I’m staying out here in Virginia as part of and extended Thanksgiving stay, and I’m already running into the same problem I ran into when I grew up here: not enough to to do. I’ve likened the area to being a suburb to nowhere, as Hampton Roads consists of a large distributed military presence, but has no urban center of gravity. Culturally, it’s Clearchannel and strip malls. I always hoped there was more out there, but I never found it until I left for college, and later when I moved to Seattle (my answer for why I go out as much as I do - I missed enough growing up).

Well, things appear to have changed…slightly. Tonight there’s a b-boy gathering at local indie record store Relative Theory Records, with the local chapter of the Zulu Nation putting on a free show to celebrate their ninth anniversary (they even have a weekly). I’m amazed a Zulu Nation chapter even exists here, forget the fact that it’s thrived. I’m also happy to have a reason to leave the house that doesn’t involve another trip to either the mall or the movie theater. II’ll share if I get any good pics of how the b-boys do things out here in Virginia.

(And on the off-chance that someone from Virginia reads Line Out, feel free to point me in the direction of things to do. I’ve got three days (and nights) to fill.)

Were I not on the East Coast (Virginia specifically), I’d be spending my evening at Des Amis, which has an appearance from Washington DC’s DJ Tittsworth (well, after stopping by The Coup/Mr. Lif anyway). Tittsworth rose to initial fame with his adoption of Baltimore Club, gaining favor among the Diplo/Hollertronix/Spankrock set. Over the last few years he’s been touring worldwide, expanding his repertoire from club to drum and bass, his own remixes, hip hop, ghettotech, and other music meant to induce crowd hysterics. Adopting the quick mixing style favored by ghettotech veterans, Tittsworth’s track-a-minute pace has driven crowds crazy (according to the blogosphere). It should prove to be a very good sendoff for Bootylib’s stint at Des Amis.

If you’re not convinced yet, here’s a Tittsworth mix he recorded last month for Swedish blog Discobelle.

[Edit: Undangled my modifier. Thanks Dangling Modifier.]

In case you don’t want to sit on the couch and continue digesting yesterday’s binge, there’s always…

THE PHARMACY, WET CONFETTI, TV COAHRAN, PLEASUREBOATERS
(Comet) Wet Confetti’s new record, Laughing Gasping, represents a major step forward for the already brightly shining Portland band. Gang of Four’s Dave Allen coproduced the album (and played bass on “Sorry Dinosaur”), and its taut bass lines, jerking rhythms, and discordant guitars are certainly indebted to his band. Alberta Poon has really come into her own behind the microphone, adding more melody to her already urgently rhythmic vocals, and the band’s arrangements have become more catchy without sacrificing their layered complexity. The band evoke both the fleeting energy of a dance party in full swing and the deflated afterglow that their name suggests, often within the same song. ERIC GRANDY

Or, you could go to Comeback at Chop Suey, Cannibal Corpse at El Corazon, Captain Gravel at Conor Byrne, Alice In Chains at the Paramount, or Sea.Mine at the High Dive. Read all about ‘em in this week’s Up & Comings.

Also, check out a whole week’s worth of local action in a new episode of Setlist.

…the Undertones broke up, though they still reconstitute and play out occasionally (hell, if you’re over in Ireland, you can see them tonight). Aside from being John Peel’s “favorite song of all time,” “Teenage Kicks” seems to be one of those selections that always makes people happy and prone to ordering more drinks when it comes on in a bar (much like “20th Century Boy” by T Rex or “Deceptacon” by Le Tigre). Enjoy!

I’d like to take a quick moment to mention that El Corazón may just be the place to be this weekend:

If you’re looking for ridiculously fast death metal, tonight’s the night, with gory Cannibal Corpse and political Dying Fetus (8 pm, $20, all ages).

But, if you’re looking for droney, hard-to-classify metal, then head out tomorrow night to check out Neurosis (9 pm, $15 adv/$18 DOS, all ages).

