NORFOLK & WESTERN
(Detour Café, 3035 SE Division) Norfolk & Western is nothing if not romantic. Their third full-length record, Winter Farewell, is heavenly, opening with a to-swoon-for song of viola and lap steel that segues into the echoing notes of "Final Gratitude." That recording has the band's Adam Selzer and Rachel Blumberg harmonizing sweetly over a very quieted, minimal dose of mandolin and banjo. Their country-influenced songs are delicately paced, careful, and tender odes to great songwriting and emotion that's so heartfelt, you can't argue against it. Truly an incredible band, and a great focal point for your V-Day when all you want to do is cuddle with your baby (or your baby mom). Buy the record, too--it's more accomplished than their last one, if you can believe that. JULIANNE SHEPHERD
CANYON CREEPS, DIESTO, BONOBO PROJECT
(Satyricon) The Bonobo Project is a band made up of some kids from Reed College, a school at which people work extremely hard studying Greek and Roman mythology and DNA strands, and reading Jacques Derrida. I know this because I went there. The flipside of that habit is that, when Reed kids decide to put their energy into a creative outlet, it is usually balls-out. They party really, really hard. They have a lot of sex. They do things like drive impulsively to Canada at three in the morning. See some of this energy yourself in the Bonobo Project, who play pretty standard metal, but do it with such energy and enthusiasm, you will understand that their music is not about fun. It's about doing something to keep from going crazy or killing someone. Canyon Creeps is a rock band with one of those vocalists who wavers between Cannibal Corpse and um, you know, having a normal voice. If you're into rocky hardcore, you'll like them too. KATIA DUNN
WIN A FREE VASECTOMY
(Crimson Phoenix, 3514 NE 57th, 775-7909) Respect for Life is a sort of left-right dichotomy organization that calls itself "pro-choice and anti-abortion." Broadly, they want to "promote reproductive freedom and responsibility," "increase value of human life," and "encourage non-biological family formation." Most importantly, they think that men should get vasectomies to prevent pregnancies that would result in abortion. To promote their organization, they're having a drawing for a free vasectomy at five pm! Ladies, just think of never having to take birth control again! If you win (which you won't, because my boyfriend is going to win, goddammit), maybe you could have a vasectomy-centric Valentine's party. Give it an alliterative name like "A Very Vasectomied Valentine's," and play songs such as Har Mar Superstar's "I Admit," King Missile's "Detachable Penis," and that old favorite, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree!" JS
DICK DALE, ICANLICKANYSOBINTHEHOUSE
(Crystal) Surf-rock pioneer Dick Dale fronted the Deltones in the 1950s, which is credited as the first ever surf-rock band. His reverb-heavy, instrumental music earned him a notable fan base during the '60s, and then he got sick and sort of gave it all up until the '80s. Dale is still around, making records and touring (40-plus years later). That's some serious shit, yo. If you like the instrumental surf rock, go check out the man who made your people everything they is. Damn, Dick Dale. Damn. JEFF DeROCHE
RALLY BOY, JEFF LONDON, WOW & FLUTTER, MATTHEW HATTIE HEIN
(Blackbird) With a cherubic chemistry, the Jealous Butcher family has put together a sweetie pop V-Day soiree that instructs as well as entertains. Learn how to have a happy, healthy relationship from bands that exhibit exuberance (Rally Boy) to contemplation (Wow & Flutter) to plain old honesty (Jeff London & Matthew Hattie Hein). JS
FRIDAY 2/15
THE PRIDS, SUMERLAND, THE WINDOWS
(Blackbird) New wave goth is back. Therefore, you no longer have to pretend that you only listened to The Cure ten years ago. Go ahead, find that tube of shimmery, violet black lipstick. Proselytize the beauty of death. Tell your kid sister that she doesn't understand you. And then go to the Prids show, where you will be surrounded by fellow goth-likers, as well as three AMAZING, gothy bands. The Prids are, of course, Portland darlings releasing a new EP, and The Windows are all synthesizers and whispery, tortured lyrics, melodic but a little ragged. Sumerland is even slower, darker goth, with equal talent and more depression. KD
NATRON, GRUESOME GALORE
(Beulahland) Always entertaining and insane, Natron's punk/delta blues stylings and hee-ing and haw-ing are as entertaining as a smack in the ass by a total hottie in a club, while holding a cold beer and smoking a P-Funk. Yeah. KS
THE LETDOWN, THE CUTTERS, THE HIGH & THE MIGHTY
