Friday, Dec. 12
Say Hi, formerly Say Hi to Your Mom, is the brainchild of Eric Elbogen. His latest, Endless Wonder, falls somewhere between the alt-rock and electro-pop genres he’s blended since 2002. There are musical ups (album-opener “Hurt in the Morning,” “Such a Drag”) and downs (“Sweat Like the Dew,” “The Trouble With Youth”) on the album, but the underlying synth makes it hard to stop grooving—appropriate given Elbogen’s goals when making this record. As he says in his publicity bio, “I created Endless Wonder for one reason: to make the world a less weary place.” With Unlikely Friends. Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9951, thebarboza.com. 7 p.m. $12 adv. 21 and over. ACP
You may remember Far East Movement from its 2010 trip-hoppy hit with Cataracs, “Like a G6” (feat. Dev), which made it the first Asian-American group to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite a questionable collaboration with Justin Bieber, the L.A. Koreatown crooners remain oriented toward the hip-hop scene by working with the likes of Snoop Lion, Schoolboy Q, and Tyga. Its high-energy EDM irreverence comes through in its live performances; it’s known for coming onstage in teddy-bear masks. No Kendrick Lamar-esque soul-searching lyrics here; Far East Movement delivers with playful dance tracks instead. Foundation Nightclub, 2218 Western Ave., 535-7285, foundation-nightclub.com. 9 p.m. $15 and up. 21 & over. JENNA NAND
After looking at the discographies of each member of Critters Buggin, it’s obvious why the quartet hasn’t released new material since 2004’s Stampede. Side projects have kept them busy, and with a sound that defies boundaries as a fusion of jazz, electronica, rock, funk, and psych—well, there’s a lot going on here, too. Given that Stampede sounds like an epic instrumental jam session, structured but with an air of spontaneity, this show should be a treat. With Master Musicians of Bukkake. Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St., 632-2020, nectarlounge.com. 9 p.m. $15 adv./$20 DOS. 21 and over. ACP
The Psychedelic Holiday Freakout, venues in Ballard. Check out our story about the fest
here
and get tickets
here
.
Saturday, Dec. 13
For her latest release, The Water Chapter, Seattle-by-way-of-West Virginia Americana singer Pepper Proud took inspiration from what is perhaps the world’s most beloved resource: water. Despite titles like “Salty Bodies,” “Reservoir,” and “City Water,” the songs are about more than just H20; they’re about how its properties have influenced the life lessons Proud has learned over time. “Rain doesn’t doubt that it will end up at the sea/Doesn’t seem to worry about its destiny,” she sings in “Salty Bodies.” Proud also uses the subject to explore another universal topic: love. With Mikey Mike Gervais, Jon Pontrello (the Moondoggies), and live painter Ryan Henry Ward. Ballard Homestead, 6541 Jones Ave. N.W., 414-8325, ballardhomestead.org. 4 p.m. $3 and up. All ages. ACP
With FM Collective, former Microsoft employee Mike Lucero is a musical matchmaker, pairing some of the area’s top indie musicians (like Shaprece, Hey Marseilles, Cataldo, Fences, Portugal. The Man, and Tennis Pro) with songs he’s been working on for years and collecting the results on the group’s self-titled album (FM stands for “Friends of Mike”). Tonight, his collaborators Ken Stringfellow (the Posies, R.E.M., Big Star) will also perform songs from his 2012 album Danzig in the Moonlight, and Michael Kroll will open the show with a mix of FM Collective tunes and songs from his latest release, Clamor. If that isn’t enough incentive, a portion of all proceeds will go to MusiCares. Barboza. 7 p.m. $15 adv. 21 and over. ACP
If you’re a fan of synth-rock quartet Jupe Jupe’s third album, Crooked Kisses, the tunes played at this release show might sound a bit familiar. The band reached out to 10 artists, including Head Like a Kite, Eleventh Hour, OCnotes, Mike Simonetti, The Cheebacabra, and Waco Girls, to remix the record in its entirety, a collaboration that rendered a new LP titled Cut-Up Kisses. Some stuck closely to the originals; others turned them into something completely new. Either way, the haunted feel of the originals is still present. Also with Golden Gardens, the Hoot Hoots, DJ sets from Hanssen. High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., 632-0212, highdiveseattle.com. 9 p.m. $8. 21 and over. ACP
Worldbeat duo tUnE-yArDs, vocalist/drummer Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner on bass and synth, have packed more energy into its third album, Nikki Nack, than some artists cram into their entire discography. Influenced by Garbus’ trip to Haiti, Nikki Nack features a mix of percussion (including Brenner using a bag of rice as a drum), chanting, sweeping synths, and grounded bass lines; it’s an eclectic batch of tunes unlike anything on the airwaves today. Some of Garbus’ lyrics sound like what children might shout while jump-roping on a playground, which only adds to the fun. With Cibo Matto. The Moore, 1932 Second Ave., 877-784-4849, stgpresents.org/moore. 8 p.m. $22.50 adv./$26.50 DOS. All ages. ACP
It’s pretty impressive how many genres My Goodness is able to incorporate into its blues-rock sound. On its latest, Shiver + Shake, there’s twang (“Sweet Tooth”), garage-rock (“Say You’re Gone”), folk-rock that wouldn’t sound amiss on an Avett Brothers record (“Bottle”), indie-rock (“Lost in the Soul”), and a few raucous tunes (the title track, “Hot Sweat”) for good measure. Rather than sound disjointed, Shiver + Shake is held together by the blues-rock thread running through it. Comparisons to the Black Keys are warranted, but there’s more to the trio—drummer Andy Lum, singer/guitarist Joel Schneider, and bassist Cody Votolato—than meets the ear. With So Pitted, Karoshi. Vera Project, 305 Warren Ave. N., 956-8372, theveraproject.org. 7:30 p.m. $12 adv./$15 DOS. All ages. ACP
Sunday, Dec. 14
Try as it might, pop trio Wilson Phillips hasn’t been able to recapture its early staggering success. The group received worldwide acclaim with the release of its 1990 self-titled debut, but shortly after their sophomore album, Shadows and Light, Chynna Phillips and sisters Carnie and Wendy Wilson broke up. Since reuniting in 2004, the group has released only a Christmas album and two cover records: California and the latest, Dedicated, a collection of songs made famous by their parents’ bands, the Mamas & the Papas and the Beach Boys. The latter charted fairly well, but longtime fans are surely waiting for original tunes that let the trio’s trademark harmonies really shine. Snoqualmie Casino, Mountain View Plaza, 37500 S.E. North Bend Way, 425-888-1234, snocasino.com. 8 p.m. $25 and up. 21 and over. ACP
Need a Pogues fix? KMRIA can help with that. In true Pogues fashion, the name stands for “Kiss My Royal Irish Ass, ” and is a collection of eight Portland musicians (including members of the Decemberists, Eels, From Words to Blows, Casey Neill & the Norway Rats, My Oh Mys, Hanz Araki Band, and The Minus 5) dedicated to performing Pogues songs with almost as much drunken bravado as the prolific Irish folk-punk crew. KMRIA pulls its set list from nearly every album the Pogues released, so it’s almost a given that they’ll play your favorite tune (no doubt “Fairy Tale of New York” will make an obligatory holiday cameo). And the band is James Fearnley-approved, so you can expect to hear some pretty spot-on covers. Tractor Tavern. 8 p.m. $10. 21 and over. ACP
