I reported last week there would be some exciting local recordings coming out soon, and I now have a couple examples to tell you about. We’ve also got some big shows coming up you might want to plan ahead for, and of course plenty of great stuff this week.
Spine Readers just released “Mystery School,” a blast of guitar riffs and catchy melodies which achieves the rare trick of feeling simultaneously familiar and innovative, like a kind of next-generation classic rock. They also put a lot of care into their artwork and merch: their last album came packaged with a comic book, and this one will have a tarot card deck to accompany it.
Paige Woods and her band recently put out a four-song EP recorded live at the Honey Moon. It’s a stripped-down trio lineup that leaves lots of room for Woods’ powerful, bluesy vocals. Celebrate with them at DownTime Taps in Ferndale on Saturday, July 2.
July is a quieter-than-usual month at the Wild Buffalo, but they have two major shows coming up you might want to get tickets for in advance. Heartless Bastards are at the Holly Street music hub on Saturday, July 16, and Portland metal greats Red Fang swing by on Saturday, July 30.
The Shakedown recently announced that Brazilian psychedelic pop greats Os Mutantes will be in town Nov. 8.
Picks of the week
On Thursday, June 30, at Boundary Bay Brewery, Bottle of Smoke takes on the challenging but rewarding task of doing a tribute to The Pogues. The blend of traditional folk with raw rock is a tricky thing to pull off, but they’re up to the task. Thursday also features a sweet triple bill of local indie rockers at the Wild Buffalo: Magenta Wave, Madam Monarch and Iggy Poop.
If you’re looking for some high-quality bluegrass, High Mountain String Band continues its First Fridays residency at Stones Throw.
On Saturday, July 2, hard-touring country/folk artist Joe’s Truck Stop comes to the Honey Moon.
If you want to settle in and enjoy some music before watching fireworks on Monday, July 4, the Kulshan Trackside stage looks like the place to be, with a lineup including The Whags, Motus, Lemon Creek and DJ Boombox Kid. Music starts at 5:30 p.m. and continues through dusk.
Live music listings
Wednesday, June 29
Bar Cicotti: 6 p.m., Sonja Lee & Tim Volpicella (jazz)
Big Stick BBQ: 5 p.m., Michael Dayvid (acoustic covers)
Boundary: 6 p.m., Aaron Guest on piano
Greene’s Corner: 6 p.m., J.P. Falcon & Jan Peters (blues/folk)
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Open Mic
Juxt: 8:30 p.m., Invitational Open Mic
Kulshan Trackside: 7 p.m., Munch, Jackie (rock)
Rockfish: 6 p.m., Pension King and the Dependents (classic rock)
Thirsty Badger: 7 p.m., Open Mic
Thursday, June 30
Blue Room: 6 p.m., Open Mic
Boundary: 5 p.m., Robert Sarazin Blake; 8 p.m., Bottle of Smoke (The Pogues tribute), Marie The Band (folk)
Elizabeth Park: 6 p.m., Geof Morgan and Friends
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Bluegrass Jam
Hotel Bellwether: 6 p.m., Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers
Leader Block: 6 p.m., Michael Dayvid (acoustic covers)
Twin Sisters: 6 p.m., Raveis Kole (folk)
Thirsty Badger: 8 p.m., Open Mic
That’s What I Like: 6 p.m., J.P. Falcon and Friends (folk/rock)
Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Magenta Wave, Madam Monarch, Iggy Poop (rock)
Friday, July 1
Aslan: 8 p.m., BJ Block Trio (funk/jazz)
Beach at Birch Bay: 6 p.m., Lost at Last (classic rock)
Blue Room: 9 p.m., Lazy Acres, Tuesday’s Refuge, Sweetwood (rock)
Boundary: 6 p.m., TBA
Fireside: 7 p.m., The D’vas (classic pop and rock)
Guemes Island General Store: 6:30 p.m., Three for Silver
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Ladies Loe (folk)
Lighthouse: 7:30 p.m., Tim Volpicella & Marvin Johnson (jazz)
Mount Baker Theatre: 7:30 p.m., Daniel Champagne (acoustic guitar virtuoso)
Shakedown: 9 p.m., The Earth Tones, Miles Harris Trio (rock/blues)
Skylark’s: 5 p.m., River (singer-songwriter)
Stones Throw: 6 p.m., High Mountain String Band (bluegrass)
Thirsty Badger: 8 p.m., Rick Goudzwaard (acoustic rock/blues)
Uisce: 7 p.m., Nuages (gypsy jazz)
Vault: 7 p.m., Anna Katarina
Saturday, July 2
Beach at Birch Bay: 4 p.m., Chris Eger (blues/rock)
Big Rock Woolley Market: 5 p.m., Criminal Squirrel Orchestra (rock)
Blue Room: 8 p.m., Cascadia Groove (horn-driven R&B/funk), Michael Dayvid
Boundary: 1 p.m., Heron and Crow (bluegrass/folk); 6 p.m., Spaceband (R&B/pop covers)
Conway Muse: 8 p.m., Nick Vigarino’s Mean Town Blues
Conway Pub: 8 p.m., Groove Doctors (R&B/rock)
Downtime Taps: 6 p.m., Paige Woods and the High Fives
Fireside: 3:30 p.m., Singers’ Saturday
Guemes Island General Store: 6:30 p.m., The Enthusiasts, Collins Beach (rock)
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Joe’s Truck Stop, The Best Intentions
Jansen Art Center: 7:30 p.m., Eric Likkel Trio (jazz)
Lighthouse: 7:30 p.m., Blake Angelos (jazz)
Rockfish: 7:30 p.m., Powerhouse (blues/rock)
Skylark’s: 5 p.m., Rick Allyn (acoustic rock/blues)
Station 49: 6 p.m., Southbound (country)
Thirsty Badger: 8 p.m., The Undecided (modern rock covers)
Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Knucklehead tribute ft. Big Treal, Talia Camile, Yung Sav, more (hip-hop)
Sunday, July 3
Beach at Birch Bay, 1 p.m., The Replayzmentz
Culture Cafe: 7 p.m., Open Mic
Gilkey Square (La Conner): 1 p.m., Legacy Jazz Experience
Lighthouse: 7:30 p.m., Tim Volpicella & Marvin Johnson (jazz)
Old Edison: 5:30 p.m., The Bow Diddlers (classic rock)
Skylark’s: 1 p.m., Will Byrne (acoustic covers)
Monday, July 4
Beach at Birch Bay: 3 p.m., Arcade Cowboys (classic rock)
Hotel Bellwether: 6 p.m., The Atlantics (classic rock and roll)
Kulshan Trackside: 4 p.m., The Whags; 5:30 p.m., Motus; 7 p.m., Lemon Creek; 8:30 p.m., DJ Boombox Kid
Riverfront Park (Sedro-Woolley): 5 p.m., Marcia Kester; 7 p.m., Pretty Much Nothing
Tuesday, July 5
Aslan: 8 p.m., Jazz Night
Beach at Birch Bay: 6:30 p.m., Open Mic
Boundary: 6 p.m., Paul Klein on piano
Before heading out to listen to live music, check with individual venues to make sure the event is still taking place as scheduled.
Jesse Stanton’s music column, The Beat Goes On, runs Wednesdays. Email: jsbhammusic@gmail.com or Twitter: @JSBhamMusic.
