These Bands Are Just Waiting For You To Come Out And Party
If you’re at least 21 and you can’t find something fun to do among the following list of options, then consider doing the following: Check wrist for pulse.
Jazz
The Jive Talkin’ Robots from Portland bring their blend of jazz and funk to Ichabod’s North tonight. This five-piece band is on tour in support of their latest album “Superheroes.” The Carcinogens open the show. Cover charge is $5. Music starts at 9:30 p.m.
The Damon Zick Quintet performs at Hobart’s Jazz Lounge tonight. Saxophonist Zick heads up this straight-ahead jazz group. Zick, who hails from Miami Beach, Fla., performs both jazz and classical music and has played and recorded with groups such as the Eastman Jazz and Wind Ensemble, The New World Symphony and The Rochester Philharmonic.
He is joined by trombonist Tim Albright, who recently spent three months with The Glenn Miller Band and recorded and toured with Steve Coleman’s ensemble. Steve Moore joins them on piano along with Heather Chriscaden on bass and Eric Eagle on drums. The band is touring in support of Zick’s new CD “The Outing.”
The music starts tonight at 8 and costs $5 ($4 for students.)
On Thursday don’t miss Kansas City quintet Boko Maru at Hobart’s Jazz Lounge. Their name is taken from Kurt Vonnegut’s novel “Cat’s Cradle” and means “the mingling of awareness.” For their part, Boko Maru mingles jazz, blues, rock and contemporary music. Its members have backed Mark Murphy, Herb Ellis, Kevin Mahogany and opened for Maynard Ferguson.
The show starts Thursday at 7 p.m. and runs until 11 p.m. Admission is $6 ($5 for students).
Blues
Watch the region’s best blues band perform at the region’s best blues club this weekend when Mumbo Jumbo plays at Mad Daddy’s Blues Club in Coeur d’Alene tonight and Saturday.
This Spokane group raked in the accolades at the most recent Inland Empire Blues Society awards ceremony. Among the awards they received: Best Blues Band, Best Male Vocalist and Best Blues Harmonica. The blues society also named Mad Daddy’s Blues Club the best blues venue in the region. Music starts tonight and Saturday at 9 p.m. Admission is $3.
In addition to the Thursday night jam session, Mad Daddy’s will host a Sunday afternoon “Super Jam” beginning this weekend. Hosted by Dan Willis, musicians are invited to practice their blues chops on stage every Sunday beginning at 1:30 p.m. There is no cover charge. The Thursday night jam sessions begin at 8 p.m.
Too Slim and The Taildraggers play at The Fort Spokane Brewery tonight. These Spokane bluesman are so good they really don’t need any introduction. Just see them for yourself and become one of the converted. Music starts at 9:30 p.m. Cover charge is $6.
Rock’n’roll
At Ichabod’s North Saturday, Spokane quartet Smash Velvet celebrates the release of its six-song CD “Iridescent Version 2.”
With Black Sabbath and Nirvana listed among their influences, Smash Velvet delivers a dual-guitar-lead muscular brand of alterna-rock.
The members of Smash Velvet - singer/guitarist Matt Beers, guitarist Jean Greagor, bassist Chris Arger and drummer Matt Willms - began playing together five years ago at the tender young age - 15.
These days the group is developing the visual aspect of their live performances. With a large white screen placed on stage behind the players and the band members all dressed in white jumpsuits, a video projector flashes a collage of images on stage throughout the show.
“I wanted to push the boundaries more and make it not just a music show but more of an event,” Beers says.
Southern California trio Tub headlines the show Saturday with a set full of stripped-down and punchy indie-punk-pop. Their EP “White Over Purple” indicates this is a band that should be worth checking out - one that mixes just the right amount of grit with just the right amount of melody. Pyramid Scheme opens the show at 9:30 p.m. Cover charge is $5.
Reggae/Ska/Dance
Get ready to get down at the Fort Spokane Brewery Saturday night with Civilized Animal. These Spokane boys mix up the rock, reggae and ska. Mulligan plays the middle spot with its combo of Steely-Dan-meets-Supertramp fun and funky dance music. Members of the band spent time in Spokane group Like Family, among others. Longview opens the show. Admission is $5. The show starts at 9 p.m.
Drinks and conversation
If you’re simply looking for somewhere to have a few drinks and hang out with your friends, check out the new bar in the basement of Moon’s Mongolian Grill on Main Street downtown.
Moon’s Shadow Lounge opened at the beginning of this year and offers a cool new place to kick back. With plenty of couches and comfortable chairs, a big screen TV and pool tables, the atmosphere is - as one of my friends pointed out - like a house party at a friend’s place.
Moon’s Shadow Lounge, at 430 W. Main, is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. Appetizers are available downstairs after the restaurant closes at 9 p.m.