Results tagged “concerts”

Hitch up your Gumby trousers and polish those silly walks, as John Cleese is coming to town. Best known for his work in Monty Python [adjusts glasses] Cleese also co-wrote and starred in Fawlty Towers, which is the funniest sitcom ever. The ticket presale for his November 3 show at the Moore begins tomorrow at 10 am. This will be the ticket link--the promo code is "dance". Tickets are $45-55.

CAJUN BLUES: Wow, who forgot to clue us into this one until the last minute? We'll have to fire some interns over this, but that's what they get. Tab freaking Benoit is playing two sets at the Tractor tonight. It would be a real shame if the place wasn't crazy packed. The man is a legend. Bar none. Be there. We're going to do our damnedest to cancel our plans and join you.

GET OUT THE MUSIC: Our brothers and sisters over at LAist recently interviewed singer-songwriter Amie Miriello. She's on the rise these days, after leaving her band Dirtie Blonde and striking out solo. She'll be opening for one of Austin's finest, Bob Schneider. He has some of the most heartbreaking songs we know. But then, he also has songs about bar fights and monkeys. So, you know, there's balance.

WHO WILL SAVE YOUR SOUL?: Wow, Seattlest really loved that song when Jewel first came out back in '96. When we went to Lilith Fair, Jewel's set was the one we thought we'd skip and go have dinner during. Then she started, and she was an absolutely captivating performer. We're not totally sure what she's been up to all these years since then, but we can vouch for the truth of the matter that Jewel puts on a great show. If you're looking for some good live music tonight, she may just be the best thing going on.

If you're unfamiliar, allow us to introduce you to Laura Gibson—one of the best singer-songwriters coming out of the ever-vibrant Portland singer-songwriter scene. Granted, "vibrant" is not a word we'd use to describe Gibson's work. In fact, we suggest you nap a bit on Sunday afternoon before you head out to the Tractor, because she could sing you into the happiest of bar naps if you're not careful.

AUSSIES IN THE HOUSE: The Waifs are so much fun live. There's just something about families that sing together—you can't get that kind of synchronicity from strangers. The Australian sisters and their male guitarist compatriot are one of the most delightful folk-pop bands around, and their live energy is undeniably infectious. Catch them tonight at that swanky joint, the Triple Door.

We first heard of Nellie McKay as a folkie singer-songwriter/piano player, but her latest effort sees her doing some more ambitious big band work. It makes us think of James Bond film scores or maybe musical theater from the '70s. It's fun, that's what matters. It's also thoughtful and lyrically driven stuff that occasionally breaks into raps and chants, kind of spoken word stuff that's equal parts ranty and politically sound. Just check it for yourself, and then make plans to hit Neumo's tomorrow night for her show with Fences.

"HISTORY IS ABOUT TO CRACK OPEN": Angels in America may be one of the most moving plays we've ever seen, and it's being reprised in Seattle for the second weekend in a row, before ending its run next week. The performance of the play's first part, "Millenium Approaches," is being performed by Absurd Reality Theatre at the Bagley Wright, in the small theater. May we suggest you head out to the theater and catch a showing? When you're done with Part One, you can always head to ReAct's production of Part Two: "Perestroika."

If you've still yet to hear about the Everybodyfields, the only thing you should worry about at this point is getting a ticket to see them at the Tractor on Thursday. We love them for their tight knit harmonies and their nanananas, but also for everything else, really. They're part of that Ramseur Records Carolina/Tennessee new folk scene going on (think of label mates the Avett Brothers, Carolina Chocolate Drops, and Bombadil). They'll be appearing with Sean Hayes, who is not the guy from Will & Grace, but is almost just about as fabulous.

Boy, we wish we'd heard about this one sooner, before we tied ourselves to the Block Party. Nicole Atkins writes lovely, singer-songwritery tunes backed exquisitely by the busy-but-purposeful accompaniment of her backup band, aptly named the Sea. She's also gorgeous and has a voice the size of Manhattan, and the smarts to know how to control it, when to back off, when to let it rip. Check it:

HIPPIES UNITE: Innovative guitarist/singer/songwriter Keller Williams is a mainstay on the jamfolk scene and, much like Yonder Mountain Stringband (also on the bill tonight), is responsible for inspiring throngs of hippies to bounce and twirl. We've never caught him live, but we understand he puts on quite the show. He'll be at Marymoor tonight, blowing some minds.

NOT BURLESQUE: Columbia City Theater is a really great room to watch singer-songwriters do their thing. Tonight, the room will host a CD release party for the exquisitely talented Shenandoah Davis, featuring special guest Molly Rose, and others. Grab a drink and kick back in the old Vaudeville theater for a night of introspective, arty songwriting.

Tonight, the banjos will be taking over Benaroya Hall. We think there's a banjo joke in there somewhere, but it's too early on a Monday morning to come up with it. Instead, we'll just sell you on the legendary Earl Scruggs, who's responsible for that three-finger picking style Seattlest prefers when attacking the famously untunable instrument. We caught Scruggs at the IBMA awards last year, and we can vouch for the fact that he's still got it after all these years. Go see a living legend in action. Check him:

MSN has listed 15 of the best cities and festivals for music lovers, citing Bumbershoot as the reason they clocked Seattle in at the number two spot.

