Town Hall to host viewing party for final prez debate

Music editor Raina Wagner, filling in on dispatch duty today:

Politics'd out? Not yet? Then you'll want to join your fellow political junkies for the final presidential debate on Wednesday, Oct. 15, when Town Hall will host a viewing party. James Traub, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, will talk on our nation's recent efforts to promote democracy abroad, starting at 7:30 p.m. — right at the close of the 6 p.m. debate. Traub will discuss the debate at the start of his lecture.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, for those wanting to watch the final verbal battle between senators Barack Obama and John McCain. Tickets cost $5; get them at Brown Paper Tickets — www.brownpapertickets.com.

Other Wednesday news bits:

• Death Cab for Cutie performed "Cath" from their album "Narrow Stairs" on Conan O'Brien last night. Did you miss it? Catch a replay on MySpaceTV — go to www.myspacetv.com and search "Late Night with Conan O'Brien. And don't forget the Seattle faves are touring with Neil Young right now; the tour comes to Everett on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Tickets are at www.ticketmaster.com.

• And back to politics. Onetime Nirvana-man and current Foo Fighter Dave Grohl joined his bandmates in releasing a statement this week denouncing the McCain campaign's unauthorized use of their song "My Hero" at campaign rallies. Said the Foos, in part: "The saddest thing about this is that 'My Hero' was written as a celebration of the common man and his extraordinary potential. To have it appropriated without our knowledge and used in a manner that perverts the original sentiment of the lyric just tarnishes the song. We hope that the McCain campaign will do the right thing and stop using our song — and start asking artists' permission in general!"

Oct. 7: Record-setting Weezer comes to town Saturday

What to do, what to do? Film our new music video or set the world record for the longest "Guitar Hero" World Tour Marathon?

If you're the band Weezer, coming to KeyArena on Saturday, the answer is both. And why not set four more records while we're at it?

The fun, self-deprecating band of frontman Rivers Cuomo set five Guinness World Records while they filmed the video for their latest single, "Troublemaker." The records — ranging from the "Guitar Hero" feat to the most people in a custard pie fight — involved hundreds of people and up to 10 hours to set, in L.A. back in August.

And as of Monday night, you can see the record-setting fun they had: "Troublemaker" debuted at Yahoo!Music late Monday. See it here — http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos

Or, see the band perform the song live. Weezer brings its "red album" tour to the Key on Saturday. Information and tickets are at Ticketmaster — www.ticketmaster.com.

Pick up NWTicket on Friday for Patrick MacDonald's concert preview, or read it Friday online at www.seattletimes.com.

Oct. 6: Monday music notes

Bits and bites from Seattle's music and arts news today:

• Marian Liu's story on beatmaster Jake One (read it at www.seattletimes.com/musicnightlife) generated lots of guessing on a Seattle hip-hop blog due to this line:

"Now, sticking to his home base of Seattle, he's working on several albums, including some for the artists on his record's lineup. He's also producing for a certain bigwig in hip-hop. Dutton won't say who on the record, but it's someone coming out of a long retirement."

Check out www.206proof.com to see who people think Jake One's next big client is.

• Here's an excerpt from a news story Times visual arts critic Sheila Farr posted earlier:

McLeod Residence to shut down

McLeod Residence, a popular Belltown gallery and bar, will close its doors Oct. 31, unable to comply with city fire codes. Gallery owners say they are searching for a new location.

"We had a temporary certificate of occupancy but they need some proof of work on the building," said co-owner Lele McLeod. "The building is not up to code for the kind of business that we have — something about the space between our business and other businesses. We don't have the [required] three hours of fire protection in between."

A fire department spokeswoman was not able to comment on the issue immediately.

It's a problem the owners of McLeod Residence didn't anticipate when they signed a five year lease on the eccentric upstairs space two years ago.

"We didn't know that much about owning a business and didn't look into it before we signed our lease," McLeod said. "Somebody with experience would have had an architect look at the place."

She and partners Buster McLeod and Kindra Meyer have since looked into possible ways to bring the place up to code but couldn't find a workable solution. "It's 100 years old and every part about it is old," she said. "We don't know what is possible for us to do."

See the complete story on the homepage: www.seattletimes.com.

Oct. 3: Reverb Fest to reverberate through Ballard Saturday

Sixty-four bands. One day.

Yep, that's Reverb Fest for you, when Seattle gets one last dose of the summer-festival feeling on an autumn day, this year set for tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 4, at nine Ballard locations — Hatties Hat, The Sunset, The Tractor, Conor Byrne's, Mr. Spot's Chai House, Lock and Keel, The Bit and others.

Those spots will be well-populated with local favorites — Panda & Angel (5 p.m., Salmon Bay Eagles, all ages), Truckasaurus (9 p.m., Market Street Athlete, all ages), the Lonely Forest (6 p.m. Salmon Bay Eagles), Grayskul (11:30 p.m., Sunset, 21+), Shim (12:30 a.m., The Tractor, 21+), and many, many more.

You can get your total-event wristbands at the event, cash only: $10 for 21-and-up wristbands, and $7 for the all-ages venues. Wristbands will be on sale at all Reverb Fest venues starting 30 minutes prior to the first show. Shows start times go from 3 p.m. till the stage-closers at 12:30 a.m. Saturday night.

Learn more here — www.seattleweekly.com/microsites/reverbfest.

Oct 2: Pink Martini reschedules Benaroya date

A dispatch from Sunday NW Arts &Life editor Lynn Jacobson:

Pink Martini, originally scheduled to play with the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall on Jan. 13, 2009, has postponed its appearance until May 21.

