the hum / By Bob Doran

No Paraskavedekatriaphobia

Ran into Li’l Red Lion booker Amy Mayville, at Arts Alive! Saturday, out putting up fliers. Word spreads quickly in the alt. music world and the new venue at 5th and P sts. in U-freaka is going full-bore. Get this: She has six shows coming up in the next seven days, starting Thursday with Good on Paper, a coed alt. pop trio from L.A., along with local up-and-comers Svelte Velvet.

Friday Li’l has Singer, out of Chicago, touring behind a new release, Unhistories, on Drag City Records. The four-piece includes two U.S. Maple members, Todd Rittmann and Adam Vida, plus Rob Lowe (from Lichens, 90 Day Men) and Ben Vida (Bird Show, Town and Country, presumably Adam’s bro), all of them singing, sometimes together in harmony, sometimes in disharmony. The music is dark and often twisted alt. who-knows-what. (The Drag City publicist dropped Captain Beefheart’s name, not knowing he’s a local.) When they finish this tour, Singer heads out with Battles. Also on the Friday (the 13th) bill, Shearing Pinx, a clamorous noise rock band from Vancouver B.C. and local decadents The Common Vice.

Saturday Li’l bring in two SoCal bands: SeaOne, aka The Seamonster, an “East County dub” hip hop outfit from L.A. and thundering Latin ska-punks Double Agent Brass Band, from Huntington Park. After taking Sunday off, Li’l keeps things going Monday with wild San Fran alt. disco/electro punks Sugar & Gold, touring with their friends from Oakland, Hot Tub, “comprised of three Spandex-clad fly-girl MCs (Co-Co Machete, Loli Pop and Ambreezy) with Jay-Sonic and Funky Finger Mark on the electronics.” Added bonus: DJ Omar.

Tuesday it’s Nurses, with Aaron Chapman and John Bowers, who originally are from Idaho, but currently call Portland home (thus fulfilling our weekly Portland quota). Again, we’re looking at a tres cool hard-to-define alt. something band; Chapman’s vocals remind me a bit of Jonathan Richmond, but less cynical. James Harkins‘ space/surf combo, The Invasions opens.

That brings us to Wednesday. Amy has Seattle hardcore punk/metal headbanger power trio Akimbo, fresh from the Alt. Tentacles Biafra 5-O Birthday bash in the city. As of Saturday, the local opener was TBA (too many shows, too few local bands). Fair warning, Li’l Red Lion has five more shows the following week. This just in: Music at Toby and Jack’s on the Plaza starting Saturday with Weepel‘s Weezer covers and 33 1/3. Rock on!

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