Ahhhh, Metal!

There's something about the Sword that makes me really happy. Maybe its the ridiculousness of metal, maybe the long hair, maybe its just the wicked riffs.

I really can't keep a straight face listening to this stuff, it makes me smile as I strum some air guitar and wish I played in a metal band.

Anyway, the Sword plays tomorrow night with Lamb of God (yikes) at the Knitting Factory.

These guys rule.

The Sword: Barael's Blade

Connect For

Common Market's pretty damn dope. With hot hot rhymes from RA Scion and super duper fire beats from Sabzi (of Blue Scholars), you can't really go wrong.

Their new album Tobacco Road is chocked full of classic throwback production and RA Scion's whole hearted take on religion, the south, hip hop and good ole fashioned farmers rebelling.

Here's an oldie but goodie, that solidified my love for the group.

Common Market: Every Last One [cornerstone remix - radio edit]

Common Market plays Friday December 12 at the BLVD with Blue Scholars and Jiggywatts.

Oh Baby

Not sure if many people know that the mighty funky Velella Velella is coming to town this weekend. What a show they put on, don't miss it.

Friday night at Whitworth with Point Juncture, WA.

Saturday night with James Pants at the Casbah.

Here's the first track I heard from the boys, back when they were a humble Spokane two piece, that really caught my ear.

Velella Velella: Nothin But A Bunch Of Empty Sunglasses Cases

Printing

If you hung around Wednesday nights at the B-Side in its hayday, you probably saw Cursive Adonis on the mic. Laid back, pitcher in hand, Cursive had a voice resembling Del and the cadence to match. He played a bunch of shows around town and the northwest, tracked a bunch of songs, then moved to Seattle. Musically speaking, Cursive hasn't really been heard of since.

About once a year, Cursive's name shows up on a handbill - but he has a propinsety of not quite showing up.

On Saturday 11/29, Cursive is set to play Caterina at the Bad Penmanship 5th annual hip hop showcase with Terms, Synthetic, Drew Slums, Quiz, Jaeda and a bunch more. Hope he shows up!

Here's a few tracks:

Terms None featuring Cursive Adonis: Reality Doses

Sentence featuring Locke and Cursive Adonis: Above Water

The Spokesman Review: Irrelevant as Ever

I was sorry to hear that the 7 (the Spokesman's attempt at a weekly) cut food critic Tom Bowers a few months back.

I was even more sorry to hear that they cut longtime music writer Isamu Jordan a few weeks back.

Now that the 7's going to stop running, I'm not really too sorry.

I know, I know. Its hard to run a newspaper these days! The internets are taking away all their readers!! There's no money in publishing!!!

But I (and many like myself) now have no reason to turn to anything the Spokesman publishes. The internets have all we need. I'm not going to pay 50 cents to find occasional articles about local music/nightlife every Friday. I'd rather look in the Inlander, Out There, the Meeting Northwest, or the myspace pages of local bands/venues.

Oh well.

Loud

Shim's coming to town this weekend.

You know what you're in for?

• Loud Noises.
• Over the Top.
• Big Hair.
• Bright Lights.
• Huge Riffs.
• Jean Vests.
• Fun.

Hell yeah.

Shim with Pretty Faces and Scissors for Lefty at the BLVD on Saturday 11/22.

A Crown City Rocker

The Crown City Rockers are the nicest people in hip hop. I haven't come across a group as friendly, down to earth, funny, kindheated and super duper fresh as can be as Crown City.

Frontman Raashan Ahmad released his solo record the Push this summer. It's fantastic: choked full of b-boy swagger, sharp rhymes and soulful production.

The video for 'Peace' just dropped. I'm loving it.

Raashan Ahmad plays at the Casbah on Friday November 21.