As we have mentioned approximately nine million times before, Ra Ra Riot is a band you must see live. The Syracuse-based sextet has guitars, a cello, a violin, and energy to spare. Their music manages to be both uplifting and catchy, and their high-minded brand of articulate, orchestral pop always goes over well. Once again (as with every time we've seen 'em), they're an opening band on the bill, which makes things a little......

Brother Ali is here to share The Undisputed Truth in person! From the Twin Cities, this man has a powerful story and a powerful vision for what hiphop can be. He's challenging, personal, and fresh. Witness: From a compelling feature in City Pages last year: One minute, Ali's sonorous voice is a crowd-controlling force—as brash as anything since Run-DMC shouted down their own building-sized beats—and the next it's a whispery lullaby.[...]Yet as Ali's reading list......

Some comments from Jack's October post about the Liars/Interpol show: "The Liars were the worst band I've ever seen." - courtneyj "The Liars were a horrible assault on my senses. I'm all for experimental but it's a fine line between avant-garde and just plain annoying." - MSandison Not entirely encouraging words, but we don't care. Liars' eponymous 2007 album was our introduction to the band (and made our list of best releases of the year),......

Common Market is doing their smart, earnest, appealing thing at Chop Suey this weekend, with J. Pinder and The Physics sweetening the pot for Seattle hiphop fans. Some gossip surrounding this highly anticipated show: Future Talk, the Physics' 2007 release, is one of the best (and most under-acknowledged) hiphop albums to come out of Seattle since 2005's blockbusters. Seattlest listened to their stuff on Myspace and we are unexpectedly delighted with it. Let's practice for......

Because we don't go out on school nights and we need to plan... SATURDAY: It's St. Patrick's Day so, take in the Parade and head over to Seattle Center for the Irish Festival. If you don't, we'll take the leg of the chair to ye. 12pm - 6pm // Parade Route and Seattle Center // All Ages // Free SUNDAY: Nothing really caught our eye for Sunday in the city. So we suggest really getting......

MUSIC: Other than at Sasquatch in May, tonight's your only chance to see Smoosh on their current tour, when they open for Bloc Party at the Paramount. Yeah, Bright Eyes are also playing over at the Showbox, but seriously, you'd try to get scalped tickets to go see them over Smoosh? Whatever. 8pm // The Paramount // $25.50 plus fees FOOD & FUNDRAISING: Tarragona Wine and Food on Capitol Hill is hosting a wine tasting/auction......

MOVIE: 300 came out yesterday. It's a veritable orgy of violence, but it's so amazingly pretty and visceral that you find yourself drawn in rather than repulsed. The bigger the screen for your viewing, the better. Various Times // Various Places // Various Prices MUSIC: Fujiya & Miyagi are two British guys (three including the bassist) with a Japan obsession (hence the bandname) and a penchant for synth-laden songs that sound incredibly European without......

Chop Suey has an odd pair of shows for tomorrow. The night closes out with house music provided by Justin Martin (one of the best shows of 2006) and Johnny Fiasco (he's respected, but he hasn't done much for us lately), but earlier in the evening there's Fujiya and Miyagi. We know right now you're likely asking "Who?," so we'll explain. First off, the band is British, not Japanese. "Fujiya" is actually Steve who plays......

Because we don't go out on school nights and we need to plan... SATURDAY: Rock out with local kid's band Recess Monkey benefit concert at the EMP. While enjoying the goofy tunes and antics of these three Seattle teachers, you'll be helping out Kyle Roger, a local boy fighting brain cancer. 12pm // Experience Music Project // All Ages // $5 donation SUNDAY: Setting the clocks forward Sunday might get you in a springtime mood,......

Because we don't go out on school nights and we need to plan... SATURDAY: In addition to talks and tours, you and the kids can see live demonstrations of wood carving, drum-making, and weaving at the Opening Day Celebration for In the Spirit of the Ancestors, the Burke Museum's new exhibit of contemporary Northwest Coast Native art. 10:30am-4pm // Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture // All Ages // $8 general; $5 kids 5+;......

DONATE: For as much as gamers earn their nerdy reputations (and thus our ridicule), Child's Play gives them a chance to both share their geek pride and help the world around them through donations to help kids in hospitals. You want to help too, right? Anytime // Child's Play // However much you can COMICS: Seattlest favorites Ellen Forney and Peter Bagge provide a double-dose of awesome with Comics Rock!, featuring Forney's "I Love......