Due to the date change, Seattle Symphony will no longer perform with the band.

Pink Martini is a popular Portland-based combo that blends Latin, classical and jazz music.

For ticket info, call 206-215-4747 or go to www.seattlesymphony.org.

Oct. 1: Music and theater news briefs

• Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard performed in drag for a good cause last weekend: a posthumous CD-release event for Charles "Upchuck" Gerra, a musician often cited as one of the biggest influences on 1990s grunge. Gerra, who was openly gay, died of AIDS in 1990.

On Saturday, Sept. 23, at the King Cat Theater, Gossard, Gerra's former band The Fags and others played a tribute to "Upchuck" and the career-spanning CD that came out this week. "Upchuck: Gone But Not Forgiven" is a Sub Pop distribution, available at www.Amazon.com.

• The AP Wire moved this story early today, about goings-on with "Shrek the Musical" in NYC. The changes are in areas that were directly criticized by Seattle Times critic Misha Berson last month, when the show had its pre-Broadway tryout at the 5th Avenue Theatre. (Read that review at www.seattletimes.com/entertainment).

"Shrek" gets a new Donkey and Dragon is redefined

By Michael Kuchwara

AP Drama Writer

NEW YORK — There's been a shake-up at "Shrek The Musical" as it prepares for its Broadway opening.

The mammoth DreamWorks musical based on its successful animated film and the characters in William Steig's book will have a new Donkey when it begins preview performances Nov. 8 at the Broadway Theatre.

Daniel Breaker, a Tony nominee for his performance last season in "Passing Strange," will take over the role played by Chester Gregory during the show's recent Seattle tryout. Gregory has been seen most recently on Broadway in "Crybaby" and has appeared in "Tarzan" and "Hairspray" as well.

In addition, the role of the Dragon has been reconceived, with the voice of the creature now being performed by a chorus of eight women rather than one performer and a chorus. As a result, Kecia Lewis-Evans, who played the solo Dragon voice, has decided to leave the production.

The musical received generally good notices during its Aug. 14-Sept. 21 Seattle engagement.

"Shrek" opens officially Dec. 14. It features Brian d'Arcy James as the green ogre, Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona, Christopher Sieber as the evil Lord Farquaad and John Tartaglia as Pinocchio.

"Shrek," directed by Jason Moore, has book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori.

More on "Shrek": www.shrekthemusical.com

Sept. 30: The Saturday Knights get play on "Entourage"; Blake Lewis cameos in Common Market video

Bits of news from Seattle's music scene:

• Seattle's "fun" hip-hop group The Saturday Knights had a song in the Sept. 28 episode of the HBO series "Entourage." "Motorin'," from the trio's new CD, "Mingle," played when Ari the agent tells Eric, Vince's manager, that he'll top the offer E has from Amanda for "Smoke Jumpers," a script that is suddenly in a bidding war. You can hear a sample of "Motorin'" at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Mingle-Saturday-Knights/dp/B0018BEGDC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1222798210&sr=8-1), and get in on the conversation about the music of "Entourage" here — http://entouragewiki.hbo.com/thread.

• Blake Lewis, the Bothell singer of "American Idol" fame, has a cameo in the new Common Market video, which we wrote about in this space last week. Read more below, or go watch the "Trouble Is" video here — http://www.mtvu.com/video/?id=1595482&vid=276978 — and see if you can spot BShorty.

• And an interesting pop-punk group comes to town this week. Ponytail — a Baltimore art-school four-piece — will perform Thursday, Oct. 2 at Nectar — High Places headlines. Ponytail is touring with the their new album, "Ice Cream Spiritual (We Are Free)." Blender wrote of Ponytail: "Baltimore geeks whip up some chipper, punky noise ... one sexy, sweaty mess."

Check them out on MySpace — www.myspace.com/jreamteam

Doors open at 8 p.m. Thursday; $10 in advance (more info: www.nectarlounge.com).

Sept. 29: Shakespeare's "Henry IV" to get a 2-for-1 staging this fall at Seattle Shakes

This fall, Seattle Shakespeare Company will stage "Henry IV" — all of it at once.

Actor/director/theater scholar Daikin Matthews has adapted the two William Shakespeare history plays, "Henry IV, Part 1" and "Henry IV, Part 2," into one action-packed, 3-hour play, which will be on the boards at the theater, in Seattle Center's Center House Theatre, Oct. 23-Nov. 16.

"I love the history plays," says Seattle Shakes artistic director Stephanie Shine. The two "Henry IV" plays are preceded by "Richard II" and followed by "Henry V." "I'd do them all the time if I could get away with it... . This is a terrific opportunity for our audiences to discover the story in its entirety."

"Henry IV" tells the coming-of-age story of Prince Hal, the youth who will become the heroic Henry V.

Tickets, $22-$36, are on sale now at 206-733-8222 or www.seattleshakespeare.org. Pay-what-you-can previews are at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 and 22.

Sept. 25: West Seattle's Admiral Theater adding live music concerts

West Seattle's Admiral Theater is going musical. After a long history as a cinema, the Admiral Theater recently became a live theater venue as well, adding theater and comedy in the last year. Now the Admiral is kicking off its foray into live music with concert featuring Brent Amaker & the Rodeo Lasso, Panda & Angel and The Hands on Saturday, Oct. 11.

The move adding music comes after recent renovations at the 100-year-old historic theater added a stage and sound/lighting system, and a bar.

The Oct. 11 show will start at 9 p.m. (doors at 8), and is 21 and up. Get tix — $10 in advance, $15 at the door — at the theater, 2343 California Ave. S.W., in West Seattle — or through Brown Paper Tickets (800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com).

Sept. 24: The Croc has a crew: Eli Anderson and Roy Atizado hired

The Crocodile Cafe is months from reopening, but the legendary nightclub is already announcing hires: Eli Anderson will be the talent buyer for the club, and Roy Atizado has been hired as director of live entertainment, announced club spokeswoman Kerri Harrop in an e-mailed news release.

Anderson worked for years at Sonic Boom Records, and after a stint in Boston, returned to Seattle for a job assisting with booking and promotions at the Croc, prior to its closure in December 2007.

As for Atizado, he has worked as a tour manager, an artist manager, and producer for 20 years, the last three years at Chop Suey, where he was general manager.

Harrop also said the staff of the Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, Ore., will help the new Croc with booking national touring bands.

The Croc is currently being remodeled; the new management hopes to reopen in January or February 2009.

And here's some MTV news involving a local fave:

"Trouble Is," a new video from hip-hop duo Common Market (DJ Sabzi and RA Scion), debuts on mtvU and www.mtv.com today, Wednesday, Sept. 24.

The single — from their new album "Tobacco Road" (Massline/ Hyena) — will play on the mtvU network every hour for 24 hours starting at 6 a.m., and will also be featured on mtvU.com.

According to a release, "Trouble Is" tells the story of a vagrant farmer's hardship in a town where the locals call into question his intentions and work ethic. Sabzi's brother, Zia Mohajerjasbi, directed the vid.

You can watch the video at mtvU.com at www.mtvu.com/music/video_premiere/common_market

Read more about Common Market in Marian Liu's recent profile of RA Scion at www.seattletimes.com (search "RA Scion").

Common Market next plays in Seattle at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28. at King Cobra, in an appearance with People Under the Stairs. Get ticket info here — www.kingcobraseattle.com.

Raina Wagner: rwagner@seattletimes.com

Sept. 23: Comedy Underground to reopen Friday

We start the day with a comedy dispatch from Andrew Matson:

The Comedy Underground reopens this weekend at 109 S. Washington St., a few blocks from 222 S. Main St., where it used to be. Jerry Seinfeld used to play there in the '80s, solidifying a Seinfeld/Seattle connection way before those Microsoft commercials on TV right now.

For the past four months, the Comedy Underground has been presenting shows at the Admiral Theater in West Seattle. Now back in Pioneer Square, the club will open this weekend, with shows Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26 and 27, at 8 and 10:15 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 28, at 8 p.m.

Admission is $5; tickets are available through the Comedy Underground (www.comedyunderground.com), or at www.ticketweb.com.

Andrew Matson, Seattle Times staff

Sept. 23: City accepting applications to fill gallery spaces

If you're an aspiring artist, the city is looking for you.

The Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs is seeking to fill two City Hall gallery spaces in 2009. They are asking for proposals that focus on the diversity of Seattle's community that highlight the work of local artists, nonprofit organizations and community groups. Past work included a group show by Seattle print artists and exhibits on arts education, climate change and homelessness.

Winning exhibits will be on display for six to eight weeks at the City Hall Lobby Gallery and the Anne Focke Gallery.

Arts and community-based organizations are encouraged to apply, and individuals can apply as part of a group show. Judges include a panel of city employees administered by the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. Deadline: 11 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13. Applications are to be submitted digitally at www.seattle.gov/arts.

Sept. 22: Aloha! Ukelele and slack-key guitar stars coming to Triple Door

Aloha is coming into town.

Ukulele player Herb Ohta, Jr. will be performing at The Upstage Restaurant (923 Washington, Port Townsend) on at 8 p.m. Oct. 5, with dinner and festivities beforehand. Tickets cost $15 at 360-385-2216 or www.upstagerestaurant.com.

And, Ohta will be joined by slack-key guitarist Keoki Kahumoku at The Triple Door (216 Union St., Seattle) on Oct. 6. Tickets are $16 in advance and $18 at the door. For more information, call 206-838-4333 or go to www.thetripledoor.net.

Ohta works as a teacher, composer, artist and producer. He has penned two ukulele how-to books with Grammy-award winning artist Daniel Ho. To see the two of them play, go to — www.youtube.com/watch?v=smdp-QluqxI. And for more information on Ohta, head here — www.herbohtajr.com.

Kahumoku was one of the artists on 2005's "Slack Key Guitar Volume 2," the first Hawaiian album to win a Grammy. There's more information on that album here — www.kahumoku.com/keoki.

Sept. 19: Rapper Common has a persona to please everyone in Showbox SoDo show

Here's a report from Thursday night's Common concert from Andrew Matson:

At the packed Common concert last night at Showbox SoDo, a guy in the audience held one of the Chicago rapper's old records in the air for a long time, through whole songs. This is something you only do if you are a superfan.

The hoisted single was "I Used to Love H.E.R.," a story-song from 1994 in which Common anthropomorphizes hip-hop as a woman, and raps about the best way to "do" her (with skill and spirituality, he decides).

The record holder wasn't requesting the song — Common rapped "I Used to Love H.E.R." earlier. He just wanted Common to look out over the racially diverse crowd — with equally enthusiastic male and female members — and see the record. I think he got whatever solidarity he was looking for.

