Goth, R&B, experimental indie and more

Volcano music scribes tell you where to go

By Volcano Staff on September 6, 2007

Thursday, Sept. 6

GOTH brigitte handley and the dark shadows

Sydney, Australia-based Brigitte Handley is a bit of an enigma. Listing such bands as Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, the Dammed and Joy Division, she and her band, the Dark Shadows, draw from many influences to create a brand of lo-fi Goth that has a punk attitude like vintage Patti Smith. Handley’s look falls somewhere in between Elvis and Siouxsie Sioux with heavy eyeliner, a vampirish white face, and she can pull off fishnets and platforms like nobody’s business. Musically, she is sometimes as campy as the



Cramps and other times as rebellious as the Pistols ever were.



Relying mainly on crunch chords and volume, Handley has torn it up all over the world leaving piles of dust in her wake without looking back mercifully at all. To date, she has released only three EP’s and a 7-inch vinyl single. Her latest, Identity, is a dark look at life and the supernatural. The title track has the classic punk “fuck you, I’m not gonna be controlled by the man, man” mantra whereas “Sleeping With a Vampyre” has a Concrete Blonde Bloodletting eerie vibe to it.



Not sure where to slot Handley so I’ll just put her in my “too cool for school” pile. — Tony Engelhart

[Hell’s Kitchen, with Rezurex, The Gorehounds and Zane Savage & The Rippers, 6 p.m., all ages, $10, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

Friday, Sept. 7

R&B intervision

I love when an artist mixes things up rather than sticking to a strict script, and Intervision does just that. Uniting jazz, pop, and R&B, the band can be as funky as Al Jarreau or as acoustically laid back as Jack Johnson.



The quintet of Paul Creighton (lead vocals, synth), Tony Stovin (guitars, backing vocals), Kit Taylor (keyboards, backing vocals), Mike Glidden (bass), Jon Barbe (drums) and Josh Cliburn (saxophone) has drawn comparisons to the likes of Steely Dan and Stevie Wonder. Maybe a bit mellow for hard-core jazz fans, they compose user-friendly melodies which without vocals would be slotted in the smooth jazz section. But with Creighton’s ultra silky tenor voice coupled with lush-rich harmonies and Stovin’s suave mastery of the guitar, the Portland band skips by being pigeon holed into any one genre.



Produced by Grammy winning producer Dan Stark, their 2005 debut, Inside, featured Portland’s legendary guitarist Dan Balmer who lent his tight licks and smooth riffs to their unique take on jazz. The band’s latest, Shades of Neptune, on which Stark makes his presence known for a second time, was released in April of this year. Tracks “Your Mind,” “All She’ll Never Have,” “Still,” and “This Time” are receiving heavy airplay as the band grabs the attention of the industry. — TE

[Jazzbones, 7:30 p.m., all ages, $5-$8, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

Friday, Sept. 7

HIP-HOP can-u

Tacoma’s underground hip-hop prodigal son Can-U is back with a new album, fresh production, new styles and a show at Hell’s Kitchen this Friday.



Back up … the album is actually a mix tape, but heralds an impending, second full-length release. The current offering, Can-U and DJ Reign present Hear This The Mixtape, shows off the artist’s continuing evolution, boasting new lyrical styles, tight cadence and Can-U’s continuing quest to push the boundaries of his art. He says the mix tape is intended to whet fans’ appetites and give notice that some serious isht is on the way.



“Everybody liked the first CD, but I couldn’t just give it away,” says Can-U. “I felt like I need something that would be a catalyst. But this isn’t a mix tape with a bunch of throwaway songs.”



Can-U’s upcoming full-length will sport production guests like Maker, Geologic and emcees like Ohmega Watts. Can-U says the album is an attempt to quiet people who say hip-hop doesn’t have anything new to offer.



