Soundbites

LAST CALL FOR NEW YEAR'S GUIDE

Calling all nightclubs, venues, promoters and anyone who's putting on a music-related event on New Year's Eve: If you would like your event to be included in the Weekly's annual New Year's Guide, which will be included in our Dec. 27 issue, please send all pertinent details--that's performers, location, address, phone number, Web site, time, cost and a description of the event--to [email protected] no later than next Monday, Dec. 10 (the earlier the better, natch).

Response has been a bit tepid so far, so I ask you: What part of "free publicity" do you not understand? Get those details to me stat!

THE COVER-UP CONTINUES

As one of the organizers of the charity event that just happens to be my favorite local music shindig of the year, you bet I'm gonna use my bully pulpit here to pimp the heck outta The Great Cover-Up. If you're reading this early enough, you may still be able to make it to Night One, which we told you all about last week--check out the Nov. 29 Soundbites for that, as well as a complete history and explanation of the Cover-Up. (The short version: Your favorite local bands perform songs by a band or musician more famous than they are.)

But we haven't yet told you what you can expect if you're attending the event on Nights Two and Three, so here goes (and bear in mind that the schedules are subject to change):

Night Two, Friday, Dec. 7: Muddy Bug at 8 p.m.; Redlands at 8:30 p.m.; Guilty Pleasurez at 9 p.m.; With Cheapness at 9:30 p.m.; Feed at 10 p.m.; Ladies and Gentlemen at 10:30 p.m.; ... Music Video? at 11 p.m.; Love Mound at 11:30 p.m.; Golden Boots at midnight; The Swim at 12:30 a.m.; The Jons and Seven to Blue at 1 a.m.

Artists being covered on Friday, in no particular order (it's a surprise, dawg): Journey, Ween, Justin Timberlake, Aretha Franklin, TV-show theme songs, ZZ Top, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Guided by Voices, Danzig, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, and the New York Dolls.

Night Three, Saturday, Dec. 8: Strike Gently at 8 p.m.; Tracy Shedd at 8:30 p.m.; Rock Sauce at 9 p.m.; Flagrante Delicto at 9:30 p.m.; Marianne Dissard at 10 p.m.; the Sabatino Killers at 10:30 p.m.; Mr. Free and the Satellite Freakout at 11 p.m.; Al Perry at 11:30 p.m.; Spacefish at midnight; Found Dead on the Phone at 12:30 a.m.

Artists being covered on Saturday, in no particular order: Lily Allen, The Clash, Queen, Aerosmith, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cat Power, Madness, Edith Piaf, Chris Isaak and The Who.

Please keep in mind that you are urged to arrive early to avoid missing something you'll regret, and because the bands have put in an awful lot of time and effort for no monetary reward, whether they're playing first or last.

All proceeds from this year's event will be donated to the Tucson Artists and Musicians Healthcare Alliance (TAMHA), an alliance of artists, musicians, medical professionals, politicians and arts advocates who are dedicated to finding and advocating for health-care resources in our community.

The Great Cover-Up goes down at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. Admission is $8 for one night, $12 for two nights, or $15 for all three. For more info, head to hotelcongress.com, klpx.com or call 622-8848. We hope you're looking forward to it as much as we are. See you there.

NO LONGER SO MODEST

When Modest Mouse last visited us, in November 2003, they were one of the biggest little indie-rock bands in the country. The tour that included that show was originally intended to support Good News for People Who Love Bad News, the band's second album for Epic, which was eventually released in April of the following year. (Before signing with Epic, they had released a slew of albums, EPs and singles for various labels including Up, K and Sub Pop.) And while we got a taste of what that album would contain at that show, no one could have predicted what has happened to the band since.

Good News, of course, became a platinum-seller on the strength of the hit single "Float On," which so permeated pop culture that it was later included on one of those Kidz Bop collections. (You haven't really heard "Float On" until you've heard a chorus of little kids singing, "I backed my car into a cop car the other day.") Never mind that Good News itself is one of the least consistent albums in Modest Mouse's catalog; it made them huge.

So huge, in fact, that when the band began working on a follow-up, head Mouseketeer Isaac Brock had an idea. He was looking to get that "Johnny Marr" guitar sound that those old Smiths albums were known for, and was trying to figure out what to do about it. Hey, why not call Johnny Marr over from the United Kingdom to help out? Well, because the guy doesn't really play music anymore, for starters. You'd have to have some pretty serious man-nuggets to call Johnny Marr and ask him to play on your album, right?

