Shimmer”s purple pop shines at the Blue Spark
Upon hearing the opening notes of “Don’t Trip On Your Way Out” – the lead track from Shimmer’s debut self-titled album – you might ask yourself, “Is Prince at it again?”
Without outright cloning his style, singer Skip Peri’s voice sounds so much like The Artist that it’s eerie.
And it’s not just Peri’s vocals. There’s an overarching purple sheen to Shimmer that recalls the days of Paisley Park Prince – more aimed at the kinky-pop wit of The Revolution than the orchestral funk arrangements of, say, The New Power Generation.
Yet the sound is not so derivative that Shimmer doesn’t have its own thing.
The Tacoma trio’s in-the-pocket grooves stand out in the West Side’s ever-crowding neo-soul bracket because of its simplicity. There is no synth player or turntable wizard to fill-in gaps/save the day/bait and switch with tints of hip-hop, and therefore more contemporary, textures (in the same way Cody Chesnutt’s “The Seed” was a commercial flop until The Roots remixed it).
This is not some eclectic mash of neo-soul-hip-hop-funk-R&B-reggae. Keep the slick studio cover-ups. Shimmer’s stripped naked jams laced with slap-yo’-mama attitude has a less-is-more appeal.
It’s not so much sexy dance music as it is dancey sex music, but try to keep your clothes on if you see Shimmer on Saturday night at the Blue Spark, 15 S. Howard St. Showtime is 8 p.m. Cover to be announced.
Also, check out Shimmer’s appearance on Local Lounge 103.1 FM (KCDA-FM) on Sunday at 10 p.m.
Listen to tracks by “Shimmer” at www.spokane7.com/soundwave.
Club hoppin’
• Jenn Adams stops tonight at The Shop, 924 S. Perry St. While the Nashville-by-way-of-Montana singer-songwriter continues to ride the wave of her most recent release, “Under the Gypsy Sky,” two of Adams’ previous albums, “In The Pool” and “Water,” are being re-released in Europe. Music starts at 7 p.m. Donations suggested.
• Local musicians come together to support Thin Air Radio at a benefit show for the commercial- free radio station on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. at The B-Side, 230 W. Riverside Ave. The lineup includes local favorites Burns Like Hellfire, Gorilla Rabbit and Breezy Brown. There is a $5 cover.
• Fat Tuesday’s, 109 W. Pacific Ave., throws a wicked local music party Wednesday at 7 p.m. with a variety of styles, featuring punk by Dancing Cadavers, metal by Concrete Grip (formerly distress), homemade hip-hop by Freetime Synthetic and punk vs. metal by Half Inch Head. There is a $5 cover for the all-ages show. Full bar with ID.