SPORTS OBSESSION: Any longtime Seattlest reader knows that we can't get enough of curling, whether it's watching on the CBC or playing ourselves at Seattle's Granite Curling Club, the only dedicated curling facility on the West Coast. Our obsession is often met with odd looks, but a curling open house is honestly one of the best ways going to spend your time/money. 12pm-5pm // 1440 N 128th St. // $10 MUSIC: In an act of......

Not a huge week in music, but hey, it's a holiday. Stay home and eat! Then put your sweatpants on! Tuesday 21st >>> +/- at the Croc. Fresh off their glowing review from Pitchfork, Plus/Minus brings their dynamic sensitive indie-pop to town. *mp3: Steal the Blueprints 9pm; $8. Wednesday 22nd >>> Blue Scholars at The Showbox. If you don't know who the Blue Scholars are and why you should see them live, get the......

Tuesday 7th >>> Foreigner at The Paramount. Be warned: whether you're cold as ice or hot-blooded, this is the kind of rock that leads to double-vision. *video: Urgent 8:00pm; $40-$150. The $150 includes a pre-show wine tasting and meet & greet. >>> Bonnie Prince Billy at The Tractor. Will Oldham has been keeping us at arm's length with the "Bonnie Prince Billy" moniker for years. We can pretend it isn't true, but it is.......

Another copious serving of live tunes (not to mention opportunities to leave your smelly apartment), courtesy of Seattlest. You can thank us later. Tuesday 26th >>> The Presets at Chop Suey. Between The Presets electro-rock and opening acts The Girls and No-Fi Soul Rebellion, this show can't help but to leave you in a sweaty heap by the end of the night. 9pm doors; $8 adv. 21+ >>> DJ Krush at Neumo's. Japan's DJ......

Yeah, we know you just spent all weekend at Bumbershoot. Is the wee little baby tired? Can't handle any more music? Ah, look at that poodum... Wednesday 6th >>> The Original Superstars of Jazz Fusion at The Triple Door. Everyone who survived the jazz fusion movement without a dehabilitating acid freakout assembles here to fry your mind the natural way. 7pm/10pm; $45/50. You can only buy tix for the 10pm online. >>> Boards of......

You got something better to do? We don't believe you. Wednesday 2nd >>> Mellowdrone and Monsters are Waiting at Chop Suey. Both of these dancey Cali bands rely on heavy synths. 9pm doors; $8 advance. Thursday 3rd >>> Mark Erelli at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Sensitive Bostonian singer/songwriter with a sweet, sweet voice. 7pm; free. All ages. Friday 4th >>> Harvey Danger at Neumo's. CD Release Party – New album is good. Sean Nelson......

Seattlest is totally down with P. If you're down with P too, you'll join us at the Rentals show tonight. We'll be the ones rocking the fuck out. Friends of P don't have time for being too cool for school. Damon Albarn is a friend too. The Rentals w/Ozma Monday, July 24, doors at 8pm Neumos, 925 East Pike St. All Ages......

By now it’s no secret that Seattlest is all ga-ga over local showmasters, Awesome. We’ve recommended numerous times that you, John and Jane Q.P., experience for yourselves this strange and wonderful ensemble, and well, here we are once more. As if there wasn’t enough going on this weekend, Awesome will be playing two shows. First, Saturday July 1st at the High Dive, Awesome will kick things off for another broadcast of KEXP’s live local music......

Tired of sitting around with your friends looking stupid? Of course you are! So get off your ass and check these shows out… Tuesday 14th: -Dr. John’s at Dimitiou’s Jazz Alley Admission: $26.50 to $28.50; 7:30 pm -Varmint: Wayne Horvitz + Robin Holcomb + Tim Young (and featuring Charlie Beck and Joe Fulton from The Tallboys) at Lottie Motts Admission: $5.00; 8:00 pm Wednesday 15th: -“Start a nuclear war! At the gay bar!” -Electric Six......

We are officially in the holiday slump as far as shows go. That's hardly the worst thing in the world, since it's good to finally get a chance to rest after all of the madness of the Red Bull Music Academy. A month of consistently great music is enough wear down even the biggest of diehards. So it's time to take it a little bit easier, and to deal with all of the Christmahanukwanzadan festivities......

Perhaps you've seen the flyers, or you've otherwise heard about it, but this Saturday is the inaugural Opticlash, the VJ Battle in Seattle. Novelty alone is worth showing your support for this one. This event fits right in with Seattle's penchant for new forms of competition, but will provide a feast for your eyes rather than your ears. No, this won't be the same as just letting your screen saver run, as the competitors are......