WHAT THE...?: Apparently you shouldn't go to Seattle School's Strikethough #7 Jennifer Zwick's performance of Teddy Roosevelt: The Musical. It's at the Rendezvous Jewelbox Theatre. 8 p.m. // 2322 Second Ave. // no cover; no admittance MUSIC?: It's like everyone's hungover from the Capitol Hill Block Party; there's just nothing going on. Down at the Paramount, you can catch one-hit-wonder Matisyahu reprising his hip-hop/reggae religious rock. You can wander around the audience taking in the......

A Crayola gets down to Elphaba at last year's Capitol Hill Block Party, courtesy of Seattlest Flickr contributor iamdonte One word, with regards to Seattlest and the Capitol Hill Block Party: stoked! There are so many music options that we (that would be Katelyn and Audrey) decided to give you a couple ways to plan each day of this year's block party. Of course, feel free to mix and match acts as you see fit.......

Common Market released Black Patch War in early May, but it's taken Seattlest awhile to get fully on board with the album. You too are forgiven for sleeping on it this long, but further snoozing is not recommended. Ra Scion has posted the lyrics to three of the seven songs from the album over at his blog, six minutes to sunrise, with footnotes and everything, and it makes for a riveting read if you're so......

READING: This weekend, 2008 Seattle Reads author Dinaw Mengestu is making the rounds to the city's libraries to read from The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears. This novel about immigrant life in D.C. has gotten so much love from so many corners that we're kind of ashamed we haven't read it already. If you don't want to purchase this book, sign up now on the Holds list at the library: we're currently Hold #424.......

Photo of The Physics by Ryan Lewis. We love some hiphop with our coffee in the morning, and KEXP's John In The Morning obliged us today with a live set from easy-going, hard-working local stars The Physics! You can stream the set and interview on KEXP's website by clicking here and setting the time to 8:07am. What you'll hear: "Brand New Thang", "I Heart Beer", an interview (including some good-natured ribbing about The Physics'......

We usually stay pretty hog-tied to the folk and roots music world, but a year or so ago, we found ourselves volunteering to cover a show at Neumo's featuring Common Market and The Coup. Hot damn! That was a good show. The Coup is back in town tonight for a set at Nectar in Fremont. Think of a mix between Public Enemy and Prince. Check it: 9 PM // Nectar Lounge // $12......

D.Black, co-owner of Seattle's Sportn' Life Records and full-time, big-time hiphop MC and producer, took a few minutes out of his increasingly busy life to talk to Seattlest about what he's been up to the past few months. Where you've seen him recently: hosting Grynch's album release on January 27th, or rocking the fog machine and The Life medallion on Day Two of The Program back in December. Catch him this Friday night: 8pm doors,......

First of all, we have grown slightly disenchanted with the SyncLive method of experiencing The Program. Though we were most certainly not enamoured with the Swollen Members and Blue Scholars shows on Tuesday, our friends who were actually there say the energy in the room made a weak set from Swollen 100% more bearable. And according to the Stranger's Paul Constant, the set from Blue Scholars on Day #1 was "legendary." We stand by our......

Katelyn just mentioned Common Market, but there's also hip-hop aplenty at the Showbox this weekend, with Portland's Lifesavas and New Orleans' funk-tastic Galactic (featuring Chali 2na of Jurassic 5 and Boots Riley of The Coup) tonight and Blackalicious, Lyrics Born, and The Mighty Underdogs (featuring The Gift of Gab, Lateef the Truth Speaker and Headnodic) tomorrow night. Here's some footage of Blackalicious freestyling at Florida's Langerado festival a couple months ago.......

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......

For some reason we're more willing to devote an hour of our Friday lunch than an hour of our Tuesday evening to the American Idol cause. Seattlest hasn't seen a whole lot of the show but we decided to run down and check out Blake Lewis just now and we're glad we did. We showed up at noon on the dot and were subjected to 15 minutes of banter from some Q13 chick trying......

Last year's Sasquatch line up was good, but not good enough to get us to spend three days at the Gorge. We still prefer the festival in its one-day, all-in-one-fell-swoop form, but with the lineup that's been announced for this year's two-day fest, we may just have to make the trip. Out of the two days, it was Saturday that really made us coo. Bjork *and* Arcade Fire? Consider us sold. There are still......

