Weekender 8/3/07-8/5/07

FRIDAY

Ghosthustler/Foxtrot/Bleach Boys (Secret Headquarters): Foxtrot remind me of some kind of mix between oft hyperlinked performers such as Yacht, Copy, Kavinsky,Extreme Animals, and Black Moth Super Rainbow. I'm not sure exactly how they put their tunes together, but it's pretty unique for this area and sounds like a live treat. Get it? And this might also be a good chance to hear some of the new material GH has been working on, which I hear is a bit different than what you've heard so far.

BARK BARK BARK (Monkey Bar): BARK BARK BARK is playing a show at Urban Outfitters in Tucson in a couple of weeks, and frankly, it's not very shocking. Essentially, BARK BARK BARK are one of the best approximations of "hip" that you can find these days. Honestly, you can hear at least a little bit of just about every musical reference point to have emerged in the past five years: post punk, hyper synth pop, dance punk. Basically everything but freak folk. But you know what anti-hipsters: sometimes "hip" things aren't bad. And these guys are one of them. Solid, danceable, sloppy post-hardcore stuff that people should eat the fuck up live.

Whale/Black Wizardz/Teenage Cool Kids (1919 Hemphill): Sweet Hemphill line up, although they said on their myspace bulletin that "jerks" aren't welcome at the show. Guess I'm out. Wish I could go though, as I'm interested in checking out both Black Wizardz and Whale.

Black Tie Dynasty/Red Monroe/Tree Wave /Voot Cha Index (Hailey's): Dudes- what are you doing? Let's just pretend this never happened, ok? I guess BTD goes on last, so you can cut out early before you get hairspray poisoning. Tyson Meade of the 90's next-big-thing-that-never-was group Chainsaw Kittens will be playing with Red Monroe tonight, and I believe they will be playing mostly CK material throughout the show. Haven't fact checked that, though. I've honestly only heard a few Chainsaw Kittens songs, and I guess I don't see what the big deal is-- seems like pretty standard early 90's college rock to me, somewhere between Smashing Pumpkins, Teenage Fanclub and the Posies. It's good enough though, and I'm sure the guys in Red Monroe will be able to add something to whatever material they end up playing.

Theater Fire/Silver Pines/The Lemmings/Spider Bags (Rubber Gloves)

SATURDAY

Teenage Cool Kids/Koji Kondo/Angry Businessmen/Dance of Days (Secret Headquarters): Great line up #2 of the weekend for SHQ. Teenage Cool Kids aren't exactly my cup of tea, but shit man, the last time I saw them play live was one of the best times I've ever had watching a band that wasn't exactly my cup of tea. They've got a great little army of fans, and they play tight, intense sets that said fans eat up all the way through. A lot of fun. And I dare someone to name a more intense live rock band than Koji Kondo.

The Paper Chase/The Great Tyrant/BARK BARK BARK (Dan's Silverleaf): Great line up at Dan's Silverleaf, which isn't something I say too often. Of course, I haven't listened to the Paper Chase in forever, but I'm still waiting for the Great Tyrant to put a damn record out.

SUNDAY

Pelican/Clouds/Fatal Flying Guillotine (Hailey's): I'm not the biggest Pelican dude in town, but I figure they're worthy of argument at least.

Hippiefest feat. The Turtles/The Zombies/Iron Butterfly/Mountain (Nokia Live): I like turtles.

Pleasant Grove (Barley House)