This weekend promises a whole lot of great music.

Friday
The pick for tonight is Awesome along with Captain Bogg & Salty, Miss Mamie Lavona: the Exotic Mullata and her White Boy Band Sunset Tavern. Awesome may be a bit too Broadway for the cool kids, but they are truly Awesome. They always seem to be working on adventurous new compositions, but maybe they’ll play some golden oldies from their CD Deleware tonight.

Alternatively, you can catch the always entertaining Mark Pickerel & His Praying Hands (they lay awfully nicely, too) opening for Johnny Dowd down the street at the Tractor.

Otherwise, why not head to the Funhouse (don’t know any of the bands, but one of them is called Jesus Fucking Christ, which is kind of funny), Comet or SSMA? All venues good for serving up quality music you might not know about.

Saturday
The pick for tonight is the Headphones/Panda & Angel and S show at the Crocodile. What a great bill! well, I know nothing about the Headphones, but the other two are just fine.

Another plug got the Sunset – Boat is having their CD release. Also playing are The Salteens, Tullycraft and Voxy. I really like Boat. Not only do they put out some of the most interesting eclectic music in town, they’re swell folks to boot.

My friend Nate tells me that No-Fi Soul Rebellion is an incredible band to see live, and they’re playing at the Comet, which should be quite a treat.

Sunday
What a great Sunday for music. Not only is Kelly Clarkson gracing the stages of White River Amphitheatre, but local favorites the Riffbrokers are appearing at one of the Funhouse’s lovely matinee (4 PM) shows. What could be better than some great rock, cold beer and basketball on a Sunday afternoon?

Later that evening is your chance to catch the non-stop rock of Touchdown Eagle at Chop Suey. Word on the street is that shiny new recordings will be available at the show (and nowhere else!).

After all that you should take a deep breath, drink a cup of tea and go to sleep. You deserve it.

CROCODILE 7/11/06

A couple of weeks ago, I was happy to hear the So Said They song “The Final Chapter” on KEXP’s Audioasis. They self-released an EP this year already and have been playing around Seattle quite frequently. I’ve seen them play before and lemme tell ya, this three-piece is a ménage a trios of guitar noise, drum din, and even some hidden melody. One of So Said They’s many strengths lay in the vocals of guitarist Iris Montes. Go to the Croc on Tuesday and see for yo’ damn self. Then go home, log on and comment this write-up…lemme know if I’m wrong.

$6/9pm
SO SAID THEY
SPANISH FOR 100
THE SWIM TEAM