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

Rock, hip-hop, laughs at Knitting Factory

Comedian Josh Blue lands at the Knitting Factory on Saturday night. NBC (NBC / The Spokesman-Review)
Correspondent

The Knitting Factory has a packed week with shows that are sure to pack in crowds. And there’s a little something for everyone – heavy mainstream rock, stand-up comedy, gypsy-folk punk, acoustic emo-rock, and horrorcore hip-hop.

Here’s the lowdown on what’s coming up (tickets for all shows available through TicketsWest, www.ticketswest.com, 509-325-SEAT):

Saliva - Lead singer Josey Scott narrowly escaped death this spring after a combination of ibuprofen and prescription steroids caused severe internal bleeding. But Saliva is back on tour after canceling a stretch of shows during Scott’s recovery. Wildly popular with the world of professional wrestling, Saliva has five gold albums under its belt, in addition to “Every Six Seconds,” the band’s double-platinum Def Jam debut.

Saliva headlines with Showdown, and Spokane band Lucid, tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets: $16.

Josh Blue – Crowned the “Last Comic Standing” on NBC’s reality show of the same name, Josh Blue is well-known for comedy that puts the cerebral in “cerebral palsy,” as his self-deprecating jokes often center on how he deals with his cerebral palsy, and how others view him. Born in Cameroon, raised in St. Paul, Blue got his stand-up start at open mike nights at Evergreen State College, and was the first comedian to do stand up on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

“An Evening of Comedy” with Josh Blue and special guest Hippieman happens on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. Tickets: $22 in advance, $25 at day of show. General admission seating available.

Gogol Bordello – Informed by Ukrainian bandleader Eugene Hutz’s immigrant experience – he lived in Hungary, Austria, and Italy before moving to NY – Gogol Bordello is often described as gypsy-folk punk, but that’s only half of the story. Gogol’s music also incorporates reggae, funk, jazz and a wild carnival of a live show, as captured on the band’s first live DVD, “Live From Axis Mundi,” released Tuesday.

Gogol Bordello brings Apostle of Hustle, which features Broken Social Scene’s Andrew Whiteman, on Sunday at 8 p.m. Tickets: $22.

Secondhand Serenade – Once regarded as MySpace’s top unsigned act, John Vesely may be screening his identity behind a project name that actually describes a singer-songwriter, but his emotive, piano-based songs are deeply personal.

Secondhand Serenade is joined by The Audition, Evan Taubenfield, and The Rust on Monday at 7 p.m. Tickets: $17 in advance, $19 day of show.

Tech N9ne – Dubbed the Underground King of Kansas City Rap, Tech N9ne has collaborated with everyone from 2Pac to Eminem. With his tenth album due at the end of the month on his own Strange Music label, Tech N9ne tours tirelessly when he’s not cranking out grim cuts in the studio.

Tech N9ne leads his K.O.D. Tour, featuring Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Calhoun, Big Scoob, Slaughterhouse, Stevie Stone, Glasses Malone and Spokane’s Knothead on Tuesday at 8 p.m. Tickets: $26