I've gotten a slew of exciting emails about local bands using their powers of rock for good over the past couple of days, so here's the down-and-dirty update, from my inbox to your imagi-blog:

• Head Like a Kite flies to Japan next week (!!) to play a showcase in Toyko on Nov 15 at SHIBUYA O-NEST with Muneomi Senju (Voordoms/Boredoms drummer, PARA), the Primrose, Oak, and Avengers in Sci-Fi. Talk about spreading the Seattle love far and wide! They also just signed to LA-based electronic label Mush Records (joining such bands as Her Space Holiday, Busdriver, Daedelus, Lymbyc Systym, and Aesop Rock). Strong work, fellas!
• The Cops just released their second full-length Free Electricity this week! We hang our heads in shame for not having reviewed it yet... but you can pop on over to Aversion to read their glowing praise for this stellar record. The band will celebrate their CD release at the Crocodile this Friday, November 16th, with two other loud and awesome Seattle bands, the Pleasureboaters and the Whore Moans. Bring ear protection!
• Bre Loughlin, former front-woman for Seattle bands Kuma and Daylight Basement, has just self-released her debut full-length record Modern American Photo Album and will celebrate with not one but two CD release show this weekend: first on Friday night at Easy Street in West Seattle (with Seattle band Cantona), and then at Neumo's Sunday night, opening for Portland shoegaze-pop band Stars of Track and Field. Check out some new songs by visiting Bre's MySpace.  
• We Wrote the Book on Connectors have not one, not two, not three, but FOUR new songs available for your listening pleasure at their website. From the band: "Each song was individually hand crafted using only the finest ingredients in our secret mustache laboratory at the bottom of the sea. Feel free to download to your imaginary heart's content."
  
• The Purrs have a new record (their thrid full-length, for those of you keeping count), called The Chemistry That Keeps Us Together. To celebrate, there will be -- you guessed it! -- a CD release show at the Sunset this Friday, November 9th, at the Sunset. Seattle band Black Nite Crash and Portland's The Upsidedown are also on the bill.
• And finally, Ms. Led will be playing in NYC this Saturday, November 10th, as part of the International Pop Overthrow festival. The band plays early (4:30p) at The Baggot Inn, so if any of you are reading over in New York and are looking for a smattering of feminist power-punk, we highly suggest you head on over -- Ms. Led puts on one helluva show.

Any other local band excitement this week that I missed? Be sure to let the imaginary world know by leaving a comment below...