.
New
Sounds from the East
Saturday's
post pop, Crimson's post rock.
BY
VANESSA SALVIA
 |
| SATURDAY
LOOKS GOOD TO ME PLAYS SAM BOND'S ON SUNDAY. |
If you think of the current music scene in Detroit and
all that comes to mind is White Stripes, you should probably lay off
Rolling Stone and Spin for awhile and open up your eyes
to other possibilities. The Detroit band Saturday Looks Good To Me
will expand your horizons with a musical approach that's more Pet
Sounds than Elephant.
SLGTM self released an LP last summer. The band played
infrequent but exciting shows in the Detroit area and quickly gained
a following. The first pressing of Saturday's LP sold out and was reissued
on Ypsilanti Records, a label run by the band's frontman, Fred Thomas.
With soaring popularity, yet despite the fact that SLGTM still lacked
a manager or record deal, the band toured with Saves the Day. Now there's
a deal with Illinois label Polyvinyl Records.
The band has just released a new CD, All Your Summer
Songs. Thomas, a songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist,
has also lent his talents to Flashpapr, Lovesick, and most recently
His Name Is Alive. The songs he pens for this CD deliver bright melodies
and dense arrangements. There's a lot going on in these songs; lush
layer upon layer of production, akin to something Phil Spector would
have done had he produced, say, Belle and Sebastian. There's bells layered
over horns, layered over piano, layered over guitar, organ, mellotron.
Amazingly, it seems the only musical instrument not
listed on the extensive list is drums. The effect is a contemporary
take on the classic pop of the '60s, sometimes bouncy, sometimes shimmering,
always hip. Some songs are beautiful and wistful, like "No Good With
Secrets," while some reverberate with all the energy of summer, like
"Underwater Heartbeat."
A troupe of supporting musicians helped record this
CD. The liner notes recognize 16 musicians and 11 other singers, not
counting Thomas himself. Guests include members of His Name Is Alive,
Ida and Secret Stars, along with Jessica Bailiff and Tara Jane O'Neil.
Saturday Looks Good To Me will play Sunday (Father's Day!) at Sam Bond's.
All ages and walks of life can appreciate this music — go ahead,
take your dad!
Right out of the gate, the debut CD by Crimson Sweet
kicks out the jams. "Hello New York" is a raucous guitar-driven gem
of power pop and rock. The next track, "Shandon Celebrity" is equally
hot. In fact, there's no dull spot on the entire CD. This group manages
to keep the intensity high without sounding redundant. Each song has
a different vibe that still rocks out and makes you want more. All the
way through to the CD's closer, "Sad Walk at Knifepoint," the musicians
issue forth a communiqué of urgent importance, calling all audiences
to join them in their outta-control rock revivalism.
The Crimson threesome, bassist Robbie Kongress, drummer
"Electric" Al Huckabee and guitarist and vocalist Polly Watson, calls
New York City home. Crimson Sweet has had four releases since 1999,
along with their 2002 full-length debut, Livin' In Strut.
The band's full-throttle approach has garnered comparisons
with Blondie, The Avengers and Wire (especially Wire, in my opinion).
Not bad company to be compared to.
Livin' In Strut hits its stride and never looks
back, combining punk, rock, and a dash of '80s for a musical onslaught
that's rough and raw. Crimson Sweet has an ability to condense a song
into explosions of attitude and energy. Watson's delivery is breathless
and urgent, inciting the rock and roll riot delivering lines like "Twin
suns we are/ You blaze but I burn. Too close this close to you baby,
guess I'll never learn," from "White Heart." Lyrically, the band is
stripped down, allowing the music plenty of space. Maybe the Portland
Mercury sums it up best with the quote "See them now or cry later."
Crimson Sweet plays John Henry's on Tuesday.
