BLC-Anigif

today

8:30 a.m. Audubon Society Field Trip See Event Description

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9 a.m. Arcata Farmers' Market Arcata Plaza

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9:30 a.m. Discovery Walk: Unknown Waterfront See Event Description

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9:30 a.m. Manila Dunes Restoration Manila Community Center

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10 a.m. Manila Dunes Guided Walk Manila Community Center

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10 a.m. Library Book Sale Humboldt County Library

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10 a.m. Dia de los Muertos and Mexican Folk Art Sale Private Eureka home

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10 a.m. Final Arcata Farmer's Market Arcata Farmers' Market (off the plaza)

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11 a.m. Donlin Foreman Dance Workshop Dell'Arte

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2 p.m. Humboldt Coastal Nature Center Draft Trails Plan Walk Stamps House

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5 p.m. Bati Zado and Show Redwood Raks World Dance Studio

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6 p.m. The Tumbleweeds Chapala Cafe

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6 p.m. Ali Chaudhary (jazz duo) Libation

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6:30 p.m. Not Evil, Just Wrong Humboldt Area Foundation

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7 p.m. Guitar Stan (country) Old Town Coffee & Chocolates

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8 p.m. Guitar Orchestra of Barcelona Arkley Center for the Performing Arts

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8 p.m. Stones in His Pockets Arcata Playhouse

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8 p.m. A Christmas Carol North Coast Repertory Theater

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8 p.m. Donna Landry Swing Dance Moose Lodge

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8 p.m. North Coast Wind Ensemble Fulkerson Recital Hall at HSU

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8:30 p.m. The Last Minute Men (international) Cafe Mokka

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9 p.m. Ian McFeron Band (folk rock) Six Rivers Brewery

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9 p.m. The Michael Paul Band WAVE @ blue lake casino

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9 p.m. The Generatorz (classic rock) Central Station Cocktail Lounge

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9 p.m. Taxi Bear River Casino

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9 p.m. VJ Itchie Fingaz Pearl Lounge

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9 p.m. Jack Ruby Presents + Blue Street + Acufunkture (DIY rock) Jambalaya

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9 p.m. 2nd Annual Scorpio Bash The Red Fox Tavern

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10 p.m. Music by DJ Sidelines

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10 p.m. DJ Icy Hot Aunty Mo's Lounge

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10 p.m. Jemimah Puddleduck (rock) Humboldt Brews

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10 p.m. White Manna + Midday Veil + The King Salmon Duo (rock) Jambalaya

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11 p.m. Radio Moscow (psychadelic blues) + Mosquito Bandito (one-man surf/garage) The Alibi Lounge and Restaurant

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previous columns

Jan. 29, 2009

Blood Bank/More of the Past

By Bon Iver and Vetiver

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Jan. 22, 2009

Magnum/Side Iron

"Mission Accomplished," Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Alibi

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Jan. 15, 2009

Cryland

By Don Cavalli. Everloving, Inc.

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  • 'Unstable Table' 'Unstable Table'
<em>Unstable Table </em>

Unstable Table

Unstable Table. Sidenote Records.

By Jennifer Savage

What would you get if you mixed The Bump Foundation's funk, The Absynth Quintet's jazz and the jam-based sounds of Likwefi? Not what you might think, at least based on Unstable Table's debut eponymous CD. The band consists of Ryan Roberts (The AQ, Likwefi), Tim Lane (Likwefi, The Bump Foundation), Tommy FitzMaurice (Spank, The Bump Foundation) and the heretofore unknown "Amy," citing as influences Ween, Ziggy Stardust and The Flaming Lips. With the possible exception of "Ring of Brogar," those make sense -- even that track could flow alongside Ween's The Pod album and not sound out of place.

Mostly, the songs traverse the dance-pop-rock realm, fitting somewhere between Concrete Blonde and Santana. Or as KHUM Program Director Mike Dronkers says, "Unstable Table sounds like the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack blasting from Sammy Hagar's old car. In a good way, obviously." (KHUM's Larry Trask makes an even bolder comparison: "They are the Led Zeppelin of local bands in the sense that one of them is sure to choke on vomit. Until then, though, their record will be in high rotation on my show. In a word: Love it.")

The first track, "The Party's Over," definitely deserves to be a radio hit. The sultry vocals, the sexy semi-techno beat, the here-and-again rock moments -- and the song clocks in at under three minutes, all necessary ingredients in crafting the perfect pop song. It's also made for remixing into a dance party hit, so listen for the super-extended-dance-party version at a club near you.

Awash in fuzz, "Triumph Biker" stands as the album's "experimental track." The repetition hypnotizes as if Unstable Table's sole purpose is to bring back raves. Don't forget your glowsticks, kids.

In contrast, "Lepper Piñatas" slows things down a bit, allows some room to breathe without losing the pop beat that keeps the Adult Alternative crowd convinced they're still young. But just when you think you're safe, along comes the robot talk! Yes, Unstable Table channels all the retro cool of Rock ’em Sock ’em.

This mix of pseudo-innocent with slightly off kilter continues with "Splodin'," offering up a sort of stripped-down, minimalist new wave sound. Irresistible.

All these elements culminate in Unstable Table's final track, "Trans Am." Unavoidably catchy, inescapably silly, this is the one likely to inspire the loudest cheers and most drunken singalongs when they play it live at their very first public performance ever, even if it's the only song not up at the band's MySpace (myspace.com/unstabletable). The debut gig happens at the Jambalaya, Friday, Feb. 6. (Hopefully no one chokes on their own vomit before then.) Pick up the CD while you're there -- no matter whose old car you're driving, this is a disc you'll want to blast while cruising. You've never been so cool.

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