(Billy Ray's) You might initially suspect The Cutters are ridiculously cute and ironic, as their pop has a lot of short, quick, slick sounds, and the singer has a sweet, smooth, at times pop-country voice. HOWEVER, there is enough real talent here that one can actually tolerate and even enjoy the cuteness. The Cutters walk the line, but luckily come out with a lot to say rather than falling back on what's already been said. It's poppy punk (please appreciate the distinction here between pop-punk, ala Green Day, and poppy punk), and the kind of energy and talent they have recorded suggested this will be a great show. The Cutters will be playing with an equally intense local band, the High and the Mighty, who are simply all about hard and fast rock. KD
CLUMSY LOVERS, RICHMOND FONTAINE
(Aladdin) If the Clumsy Lovers' songs were translated to sheet music, every note would be punctuated as a sharp staccato. Entering their ninth year, the band has continued to mature a cleaner, even faster and ever more upbeat zydeco sound. Andrea Lewis' spitfire fiddling is still as sharp as a paper cut, and lead singer Trevor Rogers' voice has richened into a Marti Gras cheeriness. But what remains most charming about Clumsy Lovers is their choice of covers, from the Beatles and Led Zeppelin, to U2, and a squaredance take on J. Geils' "Centerfold." PHIL DOT BUSSE
SATURDAY 2/16
LAUREL CANYON, THE DIMES, THE RUBELLA
(It's a Beautiful Pizza) See My What a Busy Week pg 11
THE BRIEFS, THE EPOXIES, THE FLIP-TOPS
(Blackbird) The Briefs are hyperactive--their guitar riffs are quick, repetitive, and don't let up for a second, their vocalist sings with a Brit-punk attitude, and they have lyrics about having crabs and killing Bob Seger. Even though they don't take themselves seriously, the Briefs' execution is perfected--they probably spend a lot of time practicing in some basement, drinking PBR, writing lyrics, and cracking themselves up. And, the New Wave Epoxies have an insane stage show that you simply must see. KS
DEAD BY DAWN, REMAINS OF THE DAY
(Red & Black) Dead by Dawn and Remains of the Day, a hardcore band, play this show as a benefit for the IWW. JS
KPSU SUPPORT STARRING DJ MILES, SHORTCHANGE, ELLIOTT
(Bitter End) A DJ night to help out KPSU, including hiphop, jazzy, electro, and other curiosities, by three bona fide music nerdypantses (and KPSU DJs)! JS
SUNDAY 2/17
BUS DRIVER, CVE, HIP HOP KLAN, OMD'S XOLOLAXINXO, CHU CHU, CYPHA 7, DJ WICKED
(Tonic Lounge) Fans of West Coast Underground HipHop will not miss this one. See My What a Busy Week pg 11
JOHN WATERS, PEACHES
(Crystal) Peaches is a cathartic mix of tacky-cool raunch and off-color dementia. Tricky lyrics like "Licky licky sucky sucky/Nobody here can tell me they don't want to fucky fucky" invite the suspicion that dear little Peaches is operating with a missing cylinder or two. Maybe she's just clever. It doesn't really matter because it works as a crass anthem for the legions of oversexed and overdressed who have been waiting for it. It's too bad that she's sharing the bill with Waters, because his "one-man show" drives up the price of admission. Nonetheless, devotees of Waters and the quizzical bent on humanity that he's brought to film will no doubt find that it's worth it. MARJORIE SKINNER
THE OUT CROWD
(Cal-Sports, 1033 NW 16th) The Out Crowd vs. The Strokes: Screw The Strokes. Lord knows everybody loves their trust-fund pop, and über-cool, "I don't care about MTV" videos, but I, for one, want them to go back to the Hamptons. My vote for true Vespa-rock goes to the fresh faces of The Out Crowd. They are authentic Portlanders, giving the masses a free show at a cool bar (PBR!). Lead singer Matt Hollywood arrives at this new project with acclaim, earned from his former band, Brian Jonestown Massacre. With the Out Crowd, Hollywood continues to spill out pouty, Brit-Pop croonings, this time aided by new chums Elliot Barnes, Joe Patterson, and Stuart Valentine. KARRIN ELLERTSON
WILL HAVEN, ODDMAN, DUALESC
(Paris Theater) Although I don't know what the half-clothed lady on the front of their newest record, Carpe Diem, has to do with their music, other than encourage people to buy more records (oh yeah, and dudes like naked chicks), Will Haven's noisy metal-hardcore is pretty good--screaming vocals, low, heavy guitars, crazy energy, etc. The Sacramento band's lyrics are fairly indecipherable; however, they have a song entitled "Alpha Male." Hmm. JS
MONDAY 2/18
JONNY X & THE GROADIES, TEAM HERO, DJ STEFF, PARALLAX, THANKSGIVING
(617 NE Fremont) Truly a sight: Jonny X & the Groadies' incroy-o-deathic, nudie hardcore with Parallax' orchestra of 36 tape players. How many drummers does it take to screw in a light bulb? Admission charge: a flower. Yes, a flower! JS
BUSTA RHYMES, ABSTRACT RUDE, FRONTLINE, DJ CHILL
(Crystal) Even if you're not a fan of Busta, it's worth seeing Abstract Rude, the underground emcee whose flow is so true you'll be able to feel it in your bones. He could read the back of a ketchup bottle and sound like he was delivering an imperative spiritual message. JS See Music pg 13
DESAPARECIDOS, THE PROM, 31KNOTS
(Meow Meow) See Music pg 13
TUESDAY 2/19
TRISHA YEARWOOD, KIM RICHEY
