personally, we thought The New Romance was better than Elan Vital, but we haven't seen PGMG since the addition of keyboardist Leona Marrs. We're interested in what she brings to the live show.
*Sample tracks on MySpace.
9pm; $10. 21+

>>> Critters Buggin' at Neumo's. In our mind when Skerik and the rest of Critters Buggin' are backed up by a decent horn section, they are the best Seattle band that ever was. Seriously. Back when we first moved to Seattle a friend convinced us to go see them at the Ok Hotel and the recollection of what we heard that night nearly makes us weep. Don't bother with the CDs, though.
8pm; $15. 21+

>>> Speaker Speaker and BOAT at the Paradox. This is the last show at the venerable all-ages club before management turns over to Mars Hill. It's yet to be determined if the place will turn into a full-fledged youth ministry at that point, but the contributions of Alicia Blake and Liz Martin will be missed.
*mp3: Speaker Speaker - I Was Wrong
7pm; $8. All ages.

Sunday, December 17

>>> Public Enemy at the Showbox. It's Public Enemy. Believe the hype. Or don't. Either way.
8pm; $25. 21+

PGMG photo courtesy of Jonny Leather