Sasquatch! 2012 Launch Party: Junip, Matthew Caws, the Physics

(Neptune) See Stranger Suggests.

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Nada Surf, Say Hi

(Tractor) Last week, Nada Surf released their new album, The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy. They've always played indie-rock/pop songs that would appeal to fans of bands like the Posies, but this new record summons Ken Stringfellow and company more than ever before. "When I Was Young" starts out as a soft acoustic ballad but slowly evolves into a starry electric-guitar explosion. The catchy chorus in "Waiting for Something" sounds like a Frosting on the Beater B-side. The Stars is a really strong album, perfect to listen to while the winter slowly fades away. Unfortunately, tonight's show is sold out. But singer Matthew Caws will also be making a solo appearance at the Neptune tonight, for the Sasquatch! launch party, so you can still get a Nada Surf fix. MEGAN SELING

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Satchel, Slow Bunny, Surrealized

(Crocodile) Seattle's Slow Bunny are eclectic maximalists. They may not always hit your sweet spot, but give 'em credit for dispersing their songwriting chops in many directions and striving for lofty stylistic crossbreeding. Flamboyant prog rock with a reggae bridge may not be your idea of sonic nirvana, but you have to admit few bands anywhere would think to attempt this. Raggedy bluegrass with drama-king vocals; Man Man–like, start-stop vaudeville punk; glam funk; and burly country rock also figure into Slow Bunny's arsenal of tricks. And "Jaws of the Butterfly" is a helluva blend of speed-freak noise rock and pastoral balladry. Overall, it's hard to detect tongue-in-cheekiness here, and the playing is tight. DAVE SEGAL

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