Music
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Tribute to Harry Nilsson The songs of Harry Nilsson were made to be sung by others. Arguably the great songwriter of the late 20th century-better even than his buddy John Lennon, I’d argue-Nilsson often relied on other voices to carry his tunes, since he was averse to traveling and, therefore, unable to tour. During this Tribute to Harry Nilsson, nine of the songwriter’s biggest hits-including “Without You,” “Jump Into the Fire,” and of course “Everybody’s Talking”- will be given a bit of a rock-’n’-roll makeover from Best Friends, a band consisting of members of Sashay, Sharkie, and the Dutchess and the Duke. Don’t worry, the songs will hold up. MARK BAUMGARTEN Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., Seattle, WA 98122 $5 Wednesday, May 13, 2015, 9pm
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Sepultura Oh Jesus, Sepultura. I was so into Brazilian thrash/black-metal band Sepultura. 16-year-old me would kick my ass if I didn’t go see Sepultura. But instead I’d challenge 16-year-old me to a game of wits-and I’d win because I know that Mom ripping up our Korn ticket was a prophetic blessing, and that 16-year-old me decided to cry in the bathroom for an hour to repay the favor. Maybe if I continued to make all C’s, I’d be going to see this nu-metal-ish incarnation of Sepultura, which has two of the original members left-but I think I’ll call my mom instead. With Warbringer, Arsis, Boris the Blade, Micawber, Jesus Wears Armani, and Rhin. All ages. WARREN LANGFORD Studio Seven, 110 S. Horton St., Seattle WA $23 adv./$25 DOS Thursday, May 14, 2015, 5pm
Sistas Rock the Arts This is a six-week series, where a different host offers a different style and flavor with dance, music, spoken work, and an open mic. Rumba Notes Lounge, 5041 Rainier Ave. S.Seattle WA Donations appreciated Thursday, May 14, 2015, 8pm
Kristen Ford Kristen Ford’s one-woman-band performance includes guitars, percussion and a variety of looping effects pedals, to create a unique musical experience that’s different every night. Tim’s Tavern, 602 N 105th St. Seattle, WA 98133
(206) 789-9005 $5 Thursday, May 14, 2015, 9pm
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The Cave Singers As of press time, the second evening of The Cave Singers’ two-night stand is sold out, but this show, with support from Shana Cleveland & the Sandcastles, is there for the taking. Now is a great time to see the Cave Singers play their stomping electric blues. The Seattle band is two years past 2013’s Naomi, and, if a recent Vancouver gig is any indication, will kick up some dust while revisiting old favorites and sprinkling in new material. Show up early for Cleveland, who’s following up on her success leading garage-band La Luz with a late June release from her delightfully meandering outfit, the Sandcastles. 21 and over. MB Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., Seattle, WA 98107 $20 Thursday, May 14, 2015, 9pm
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The Jesus and Mary Chain It was a big deal when The Jesus and Mary Chain reunited in 2007. The creative child of brothers Jim and William Reid, the Scottish band blazed a trail that numerous goth and shoegaze bands would follow before falling apart in 1999. During the band’s absence, Sofia Coppola upped its stock by essentially making “Just Like Honey” the soundtrack to her epochal drama, Lost in Translation. When the band reappeared at Coachella, Scarlet Johanssen joined them onstage to sing the song. Like I said, it was a big deal. But for true fans, this performance is an even bigger deal. Psychocandy, the album that started it all, is turning 30, and the band-reportedly in fine, if somewhat tamed, form-is playing it in its entirety. With The Black Ryder. 21 and over. MB The Showbox, 1426 First Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $35 adv./$40 DOS Thursday, May 14, 2015, 9pm
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Fisherman’s Village Music Festival About three years ago, the Everett Music Initiative was created to bring more live music to downtown Everett. That’s right, Everett. Last year’s inaugural Fisherman’s Village Music Festival, the Initiative’s flagship project, was a surprising success. As far as I’m concerned, they’ve already knocked it out of the park this year with a lineup that includes some SW staff favorites: Say Hi, So Pitted, Telekinesis, Fauna Shade, Ravenna Woods, Prom Queen, Deep Creep, and Led to Sea. All ages. DML Downtown Everett, Hoyt Ave, Everett $30-$49 Friday, May 15, 2015
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12th Birthday Fest One of my biggest regrets is never starting my own radio show while matriculating at the University of Washington. At this point college radio is almost 50 years old, but it still feels as fresh and vital as it did in the days when KAOS and KCMU were educating the Northwest on what real music sounds like. Rainy Dawg Radio might not have a place on the dial like those influential stations, but the online station carries on the spirit. Tonight the student-run station celebrates its 12th Birthday Fest, featuring Isaiah Rashad, Wampire, One Above Below None, Naked Giants, SNUFF REDUX, and Richie Dagger’s Crime. Sylvan Grove Theater/The Columns. All ages. DIANA M. LE University of Washington Campus, 15th Ave. N.E. and N.E. 41st St., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Friday, May 15, 2015, 5pm
