Live Music Options 5/8 - 5/11

Mon 5/8/06
The Submarines / Goldspot @ Viper Room ($10) – The Submarines debut album doesn’t come out until 6/20 but you can sample some tracks on their website or on Myspace. I’m listening to an advance and it has call and response boy/girl lyrics about the two singers’ relationship (both the breakup and reunion). The electronic blips call to mind the Stars and some Folk Implosion. Her voice is in the neighborhood of the woman from Mates of State. Goldspot is a big Nic Harcourt band.

Soul Position @ the Echo ($10) – For the underground rap fans. Soul Position is beatmaker/producer RJD2 and MC Blueprint. Listen to some tracks HERE.

Tues 5/9/06
Destroyer / Blood on the Wall / Psychic Ills / Hudson Bell @ Spaceland ($12) – This is a mash-up of two separate tours which means more value to the consumer. Destroyer is Dan Bejar’s (he’s also in the New Pornographers) main band. He writes very wordy songs (like Leonard Cohen wordy). Critics really like him. Brooklyn’s Blood on the Wall are an energetic indie band. Download Blood on the Wall’s “Mary Susan” Psychic Ills are also from New York and what little I’ve heard sounds like early Sonic Youth. Download “January Rain” Get there early and check out San Francisco’s Hudson Bell. I’ve written about them a few times before. I really like the album and their show at Sea Level was good. He’s probably heard a couple of Built to Spill records in his day. Download “Slowburn” and don’t judge a man by his t-shirt.

Pony Up / Clue to Kalo @ Cinespace ($5) – This is the “official Gnarls Barkley” album release party and a chance to see Dim Mak’s new clothing line. Oh yeah, and there are bands playing.

Darker My Love / God’s Gang @ Safari Sam’s ($5) – This is the release party for Metric and the Stills. Darker My Love just signed to Dangerbird Records.

The Advantage / 8-Bit @ Knitting Factory ($12) – For the videogame nerds. It’s basically casio versions of old Nintendo games. Download The Advantage’s “Batman vs. Joker”

Wed 5/10/06
The Shore / Fairechild @ Knitting Factory ($10) – The Shore are a local band that writes big, universal rock songs along the same lines as the Verve. Lead singer, Ben Ashley has a strong voice and adds an occasional classic rock guitar solo. LA’s Fairchild is led by Josh Schwartz (Further, early Beachwood Sparks) and his wife Elisa Randazzo who trade off lead vocal and songwriting duties. Their music will make you think of driving through Topanga Canyon in the 1970s listening to Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. They also have a tendency to break out well-chosen covers like Emitt Rhodes or Fairport Convention. When you see Schwartz play guitar it’ll make sense that he’s opened for the Rolling Stones (as guitarist for Tim Burgess of the Charlatans). Get there early, Fairechild goes on at 8:00 PM.

Psychic Ills @ Spaceland ($8) – See Tuesday at Spaceland

Thurs 5/11/06
The Helio Sequence @ Spaceland ($12) – Portland’s the Helio Sequence always put on a great live show. They’re only a two-piece but they layer songs and make interesting dense and spacey music. They haven’t put out an album in two years, so please ask them what they’re up to. Download the Helio Sequence’s “Everyone Knows Everyone”

John Vanderslice / Laura Veirs @ the Echo ($10) – San Francisco’s John Vanderslice is a very talented singer/songwriter and a studio whiz. I’ve never seen him live, but it should be well worth checking out. Pitchfork gave him an 8.3. Even in their new days of inflated grades that’s pretty damn good. Download “Exodus Damage” Seattle’s Laura Veirs is an introspective singer/songwriter. Listen HERE.