Live Around Town This Week

Crystal Castles

Monday, March 7

“Love Me Some Townes Van Zandt” Tribute @ The Tractor Tavern

A tribute show for Townes Van Zandt featuring Starr Anna & Justin Davis, Rusty Willoughby, Kasey Anderson, Kevin Large, Shane Tutmarc, Gary Westlake, Peter Droge & Elaine Summers, to name a few. Here’s Townes:

(8 pm, $12 adv/$15 dos, 21+)

Also:

photo by Laura Totten

THE DEARS with Tenderbox @ The Crocodile

Frequent guests on our airwaves over the last five plus years, Montreal’s Murray Lightburn and his band, The Dears, are touring off of their fifth studio album, Degeneration Street, and just made another appearance live on KEXP. If you’re looking for an epic show, don’t miss them at the Croc tonight. (8 pm, $12, 21+)

OC NOTES with Vox Mod, 51F7Y, Electrosect @ Chop Suey - (8 pm, $6, 21+)

Tuesday, March 8

CRYSTAL CASTLES with Suuns @ Showbox SoDo

This show was originally scheduled to be held at the Showbox at the Market, but was thankfully moved to the SoDo because of ticket demand as well as the fact that the SoDo is a just a more badass venue to get down to a band like him and her dance duo Crystal Castles. For the low-down, check out Michele Myers’ Saturday Afternoon Artist post from last summer. Here’s their video for “Crimewave”:

(8 pm, SOLD OUT - check craigslist, all ages - bar w/ ID)

TAPES N’ TAPES with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.@ The Crocodile

Minnesota indie rockers Tapes N’ Tapes had one 2011 first notable releases in their third full-length album Outside, and will be paired up with Michigan’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Despite playing delicate indie pop that might be as far from “NASCAR” as is musically possible, expect the duo to don racing uniforms on stage, as they did during their recent KEXP in-studio performance. (8 pm, $15, 21+)

Also:

ALEXI MURDOCH with The Cairo Gang @ The Tractor Tavern - (8 pm, SOLD OUT, 21+)

Wednesday, March 9

STAN RIDGWAY @ The Tractor Tavern - (8 pm, $20, 21+)

ELEPHANT 6 HOLIDAY SURPRISE SHOW @ The Vera Project - (7:30 pm, SOLD OUT - appx. 100 tickets will be released at the door, all ages)

REVOLVER with Hey Rosetta!, PWRFL Power @ Chop Suey - (8 pm, $8 adv/$10 dos, 21+)

SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO with Juan Maclean, Blondes @ Neumos - (8 pm, $16, 21+)

Thursday, March 10

DIAMOND RINGS with PS I Love You, Noddy @ The Vera Project

Diamond Rings and PS I Love You go together like disco balls and dancing, and they know it. In addition to touring together, they joined forces to release split 7″ 2009, and now PS I Love You is releasing a new single called “Leftovers” that will feature Diamond Rings. In Noddy, they have found the perfect Seattle counterpart to share stage with. Here’s a great review of when Diamond Rings last came by the Vera Project late last year. (7:30 pm, $10, all ages)

MAD RAD with Junkie XL, Truckasaurus @ Neumos

Mad Rad and Truckasaurus at Neumos. Bread and butter and your mouth. (8 pm, $10, 21+)

MIDDAY VEIL with Datura Blues, Hypatia Lake, Wah Wah Exit Wound @ Comet Tavern

Local psychedelic four-piece Midday Veil will take you on a trip, to say the least. Their music is exploratory, expansive, and, most certainly, psychedelic. Led by the soaring vocals of Emily Pothast, they can sound like everything from Pink Floyd, to Jefferson Airplane, to more in-your-face, guitar-shredding psychedelic rock. Below is their video for “Asymptome II” which seems like it was filmed through an underwater prism sometimes, an out-of-focus kaleidoscope others, and even a Technicolor geo-thermal lens. Their live show is sure to contain some visual elements as well, so prepare yourself accordingly. (9 pm, $7, 21+)

Also:

SPOEK MATHAMBO with Rainbow Arabia, Glowbug @ The Nectar - (8 pm, $10, 21+)

HUGH MASAKELA @ The Triple Door - (7 pm, $30 adv/$35 dos, all ages)