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AX BILLY GRILL & SPORTS
BAR
999 WILLAMETTE ST. 484-4011
SA: Carl Woideck--8; Jazz
BEANERY ALL AGES
2465 Hilyard St. 344-0221
SA: Shedd Inc.--7
BLACK FOREST
50 E. 11th st. 344-0816
FR: The U-Gene Band--9;
Folk, rock, soul
BRICK HOUSE
136 4th St., Spfd. 988-1612
FR: Rezjudikata, Whore, Circle of Pain--10
SA: Yeltsin, Ailment, Stacked, Trace Kincaid--9
TU: Cigar Swap--7; Big band, swing, jazz
CAFE LUCKY NOODLE
207 E. 5th Ave. 484-4777
bb Raging Family--9:30; Trip-hop
SA: Brothers of Beat--9; R&B, hip hop, reggae
CAFE PARADISO
115 W. Broadway 484-9933
TH: Rowland Stebbins, Rich McCulley--8;
Country, bluegrass, Alt. country
FR: Ian Jones--9
SA: Before Braille--9:30; Alt. rock
MO: Eric Jensen, Greg Dalbey, John Shipe--8
CHAPALA RESTAURANT
68 W. 29th Ave. 683-5458
SA: Lo Nuestro—6; Latin
WE: Lo Nuestro—6; Latin
CLUB RIO BAR & GRILL
444 E. 3rd 484-2927
TH: Must See TV--8
FR: Mr. Wizard--7; Rock
SA: Phamous Phaces--7; Rock
TU: Family Karaoke--6
WE: DJ Mike--9
DIABLO'S
959 Pearl St. 683-3855
TH: Request night—9; DJs Supa
J, Ceez
FR: Tremorville—9; Hip-hop request
SA: House night w/DJs Howie Fresh, Anmar-9
WE: Ace of Clubs--9; Underground hip-hop w/DJ
Dan-O-Mite
DOWNTOWN LOUNGE
959 Pearl St. 343-2346
TH: L80's night w/DJs Jon Smith, DMoeFunk,
Ceez--9
FR: Life After Liftoff, Mr. Plow--10; Funk rock,
Acoustic
SA: DMoe vs. Dinari--10; Scratch, hip hop
MO: DJs Scott Von Rocket, Diablo, Monster Truck
Bikini Girls--9
TU: Stone Cold Jazz, Kenny Reed--9
EMBERS SUPPER CLUB
1811 Hwy. 99 N. 688-6564
TH: Billy McCoy—9;
Country
FR: Michael Anderson Trio—9; Variety, country
SA: Michael Anderson Trio—9; Variety, country
WE: Billy McCoy—9; Country
EUGENE WINE CELLARS
255 Madison st. 342-2600
WE: Mark Allan--6; Jazz
FOOL'S PARADISE
460 Willamette 338-9733
TH: Jazz/blues open
mic w/John Crider--7
GOOD TIMES
375 E. 7th Ave. 484-7181
TU: Rooster's Blues Jam--8
G WILLICKER'S
440 Coburg rd. 338-9094
SU: Sonido Flamenco--6; Flamenco
guitar
JAKE'S PLACE
19th & Jefferson st. 431-0513
SA: David Rogers--6; Classical
guitar
JO FEDERIGO'S
259 E. 5th Ave. 343-8488
TH: Jo Fed's All Star Jazz Jam-9
FR: Greg Goebal Quartet--9:30; Jazz
SA: The Side Project--9:30
SU: Mark Allan--9; Acoustic guitar
MO: Open Mic w/Skip Jones the Boogie Woogie Man—10
TU: Barbara Dzuro—8:30; Jazz piano
WE: Latin Flavor w/Paul Paydos Trio—9; Latin
jazz
 |
| THE
GO DOWNS PLAY AT JOHN HENRY'S, AND THEY DON'T COME UP 'TILL THEY
HEAR THAT UH ... UH ... UH! SEE TUESDAY. |
JOHN HENRY'S
77 W. Broadway 342-3358
FR: Wheel of Meat--6; Happy hour big
band Flamethrower, Vagiant UK, Activator--10
SA: Oneself, Connect--9; Rave dj music
SU: Music Project, NOW benefit w/8 Track Liberators,
Motherball, Ty Conner, Visible Men, Pellet Gun, others, 8
MO: The Last Chapter, Not a Part of It, Station
Wag--10
TU: Crimson Sweet, The Go Downs, The Perverts--10
WE: Bob Marley videos, interviews, music--8 Higher
Ground Sound--10; Reggae dance hall
LAVELLE'S TASTING ROOM
5th St. public market 338-9875
FR: Gus Russell--5:30; Jazz
SA: Gus Russell--5:30; Jazz
LONE STAR BAR AND GRILL
I-5 AT COBURG 686-8686
TH: Girls get wild--9; DJ dancing
FR: Guys get wild--9; DJ dancing
SA: Karaoke--9
TU: Open mic--9
WE: Coyote Ugly--8
LUCKEY'S CLUB CIGAR
933 Olive St. 687-4643
TH: The Zawadi Project--10; Reggae
FR: Ego Machine, Stacked--10; Rock
SA: Fat Digits--10; Jam rock