MUSIC: Blue Scholars and Common Market 8pm // Neumo's // $20. 21+ MUSIC: Harvey Danger with Slender Means and "Awesome." 9pm // Crocodile // $25. 21+ (also an early show at 4pm for all-ages; $5) PARTY: Arcana: New Years Masquerade Ball 9pm // Capitol Hill Arts Center // $30 (or $75 for deluxe pimp action) MUSIC: The Melvins, Big Business, Porn, "Hot Sauce" Butch Darlene 8pm// Showbox // $25 "MYSTICAL" PARTY: There's this weird......

SEX: Sex-positive retailer Babeland closes out 2006 with their annual three day sale, with even some of their most popular toys marked down 25%. Let's face it, the other gifts you may have received this holiday season won't provide the long-term satisfaction something you pick up here will. 11am-10pm (also Noon-7pm Sunday and 11am-10pm Monday) // 707 E Pike St. // 25% off whatever pleasing your bits and pieces is worth MUSIC: As hard as......

As it should be, it's quiet this week in Seattle, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to do -- especially the closer we get to New Year's Eve. So without further ado, Seattlest's belated gift to you -- some shows: Thursday, December 28 >>> Vicci Martinez, Kym Tuvim, Jonatha King, and Danny Godinez at The Tractor. Singer/songwriter Vicci Martinez is not only an immensely talented artist with impressive stage presence, she's also cute as......

In the spirit of an earlier post in which we asked you to vote for your top-five albums of 2006 via KEXP, Seattlest would now love it if you'd narrow it down to your top-five Northwest albums via Three Imaginary Girls. In addition to letting your voice be heard, the girls are promising that every ballot cast will be entered into a drawing for a "prize pack of fun imaginary goodies." We admit, this one......

Tuesday 17th >>> Beirut at The Croc. This 20-year-old wunderkind from Albuquerque is the latest entrant into Who Wants To Be a Gypsy Rock Star Millionaire? 9pm;$10 >>> The Secret Machines at The Showbox. The sonically huge psych rockers will be performing tonight in the round, each member of the trio on an elevated platform on the venue floor. If nothing else, it's something different. 8pm doors; $14adv/$16dos. All ages Wednesday 18th >>> The......

We hate to sound cynical and old, but my god! Day two at Bumbershoot felt a lot like a tenth grade field trip to white people's rock and roll camp. We ain't dissing the kiddies, but when we head to the overcrowded, sweat-drenched beer gardens just to be amongst people our age, it's worth mentioning. That said, day two was (a) crazy crowded (we spent 15 minutes in the crossroads by the cajun salmon booth,......

What a great way to close out the summer: Beer, fried food on stick, irritatingly large crowds, great music, and a slight chance of rain (remember last year?). Seattlest loves us some Bumbershoot though, and we wouldn't let some pesky weather ruin our fun. This year looks to be a good one. A couple things we are digging right off the bat are the addition of good bands on the outdoor stages and ditching the......

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......

Bumbershoot sent out an email this morning announcing a bunch of acts for this year's Smaller, Better Festival. There's even more hiphop on the bill with the addition of local act Blue Scholars and Common Market and Brit chick Lady Sovereign (who we're looking forward to seeing with The Streets soon). Area indie rockers Crystal Skulls and Rocky Votolato will be there and to continue the trend of one Brit band for every couple of......

About three songs into her set, Neko Case gave up on it. Hail the size of dice had the crowd shouting in excitement and alarmed pain. (Note to self: never wait for the weather you see coming across the plain out here to arrive.) The storm, with lightning, lasted about 45 minutes, sending everyone streaming toward cars and tents. At 6:15 or so, it died down and the news came that in another 45 minutes......

Another week of Seattlest making all your plans for you. You don’t even have to think! Joy! Monday 20th: >>Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's second album sounds like they've started hanging out with the Black Keys. Hallelujiah. With Elefant and The Morning After Girls at the Showbox. 8pm, $17adv/$19 door, (21+) >>Shock Therapy: DJs Deutcher Meister, Lu Ying, Kamikaze at The Bad Juju Lounge Free! Tuesday 21st: >>Fish Scale Tour: Ghostface Killah, M-1, Common Market......