Weight plays newest heavy on rock scene
Weight’s drummer, Joe Preston, describes his band’s style as soundtrack music, though he’s not sure what the film would be about.
Of the movies he’s recently viewed – “The Birdcage,” “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” and “Sanjuro” – the closest reflection to Weight’s sound would be the obscure samurai dark comedy.
Honorable mention might go to Preston’s most-watched DVDs, such as “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and pretty much anything by Terry Gilliam.
The three-piece instrumental prog and math-tinged experimental rock of Weight is moody, at times pretty, but always absorbing, full of cinematic buildups, drop offs and fake outs.
After just five live performances, Weight – Preston; Dave Griffith on multiple synths, sequencers, drum programming and bass; and Belt of Vapor bassist Aaron Powell on guitar – is being called Spokane’s new, hot rock juggernaut, which is especially impressive because most of Weight’s songs are not yet finished.
“The songwriting isn’t complete,” Preston admits. “We have a clear path to where we want to go; it’s just a matter of smoothing that path and cleaning it up. That’s the main reason we want to record.”
The members of Weight plan to spend the summer self-recording their first album.
Preston says they’ll lay off the live shows after their appearance on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. at The B-Side, 230 W. Riverside Ave. Also on the bill is Portland’s Ghost Motor and local rockers Black March. There is a $5 cover.
Get on the fun bus
If you’ve got family and/or friends coming to town this Bloomsday weekend, show them a good time and some of the city’s art and culture through the Movin’ and Groovin’ Fun Bus Tour.
Tonight’s Cross Town Boogie tour kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Howard Johnson Inn, 211 S. Division St., and hits the Satellite Diner, Pepperdine Sports Bar and Grill and Bluz at the Bend for dancing and live music. The Fun Bus returns to Howard Johnson at 11:30 p.m. The cost is $20 per person.
Saturday’s Arts, Culture and Cuisine tour departs from Howard Johnson at 4:30 p.m. and lands at Great Harvest Bread Co. for tasty pastries, then to the Season Ticket’s Lucky Ticket Casino for games and gambling, and on to Caterina Winery to sip vino. The bus returns to Howard Johnson at 9:30 p.m. The cost is $20 per person.
Sunday’s After the Race tour runs from noon to 5 p.m. in 30 to 45 minute loops around downtown and the Gonzaga District with stops at the Satellite Diner, 425 W. Sprague Ave., David’s Pizza, 829 E. Boone Ave., The Bulldog Tavern, 1305 N. Hamilton St., Season Ticket, 1221 N. Howard St., and various downtown hotels. $5 gets you unlimited rides on Sunday’s tour.
10 Minutes Up
It’s been two years since the fellas in local ska-funk-rock-punk band 10 Minutes Down have released an album.
So expect the loyal and restless fans to come in droves when 10MD hosts its CD release party tonight at 8 p.m. at Fat Tuesday’s, 109 W. Pacific Ave.
The new studio set is harder and darker but with the same bottomless energy that has made 10MD one of Spokane’s most popular bands.
Want to know more? Head to Fat Tuesday’s and cough up the $10 cover. Rounding out the bill are Oakland, Calif., rockabilly-sci-fi propmasters The Phenomenauts and local pop-punkers Derby. You’ll not only hear 10MD’s new songs live, but the admission price includes a copy of 10MD’s new studio set.
And if you can’t wait until tonight, get a sneak peak of the album at www.spokane7.com/soundwave.