If you are in a band, don’t send us press releases like this:

Anyway, we have two shows coming up in Seattle the first weekend in December. I’ve listed them below, and any mention (or listing) in the Seattle Weekly you can give us to help get people out will be greatly appreciated.

If I was more petty, I would refuse to list their shows for their obvious disrespect! Always check your work!

The Dear Leader, building on the success of his iPod-killing digital download service, is now gearing up to hold North Korea’s first rock concert. Get your press kits together. You can make the bill if you avoid:

• Admiration for war
• Sex
• Violence
• Murder
• Drug [sic]
• Rape
• Non-governmental society [sic]
• Imperialism (Top-40 country artists need not apply)
• Colonialism (ibid.)
• Racism (ibid.)
• Anti-socialism

This is a potential home run for my beloved techno, which is mostly about nothing. This, for once, is an advantage. Go Mutek Pyongyang!

By the way, a very happy Thanksgiving to you all from a TAM flight somewhere between Brasilia and Recife. I’m pretty sure the boarding/disembarking music on our last stop was the Plinko theme from The Price is Right.

I know how much you love this video, so…ta-da!

Like Megan Seling when it comes to Juno, I really can’t say enough good things about Unwound—or about how much I wish they had never broken up in the first place. Inexplicably, I hadn’t downloaded any of their catalog on to my iPod yet, so I’m filling that glaring vacancy this afternoon. I only wish there was more video of them out there. Save for this Kill Rockstars DVD and that sad little movie Half-Cocked, there doesn’t seem to be much documentation of the band out there. Here’s the best clip I could find on Youtube:

Today the official announcement came out that the War Room’s Gettin’ _______ house music monthly is ending its run after this Friday’s edition. The series has brought all manner of heavyweights to town in its year and a half run, most notably Derrick Carter earlier this year. It took a few months for the War Room to make sense to me as a house venue, but Gettin’ _______ made it work, and I’m looking forward to what Perfect Hit (the promoters) come up with next. But as for this week, they’re going out strong with the always fun Jacob London. You never know what to expect with those two. They could drop zydeco all night and I would only be slightly surprised. Here’s the copy:

After making a solid 1.5 years run, sadly to say, this Friday will be the very LAST installment of Gettin’ __________* at the War Room. I’d like to thank you all for the continuous support for this night. Come on down for the last dance and let’s make it BIG…

Happy Thanksgiving!

Perfect Hit & PUMA present
Gettin’ __________* at the War Room
Friday. Nov 24

Post Turkey Day Dance Hoo Ha…
Shake That Booty! Burn That Fat!

featuring
Jacob London (Classic Music Company. Doubledown. U-Freqs. 911Milk.com)
along with
Kadeejah Streets (Innerflight. Flea Market)
Wesley Holmes (Perfect Hit)
Visuals by PixelFlip

Local hardcore fans take note: IAMTHETHORN, the local hardcore superstar band, has signed to Goodfellow Records. Their debut EP, You Are the Lamb will be released February 20th.

According to Lambgoat.com:

Seattle quartet IAMTHETHORN is the newest addition of the Goodfellow Records roster. The new band features an amalgamation of names that will be familiar to those that have followed the Northwest heavy music scene of the past ten years. Featuring Johnny Pettibone (Himsa, Nine Iron Spitfire, Genuine, Undertow) on vocals, Aaron Edge (Grievous, Hauler, Genuine, Harkonen, Himsa, Christ, Hellephant) on guitar and screams, Joe Axler (Skarp, Book of Black Earth, Splatterhouse) drumming and Jerad Shealey (Receder) on bass, the band plays a “frantic, pissed off, down-tuned style of metal that is influenced by bands such as Eyehategod, Crowbar, Integrity and new label-mates Cursed.”

You can hear a few songs on the band’s Myspace page, which prove the new record will no doubt be completely awesome. I can’t wait.

Next week’s DJ Q-Bert show, scheduled to take place at Chop Suey on 11/29, has been cancelled.

I read this book. Kick me.

