{Photo credit: dan10things from the TIG Flickr Photo Pool}

The Cute Lepers are the sonic equivalent of a Payday bar. They satisfy many cravings in a tasty, self-contained unit. They are a little punk, a little pop, a little 70's, a little 80's and a LOT of energy. Cleverly non-de-plumed Steve E. Nix and company incorporate the noise, crunch and jangle that makes punk rock so much fun, but make it more accessible for pop fans with their sweet harmonies, tight instrumentation, and almost breezy, playful attitude. This is a band that loves music and musicians and it shows.

Upon a close listen, you can hear elements of Buzzcocks-inspired punk, the Come Ons or Von Bondies-style garage, and an Elvis Costello / Jim Carrol hybrid in the vocal stylings of Nix. There are whiffs here and there of an almost new-wave sound, in the vein of the Waitresses or the Plimsouls, to whom they are often compared, which creates an altogether innovative and interesting approach to pop-punk as a genre and exceeds expectations of a band with that label. Though the genre "pop-punk" often inspires a wave of eye rolls, The Cute Lepers serve as the band that will make em stick mid-way, just like your mama warned you. They do not simply repeat the same three chords on every track. There are actual variations in the music and vocals! No song sounds the same, and none of them sound like a pastiche or parroting, a welcome game changer to the genre on the whole.

This Friday marks the release of their second album Smart Accessories at the Funhouse.

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I've written enough about beards and Seattle that a) a friend recently asked me if I feel the urge to shave more often than most people, lest I be seen with a five o' clock shadow and b) a special category on TIG was created called "Beard Alert".

Having said that, there is a bazillion good reasons for recommending this Beard/Off tonight at the Funhouse. That it is one event that is guaranteed to reduce Seattle's beard population is but one of many. This event begins with a 1-on-1 basketball match between Champagne Champagne's Sir Thomas Gray and Mad Rad's Terry Radjaw. The contest is simple and is spelled out on the poster: "Loser shaves; winner gloats".

I don't have a dog in this race as I like both Champagne Champagne and Mad Rad equally (ie, a lot) but it gets even better as following the game there will be performances by some of the best local hip hop acts, including They Live and Fresh Espresso (which features Radjaw's Mad Rad bandmate P. Smoov).

It's $8 and begins at 7pm, 21+. I really hope this takes off and becomes so successful that the next Beard/Off pits Tim Harrington of Les Savy Fav against Iron & Wine's Sam Beam.

Here's the video to They Live's "My Weed" (and one more video that features no performers from this event but one that I couldn't resist including):

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In the case of Motorik, one of my favorite local bands based on their spartan, sinewy Killing Joke-infused bat-cave blitzkrieg bop nine track debut "Klang!" I will get to see them live for the first time AND at the Funhouse just across the street from the opening night commencement at the Pop Con.

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I caught three great shows this weekend - and there were so many others going on all over town it was difficult to decide which ones to attend. Here's where I ended up...

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Looks like Amelia chose the Partman Parthorse show on Friday at the Funhouse, and it looks like they put on a fantastic show. I absolutely love photos that articulate exactly how fun the show was, and this shot illustrates that perfectly.

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very time I turn around, a new option presents itself for Friday night (tomorrow!).

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They play tonight (10/13) at the Funhouse with Of Meaning and Molly Rose at 9:30. It's bound to be a fantastic show.

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at Funhouse

The Coconut Coolouts are an energetic mutt; equal parts Hawaiian surf, proto-punk, and bashed out garage rock.

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