PizzaFest 2010: TacocaT, Idle Times, Suspicions, Butts, Tax & Leisure Corporation

(Funhouse) TacocaT's formula really ought to have worn thin by now, but their preoccupation with ribald subject matter, rascally pop-punk riffs, and nudge-nudge, wink-wink lyrical localisms results in music that's way too fun to simply dismiss or condescendingly disregard. "Leotard" still feels like a shamelessly silly insta-classic. Fellow Seattleite mischief-makers Butts make for a keen pairing at this, the first day of the three-day PizzaFest 2010. How you feel about TacocaT and Butts likely hinges on what we might call the "Pizza Hut/Taco Bell paradigm": Some viewed upstart rap group Das Racist's ridiculous 2009 single "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell" as retarded, half-baked parody. Others hailed it as a cunningly faux-idiotic take on modern consumer society. I wouldn't go to PizzaFest looking for profound meditations on the state of contemporary capitalism, but when the music's guaranteed to be so fun, there's no point in expecting anything beyond having a blast. JASON BAXTER See also preview.

Big Spider's Back, Wow & Flutter, the Harvey Girls, Pure Moods

(Sunset) The Portland husband/wife band that's not Viva Voce, the Harvey Girls—Melissa Rodenbeek and Hiram Lucke—have a very nice line in homespun psych rock, as evidenced by their recently released album, I've Been Watching a Lot of Horror Movies Lately. They place heartfelt, attractive melodies amid bravado song structures that recall Akron/Family and some of the headier groups on the Jagjaguwar and Dead Oceans labels. There's a pleasant, low-key, "let's get high in the woods" vibe running through the Harvey Girls' music. You also have to like any band that lists the Swirlies and Bukka White as influences. You just have to. Fellow PDX unit Wow & Flutter impress with their unpretentious, tuneful rock of minimal fidelity. They specialize in catchy, crusty songs that nonchalantly shrug in the direction of the Grifters and Guided by Voices. DAVE SEGAL

Revenge of the Lazer-Tits: Lisa Dank, Concours d'Elegance, Flat Black, DJ Sean Majors

(Crocodile) Would it be hyperbole to call Lisa Dank Seattle's Madonna? Maybe, but Ms. Dank does exhibit some Madge-like traits: She's an extroverted vocalist with blond ambition and a robust desire to implant her flamboyant, cheeky persona into your memory bank. While her hustle is impressive, Dank's music is a slick, cheesy dish that doesn't exactly contain the most nutritious ingredients. However, I'm not Dank's demo, so take this assessment with heaping tablespoonfuls of salt. She's an ENTERTAINER who's out for stardom and has a radio-friendly, pop-house sound that's in frequent-costume-changing, party-all-the-time mode. It's what the sociologists would call "fun." Seattle duo Concours d'Elegance's shiny-sheened, romo-tronic songs recall '80s pop radio fare. It's all well crafted and produced, but this sort of music originally served the purpose of taking Americans' minds off the nuclear arms race raging between the U.S. and USSR, and it doesn't sound that great the second (or third) time around. But! There'll be Lazer-Tits! Getting revenge! DAVE SEGAL

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