Up and Coming on Audioasis 2/9

Join us on Audioasis every Saturday night for three hours of the best of the Northwest! This week’s show kicks of with a live set by Police Teeth at 6 PM; M. Bison performs live at 8 PM.

^{drawn by Kharesse Stauffacher}

So there I was, checking out the Police Teeth MySpace page, listening hard to “Tetsuo II Body Hammer” to see if it matched up to their self-description as “Tubeway Army mixing uppers and downers with Superchunk in Greg Sage’s basement.” Got the Superchunk – the sheer adrenalin of the song took me back to the first time I saw The ‘Chunk knocking out “Slack Motherfucker” to a tiny, sweaty mass of devotees. The Wipers came through too, in sheer urgency if not Greg Sage’s offhand lyrical grace. But Tubeway Army? I kept listening but couldn’t figure that one out. Tried the other song, “Is That Because You’re Adopted” as well. No Gary. What’s up with that? When I tune in at six tomorrow, I better hear some goddam sci-fi. While you’re waiting for the broadcast to begin, check out this YouTube video of Police Teeth playing “Tetsuo II Body Hammer” in a basement that looks not unlike the basements cops find hostages in. One viewing of the band’s Husker-esque energy in that live video makes the studio version come alive even more.

M. Bison stack the vocal harmonies instead of the guitars, add more than a few tinkly Pet Sounds touches, and… wow. If you’re a Shins fan or love the smartypants-pop of Squeeze, check this band out immediately, particularly “Wassup You Guys.” Hand claps! That organ that teeters between roller rink and baseball game! When I started listening I wasn’t smiling, and when I finished I was. And y’know what? That’s good enough for me.

Hopefully you all made it down to last week’s benefit performance at High Dive with Daniel G. Harmann (our Song of the Day today!) and Sky Cries Mary. If not, or even if you did, be sure to check out these fantastic photos by Christopher Nelson: