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RECENT SIGHTINGS

Saturday Night was a great night for gritty rock and roll. If I go to too many hipster indie rock convocations in a row, I start to forget that rock-n-roll was originally a term for gettin it on, and that is what the music bearing that name is supposed to reflect. The night started with Elsah's opening set for Goodman County and Two Cow Garage at North Gate Tavern. This performance was not as third-eye-opening as the psychedelic breakdown I witnessed a couple weeks ago at Red Star, but once they overcame some technical difficulties, their Wall of Voodoo-meets-Gram Parsons at the crossroads country rock set the embers glowing. I love how Sam Boykin Short's strafing runs on the the guitar weave in with the rest of the group looping groove, and Neil Werries' odd wavering twang floats on top like a life raft. Right now, they are my favorite live act in town.

No disrespect to Goodman County, which put on a great live show, but it was time to high-tail it to the Spanish Moon to see the notorious Atlanta sleaze rock powerhouses Nashville Pussy tear the house down. I missed local newcomers The Way High Men, but based on the strength of the demo they gave me they are a band to watch out for. Ex Butthole Surfer JD Pinkus and his new band Honky served as a knuckle-duster second act. Whereas I thought the Surfers mixed up the perfect cocktail of violence with humor, Honky's explosive show was all pummel. I was informed by a guitar player friend in attendance that Honky is awesome on the right night, but I'm guessing this wasn't one of them. Nashville Pussy is another story.

They are known primarily for ultra-vixen guitarist Ruyter Suys ("its pronounced 'ride her sighs'," laughed the rock goddess when asked how it was pronounced). She is a complete package of cup-runneth-over sexuality on stage and lethal guitar skills, but that's not all for Nashville Pussy. The rest of the band is just as awe inspiring. Lead singer Blaine Cartwright (also of Nine Pound Hammer, which does the theme song for Cartoon Network's 12 Ounce Mouse) whips himself into a snake-handler frenzy while equally foxy-in-her-aloofness bassist Karen Cuda plays the cool Ace Frehley to Suys' Gene Simmons. Drummer Jeremy Thompson keep the fire stoked. The final breakdown during the last song involved Blaine spraying the audience with beer while Ruyter broke three strings on her self-customized SGF bent over backwards on the floor. The audience lost its ever-lovin' mind. Man I love rock when it gets all psychotic and dangerous and wallows in the spectacle that is its birthright.

Now to counter this volcano of a show, I witnessed an intimate acoustic show by folk darling and ex-New Orleanian Myshkin at the Red Dragon Listening Room (Government and Foster, email Chris for a schedule). I remember her being that spooky but engaging folk rocker that would appear with Mike West at The Thirsy Tiger back in the day, struggling to get her jagged poetry to rise above the din of drinks and bar racket. In the ideal reverent silence of the Red Dragon, I see why she is a rising star in the world of folk music. Her fingerwork on acoustic and four-string tenor guitar are enough to hypnotize, but her voice, veering in a moment between a sensual whisper and soaring-hawk wail snared me. The interplay she had with double-bassist Sailor verges on the psychic. I love every show I see at the Red Dragon, but this is the finest I've seen there. Unfortunately Myshkin is keeping her Ruby Warblers caged up in Portland with her for the time being, so definitely be on the lookout for the next time she migrates south.

MUST SEE

Thurs Feb 9: Don't make the mistake I made earlier this week: Go see the Way High Men with longtime local heavyweight champs Brother at Clicks.

Friday Feb 10: Either check out the literate post-punk dulcations of The Useful Knots with the Melters at the Red Star, or celebrated Latin band Palo Viejo bringing the caliente to Spanish Moon.

Sat Feb 11: Local post-rock heroes and 225 faves Always the Runner conjures up some spirits with Terror of the Sea, at the Red Star. But for me the big show of the week is the Hold Steady with Swearing at Motorists at Spanish Moon.

Mon Feb 13: Transcendant chiming hypnotic beauty will unfold before you when Ilya appears at the Red Star

Tues Feb 14: Valentine's Day. You better go hit the candy store before they run out, or you won't be going anywhere this weekend, mister.

Wed Feb 15: Sasquatch & The Sickabillies with ZenBilly at the Spanish Moon. With that much billy on the bill, I'd suggest wearing your dancing shoes, and your drinkin pants.