TAKE OFF YOUR SHIRT: Thursday night at R Place = Amateur Strip Show. Head out, show us what you've got, and maybe you'll walk away $200 richer. Second and third place prizes are $100 and $50, respectively. Then, once you've won, buy everyone in the room a round of drinks, and then stick around for a dance party courtesy of DJ Flo'w. After all, no work tomorrow, right?

SCIENCE WITH A TWIST: We've always had fun at the Pacific Science Center's monthly events for adults. If you enjoy science and drinking, you can't get much better than this. This month's event is focused around their new exhibit, Speed, and a drink they're calling the "Turbo Charger." Win tickets to the new Batman movie, watch a speed-themed movie on the IMAX screen, and eat and drink to your heart's content.

HOT! SHORTS! SUNBURN! SPRING!: Or should we say "SUMMER!"? It's going to be hot and sunny and clear today. You can do something with that, or you can sit under a tree and do nothing. Just put on some shorts and a tank top while you do whatever it is you do to revel under father sky. We wanna see some skin in Cal Anderson Park today. Also, skin will likely be visible at every other park in town.

Austin-based band Monahans do to music what poetry does to words. Tonight, they'll bring their stylin' tunes to the Tractor. Also on the bill is local songwriter J. Tillman and the very pretty Zera Marvel. We called up Monahans frontman Greg last week during their brief stint with the Cowboy Junkies to find out why he thinks people should come to tonight's show.

As much as Ray LaMontagne blew us away his last time through town, even more enduring is the memory of David Ford's opening performance. Ford opens again tomorrow night at the Showbox, supporting his new Songs for the Road album. We love his previous album title: I Sincerely Apologise for All the Trouble I've Caused—a clue that this British singer/songwriter's music can be melancholy and reflective, yet sometimes surprisingly uplifting, like in "Cheer Up (You Miserable Fuck)."

The Seattle Men's Chorus has announced its 2008-09 season and it includes (gay gasp!) Debbie Reynolds. As a girlfriend of ours (the platonic kind) noted, "I bet those men about had a heart attack." Also in the 08-09 season: a Christmas concert called Fruitcake which, according to the press release, will be "soaked in spirits; with a bit of spice, nuts, and fruit tossed in for fun." The release also said the show will contain "music, laughter, and tears." We're not so sure what those boys will be crying about, but okay.

The Starlings—a band that started with Joy Mills and her husband Tomm but has since grown into a solid foursome—have spent the last couple of years forging their way through the local music scene, touring now and then. This Saturday, they'll celebrate the release of their second independent release, Marvelling the While—a wonderful collection of country-pop-and-blues-infused Americana that further solidifies their rootsy sound.

This is going to be a damn good weekend, snow or no. And, it all starts tonight with Jack Wilson and the Wifestealers at the Sunset. Tomorrow, we've got Sera Cahoone's CD release party at the Tractor, celebrating the release of her awesome new disc Only As the Day is Long (SubPop).

Take a break from harrowing five-year Iraq war retrospectives and political sex scandals to see the lovely Johanna Kunin and DC's These United States at the Sunset tonight! The first time we went to see Johanna Kunin, we left practically purring with satisfaction. We expect tonight to be no different.

No, Seattle, you didn't read that headline or poster wrong. There are plans in the works to turn Seattle's venerable dive bar, the Blue Moon, into a warm and welcoming womb tomorrow night. The Blue Moon has been described as many many things--but warm, welcoming, and womb-like have probably never been used in its 70+ years of business. However, considering the guys behind this great band picture are designing the womb, we have the utmost faith that we'll have to be physically removed from the clutches of the Blue Moon tomorrow night by cold surgical hands. (Or at the very least, by Tom, the door guy.)

A red-bereted, beaming man with diamond-encrusted glasses stepped onto Chop Suey's stage last night around 11pm and shouted, "ChhhhyeLOWWW!" "ChhhyeLOWWW," the delighted crowd screamed back at Mistah F.A.B. It's no mystery why F.A.B.'s so popular. His swooping, playful, sharp music reminds us of nothing more than driving down a busy California six-lane boulevard on one of those stunningly hot summer days, though our sense of heat and motion might have been coming from the writhing, shimmying, cavorting masses of teenagers surrounding us on the floor at Chop Suey. Get hyphy! Get dumb! We got the sneaking suspicion that we're about four years too old for this, but it was fun anyway. Check out this Imeem video of F.A.B.'s song "Ghost Ride It" to get a better sense of what we're talking about:

Things are pretty dead, what with all the local music folk in Austin. Here's your limited options:

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.

We've already mentioned this weekend's Pyramid Alehouse Snowed In Party, featuring the Presidents of the USA (tonight) and the Dandy Warhols (tomorrow). Tonight, there's also Black Dice bringing their wall o' noise to the Vera Project.

Seattlest doesn't go to a lot of concerts -- we never did, and once parenthood embraced us we tend to invest in babysitters for stuff like movies and restaurants. There's less thrill in staying up until 1:30 when you know, no matter what, that 7:00 would be sleeping in.