A lot of girls were excited about Common-the-Sexy-Sincere-Guy last night, but there were more than a few guys like the vinyl dude, guys that came to see a no-less sincere character: Common-the-Ultimate-MC. He pulled off both, doing them straight ("Come Close" was still sweet; "The People" still rousing and lyrical) and flipped ("Go," an ode to creative sex, was way spikier than the soothing recorded version, delivered instead like a battle rap).

The stage was set up like a bar in a nightclub, tended by girls that might also have been backup singers in Common's big but not intrusive band. He pretended to argue his way in, then ordered drinks, brought a woman from the audience on stage and romanced her (she was game for some role-playing, and Common's a pretty good actor).

The sound at Showbox SoDo is bad. It's all loud echoes in the hangar-like building. Is it the Costco-style cement floors? Luckily, Common's rapping was clear enough to hear the words.

He impressed with an impromptu rhyme about Seattle that stretched on well over a minute. Yeah, he rhymed "battle" with "Seattle," which is as lame as "lyrical" with "miracle," but whatever: He did an astounding amount of local name checking without losing his flow. He also breakdanced.

Pharrell came out during Common's set drinking a Capri Sun and held it like the Statue of Liberty at the front of the stage. The genius rap producer opened with his not-genius rap/rock fusion band, N.E.R.D.

Andrew Matson: amatson@seattletimes.com

Sept. 17: Mayor proposes tax break for music venues

Some nightlife news from the Times' city reporter, Sharon Pian Chan:

Live music venues in Seattle should get a tax break, Mayor Greg Nickels said Wednesday.

As part of his budget proposal, Nickels intends to exempt clubs that hold fewer than 1,000 people from paying an admissions tax, which is 5 percent of every dollar of ticket sales. If the City Council approves the tax break, city revenues would be cut by $300,000, the mayor's office estimated.

Nickels did not say that clubs were suffering more than other businesses from the economic downturn but called music and nightlife a priorities for him.

"Our musicians are part of our identity as a city," Nickels said at a news conference at Neumo's, a club on Capitol Hill. "With these initiatives, I look forward to building our reputation."

Nickels' administration has had a tough relationship with the nightclub industry in recent years.

The mayor cited his work establishing an Office of Film and Music and getting rid of the teen-dance ordinance. But he has also taken steps to close clubs after violent incidents, and last fall Seattle police conducted an undercover sting operation on underage drinking at several bars and clubs.

Steven Severin, one of Neumo's owners, said the tax break would allow his musicians to collect a larger percentage of ticket sales.

"This is destined to put more money into the pockets of musicians," he said.

The mayor's office estimates 65 venues could take advantage of the tax break. Clubs that have a capacity of fewer than 1,000 people, present live music three times a week and hire 16 musicians a week would qualify.

The mayor expects to present his budget proposal Sept. 29.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com

Sept. 16: Upper Playground store opening in Seattle

Underground art and apparel store Upper Playground is expanding to Seattle. Based in San Francisco, the store is known as a destination spot for avid underground art collectors and hip-hop lovers.

The store produces apparel lines and designs off local and international artists — half of the pieces actually hail from such countries as Australia, Europe, Japan and Taiwan. Upper Playground apparel is now sold nationally and internationally in more than 300 boutiques and online. But, when the store started in 1999, founder Matt Revelli said it was a stretch.

"There were very few places where an artist in the genre could show their work," said Revelli. "We knew that just selling artwork wasn't going to pay the rent, so we developed the idea of having a place to show the artwork and sell the clothes. ... Most people couldn't afford the original work, but they really responded to the ideas and imagery the artists created on canvasses, so the T-shirts and clothing allowed the fan, or person into the work, to have a piece of that in their lives, without being out $20,000 on a painting."

Jason Sajko, the Upper Playground Northwest retail partner, started a store in 2006 in Portland and saw Seattle as a "natural fit" for the store.

"We had a really good response in that [Portland] store, so we thought it would be natural to continue up in the Northwest," said Sajko. "Seattle is a bigger city and has a lot going on in the cultural arts community."

And besides selling apparel, there is a separate space for art, a gallery called FIFTY24SEA. Local artists like Parskid and Angel 179, will be kicking off an exhibit there.

"People like to check into our stores to see what's happening in the arts world," said Sajko.

Upper Playground's grand opening is set for 5-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, featuring a signing by photographer Estevan Oriol at 6 p.m., as well as music from DJ Neight1000 and Ubiquity Records artist Ohmega Watts.

Also, from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, there will be an in-store live art installation by Los Angeles artists Munk One and Mear One. Later that Saturday, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., the store kicks off an event at The Chapel Bar (1600 Melrose Ave., Seattle) with music from DJ's Soul One and SeanCee, plus live art by Mear One. There is no cover charge, but the event is 21 and up.

Upper Playground Seattle, at 4730 University Way N.E., No. 109, in Seattle, will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, and noon-6 p.m. Sundays. For more information on the store, go to www.upperplayground.com.

Sept. 15: Taylor Hicks rides "Grease" to Seattle

Lynn Jacobson contributes this news today:

Taylor Hicks — winner of the 2006 edition of "American Idol" — will appear onstage at the 5th Avenue Theatre next spring in a touring production of "Grease."

Hicks, 31, will play Teen Angel in the show.

This production of "Grease" was the fruit of an NBC TV talent show, "Grease: You're the One that I Want." It opened on Broadway in August, 2007, to lukewarm reviews.

When Hicks joined the Broadway cast in the minor role of Teen Angel this past summer, ticket sales spiked.

The show comes to the 5th Avenue May 12-30, 2009. For information, go to www.5thavenuetheatre.org.

