The Head and the Heart - photo by Caitlin Mirete
Another solid week of live music around town, including the long-awaited and long-sold-out The Head and the Heart shows at the Showbox at the Market and the Moore, Portugal. The Man and Telekinesis at the Showbox at the Market, and former Dinosaur Jr. frontman J. Mascis stopping by the Tractor on Friday. Here’s a detailed rundown of what else to expect:
Monday, April 25
THE GOURDS with Patrick Sweany @ Tractor Tavern - (8 pm, $15, 21+)
Tuesday, April 26
STARFUCKER with Champagne Champagne @ The Crocodile
This same pairing just played at the Vera Project on the 23rd and the show at The Crocodile three days later will be the adults-only, perhaps slightly more raucous version. Starfucker’s song “Bury Us Alive” -- from their new album Reptilians -- was recently KEXP’s Song of the Day. Listen here:
(8 pm, $13, 21+)
FAKE PROBLEMS with Pomegranates, Laura Stevenson @ Vera Project - (7:30 pm, $11, all ages)
Wednesday, April 27
MY GOODNESS with Fox And The Law, Elba @ Tractor Tavern - (8:30 pm, $5, 21+)
Local bands My Goodness and Fox and the Law are violently eschewing Seattle’s boom of tender-hearted folk with their no-frills, in-your-face rock. Check out My Goodness’ video for their single “I’ve Got A Notion.” The band’s drummer/guitarist dynamic, dress, vibe, stage presence, and even the title of the song bring to mind the Black Keys. This is a good thing.
STICKERS with Dangerous Ponies, Glitterbang, Noddy @ Comet Tavern
This will be a good night of music you can move to at the Comet. Noddy will be live in-studio on KEXP Saturday, April 30 at 6 pm. Tune in! (9 pm, $7, 21+)
Thursday, April 28
THE HACKENSAW BOYS with Polecat @ Tractor Tavern - (9 pm, $15, 21+)
JOHNNY CLEGG @ Edmonds Center for the Arts - (7:30 pm, $15-$40, all ages)
DESSA with Sims & Lazerbeak, Dice @ Nectar Lounge - (8 pm, $10, 21+)
Friday, April 29
THE HEAD AND THE HEART with Lemolo, The Devil Whale @ Showbox at the Market
It’s one thing after another for The Head and the Heart and their continuing trajectory into heartfelt, harmonizing, somewhat anachronistic, indie pop semi-stardom. Both this show and the Saturday night show at The Moore have, of course, been sold out since mere minutes after tickets were released. You can always check Craigslist, but it seems offerings are sparse and understandably so. On Record Store Day, their self-titled debut was finally released on Sub Pop and these shows will serve as their coming out party as a headlining act. (8 pm, SOLD OUT, all ages - bar w/ ID)
J MASCIS with The Black Heart Procession @ Tractor Tavern
The Dinosaur Jr frontman will be in town playing some of his solo material. His latest album, Several Shades of Why, was released earlier this year on Sub Pop. Tune into KEXP at 4 pm for a live, in-studio performance. (9:30 pm, $18, 21+)
JAMAICA with Chain Gang of 1979, MK Speed Dial @ Neumos
Jamaica are from France. (8 pm, $12, 21+)
YUNI IN TAXCO with Hotels, Blue Skies For Black Hearts @ Sunset Tavern
I was a Yuni In Taxco fan as soon as I saw this video and they haven’t disappointed me since:
(9 pm, $8, 21+)
tUnE-YarDs with Buke & Gass, Thousands @ The Crocodile
tUnE-YarDs new album, w h o k i l l, was just released on 4AD and received an 8.8 on Pitchfork. Read the review here. You can also read an interview Pitchfork conducted with tUnE-YarDs frontwoman Merrill Garbus by clicking here. (8 pm, $12, 21+)
JOSEPH GIANT with Jared Mess & The Grown Children, Soft Hills @ Comet Tavern
Saturday, April 30
PORTUGAL. THE MAN with Telekinesis, Brainstorm @ Showbox at the Market
A great night from top to bottom with eclectic Portland duo Brainstorm starting things off, followed by local indie rockers Telekinesis, and capped off by Portugal. The Man, who hail from Wascilla, Alaska (don’t worry; they are vocal Palin detractors), and are one of the most unsung indie bands making the rounds today. For the past few years they have been frequenting the bottom end of festival lineups, as well as having played often in Seattle (they are now based in Portland), everywhere from The Crocodile, to Neumos, to, now, the Showbox at the Market. Frontman John Gourley has an absolutely angelic wail to go along with his high-sitting Strat, which he knows how to use, and the rest of the band brings it as well. Their brand of indie rock might be hard to grasp for some, but once you seen them live you’ll be a believer. (8 pm, $16-$18, all ages - bar w/ ID)
THE HEAD AND THE HEART with Grand Hallway @ The Moore
Night 2 at The Moore sold out just as quickly as the Showbox show, and the availability of tickets on Craigslist seems to be just as slim. Grand Hallway will be supporting them on Saturday, as opposed to Lemolo and The Devil Whale, who opened on Friday, so, yeah, this will be another memorable show. Cherish your tickets and the experience if you have them because thousands are insanely jealous. (8 pm, SOLD OUT, all ages)
THE FELICE BROTHERS with You Are Plural @ Tractor Tavern
Folk music straight out of the Catskills and strongly reminsceint of The Band and Bob Dylan. Here’s their video for “Roll On Arte”:
(9:30 pm, $15, 21+)
THROW ME THE STATUE with BOAT, Boy Eats Drum Machine, Wonderful @ Comet Tavern
KEXP Music Director Don Yates’ review of BOAT’s new album Dress Like Your Idols:
This Seattle band continues to polish their quirky indie-pop on their 4th album, which features a stellar batch of songs that pointedly echo classic Modest Mouse, Pavement, Pixies and other ‘90s indie-rock icons with a winning blend of crunchy guitars, sing-a-long choruses and killer pop hooks.
Sunday, May 1
THE PIPETTES @ The Crocodile - (8 pm, $11, 21+)
SATCHEL with Water Fae, Ton 80 @ High Dive - (8 pm, $6, 21+)
RUSTY WILLOUGHBY with Whiting Tennis, Bill Patton @ Sunset Tavern
Rusty Willoughby - photo by Jill Rachel
(9:30 pm, $7, 21+)
PIGPEN (feat. Wayne Horvitz) with Robin Holcomb @ Tractor Tavern - (8 pm, $12, 21+)
