Show Preview: The Darkness @ the Neptune, Wed. 10/14

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The Darkness. The name is itself is so awesome that I would have needed to listen to the group based on it alone, even if I hadn’t heard “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” first. I’ve been into this band ever since their 2003 debut, Permission to Land. I never thought I’d get to see them live, as I’d missed their first Seattle date at El Corazon back in, I think, 2004. I had a good enough reason, being laid up with the flu, but I resented missing the show. But then they returned a couple years ago for a show at the Neptune, which they’ll play again this Wednesday, October 14th. Did that first Neptune show live up to my high expectations? Yes, it did. The current Blast of Our Kind tour gets its impetus from the Darkness’ new album, Last of Our Kind, which has guitarist Dan Hawkins as a super producer. The British group is a Rock Band, capital R capital B.

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The Darkness

Check out the Neptune’s event page for more information.

Video: The Rolling Stones’ “Too Much Blood”

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Artist: The Rolling Stones
Song: “Too Much Blood”
Why You Want to Watch: Ron Wood and Keith Richards go after Mick Jagger with chainsaws, Jagger dances. And writhes around on the floor. And he raps.
Details: Julien Temple (Absolute Beginners, Earth Girls Are Easy) directed the video. 1983’s Undercover, the album “Too Much Blood” comes from, may not have received the best reviews, but it’s got this song on it, and that’s good by me.

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The Rolling Stones‘ “Too Much Blood” Single

Show Preview: Hinds & Public Access T.V. @ the Vera Project, Sun. 10/11

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Madrid, Spain’s Hinds visit Seattle with an appearance at the Vera Project set for Sunday, October 11th. They’ll draw curiosity initially for being an all-female band from Spain (how many of those can you name?), but then attention will move to the fact Hinds is not some curiosity, but a really cool group. Their music, garage and appealing, highlights unusual vocals harmonizing like punk Everly Brothers. I would put good money down that Hinds puts on a memorable show. As they have on their site: viva hinds!

Opening is Public Access T.V., a New York quartet I saw open for Palma Violets this summer. Do get there early to see them.

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Hinds – photo by Candela Coudray

Tickets are available here.

Photos: Capitol Hill Block Party – Day 3 w/the Julie Ruin, Wet, So Pitted & More

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Capitol Hill Block Party‘s final day showed off a lineup including the Julie Ruin, So Pitted and Wet. The Julie Ruin, featuring Le Tigre and Bikini Kills’ Kathleen Hanna and Bikini Kills’ Kathi Wilcox, was one of the festival’s true draws. Also appearing were Lost Lander, Lower Dens and I Will Keep Your Ghost. Hot tour alert: If you happen to be in Europe this October or November, Lower Dens is coming straight for you.

All photos by Simon Krane:

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The Julie Ruin – photos by Simon Krane

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Wet – photos by Simon Krane

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So Pitted – photos by Simon Krane

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Charms – photos by Simon Krane

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Lost Lander – photos by Simon Krane

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Lower Dens – photos by Simon Krane

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I Will Keep Your Ghost – photos by Simon Krane

Photos: Melt-Banana @ Chop Suey

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Melt-Banana, a wonderfully noisy pair from Japan, visited Seattle for a July Chop Suey show. They don’t come around here very often, so you were lucky if you got to see them. You were also lucky because they’re just great. Photographer Alex Crick joined fellow fans in the excited audience (look at those fans’ happy faces!):