Sept. 12: Neumo's show has rap, bluegrass, gospel

Andrew Matson with the dispatch today:

The big question about the local rap group's "Tobacco Road" CD-release party last night was whether or not the bluegrass/rock/rap idea would work out. It was all MC RA Scion's idea to book an extra-diverse show, and in the end, Neumo's was sold out, satisfied, and confident they'd witness a unique thing. The bluegrass (The Tall Boys) wasn't shoved down anybody's throat — the band played off stage by the merch table, their music for ambience; the rock (Feral Children; Thee Emergency) could've been mixed better but was energetic, and Common Market looked absolutely dominant with the Total Experience Gospel Choir behind them on risers.

Before the show, I talked to lots of Seattle hip-hop "insiders" (producers, artists that have worked with Common Market or just know them) that were worried about the weirdness of the band selection (bluegrass?).

But after Feral Children soldiered through their tribal shriek fest (if "white guys you might see on Capitol Hill" is a tribe) and Thee Emergency was on stage, Common Market manager Dave Meinert asked me "How do you think it's going?" and he wasn't really asking. It was clearly a success. The audience was sweaty and wide-eyed, tracking RA Scion as he loped around the stage (it's not huge, but he seemed to be jogging) and raising their hands whenever he raised his. Not to say Common Market DJ/producer Sabzi was a silent partner, but my feeling about last night is RA Scion should feel pretty good about himself right now.

Andrew Matson, Seattle Times staff

Sept. 11: Metallica set for KeyArena show on Dec. 1

Metallica is coming to the KeyArena Monday, Dec. 1. Tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, for $59.50 and $79.50 at www.LiveNation.com, www.Ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone 206-628-0888.

Also on the lineup is Lamb of God and The Sword.

Metallica's most-recent album, "Death Magnetic," was widely circulating online after a French store sold the record early by mistake. In the past, Metallica has been very vocal against illegal downloading and even sued Napster, but this time they are OK with it. They have been quoted saying it has been a victory of sorts that the album didn't leak until a full 10 days out.

"Death Magnetic" will be released tomorrow, Sept. 12. It's their first studio album in five years. Critics are saying it's the Los Angeles metal band's return back to their roots. To hear excerpts from the album, go to — www.myspace.com/metallica.

Sept. 9: Crocodile Cafe to reopen in early 2009

Here's a dispatch from staffer Andrew Matson:

The Croc lives!

"Right now it still looks like it looked last time you or anyone else was in it," says Kerri Harrop, spokeswoman for the Crocodile Café, Seattle's best and most-famous rock club. The Croc's "abrupt close last year left a lot of people reeling," Harrop says, and the plan is to reopen in "late January/early February."

What's going on between now and then?

Construction." When that's done, "I anticipate capacity will be around the 400 mark."

There will be two businesses in the building and two entrances. According to Harrop, Via Tribunali will sell pizza "where the back bar was," and that the wall separating the concert area from the cafe area will be knocked out. She won't specify exactly how the Crocodile will bleed into Via Tribunali.

Last month, The Seattle Times reported that area bar owner Marcus Charles had obtained the Croc's liquor license (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2008091508_webcroc05.html).

Says Harrop, "Marcus Charles has assembled a good group of investors that includes Susan Silver, Peggy Curtis, and Sean Kinney."

As for who will book the music, Harrop confirms no more than "a human being."

Former Croc and current Chop Suey booker Pete Greenberg said he's not been asked to book the club, and Steven Severin, who books and runs Neumo's, said, "you can write that I don't know what the hell is going on."

Perhaps most important, "Jim Anderson will still be running the sound," says Harrop. In the past, he made the Croc Seattle's best-sounding rock venue. "All efforts are being made to make sure the room sounds and looks perfect," says Harrop.

There are new Croc photos online, on artist David Choe's Flickr profile, here — http://www.flickr.com/photos/invisiblehour/page6.

Andrew Matson, Seattle Times staff reporter

Sept. 8: Comic Dave Attell to play the Moore; Kathy Griffin adds fourth show to Paramount gig

Lots of shows to announce today:

• Caustic comedian Dave Attell is coming to The Moore Theatre on Oct. 24. Named one of the 25 Funniest People in America by Entertainment Weekly, Attell has written for "Saturday Night Live," was a regular on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" as The Ugly American, and has appeared on the "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn."Tickets are $27.50 and $32.50. They go on sale 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at LiveNation.com and all Ticketmaster outlets; charge by phone at 206-628-0888.

• Known for her brand of pain twinged pop-rock, Alanis Morissette is planning to play at The Paramount Nov. 5. She released her first studio album in four years, "Flavors of Entanglement," this past June.

Tickets: $36.50 to $62, on sale 10 a.m. Sept. 13 at LiveNation.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone, 206-628-0888.

• OneRepublic will be performing at the Paramount Nov. 11. Also on the bill: Augustana, The Spill Canvas and The Hush Sound.

OneRepublic is best known for their addictive single "Apologize" which peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 Recurrent Airplay Chart. The pop-rock band's lead vocalist, Ryan Tedder, has also worked with "American Idol" finalist and Bothell native Blake Lewis.

Tickets are $30 and available at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 (www.LiveNation.com, Ticketmaster outlets and 206-628-0888).

• Kathy Griffin keeps reeling them in. A fourth and final show has been added to her Seattle schedule, at 10 p.m. Nov. 22, following her shows at 7 p.m. Nov. 20, 21 and 22. Tickets: $45.50 to $75.50, and go on sale 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 12 at www.LiveNation.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, and 206-628-0888.

