YOUR SUBSTITUTE SOUNDBITES HOST ...
Greetings. Mr. Seigel spent much of the last week at his annual Austin, Texas, retreat (the South By Southwest music festival; you can read all about it in next week's issue), so I'll be your substitute host for all things musical. Let's get to it ...
KICK OUT THE JAMS!
As reported in these pages last week by Gene Armstrong, Detroit's Dirtbombs return to Tucson tonight, Thursday, March 23, in support of last year's If You Don't Already Have a Look (In the Red). The show promises to be nothing short of amazing, if it is anything like the one they put on at Plush in 2004. Just in case you need any more reason to attend, frontman Mick Collins has hinted that this may be the band's last go-round.Tucson's The Beta Sweat (formerly the Sweat Band) open the show at 9:30 p.m., and Atlanta's Black Lips fill out the middle of this throw-down at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. $10 gets you through the doors. Call 798-1298 for more details.
B (-BOY) MOVIE
Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That! is the new concert film of a sold-out Beastie Boys Madison Square Garden performance in 2004. The band handed out 50 handheld video cameras to fans at the door to document the event, then edited the results. The movie is premiering for one night only--tonight, Thursday, March 23, at 8 p.m., at the Cinemark 10 Theatres, 2175 El Mercado Loop, in Sierra Vista. To boot, this special screening includes a 30-minute pre-film faux documentary about the filmmaker, A Day in the Life of Nathaniel Hornblower, starring David Cross as the titular character, and created especially for this nationwide, simultaneous screening. Feel like getting in touch with your inner Beastie? (520) 458-1980 is the number for more info.
I SEE ANDREW, I SEE FRANCE ...
La Cerca (led by ubiquitous frontman Andrew Gardner) hits the Plush (340 E. Sixth St.) stage this Friday, March 24, for another set of their ever-improving taut-pop tuneage. The latest incarnation of the band features the addition of cellist Madeline Gradillas, second guitar/keyboard guy Bill Oberdick (easily the best-dressed guy in the band) and drummer Tom Bonfiglio. Luca kick the night off at 9:30 p.m., with the underrated Solace Bros. packing in the middle slot. Cover is a mere $4. Call 798-1298 for more details.If that doesn't wet your whistle, then a set by Baltimore's Page France at the Dry River Collective, 657 W. St. Mary's Road, might do the trick. Likened to the sounds of Neutral Milk Hotel and a bit of Grandaddy, they have a new album Hello, Dear Wind, that does not disappoint and just might be a surprise hit. For the show time and other info, e-mail them at info@dryriver.org.
If neither of these suffices, then perhaps you should head down to the Surly Wench Pub, 424 N. Fourth Ave., to catch sets by Mickey Sixx Williams and Mighty Joel Ford (ex-drummer for Al Foul and the Shakes), along with Grave Danger. Call 882-0009 for info.
CHOICES, CHOICES, CHOICES
Not too much is known of Chicago's The Bachs, except that they originally recorded a very rare LP in 1968 and faded into history, but not before touching enough people who bootlegged the album and made it an underground hit. If you're a fan of the Sonics or ? And the Mysterians, I'm guessing you'll like The Bachs.The Bachs hit Club Congress (311 E. Congress St.) for an early show this Saturday, March 25 at 6 p.m. $5 gets you in.
The late show features the return to Tucson of Hector on Stilts! A few years back, cousins Jeb and Clayton Colwell relocated themselves and their band from their hometown of Tucson to Massachusetts. Lucky for us, they haven't forgotten where they came from. Described as ranging from "bittersweet alt-pop" to "salsa-spiced disco," the band's forthcoming album, Same Height Relation, should not disappoint fans and newcomers. Their shows are nothing short of memorable affairs, and their backup band should be kickin'. Don't miss this one! Opening the show, ahem, are the, ahem, Colwell Brothers (?), with locals Fukusian Go! filling in the middle slot. Doors are at 9 p.m. Cover is a measly $4. Call 622-8848 for more info.
Next up, Los Angeles' The Harpeth Trace make a stop at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St., on their short, 8-date tour. If psychedelic, electric folk (à la Syd Barrett, The Clientele et al) strikes your fancy (as it does mine), and you have at least $3 to your name, then you can't go wrong catching these guys in the middle slot between opener Amor and local sweethearts Emilie Marchand and Mike Bagesse. Hopefully, the Harpeth guy will have copies of their new EP, Man and the Cousin (which sounds like it coulda been recorded in 1968 or 2010--it's that timeless), for sale. Call 798-1298 for more info.
Rounding out this busy Saturday is a heck of a rock bonanza happening at the Vaudeville Cabaret, 110 E. Congress St. Detroit's The Hard Lessons pack quite a retro-soul-garage punch, as reviews from their first LP, Gasoline, likened their hooks to the Kinks and their energy to Iggy Pop. As a guitar, organ and drums (played by a midget, no less!) trio, they breathe some much-needed life into rock 'n' roll. Their upcoming EP Wise Up, reminds of the Pretty Things, fellow Motor City-ites The Dirtbombs and even locals Thee Okmoniks. The Hard Lessons kick things off at 10:30 p.m., before The Beta Sweat and headliners the Swing Ding Amigos. Call 622-3535 for more info.
And, fans of instrumental duos, especially those from Pittsburgh, should check out the Zombis at the Living Room, 413 E. Fifth St., in support of their newest record, Surface to Air. Call 331-1442 for more info.
BRAVO, MARK!
This Sunday, March 26, marks the last of the free weekly shows curated at Club Congress (311 E. Congress St.) by Campo Bravo's Mark Matos, before he and his band embark on a tour and prepare to release their next CD. Along for the ride this time are Portland, Oregon's Small Sails, a music and film collective whose electronic post-punk anthems combine catchy vocals, spacey melodies and original 16 mm films that accompany their music. Opener Amor gets the party started at 9 p.m. Cover is free. Call 622-8848 for more info.
HOLY COW!
Franz Ferdinand and Death Cab for Cutie bring their joint tour to Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd., this Monday, March 27. If you're a fan of the Gang of Four-inspired hooks of Franz, or the emotional pop of Death Cab--or, if you've just ever wondered what it would look like if all the 19-year-olds in Tucson with tight pants, hoodies and dyed haircuts were in the same room together--this may be the show for you. If you fit this description, and you already have a ticket, you're in luck, because this show is SOLD OUT! If you missed the worm on this one, well, there's always next time, right? Openers The Cribs kick off the festivities at 7 p.m. For more info, call the box office at 621-3341.
DETROIT ROCK CITY!
What's the third Detroit band to set foot in our town this week? It's roots-punk and raw rockers The Soledad Brothers, who make an appearance at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St., this Tuesday, March 28, along with Dayton, Ohio's The Heartless Bastards, who have been compared to Patti Smith, The Pretenders and Television, all through the lens of Detroit garage rock. Locals The Deludes start things off at 9:30 p.m. Cover is $8. Call 798-1298 for more info.
L.A., UM, ROCK CITY!
From the other end of the country come Los Angeles' over-the-top pop/rock outfit Underwater City People, who make a stop this Wednesday, March 29, at Heart-Five, 61 E. Congress St. Their newest release, You of All People, is reminiscent of sadly defunct locals Shoebomb, with their male/female vocals and sweet-as-hell melodies. For show time and additional info, give 'em a call at 903-0911.
