Aural Pleasures (1/16 - 1/22)
Wednesday, January 17
>>> West Side Story at Central Cinema. When we first saw the opening sequence to West Side Story, we were convinced our English teacher was playing some kind of joke. Then the Jets vs. Sharks fight sucked us in, and since then we've known the joke was on us for ever doubting the Greatest Musical Ever Made.
7pm; $10 (plays through the 21st)
Thursday, January 18
>>> Carrie Clark & The Lonesome Lovers at Tractor Tavern. Memphis Radio Kings headline this show, but we're here for Carrie Clark all the way. Clark's been wooing Seattle crowds with her superb voice -- both playful and brooding for over ten years now. Backed by her band, The Lonesome Lovers, things seem to be coming together beautifully for Miss Clark; her new album, Seems So Civilized, produced by Darryl Neudorf (Neko Case, Kinnie Starr, The Sadies, The New Pornographers) is simply magnificent.
*Carrie Clark mp3s here.
8pm; $6.
Friday, January 19
>>> Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks at Neumo's. Stephen Malkmus: need we say more? The indie-rock icon formerly of Pavement? Impresario behind Slanted and Enchanted and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain? Yeah, that guy. SM and the Jicks may never be as groundbreaking as Pavement was back in the day, but Malkmus is still pushing out lo-fi indie-rock pop to get the Chuck Taylor-wearing low-self-esteemers out on the dancefloor.
*mp3: Baby C'mon
8pm, $15 advance, 21+
Saturday, January 20
>>> Tom Brosseau at the Tractor. Young Tom celebrates his CD release a few days early with the help of violinist Hilary Hahn, Mark Pickerel, and Johanna Kunin. Or catch Tom and Hilary's in-store performance before the show, 5pm at Sonic Boom Ballard.
*mp3: Here Comes the Water Now
9pm; $10.
>>> Emily Haines at the Croc. There are so many reasons to go to this show: the lovely and talented Ms. Haines, she of Broken Social Scene and Metric and now, her stripped-down piano-based solo effort along with backing band the Soft Skeleton; the Guy Maddin film snippets that will be accompanying Haines' set; and opening act Tall Firs, the experimental NYC freak-folk outfit signed to Thurston Moore's label Ecstatic Peace. We are simply shocked it's not yet sold out--that's bound not to last.
*mp3s: Emily Haines - Doctor Blind; Tall Firs - The Woods
8:30pm doors; $15.
>>> HVW8 and DJ Riz at Baltic Room. Nothing needs to be said about KEXP's DJ Riz, since the man is nothing short of a Seattle party-rocking institution. HVW8 might be unknown to many of you though. Along with more traditional production, HVW8 paints murals in front of live club audiences, both capturing and reflecting the vibe of the crowd that surrounds them. Interesting to see art come to life in real-time.
*Video: HWW8 In Action
9pm doors; $10. 21+
Sunday, January 21
>>> Seattle Symphony at the Triple Door. The Symphony kicks off its new chamber music series for Triple Door fans, with a program put together by SSO violist Mara Gearman. The program isn't listed, but here's an mp3 from the Symphony concert at Benaroya at 2pm, also featuring Gearman.
* mp3: Franck: Quintet for Piano and Strings
7pm; tickets $15 advance/$20 day of show.
Monday, January 22
>>> Robbers on High Street at Chop Suey. Because you just can't go wrong with catchy, Brit-leaning NYC pop.
*mp3: The Fatalist
8pm doors; $9. All ages.
Image: Emily Haines captivates NYC. Courtesy of gtmcknight on Flickr.