Sept. 3: The Decemberists coming to the Moore

The Decemberists just announced their 2008 tour. They'll be at the Moore Theatre on Nov. 30, and a limited number of presale tickets are available at www.decemberists.tickets.musictoday.com. General tickets go on sale Saturday, Sept 13.

They will be playing music from their upcoming material, "Always The Bridesmaid: A Singles Series," which will be released this fall. Volume I is out Oct. 14, with Volumes II and III following on Nov. 4 and Dec. 2, respectively.

The series will be released digitally at DSPs on Capitol Records, with a 12-inch vinyl on the Decemberists' own label, Y.A.B.B. Records/Jealous Butcher Records.

For more information, go to — www.decemberists.com.

Aug. 19: Indie fave Fleet Foxes to play the Moore

Did you miss Fleet Foxes at the Sub Pop 20th Anniversary Festival? The Capitol Hill Block Party, too? No worries — the hometown indie favorite is playing again, bringing their distinct brand of baroque harmonic pop to the Moore Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 19.

Tickets are really cheap — $15 at all Ticketmaster outlets (www.ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone to 206-628-0888) or service-charge free at the Moore box office (info, www.TheMoore.com). The day of the show, tickets cost $17. They go on sale 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23.

Here's more information about the Seattle band — www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes. And here's a past interview with their frontman, Robin Pecknold — http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2008044930_fleetfoxes11.html

Aug. 18: Neil Young and Death Cab tour coming to Everett

Patrick MacDonald with some Neil Young news:

Neil Young announced a North American tour today that includes an Oct. 21 show at Comcast Arena in Everett. Seattle favorites Death Cab for Cutie will open

The eight-week tour begins Oct. 14 in St. Paul, Minn., and concludes Dec. 15 in New York, at Madison Square Garden. Young will be backed by a five-piece band: Ben Keith, Rick Rosas, Chad Cromwell, Anthony Crawford and Pegi Young. Wilco will share opening duties throughout the tour with Death Cab.

Tickets, at $75 for general admission on the floor and $45-$250 for reserved seating in the stands, go on sale Sept. 12.

For complete tour and ticket information, visit www.livenation.com or www.neilyoung.com.

Patrick MacDonald: pmacdonald@seattletimes.com

Aug. 12: Metallica to play KeyArena Dec. 1

Metallica has announced North American tour dates. The heavy-metal band is slated to play the KeyArena Dec. 1, with Lamb of God and the Sword.

The first leg of the North American tour kicks off October and goes through January. Keep checking their site — www.metallica.com/index.asp?item=601097 — for ticket sale dates and times.

Kings of Leon also announced their North American tour, coming to Seattle on Oct. 20 to the Paramount Theatre. The alternative band's new album, "Only By The Night" will be released Sept. 23. And, every day leading up to that release date, a new home movie, documenting the making of their album, will be featured on kingsofleon.com and the band's MySpace page — www.myspace.com/kingsofleon.

Aug. 8: "The Lion King" to return to Seattle

"The Lion King" is returning to the Paramount Theatre Feb. 11-March 15, 2009.

Tickets went on sale Aug. 7 for Broadway Across America season-ticket holders, by calling the season-ticket holder hotline at 888-451-4042. Groups of 20 or more can also buy tickets through the corporate and group sales department at 888-214-6856. Individual tickets go on sale in October.

"The Lion King" is now into its second decade on Broadway. It is winner of six Tony Awards, and a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album.

The musical is well known for its scores of masks and puppets, which bring a whole different life to the Disney animated film it was based on.

For more information, go to — www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.

Aug. 6: Weezer bringing Red Album tour to the Key

Weezer will be touring North America in support of its self-titled album, known as "The Red Album" in the same fashion as Weezer's other self-titled works (the so-called "Blue" and "Green" albums).

The eclectic alternative band comes to Seattle Oct. 11 to the KeyArena. Tickets — $25, $38, and $45 — go on sale Saturday, Aug. 23 at 10 a.m., at www.livenation.com, www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 206-628-0888.

Weezer's first single off their Red Album, "Pork and Beans," peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Modern Tracks chart for weeks. And more than 10 million viewers checked out the song's video on YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=muP9eH2p2PI).

And Andrew Matson has some news today, too:

Past Lives on Suicide Squeeze

Ending a year of speculation, Seattle band Past Lives announced yesterday a new partnership with local label Suicide Squeeze Records. The debut EP "Strange Symmetry" comes out Nov. 4.

Download an MP3 of the title track for free by going to www.pastliveslife.com and clicking "media."

July 25: Town Hall announced fall lineup

Town Hall has announced a preliminary list of scheduled fall events, as well as a limited change in its ticket purchasing policy.

On the lineup are dozens of lectures, comedy shows, concerts and literary events. Highlights include: "FAQ: Mike Daisey & Reggie Watts Explain the Meaning of Life," a Sept. 3 performance where funny former Seattleites Mike Daisey and Reggie Watts ponder existential questions with improvisation and storytelling. And a Sept. 22 reading by French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy about fanaticism and why humans tolerate it, from his book "Left in Dark Times: A Stand Against the New Barbarism."

Adding to what has been a "show up and throw down" approach, some tickets for Town Hall-produced lecture events (Center for Civic Life, Seattle Science Lectures, the Future of Health, and occasional literary programs) will now be sold online and over the phone through Brown Paper Tickets. A "substantial inventory" of tickets will still be available at events the day they happen, however. From a prepared statement: "This means that even when the website reflects that no more tickets are available online, there will still be tickets for sale at the venue on the night of the event. And as always — sales at Town Hall will be cash or check only."