Oh, man, where to begin? Well, the book at least begins with token coverage of D.C.’s Rites of Spring and Embrace, and even tries to summarize nationally influential acts like my beloved Jawbreaker and my be-tolerated Sunny Day Real Estate. Then there’s Braid, the Promise Ring (but barely a breath about Cap’n’Jazz or Joan of Arc), and Jimmy Eat World. And then author Andy Greenwald dives headfirst into Livejournal, Makeoutclub (remember that? remember how Gibby was supposedly racist?), Dashboard Confessional, Thursday, etc.

Greenwald’s thesis is that “emo”, that nebulous, contentious word isn’t about a kind of music, an ideology, or even an aesthetic. No, it’s about “the fans”. It’s about “honesty”. It’s about the feeling of community, not the actual existence of community. What it’s really about is some seriously spurious logic on Greenwald’s part. It’s really about the slow transformation of a small participatory culture into a profitable commodity, into “cool” consumerism.

Continue reading "How Nothing Feels" »

Courtney Love naked, again. Another bit of pop-culture ephemera yoinked out of the dustbin and onto the internet by ONTD. Pictures of Love in the buff and an interview from the Winter issue of POP.

Most definitely NSFW and don’t forget, you were really just interested in reading the article (which is actually rather interesting). Really. Love talks about how Mel Gibson got her into rehab, doing blow for the first time at the age of 35 and hanging out with a smack-hungy Dave Navarro in tiny silver pants. Naturally, Dave was wearing the tiny pants not Courtney. Lots of name-dropping and lots of Courtney talking about Courtney on and off the drugs.

Choice Love quote:
“The problem with some British people is they come to Hollywood thinking it’s one big vagina with an eightball in the middle of it.”

Here’s that NSFW link

…if Lemmy Kilmister was the team sponsor. I find this so adorable my head nearly exploded. I just wish the picture of the kids in their uniforms was bigger!

From this week’s Up & Comings:

MACEO PARKER, GUEST
(Fenix) Maceo Parker? One word: Funk. That is where his greatest contribution to the world of pop music can be heard. During the ’70s, his saxophone style helped build that type of sound, that attitude, that spirit that stands as a bridge between ’60s soul and ’80s R&B. He played with James Brown, Fred “Breakin’ Bread” Wesley, and George Clinton. In 1993, he contributed to De La Soul’s second masterpiece, Buhloone Mindstate, and later joined Prince’s New Power Generation. For those whose religion is to “live for the funk, and die for the funk,” James Brown is God, George Clinton is Jesus, and Maceo Parker is John the Baptist. CHARLES MUDEDE

Also, Witch Craft play the Sunset.

One more reason to buy your tickets for the December 1 Flipper show at El Corazon sooner than later: Krist Novoselic is replacing recently departed bassist Bruno DeMartis (who had previously replaced the late Will Shatter). After playing a series of West coast shows (Seattle, Portland and San Francisco), they’ll head to Europe for All Tomorrow’s Parties with the Stooges, Sonic Youth, Nurse With Wound, and the Melvins. From there they’ll be touring the UK and Ireland with the Melvins and our former hometown heroes, Big Business.

I am trying to wrap my head around this. Last week, everyone in the internets cracked up over this dumb suit butchering U2’s pompous love song to Jesus, “One”:

Now, IN REAL LIFE, David Cross has joined Johnny Marr onstage at a Modest Mouse concert to zing the guy in front of a few thousand Mouseketeers:

And everybody eats it up! Fans of indie rock and alternative comedy are even nerdier than I thought. The fact that this whole thing could go from corporate douchery to youtube yuk to celebrity spoofing in a week is fairly astounding, and hints at the real revolutionary potential of the internets: making fun of people at breakneck speed. Respect due to Brooklyn Vegan for staying on top of this story.

Update: Additional respect due to intrepid videographer and blogger Angry Citizen. Now, get us footage of Bob Odenkirk and Morissey singing Starbucks’ corporate perversion of “We Built This City on Rock’n’Roll” and we will give you the key to Internets City.