“The next album is the one I’ve been working on since day one,” he says. “I’m trying to push the levels. People say there’s no originality. I think there’s plenty left.” — Paul Schrag



[Hell’s Kitchen, with DJ Reign, Nasty Left, and John Crown, Friday, Sept. 7, 6 p.m., all-ages, $7 includes a mixtape, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

Saturday, Sept. 8

BLUES steve stefanowicz

They call Steve Stefanowicz the “Human Jukebox” because he has memorized over 1,000 songs and is seldom stumped by audience requests. He does, however, strictly enforce a $50 minimum tip jar donation for requests for “Freebird,” “Stairway to Heaven” and “Hotel California.”



He’s usually a solo act but he has shared the stage with musical greats like Lou Rawls, Sam Andrews’ Holding Company, Blue Spark, Junkyard Jane, The Groovin Higher Jazz Orchestra, local jazz guitarist Michael Powers, Savoy Brown, Kansas and Elvin Bishop.

Sadly, he hasn’t done many gigs in his hometown Tacoma this year. He finds that the out of town gigs tend to pay better, and Stefanowicz is a full time musician earning his sole support through his music.



He’s been busy recording, too. He recently recorded two songs, “Georgia on my mind” and “How Sweet It Is” with Groovin’ Higher Jazz Orchestra for their new CD. Later this year he will release a Christmas CD with traditional and contemporary holiday songs. He has tentatively titled the CD, Pass out the Fruitcake. If you haven’t guessed it by now, Stefanowicz has a great sense of humor.



His Saturday show at Mandolin Café is a rare treat for a town that has been holding up lighters for him for almost two decades.



For more information on Steve Stefanowicz shows, CDs or music lessons please visit www.stevetunes.com or www.myspace.com/stevestefanowicz. — Angela Jossy

[Mandolin Café, Saturday Sept. 8, 5-7 p.m., all ages, $5, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482]

Saturday, Sept. 8

EXPERIMENTAL INDIE finn riggins

Idaho has been the butt of many jokes over the years — at least from me.

With guys like Larry Craig out there — representing the potato state in the sanctified halls of the Senate, of all places — it looks like I’ll have plenty of fodder for years.

However, from time to time, Idaho produces something that can’t be crinkle-cut or shaped into tots, something worthy of more than a bathroom stall reenactment or farmyard sex punch-line.



Finn Riggins, who will hit Le Voyeur on Saturday, Sept. 8, is just such a phenomenon.

Finn Riggins is from Sun Valley, and classify themselves as an “experimental/indie/post punk trio.” If anything, it only goes to prove Finn Riggins knows just how ridiculous it is to try to fit every band into pre-shaped boxes. It doesn’t work, and it leads to classifications like experimental/indie/post punk.



For the most part, Finn Riggins has their recipe. Start with one part warm, familiar rock riff (original, but not TOO original). Loop that sucker until it’s creamy. Add a few beeps and bloops. Throw in some synth to up the retro factor. And top with often indiscernible and convoluted lyrics. Bake on high.



Next thing you know you’ve got a steaming oven full of Finn Riggins.



Mmmm, tasty.



And pretty damn cool. — Matt Driscoll

[Le Voyeur, with Jared Mees and The Sundance Kids, Saturday, Sept. 8, 9:30 p.m., no cover, 404 E. Fourth Ave., Olympia, 360.943.5710]

   

Monday, Sept. 10

ROCK daughtry

I’ll admit I don’t watch or condone “American Idol.” So I had no idea Daughtry had been a part of that pop culture phenomenon until I did my research. When I found out, I immediately changed my perspective of the band; but after listening to one track, they gained my respect back 10-fold.



Not quite metal, not quite pop, Daughtry mixes the two for a sound that has the charm of a pop song with the heavy hand of metal thrasher. Fronted by Chris Daughtry, the band is akin to Creed or Live with introspective lyrics and tempered chord changes. Not afraid to wear their hearts on their sleeves. Chris has been fronting bands since he was 16 years old and he has all the right moves. His voice is rough around the edges, which gives the Idol finalist more validity than others such as Taylor Hicks or Kelly Clarkston.



The band as a whole is extremely tight as they power through self-penned arena rock anthems. Their self-titled debut might have sold so well because of the hype, but the music overrides the mania. — TE

[Puyallup Fairgrounds, 7:30 p.m., $29.50-$45.50 at Ticketmaster, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup, 253.841.5045]