There is an event almost every day at Town Hall, and sometimes there's more than one. Reach Town Hall at 206-652-4255 or see a full calendar and ticket information at www.townhallseattle.org.

Andrew Matson, Seattle Times staff reporter

July 24: Earshot Jazz Festival announced

Earshot Jazz has announced the dates of its fall festival: Oct. 17-Nov. 8 in venues all over the city. Over 50 performances are planned; the lineup will be posted as it's booked at www.earshot.org.

A few of the highlights are already set:

• Saxophonist and flute player James Moody in a four-day residency.

• Pianist Cecil Taylor at Town Hall.

• Saxophonist Ravi Coltrane at the Triple Door.

Local jazz lights Wayne Horvitz, Julian Priester and the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra will make appearances, as will the Garfield and Roosevelt high school bands.

Tickets will go on sale in late August through Earshot and local venues. Call 206-547-9787 or go to www.earshot.org for details.

Lynn Jacobson, Seattle Times Arts & Life editor

July 15: Got $425,000? I've got a nightclub on Capitol Hill...

Clubs seem to come and go these days.

After the much lauded opening of King Cobra nightclub end of February, the venue is up for sale. An e-mail from the co-owner Jamie Garza cited lots of reasons: personal finance issues, management mistakes, lack of experience and lack of marketing.

The e-mail goes on to state that the "current owners, and some citizens of Seattle, would like to sell King Cobra with its current format, including a great calendar of upcoming events, and an all-star cast of employees."

Garza was a promoter from the all-ages music scene, and the other owner, Che Sabado, owned the punk rock bar Kincora Pub. Kincora Pub was located in Capitol Hill and closed due to condominium construction.

Before King Cobra, the club was named Sugar. It closed after a shooting that left three wounded. Former Seattle Times nightlife reporter Tom Scanlon reported that the venue went through three different clubs in five years. And, the owners of King Cobra had hoped to finally keep the place steady. Many had hoped the club would fill the hole left by the closing of Crocodile Cafe.

The 6,000-square-foot space at 916 E. Pike St., has a capacity of 475. Live music plays three to four days a week, with the rest of the week available for interactive activities, like karaoke. There is a fully equipped kitchen. The venue is also approved for all-ages concerts.

The asking price? $425,000. Stay tuned for more.

July 11: It's a singing, yodeling, starring Broadway role for Federal Way actress

A local to root for on Broadway:

Yodeling her way across the New York stage is Federal Way native Kelly Sullivan. She plays female lead Inga in "The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein" on Broadway, replacing role originator Sutton Foster. Foster, who appeared in Seattle when "Young Frank" was on its Broadway tryout last year, will be back in Seattle as Fiona, in the upcoming world premiere of "Shrek" at The 5th Avenue Theatre, playing Aug. 14 to Sept. 21 (www.shrekthemusical.com).

Sullivan grew up in Federal Way and Puyallup, and credits her choir teacher for kicking off her career.

"If not for him, I don't know if be there today, if not for his encouragement," Sullivan said about her teacher, Pat Michel, who retired from Puyallup's Roger High School this year.

Michel encouraged Sullivan to practice and take voice lessons, predicting that she would make it to Broadway someday. With his motivation, as a junior in high school, Sullivan won the state contest for best soprano.

"That was a real big greenlight for me," said Sullivan

One of the contest judges encouraged Sullivan to pursue her singing at Arizona State University, where she earned a full scholarship and started musical-theater studies.

And soon after graduating, she landed her first Broadway gig, "Bells Are Ringing."

"It was really Puyallup that started it all — their love and passion for the arts," said Sullivan, 30. "I'll never forget that and forget where I'm from."

For more on Sullivan, go to — www.kelly-sullivan.com. And there's more on "Young Frankenstein" here — www.youngfrankensteinthemusical.com.

July 3: Ticket alert: Edmonds Center for the Arts

Hankering for Hawaiian music? It's on the schedule — along with everything from kiddie rock to Native American flute — of the second season of the Edmonds Center for the Arts.

Former Men at Work frontman Colin Hay will kick off the season on Aug. 22. The lineup also includes:

• High energy children's music with Ralph's World on Sept. 27

• Día de los Muertos with Quetzal on Oct. 30

• Seattle kiddie rock band Recess Monkey on Nov. 1

• The Seattle International Comedy Competition on Nov. 18

• Native American flutist Mary Youngblood with local Grammy award winner Eric Tingstad on January 16

• A slack key and hula show with Keola and Moana Beamer on April 9.

• Indigo Girls on May 8 and 9.

For show information and tickets, go to www.ec4arts.org. Full season subscriptions are available by calling 425-275-9595. And, Indigo Girls tickets go on-sale Dec. 1.

July 1: D List? What D List?

This just in — Kathy Griffin has added a third show at the Paramount Theatre on Nov. 22. With such demand, she's definitely lifted off the D-list.

Tickets are $45.50 to $75.50 and on sale at www.LiveNation.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone 206-628-0888.

June 30: The Saturday Knights "Mingle" at a hot, sweaty Nectar

Music writer Andrew Matson reporting:

Local hip-hop heroes The Saturday Knights sold out Nectar last Friday night. The Fremont venue was packed downstairs, upstairs, and outside, and even though the club's street-facing garage door wall was rolled up, things were sweaty. Dozens of fans who didn't get tickets stayed and listened outside, communicating with luckier fans through the bars that fence Nectar's front patio.