(Roseland) No one in the Mercury office knows anything about Trisha Yearwood, except that she's famous, so I called my mom, who lives in Wyoming and is always hounding me about increasing the Mercury's coverage of country music. Here is what my mom had to say: "Oh, yeah. Trisha Yearwood has some good songs. She's a good entertainer and musically very accomplished and versatile. And she had an affair with Garth Brooks! Oh no, don't say that. I'd go see her. She's really pretty, but she has a weight problem. Sometimes she gets down real slim, but she always gets puffy again." My mom, however, felt that description was inadequate, so she asked her coworker, Fran, also an avid country music fan. Fran says, "Oh yeah, she's good. And Garth Brooks is our favorite. And she has a weight problem." My mom: "See? She has the same opinion I have." I then questioned my mom and Fran about Kim Richey. They both responded that they know nothing about her, and that "she must be one of the new ones." There you have it--Trisha Yearwood, endorsed by my mom. JS
GRINGO STARS, VIAGRAVATED, CREEP MODE
(Satyricon) Gringo Stars are slow/hyper/slow ironic rock with stoner stream of consciousness lyrics. When they play slow, they sound like they're mocking death metal, and when they play fast, they sound like they're mocking commercial jingles. Creep Mode, a straight-up metal band spawned from legendary acts such as Sextraterestrial, Burt Reynolds, and Merlin's Hat, are playing their last show. It's always sad when metal bands die... as sad as when a baby kitten is born strangled by the umbilical chord. KS
WEDNESDAY 2/20
SUFFERING & THE HIDEOUS THIEVES, LAUGHING STOCK, SWEET SCIENCE
(Blackbird) [Q: When does rock become orchestral? A: 1. When some guitars meet a string section 2. When the compositions are huge and sweeping 3. When one or more band members dons a cape and stiletto boots.] Tonight's showing of rock bands all include a violin, cello, or more (although the chances of capes are slim, unfortunately). The Sweet Science make a punky musical with their guitar distortion, Latin tinge, and gorgeous cello. Laughingstock is a drowsy ensemble of quiet rock whose semi-cheesy, hippie-licious lyrics are nullified by their pretty soundscapes of measured drumming, windy samples, and excellent violins. Suffering & the Hideous Thieves, a Seattle affair featuring members of The Prom, Raft of Dead Monkeys, and Red Stars Theory, also have a vocalist problem. The boy singer has this way of emo-style singing where he gratingly emphasizes all his consonants, nearly obscuring how amazing the actual music is. Luckily, their gorgeous compositions of violin, piano, accordion, and bassoon have enough integrity to maintain their stunning qualities. This concert will be rife with the juxtaposition of non-traditionally rock instruments in a rock setting--well worth your time. JS
ANTIBALAS
(Berbati's) Antibalas is the 13-piece Afrobeat group that was signed to Ninja Tune, the label known for great DJs such as Amon Tobin, DJ Food, and Kid Koala. This is remarkable for a number of reasons, most important of which is that Antibalas doesn't make totally brilliant music like many of its labelmates. It's upbeat, tight, positive music, and the group will no doubt make a beautifully big sound in concert, but its breakthrough album, Vol 1. Liberation Afrobeat, isn't musically "visionary." Antibalas has another album to be released in early March, called Talkatif, and it's more of the same. "The same" is great music, don't get me wrong. It's just that there's such a big buzz around this crew, with big profiles in rap magazines and all that, that it's a little weird. Chalk up Antibalas' fame to the novelty of being an Afrobeat group on a super-cool avant-DJ label. BRIAN GOEDDE
EROSION 69, STATESIDE, PERFUME
(Satyricon) Those of you who saw Stateside before their months-long hiatus will remember a tight rock band with a heavy Modest Mouse influence--fun, but nothing you hadn't seen before. They took some time off, however, and it did them A LOT of good. They traded in the Brocky crooning for great, four-person harmonies that are so gleeful, they practically scream; while they're not always perfectly in tune, the boys make up for it by their sheer onstage energy. It's contagious--the joy they derive from playing their instruments is obvious, and when paired with their catchy-yet-unique, danceable hooks, the audience is guaranteed to be hopping around like bursts of popcorn before the end of their set. A few months of studied songwriting has turned Stateside into one of Portland's scrappiest bands; go see them, they'll make you feel really happy. JS
GOING TO SEATTLE?
Fri 2/15: Laurie Anderson (Moore); DJ Rap (Arena)
Sat 2/16: DJ Skribble (Showbox)
Sun 2/17: Neil Halstead (Tractor); Drunk Horse (Graceland)
Mon 2/18: Juno, Desaparecidos (Paradox)
For more info, visit www.thestranger.com
New Releases Feb. 19: Air, Atari Star, Bobby Conn*, Cub Country, Greg Davis*, Death Cab for Cutie, Grandaddy, Lambchop*, Merzbow*, Milemarker*, Mountain Brothers, Q-Tip*, Roots of Orchis*, Slackjaw, Tindersticks*, Town and Country*, Xiu Xiu* * = may actually turn out okay
DRUMMERS: Jackie-O Motherfucker needs one, lady preferred. If you like The Carter Family, Neu!, Chicago Art Ensemble, call Tom Greenwood at 331-9169.
