The Narrative

By MIKEL TOOMBS

The Narrative adds a different storyline to the emo sound with the decidedly feminine presence of singer-keyboardist Suzie Zeldin (isn't there a law against this? Or some clubhouse rule?).

At its prettiest, the Craigslist-initiated, N.Y.C.-based trio tends toward, oh, "tweemo" (I truly hope that's not a recognized subgenre), but there's a lot that's seasonally affecting about this young band, whose Dec. 1 show at El Corazon has been canceled, as its tour supporting The Secret Handshake was just cut short.

The Narrative's debut long-player, "The Narrative," features the inviting "Winter's Coming" and "Don't Want to Fall" ("We woke the neighbors/It's no wonder they hate us/On every single floor"). Put on your Cardigans.

Watch a video of "Don't Want to Fall" by following this link.

(Mikel Toombs is a frequent contributor to GeneStout.com. Read his recent preview of Auburn, Wash., duo He Is We.)

Wild Flag (photo: Jo Ann Riggs)

By MIKEL TOOMBS

If you'd flagged the Friday night (Nov. 12) show at the High Dive as merely a two-thirds Sleater-Kinney reunion, you were wildly mistaken.

First and foremost, this sold-out Wild Flag gig (its third ever) provided a rare chance to hear the top chops of ex-S-Kers Janet Weiss, one of the best rock drummers on the planet, and guitarist Carrie Brownstein, ever more versatile in her new band, in a snug Fremont club.

Of course, Brownstein "complained" that the High Dive stage was "too big" (even Eddie Vedder would've found a spot, although he didn't show, as he had for Corin Tucker's Showbox debut last month). The night before, she, Weiss, singer-guitarist Mary Timony and keyboardist Rebecca Cole had "played on a drum riser" to an audience that included four dogs, she deadpanned, "and the four dogs each bought a shirt." (Bellingham is now dressed to the canines.)

A high point of the High Dive set was a tight, blues-rock jam to a Brownstein song that went, "I'm a racehorse, put your money on me." And that, potential "cash and Carrie" jokes aside, was about all there was to the lyrics.

There was an unfinished quality to many of Wild Flag's originals, as if, in Brownstein's quip, "We wrote these songs on stage." The covers were another story.

Weiss got to sing lead on a cover of The Velvet Underground's "She's My Best Friend," while Timony delivered The Standells' "Dirty Water" (Boston, you're her home) and the sweetest version of "Beast of Burden" you'll ever hear. (Some girls.)

Brownstein closed the show by ditching her guitar and going "wild, wild, wild!" on what could've been Quiet Riot's "Cum On Feel the Noize" (a cold and old ears betrayed me), perhaps without the "girls rock your boys" line. (OK, it was actually "Ask the Angels" by Patti Smith, whom Brownstein was clearly channeling. My bad.)

(Editor's note: the above two paragraphs have been corrected.)

Visit Wild Flag's MySpace page here.

(Mikel Toombs is a frequent contributor to GeneStout.com. Read his recent preview of Auburn duo He Is We.)

A Perfect Circle played in Seattle for three sold out nights at the Showbox at the Market. Each day they performed one of their albums in its entirety; Friday night was Mer de Noms, Saturday- 13th Step, and Sunday- eMOTIVe.

After a six-year hiatus, A Perfect Circle (APC) comprised of lead singer Maynard Keenan (singer of Tool), drummer Josh Freese (drummer of Nine Inch Nails, The Vandals, and Devo), guitarist James Iha (guitarist of Smashing Pumpkins), lead guitarist Billy Howerdel, and bass guitar Jeordie White announced a five city West Coast tour. Every city APC will play three nights for each album and in every city, every night is sold out.

Keenan explained that he got sick after the first show in Arizona and needed a voice rest. Keenan got Iha to tell some jokes to the crowd such as:"What can you wear that never goes out of style? A smile." Keenan also announced that drummer Freese had his fourth baby the night before the first Seattle show.

Cellphones or cameras were not allowed to be out during the entire show. Just like the Tool show at Key Arena in July, the strict rules created a much greater concert experience. For the first time since the digital explosion, one could watch a show without people texting during a show, flashes from cameras or tiny screens filming the show.

The band did not leave the stage when they finished the final track off of Mer de Noms "Over," instead Keenan told the crowd they'll just stay on the stage before the encore begins. The band jokingly started the beginning of Men at Work's "Down Under" but finished off with spellbinding encore covers of David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes" and John Lennon's "Imagine."