TU: Ken Ackerman open jazz jam--10
WE: Huckleberry--10; Blues, rock 'n' roll
 |
| HYDEUS
KIATTA PLAYS TUESDAY AT LUNA. |
LUNA
30 E. Broadway 434-5862
TH: Dave Friesen, Dan Balmer, Jerry Hahn--8:30;
Modern jazz
FR: Erik Muiderman—7; Guitar Tim McLaughlin's
11 Eyes CD release party--9:30; Fusion hip hop, funk, jazz
SA: Erik Muiderman—6:30; Guitar Robb, Price
and Miller--9; Acoustic blues
SU: Ras Gabriel & 4-word--8; Reggae
TU: Hydeus Kiatta--8; Pop/jazz piano, vocals
MAC'S AT THE VET'S
1626 Willamette St. 344-8600
TH: Christie & McCallum—7;
Oldies, country
FR: What Yo Mamma Warned You About--9; Funk, blues
SA: Olem Alves Funk Band--9
WE: Bourbon Renewal--9; Blues
MAX'S TAVERN
550 E. 13th st. 349-8986
SA: Toad in the Hole--10;
Irish drinking music
 |
| TOAD
IN THE HOLE PLAYS IRISH DRINKING MUSIC SATURDAY AT MAX'S. |
OREGON ELECTRIC STATION
27 E. 5th 485-4444
FR: Don Latarski Trio—8; Jazz
SA: Don Latarski Trio—8; Jazz
OVERTIME TAVERN
770 S. Bertelsen 342-5028
TH: West Side Blues Jam--8:30
PERUGINO
767 WILLAMETTE ST. 687-9102
WE: Irish Jam--7:30; Celtic
QUACKER'S
2105 W. 7th 485-5925
SA: Dr. Bundy's Rock Review--9; Rock 'n' roll
MO: Karaoke--9; Variety
WE: Quacker's Blues Bash—8:30; Blues jam
RAMADA INN
225 Coburg 342-5181
FR: Rock-it--9:15; Rock
SA: Rock-it--9:15; Rock
SAM BOND'S GARAGE
407 Blair 431-6603
TH: Davy Rothbart & Friends--9;
Variety
FR: Canoofle, Michael Zapruder--9:30; Interactive
jazz
SA: Taarka--9:30; Gypsy jazz
SU: Irish Jam--4 Saturday Looks Good to Me--9;
Pop
MO: Slide show w/Nikki--9
TU: Bluegrass Jam--9
WE: Timothy Hull, Shane Bartell, Little Sue, Peter
Wilde--9
SAMURAI DUCK
980 Oak St. 345-6577
TH: The Soul'Stirs--9:30
FR: Hot For Chocolate, The Shudders--9:30
SA: Sunburned Hand of Man, Avoid the Future Shadow--9:30
TU: Dan Jones, Alexis Stevens--9:30; Acoustic
SPIRITS
1714 MAIN ST., SPFD 726-2972
FR: The Symptoms--9; Rock
SA: 1st Annual Biker Bash BBQ--12 The Symptoms--9;
Rock
SWEETWATER'S
Valley River Inn 687-0123
FR: The Cheeseburgers--8; Jimmy Buffet
SA: The Cheeseburgers--8; Jimmy Buffet
TAYLOR'S BAR AND GRILL
894 E. 13th ave. 554-5320
SA: Life After Liftoff--10; Funk, rock
TINY TAVERN
394 Blair Blvd. 687-8383
FR: Innerstate--9:30; Gemini party music
TU: Los Pistoleros--10; Latin polka
TSUNAMI BOOKS ALL AGES
2585 Willamette 345-8986
SA: Walker T. Ryan--2; Woody Guthrie,
Leadbelly songs Get Down With Your Sweet Self theatrical performance--7;
Women's personal theater
WETLANDS
922 Garfield st. 345-3606
SA: The Burn Unit, Organic Assault Weapons, Genus
Pro, Big B and the Goods--9; Hip hop
WILD DUCK MUSIC HALL
169 W. 6th 485-3825
SA: Caliente--9:30; Salsa, Latin jazz
 |
| MIRAH
PLAYS SUNDAY AT THE WOW HALL. |
WOW HALL ALL AGES
291 W. 8th Ave. 687-2746
TH: 2 Bucks Short CD release party, Cap Gun Suicide,
5 South, EPD--8; Rock
FR: Rock 'n' Roll Soldiers, Softcore, The Lovers,
The Big Venus--8:30; Rock
SA: Lisa Germano, Sid Hillman, Mood Area 52--8:30;
Singer/songwriter, Tango
SU: Mirah, Liarbird, Tart--8:30; Rock
WE: Melt Banana, Numbers, Wheel of Meat, Eat Shit
Fuckface--9:30; Japanese punk rock
YUKON JACK'S
4th and W. Brdwy., veneta 935-1921
FR: Steppin' Out--9; Rock
SA: Steppin' Out--9; Rock
CORVALLIS
BEANERY
2ND ST.
FR: Tim Auilla--8
SA: Matt Neely--8
BOMBS AWAY CAFE
200 NW. 53rd St. 752-9011
WE: Acoustic blues jam--7:30
SQUIRREL'S
100 SW. 2nd St. 753-8057
SA: Motherbus--9:30
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