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Seacats Terminal goofballs Seacats are trying their hand at being highbrow. The boys have written a play called Seacats Forever. It’s an evolution many comic actors have attempted, but the outcome is uncertain. It could fall in the wonderful space between funny and dramatic (Jim Carrey in The Truman Show), or it could be a straight-up masterpiece (Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). It could also totally suck (Jim Carrey in The Number 23). With Elch, Sun Dummy. All ages. DML Hollow Earth Radio, 2018 E. Union St., #A, Seattle, WA 98122 Free Friday, May 15, 2015, 8pm
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Afrocop Afrocop is my tangerine dream come true. For real. Get these guys a future dystopian neo-noir film to score posthaste. The band’s meandering, forlorn laser-jazz, if you will, conjures images of hardboiled nights in mega-cities where the only light comes from e-cigarettes and handheld personal computers. On second thought, maybe Afrocop is just scoring the here and now. 21 and over. WL The Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle, WA 98101 Free Friday, May 15, 2015, 9pm
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Fisherman’s Village Music Festival About three years ago, the Everett Music Initiative was created to bring more live music to downtown Everett. That’s right, Everett. Last year’s inaugural Fisherman’s Village Music Festival, the Initiative’s flagship project, was a surprising success. As far as I’m concerned, they’ve already knocked it out of the park this year with a lineup that includes some SW staff favorites: Say Hi, So Pitted, Telekinesis, Fauna Shade, Ravenna Woods, Prom Queen, Deep Creep, and Led to Sea. All ages. DML Downtown Everett, Hoyt Ave, Everett $30-$49 Saturday, May 16, 2015
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Brite Lines For the past couple of years, Brite Lines has been popping up in the odd weekday slot at local clubs, posting a goofy video here, releasing an endearing ballad there, and at times in their live show achieving a blistering, if somewhat unwieldy, energy that is too uncommon in the roots scene that bore them. The whole thing felt a little precarious, to be honest. Yet with the release of its debut, When We Arrive, the band shows it is capable of a sustained effort with a quirky yet very serious collection of pop songs filled with equal parts urgency and heart. A band to watch, for sure. With The Weather, Unlikely Friends. 21 and over. MB The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., Seattle WA 98121 $12 adv. Saturday, May 16, 2015, 8pm
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Local H Back in the mid-’90s, before Death From Above 1979, Lightning Bolt, or even the White Stripes, Local H was the first two-piece modern-rock band on the scene. I was all, like, “This is just a drummer and guitarist? That’s the bomb!”(That’s how everyone talked back then.) But man, they really packed a punch. They were on the harder side of alternative-they weren’t out to make friends with the Gin Blossoms- or Better Than Ezra-lovers. They fit right in with that Toadies or Shudder to Think vibe. With Battleme and Shiver Twins. 21 and over. WL El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., Seattle, WA 98109 $13 adv./$15 DOS Saturday, May 16, 2015, 9pm
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Fisherman’s Village Music Festival About three years ago, the Everett Music Initiative was created to bring more live music to downtown Everett. That’s right, Everett. Last year’s inaugural Fisherman’s Village Music Festival, the Initiative’s flagship project, was a surprising success. As far as I’m concerned, they’ve already knocked it out of the park this year with a lineup that includes some SW staff favorites: Say Hi, So Pitted, Telekinesis, Fauna Shade, Ravenna Woods, Prom Queen, Deep Creep, and Led to Sea. All ages. DML Downtown Everett, Hoyt Ave, Everett $30-$49 Sunday, May 17, 2015
Sistas Rock the Arts This is a six-week series, where a different host offers a different style and flavor with dance, music, spoken work, and an open mic. Rumba Notes Lounge, 5041 Rainier Ave. S.Seattle WA Donations appreciated Thursday, May 21, 2015, 8pm
Liam Kyle Cahill The folk singer/songwriter tours in support of his new album, The Key to Happiness. Fix Coffeehouse, 6900 E. Green Lake Way N.Seattle, WA Free Friday, May 22, 2015, 7pm
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Barry Manilow Barry Manilow’s worst-kept secret-actually not a secret at all-is that he was a prolific jingle writer. Who could forget “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there”? Or “I am stuck on Band-Aid brand, ‘cause Band-Aid’s stuck on me.” Or my all-time favorite: “Give your face something to smile about . . . with Stridex!” Despite a willingness at his early concerts to embrace this part of his past with a medley, something tells me we won’t be seeing Manilow perform these diabolical earworms-but a man can dream, can’t he? With Dave Koz. All ages. WL KeyArena (Seattle Center), 305 Harrison St., Seattle, WA 98109 $17.75-$125.75 Wednesday, May 27, 2015, 7:30pm
Sistas Rock the Arts This is a six-week series, where a different host offers a different style and flavor with dance, music, spoken work, and an open mic. Rumba Notes Lounge, 5041 Rainier Ave. S.Seattle WA Donations appreciated Thursday, May 28, 2015, 8pm
Sistas Rock the Arts This is a six-week series, where a different host offers a different style and flavor with dance, music, spoken work, and an open mic. Rumba Notes Lounge, 5041 Rainier Ave. S.Seattle WA Donations appreciated Thursday, June 4, 2015, 8pm
Sistas Rock the Arts This is a six-week series, where a different host offers a different style and flavor with dance, music, spoken work, and an open mic. Rumba Notes Lounge, 5041 Rainier Ave. S.Seattle WA Donations appreciated Thursday, June 11, 2015, 8pm