SETLIST - Friday November 12th- Mer de Noms

The Hollow
Magdalena
Rose
Judith
Orestes
3 Libras REMIX
Sleeping Beauty
Thomas
Renholdër
Thinking of You
Breña
Over
Ashes to Ashes
Imagine

Charlie Louvin CD The Battle Rages On

By MIKEL TOOMBS

There are at least two United States of Americana events to note this week. Just in time for Veterans Day, Charlie Louvin, the surviving half of the the high-harmony brother act The Louvin Brothers that inspired Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, and later Alison Krauss, releases probably his last album, "The Battles Rage On" (True North Records).

Louvin, 83, is being treated for pancreatic cancer; Krauss, who recorded a memorable version of the Louvins' "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby," performed a couple weeks ago at a benefit for Louvin in "historic Bell Buckle," Tenn. (Brother Ira, a heavy drinker, died in a 1965 wreck on the highway.)

Louvin, who spent time at Fort Lewis before he shipped out to Korea (he enlisted in 1945 and then was drafted in '52), no longer is in remarkable voice. However, his unsteady vocals bring extra poignance to his new collection of old war-themed songs, including Merle Haggard's "I Wonder If They Ever Think of Me" and the Louvins' "Mother, I Thank You for the Bible" and "Weapon of Prayer," a duet with Del McCoury.

Mark Pickerel

Closer to home, Mark Pickerel, the Seattle singer-songwriter and sometime drummer (The Screaming Trees, anyone?), performs a free show at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at the Sorrento Hotel, 900 Madison in the First Hill neighborhood.

Do the two have anything in common? We asked Pickerel, who not long ago opened Damaged Goods, a record store (and more) in Belltown (2316 Second Ave.).

"When I moved back to Seattle about five years ago," he said, "my first goal in finding new digs was that my new place must be within walking distance of the Sorrento, so that I could spend as much time as possible there. I found the perfect place just two blocks away but, unfortunately, not only did I spend most of my extra time there but most of my extra money as well!

"I loved the place so much that I insisted that it be the backdrop for my photo shoot for my first Bloodshot (Records) release, 'Snake In The Radio.' It is truly one of the most gorgeous hotels in America, and The Fireside Room where I'll be performing has a charm and old world personality that is nearly impossible to find anywhere in America anymore.

"You could say the same for Charlie Louvin," Pickerel continued. "Charlie's recent return to performing live has been one of the biggest blessings to the roots and Americana world, and to its audience, in the last decade. I've managed to be fortunate enough to see him perform on a couple of occasions and was moved to tears while listening to songs that I grew up hearing so much out in the eastern plains of Washington state as a youngster.

"I will continue to seek him out at every possible opportunity. His voice has changed considerably since those days that he contributed such sweet harmonies and melodies to the Louvin Brothers' signature sound, but he now possesses qualities that are haunting, vulnerable, fragile but with the wisdom of a thousand years."

Read Toombs' 2007 interview feature on Charlie Louvin here. And follow this link to Bill White's review of Louvin's 2007 show at the Tractor Tavern.

Watch a video of the Louvins' "Knoxville Girl" here.

(Mikel Toombs is a frequent contributor to GeneStout.com. Read his recent preview of Auburn duo He Is We.)

Lay Low (photo: Golli)

Sister cities Seattle and Reykjavik, Iceland, are coming together for a unique showcase of live music at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, at the Crocodile Cafe.

The "Sister City Showcase: Reykjavik Calling" is presented by KEXP-FM in partnership with the City of Reykjavik, the Seattle City of Music Festival, Icelandair and Iceland Naturally. It's part of an ongoing campaign to bridge the musical cultures of two like-minded cities and introduce music fans to a lot of new sounds.

Admission is free at the 21-and-over event until the Crocodile reaches capacity.

Representing Iceland are Mugison, Sindri Mar Sigfusson of Sin Fang Bous, Lay Low and Petur Ben.

Representing Seattle are John Roderick of The Long Winters, Rachel Flotard of Visqueen, Rusty Willoughby of Cobirds Unite, Jason Dodson of the Maldives, and Nathan Wade.

Rachel Flotard of Visqueen

"I think the musical output of these cities is frightening," Mugison said in a news release. "Is it stroke of luck? Something in the water? Blood-bonds of music and the smell of rain? I have had so many of you in my ear; I don't feel like I'm coming to do a gig, more like I'm coming for a reunion."

Kevin Cole, KEXP's senior director of programming, added: "Iceland has an amazingly rich and diverse music culture--much like Seattle. KEXP is excited to present an evening of cultural exchange--sharing some of the best Icelandic singer-songwriters with some of our own for a special night of live music."

For more information on the event, including bios and videos, follow this link.

Read my interview with Flotard about the release of Visqueen's current album, "Message to Garcia."