Show Review & Photos: The Intelligence, Kid Congo Powers and the Pink Monkey Birds & TacocaT @ the Crocodile

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The Crocodile hosted a wildly-fun Saturday night of garage rock on June 18th, featuring two local practitioners of the art, The Intelligence and TacocaT, along with Kid Congo Powers and the Pink Monkey Birds, best-known as a former member of psychobillly punk legends The Cramps and co-founder of The Gun Club.

TacocaT opened the show with an energizing set of nicely aggressive ‘60s-style pop-punk. A happy, familiar banter went on between the band and the hometown crowd, and TacocaT’s tight, melodic songs easily held the audience. They are fun, funny, good-looking, and definitely a good time – a wonderful antidote to a scene that sometimes takes itself a little too seriously at times. They’d fit in perfectly playing at a blowout backyard BBQ, but have an “it” factor there that could and should take them to bigger prominence.


Kid Congo Powers and the Pink Monkey Birds


The Intelligence


TacocaT

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Photos: 19th Annual Greenwood Car Show

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The 19th Annual Greenwood Car Show was held on Saturday, June 25th in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle. Classic cars, muscle cars, old City of Seattle buses, police cars and (gasp) a tow truck were all on display. Children were arrested and some drove a fire truck (okay not really). The talented Kirsten Buckman ventured out and snapped some shots of the automobiles:

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Show Review & Photos: Sondre Lerche @ the Crocodile

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I’ve seen Sondre Lerche numerous times (at Bumbershoot, the Crocodile, the Paramount), and each show has been fabulous. Lerche has such a captivating way about him and is just as interesting a talker as he is a musician – and trust me, all his songs are great. People might overuse the word charming, but Lerche is its epitome. The Norwegian artist is 7 albums deep into his career with the release of Sondre Lerche, just out now, and he appeared at Seattle’s Crocodile on June 25th. My favorite moment of the night was his charged and passionate performance of “My Hands Are Shaking,” from his soundtrack for Dan in Real Life. He also dug deep in a grand way for an excellent display of 2002’s Faces Down song “Sleep on Needles.” What a thrill the show was.

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Review and Photos: The Tubes @ The Triple Door

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The Tubes, best know for “White Punks On Dope,” “She’s A Beauty,” and “Talk To Ya Later” performed to a packed house at The Triple Door on Friday night. I had never seen The Tubes before so I had no idea what to expect and was I in for a shockingly great treat.

When I first arrived at The Triple Door, I sat with a dapper older Englishman named man Chris. We chatted over cocktails and he explained how his buddy was friends with Pete Townshend (of The Who) and how they all went sailing together. The evening appeared to be shaping up as a very civilized affair.

Fee Waybill walked on to the stage in a white linen suit and fedora, puffing on a smoke. My first thought was: Wow how sophisticated, I’m a little surprised”. WAS I WRONG. . .little did I know what as to come. This sophisticated gentleman was his satirical vision of a politician and he was one of many alter egos that is Fee Waybill, lead singer of The Tubes.

The Tubes

Waybill changed costumes (and personas) many times, each more bizarre and provocative than the first. Waybill traversed from his classic “Quay Lewd” and ending with the Carnival Barker singing “She’s A Beauty.” The crowd ate it up and ultimately rewarded The Tubes with a standing ovation.

My impression after the show was what a deliciously creatively and freakish performance. Few bands that have been exciting crowds for 35 years can maintain this level of showmanship. The Tubes were tight and Waybill’s voice was fabulous. It’s clear that The Tubes have lost none of what makes them unforgettable.

Performer: The Tubes
Photographer: John Rudolph