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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Knitting Factory loads up on alt-music, metal

Correspondent

Alt-rock, alt-country, indie, metal and more metal are the flavors coming through the Knitting Factory in a packed weekend of concerts.

Here’s the deal on who’s coming and what’s happening (tickets available through TicketsWest outlets, 509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).

•Floater, with Sweet Water: tonight at 8, $12/advance, $14/day of show.

Portland rock staple Floater brings its washy, prog-pop concept rock back for another spin, touring in support of its latest release, “Acoustic Live at the Wow.”

Whether unplugged or not, Floater has a reputation for electrified performances, sometimes playing three sets, two acoustic with an electric in between. Through sheer work ethic, the trio has packed venues across the West Coast including Seattle’s Showbox.

Taking its own turn on modern music, Floater incorporates aspects of rock, psychedelia, reggae, pop and jazz.

•Chuck Mead, tonight at 6, AlterKnit Lounge, free.

The co-founder of three-time Grammy-nominated honky-tonk heroes BR549, Chuck Mead has taken off on his own.

After decades of keeping the alt-country flame lit, Mead is touring in support of his solo full-length debut, “Journeyman’s Wager.” Recorded to two-inch tape in a studio with both-state-of-the-art and vintage equipment, the album has a raw, live sound.

With BR549 on extended hiatus, there have been occasional reunions on “A Prairie Home Companion,” but Mead is forging ahead on his own journey.

•Rocco DeLuca & The Burden with Joshua James, Saturday at 7:30 p.m., $14/advance, $15/day of show.

On his sophomore album, “Mercy,” indie singer-songwriter Rocco DeLuca teamed up with five-time Grammy-winning producer Daniel Lewis to realize his vision for a more delicate sound.

More refined than his acclaimed debut, “I Trust You To Kill Me,” his latest set pairs his introspective falsetto against lush piano-based ambience.

Praised by Rolling Stone for possessing bits of Neil Young, Robert Plant and Pearl Jam, DeLuca has the ability to bring it both hard and soft.

•Testament, with Unearth and Lazarus A.D., Sunday at 7:30 p.m., $22.50 in advance, $25 day of show.

After 25 years in the music business, Testament is still testifying to darkness. Its 10th album, “The Formation Of Damnation,” plunges into the shadows of politics, war and relationships in a classical thrash metalgeddon.

The political references to the Patriot Act, Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 might be dated, but Testament’s aggro-metal execution nailed in with classic metal compositions makes for a classic rock onslaught.

•All That Remains with August Burns Red, Born of Osiris and From Sword to Sunrise, Monday at 7:30 p.m., $17.50 in advance, $20 day of show.

On its fourth studio outing, 2008’s “Overcome,” All That Remains received mixed reviews for going with a decidedly more mainstream sound. But the move seems to have paid off, as the group achieved “Rock Band” status by scoring two downloadable songs for the popular video game series.