MADRASO CD RELEASE
The vinyl version of Madraso’s Van Horne is delicate and beautiful, with hues of bright yellow and orange flaring out in a sunburst pattern across its otherwise transparent surface. The Northwest artists went to great lengths to ensure their debut record looks and feels as good as it sounds, which is to say better than a flimsy compact disc (which is also included for non-vinyl-philes). Their debut on Salt Lake City’s Pseudo Recordings features several tracks from earlier demos along with new heavy, discordant noise. Certain songs bring to mind These Arms Are Snakes, but with more robust vocals and morbidly obese bass lines. Burt’s Tiki Lounge, 726 S. State, 9 p.m. (with Thunderfist and Victims Willing)
TUESDAY 10.20
MARIANNE DISSARD
When Marianne Dissard sat down to write the lyrics to L’Entredeux, she was stuck between two lovers. By the time the record came out, the French native/Arizona resident found that the material also reflected her experience straddling two cultural and geographical divides. Produced by Calexico’s Joey Burns (whom she met upon relocating to Tucson and falling in love with its vibrant arts community), the French-language album touches on her divorce following 13 years of marriage. Her smoky voice drapes seductively over Burns’ lush instrumental arrangements, creating an intense vibe—cabaret meets cowboy or Southwestern trailblazer buzzed on fine wine. Burt’s Tiki Lounge, 726 S. State, 9 p.m. (with Andrew Goldberg)
GOSSIP, MEN
Beth
Ditto seems to lead a charmed life these days, soaking up new celebrity
in Europe, bearing it all on the cover of major music magazines and
never apologizing for who she is—a fabulous, sassy, feminist post-punk
soul singer who drapes her “plus-size” body in haute couture and then
rips it all off onstage in a sweat-drenched frenzy. But while Ditto
hob-knobs with Kate Moss and Karl Lagerfeld at high-profile fashion
shows, she never forgets “the faggots and the dykes” who helped boost
the small-town band to such great heights. Ditto is a role model to
many and a joy to watch. Opening for Le Tigre at Club Sound in 2004,
Gossip nearly upstaged the legendary headliners with songs showcasing
her Earth-shattering howl. Five years later, the band—also featuring
long-time drummer Hannah Blilie and founding guitarist Brace Paine—is
back in town in support of the new Rick Rubin-produced Music for Men,
which, much to
loyal listeners’ relief, doesn’t gloss over their fierce, raw attitude.
Also on tonight’s bill, Le Tigre-offshoot Men, a socially/politically
active DJ/production/remix team and performing arts collective
featuring JD Samson, Michael O’Neill (Princess, Ladybug Transistor) and
Ginger Brooks Takahashi—former touring member Joanna Fatemen still
contributes behind the scenes. It’s dance music for revolution! Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 9 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com
LE LOUP
With the renewed popularity of vinyl, an increasing number of bands are
beginning to record albums that proudly defy the era of single-song
downloads. Le Loup’s sophomore LP, Family (Hardly Art), is
meant to be enjoyed as a whole. Separate one song from the pack and the
album is bound to sound incomplete, ending abruptly without its smooth,
built-in segue. Listening to it in its entirety, one gets a sense of
how the group—which started as Sam Simkoff’s basement solo
project—comes off live. Their most percussive, dream-like numbers hint
at a show hopped up on primal energy. Comparisons to Animal Collective
aren’t off, though they’ve captured their own identity through this
impressive follow-up to the rather exhaustively titled debut, The
Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations Millennium General Assembly. Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 7:30 p.m. All-ages Tickets: 24Tix.com
COMING UP
Grand Archives (Kilby Court, Oct. 22); A Place to Bury Strangers (Urban Lounge, Oct. 23); Joy Basu (Circle Lounge, Oct. 24); Night of the Living Dub (Orange, Oct. 24); Sunset Rubdown (Urban Lounge, Oct. 24); Greensky Bluegrass (The State Room, Oct. 25); Nico Vega (Burt’s Tiki Lounge, Oct. 25); Fu Manchu (Club Vegas, Oct. 26); Train (The Depot, Oct. 29); The Sounds (In the Venue, Oct. 30); Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit (The State Room, Nov. 1); Emily Autumn (Murray Theater, Nov. 2); Valient Thor, Early Man (Club Vegas, Nov. 3); They Might Be Giants (The Depot, Nov. 6); Rob Zombie (Great Saltair, Nov. 6)