Friday, March 11

DAN MANGAN with The Thoughts @ Sunset Tavern

Dan Mangan hails from just across the border in Vancouver and developed his chops playing his lyrical, acoustic indie folk in whatever bar or venue would take him, touring incessantly after releasing his debut album Postcards and Daydreams. His hard work paid off with the release of his sophomore effort Nice, Nice, Very Nice, which came out in Canada in 2009 and immediately brought Mangan widespread acclaim and attention. In 2010 he singed with Toronto-based label Arts & Crafts to release the album in America, which came out in August. Shortly after Nice, Nice, Very Nice hit American shelves, Mangan stopped by KEXP to play what many considered one of the best in-studios of the year. On Friday, his growing Seattle fan base will finally get the chance to see Mangan play a full live set. Hooray! (9 pm, $10, 21+)

STAR ANNA & THE LAUGHING DOGS with The Brambles, Tina Beers & The Violet Line @ The Tractor Tavern

Star Anna is a singer/songwriter from Ellensburg (that’s right) with a rich, powerful, and incredibly affecting voice that is nothing short of trance-inducing. Her band The Laughing Dogs play soulful alt-country with a raw, electrified punch that gives the music an intensity that blends beautifully with Star Anna’s slow passion. (9:30 pm, $12, 21+)

BLACK WHALES with Joseph Giant, Monarques @ High Dive

(9:30 pm, $8, 21+)

Also:

CURIOUS MYSTERY with Karl Blau, Lonesome Shack @ Comet Tavern - (9 pm, $8, 21+)

THE VELVET TEEN with Themes @ The Vera Project - (7:30 pm, $11, all ages)

BETSY OLSON with The Golden Blondes, Carrie Biell @ Columbia City Theater - (9 pm, $8, 21+)

KAKI KING @ The Triple Door - (8 pm, $15, all ages)

Saturday, March 12

THE DISMEMBERMENT PLAN with Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, The Globes @ Showbox SoDo

Fun fact about the Dismemberment Plan: their name comes from the movie Groundhog Day; annoying insurance salesman Ned Ryerson tries to sell Bill Murray’s character on a “dismemberment plan.” The Dismemberment Plan the 90s indie rock band will be touring in “support” of their classic album Emergency & I, which Barsuk recently re-issued on vinyl. (7 pm, $23-$25, all ages - bar w/ ID)

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS with Heartless Bastards @ Showbox at the Market

You know what to expect from Drive-By Truckers...or maybe you don’t. Their recent 2011 release Go-Go Boots is far more acoustically-minded than last year’s The Big To-Do, so a few more down-tempo numbers might be in order. Regardless, they’re always great live so I wouldn’t worry about it, though. Opening will be Heartless Bastards, a solid group of indie rockers who seem to have been everybody’s opener over the past few years. (8 pm, SOLD OUT - check craigslist, 21+)

HEAD LIKE A KITE with The Young Evils, The Redwood Plan @ Neumos

It’s looking to be a big year for The Young Evils and their easy-breezy, him-and-her indie pop melodies. I hope it will, anyway, because they’re not only adorable but effing awesome. After supporting Head Like A Kite at the Masquerade Ball on Saturday, they’ll be heading down to Austin for SXSW, and in May you can see them at Sasquatch! (8 pm, $10, 21+)

Also:

SATCHEL with New American Shame, Stuck On A Bus @ High Dive - (9:30 pm, $8, 21+)

BALMORHEA with Benoit Pioulard, Tiny Vipers @ Columbia City Theater - (9 pm, $10 adv/$12 dos, 21+)

THE PURRS with Thee Sgt. Major III, The Chasers @ Sunset Tavern - (9 pm, $8, 21+)

IRIS DEMENT @ The Triple Door - (7:30 pm, $35 adv/$38 dos, all ages)

HELMS ALEE with Absolute Monarchs, Victory & Associate @ Comet Tavern - (9 pm, $8, 21+)

Sunday, March 13

BLACK ATMOSPHERE with The White Woods, The Ungood, Men Martians and Machines @ Comet Tavern

Local quartet The Ungood play feel-good country punk that is all but made to get hammered to. Their whimsical, down-to-earth style brings to mind a modern day, Northwest version of the Minutemen, and - just like the Minutemen - their songs can contain traces of societal and political commentary. “Skymaul Lullaby” is a catchy, “oh well,” look at American consumerism, as vocalist Mark Davis ironically sings the praises of the Snuggie and imported water that’s “20% wetter.” (9 pm, $6, 21+)