Array of rock lands at Knitting Factory
If you’ve got an appetite for live music, the Knitting Factory Concert House has a feast for the ears in the coming days, highlighted by a local hard rock benefit, Christian rock and surf-reggae party rock.
Here’s a rundown of what’s ahead at the Knit, 919 W. Sprague Ave. Unless otherwise noted, tickets are available through Ticketfly (877-435-9849, www.ticketfly.com).
Noize for Toyz featuring Lucid, 18 Shades, Character Flaw, Josh Pryor and Vial 8
When: Tonight at 7:30
Tickets: $10, or free with a new toy donation
While finishing a new album, Lucid is making its return to the stage, headlining the annual Noize for Toyz benefit for Toys for Tots.
A mainstay of the local scene, Lucid has been nearly omnipresent in Spokane’s hard-rock sector.
The band can often be found rocking on the radio and at various community events such as First Night and especially benefit shows.
It’s been a relatively quiet year for Lucid, as the crew took a bit of a sabbatical. But the band is back with a new lineup.
Jimmy “Nuge” Arguello, lead singer for London Get Down, had been filling in on lead vocals until Lucid found a full-time replacement, Morgan Mallory, who plays guitar in London Get Down. Lucid also has a new bassist, Christian Fluaitt.
Needtobreathe, with The Daylights
When: Sunday, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $20
Often described as a Christian band, Needtobreathe brings Southern rock influences to mix with its positive message.
After a decade of touring nearly nonstop and with the same lineup, Needtobreathe has built a rock-solid reputation, especially after the release of “The Outsiders” last year.
The album peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the Hot Christian Albums chart, while the single, “Lay ‘Em Down,” charted at No. 11 for Hot Christian Songs.
On the new album, the South Carolina quartet adds jangly banjo to the piano-and-harmonica-based melodies. Heavier tunes drive with thunderous drumbeats and background chants to keep the music overflowing with intensity, while the softer songs add contrast, especially the standout ballad “Stones Under Rushing Water,” a duet featuring Nickel Creek’s Sara Watkins.
According to the band’s website (www.needtobreathe.net), Needtobreathe is woodshedding new demos and has plans to get back into the studio after this tour.
The Expendables, with John Brown’s Body, C-Money & The Players
When: Tuesday, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $13/advance, $15/day of show
Not to be confused with the new movie of the same name, these Expendables are not a team of mercenaries, but rather a crew of surf-rock-reggae dudes.
The party anthems abound on their latest effort, “Prove It,” a collection of songs that largely orbit around smoking pot, getting wasted and nursing hangovers.
The Santa Cruz rockers have continued to hone their mastery of mixing genres – surf, punk, reggae, rock and metal – with seamless fluency.
“The Donkey Show” begins with acoustic guitars and closes with a clash of heavy metal riffage. And “Brothers” is delivered in two versions on the album: one a rhythm-based rendering, the other a guitar-laden jam, slowed down and accented with keyboards.
G. Love lends harmonica lines to the more upbeat “Wells.”
“Prove It” is the first release from The Expendables in three years, but the band is picking up right where it left off, with lighthearted jams that are both laid-back and high-energy.