TSK played songs from "Mingle," the group's first full-length album out now on local label Light In The Attic Records. The rappers, Barfly and Tilson, ended with an improvised rhyme session after a high energy set featuring horn players from opening act and purveyors of "Staten Island Soul" the Budos Band.

June 24: Arista says bye-bye Blake Lewis

Bad news for our pal Blake Lewis ... unless you think — as Blake seems to — that getting dropped from your label is a good thing.

Blogs picked up the news late Sunday and on Monday the Web site Idolator.com reported that Arista had dropped the Seattle singer-beatboxer. Blake claims he never really wanted to be signed to a major label anyway, and that it was the label meddling that made his one release (last year's "Audio Day Dream") so terrible. (Hear a sample at his MySpace — www.myspace.com/blakelewis; read the full Idolator entry here — http://idolator.com/396832/arista-drops-idol-runner+up-blake-lewis-after-less-than-a-year).

Well, sounds like the whimsical, uncategorizable guy is getting what he wants. Good luck, Blake.

And bad news of a very different sort for Boy George. The '80s icon's U.S. tour was canceled Tuesday when it was announced that his visa was denied. According to his publicists, this stems from George's arrest last spring (something involving his male companion, some photos, and "wrongful imprisonment"). Said the statement, "This is... because he is facing a trial in November in London... George has not been convicted of anything in London and there is a presumption in the Western World of innocence until proven guilty... ."

Boy George was scheduled to appear at the Showbox at the Market on July 20.

cumbia — a sound fusing old and new music of Colombia — with hip-hop, dancehall, reggaeton and pop.

Here's are the DJs in this revolving group. You'll want to bookmark their sites, because their music is going to blow your mind.

Resident DJ Villa Diamante blends Argentine and Latin American music with Northern Hemisphere hip-hop, grime, electro and pop — www.myspace.com/villadiamante.

Newer on the scene, Chancha Vía Circuíto has been featured on mixtapes by DIPLO, M.I.A.'s producer — www.myspace.com/chanchaviacircuito.

And, Fauna mixes Latin elements with electronic beats and live hip-hop/ragga vocals — www.myspace.com/faunapower.

Finally, co -owner of record label Bersa Discos, ORO11 blends cumbia with dancehall and Baltimore club beats. And being from the Bay, he mixes hyphy (hyper hip-hop) goodness with some Latin American flavors. You have to give it a listen at — www.myspace.com/oro11.

The group performs July 22 at the Nectar Lounge. Tickets are $10 on ticketweb.

... Check out some fun punk about stealing music by The Dirty Hearts. Here's their video "Record Store" — www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zo9JWpS5A0.

Shot at Friends of Sounds Records in Austin, Texas, the band used its own gear and posters for the set. And for the sake of the video, the Austin punk band even destroyed some vinyl in the store. Their album "Pigs" comes out July 22. Check out the rest of their music at www.myspace.com/thedirtyhearts.

June 12: Pearl Jam's "bootleg" recordings for sale

Now, you don't have to secretly record the Pearl Jam show on your own — Pearl Jam will provide their "bootlegs" for you.

At the end of their live shows, the band will be selling high-quality digital downloads and burn-to-order CDs of the entire show through their fan club, Ten Club, at www.pearljam.com. There will also be mobile bootlegs of three live tracks per show on V CAST Music phones and at www.pearljamconcerts.com. These will be available as ringtones too.

Digital bootlegs will cost $9.99 (MP3) and $14.99 (FLAC) per show. There will also be hard copies available using recycled material, for $16.99 per show on www.pearljam.com.

All of the bootlegs recordings will be professionally mixed in real time. Launched on the 2000 world tour, the bootleg program has since sold 3.5 million bootlegs.

Unfortunately Seattle fans may only hear the concerts by bootleg — the grunge band has not announced local dates. Here's a link to their tour — www.pearljam.com/tour

May 20: The reviews are in: Death Cab for Cutie's "Narrow Stairs"

Sasquatch favorite and beloved local band Death Cab For Cutie has been making headlines with their latest album, "Narrow Stairs." The reviews have gone from the very positive — Rolling Stone Magazine's 4-star critique of "a dark, strangely compelling record" — to the decidedly mixed — to the Village Voice proclaiming that it's simply a "mediocre album." But, most of the reviews agree that it's an emotional record that aims to strike out at your heart.

Here's a listing of reviews. Let me know your thoughts on "Narrow Stairs," too.

Rolling Stone Magazine

www.rollingstone.com/artists/deathcabforcutie/albums/album/20524296/review/20532998/narrow_stairs

Spin Magazine

www.spin.com/reviews/death-cab-cutie-narrow-stairs-atlantic

MTV

www.mtv.com/news/articles/1582775/20080304/death_cab_for_cutie.jhtml

The Associated Press

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080512/ap_en_re/music_review_death_cab_for_cutie

Pitchfork

www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/50564-narrow-stairs

IGN

http://music.ign.com/articles/875/875201p1.html

And here's a site — if you're too lazy to click through the above links — that aggregates all the reviews and gives them each a rating. Averaging the scores, the album gets a C+.

www.metacritic.com/music/artists/deathcabforcutie/narrowstairs?part=rssAnd one more thing before we leave Death Cab for the day: the Bellingham band played "No Sunlight," off the new album, in the back of a London cab. Check it out: www.blackcabsessions.com/sessions.php#. The ride must have been smooth, because the recording session is pretty sweet.

Marian Liu: 206-464-3825 or mliu@seattletimes.com