Luckily, Brock had 'em: Johnny Marr not only flew across the pond to help out on the album; he became a full-fledged member of Modest Mouse.

Earlier this year, Modest Mouse released We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, which may not sell a million copies, but marks a step back up to the consistent quality level of the band's past albums. Best of all, the current tour affords those lucky enough to get tickets to the show (which is sold out) the opportunity to see the great Johnny Marr perform with the mighty Mouse for the first time.

Modest Mouse performs at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., on Tuesday, Dec. 11. Matt Costa opens at 8 p.m. For more information call 740-1000.

PINS AND NEEDLES

These days, a supergroup comprising Los Angeles punk veterans banging out straight-up country classics and originals might not seem that novel of a concept. But trust me, when the Knitters released Poor Little Critter on the Road back in 1985, it was a giant leap for the genre currently known as alt-country. Since then, the band--X's John Doe, Exene Cervenka and DJ Bonebrake; former Blasters member Dave Alvin; and bassist Johnny Ray Bartel--has largely been an on-again, off-again pursuit. In 1999, Bloodshot Records released a tribute album that included Whiskeytown, the Handsome Family, Robbie Fulks and others paying homage to the group. And, in 2005, the Knitters finally got around to issuing The Modern Sounds of the Knitters (Zo'), the band's second album in 20 years.

This week, the group will take it to the stage for a show that also includes openers Dead Rock West (Doe's backing band on his recent solo tour) and Luca, whose frontman, Nick Luca, was also part of Doe's recent backing band--it's a family affair, y'all. Catch all three at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. Advance tickets are available at hotelcongress.com for $18. They'll be $20 on the day of show. Questions? Ring 'em up at 622-8848.

HACIENDA HEAVEN

Honorary locals the Hacienda Brothers may not have invented the merging of country music and soul, but over the course of two fine studio albums, they've damn near perfected it (they call it "Western soul"). Even so, the band is even better in a live setting, and this week marks the self-release of a limited-edition live album, Music for Ranch and Town. As anyone who's seen the band live can attest, the Brothers aren't ones to shy away from extended jams, and many of the songs here are stretched out to the hilt (a 12-minute version of "Since I Met You Baby," an 8-minute take on "Cowboys to Girls"). Even so, there really isn't a dull moment to be found, which is rather remarkable--it certainly helps to have a gunslinger like Dave Gonzalez on hand.

Celebrate the release of Music for Ranch and Town when the Hacienda Brothers perform at The Hut, 305 N. Fourth Ave., next Thursday, Dec. 13. The show begins at 8 p.m. with an opening set from Salvador Duran. Admission is a 10-spot. Call 623-3200 for further details.

MUSICAL COUSINS

Pedro the Lion's David Bazan will perform on Friday, Dec. 7, at Solar Culture Gallery, 31 E. Toole Ave. The show starts at 9 p.m. with openers J. Tillman and Serpe. Additionally, The Mighty Joel Ford, who just happens to be Bazan's second cousin, will sit in with both Bazan and Serpe. (In a recent e-mail, Ford informed us: "David and I had a relative named Bobby George who wrote a song covered by people from Elvis to the Willie Nelson to the Grateful Dead. Kinda cool, huh?" Cool, indeed. Ford is also currently at work on a solo album with Serpe, which will consist of percussion, jaw harp, and homemade instruments. It's currently slated for release next summer.) Admission is $10; call 884-0874 for more information.

ON THE BANDWAGON

Keep your eyes peeled for more info on the following fine shows: Delta Nove and Cosmic Slop at Plush on Friday, Dec. 7; Ozomatli at the Rialto Theatre on Monday, Dec. 10; the Hotel Congress Employee Art and Music Showcase featuring Great American Tragedy, The Jons, Al Perry and more, on Tuesday, Dec. 11; Shark Pants, No People and Belly Button at Vaudeville Cabaret on Wednesday, Dec. 12.

Finally, the Hawthorne Heights show scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 9, at the Rialto has, of course, been cancelled due to the sudden and tragic recent death of guitarist Casey Calvert.