Soundbites

CLUB CRAWL FEVER: CATCH IT!

Since there's a handy pullout section (in the print edition) telling you everything you need to know to maximize your experience, we won't blather on about this weekend's Spring Club CrawlTM, which runs from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, April 16. Still, since it's the biggest damn local music event there is (and since the Weekly does, after all, sponsor the madness), we'd be remiss if we didn't at least mention it. You know the drill by now: Roughly 100 local bands spread over eight outdoor stages and more than a dozen participating venues, all within walking distance, all for one low price. If you haven't already, be sure to stop by CD City to pick up your entry-granting wristband. They're only $8 in advance, so by doing so, you'll not only save a couple bucks (they'll be $10 on the night of the event), but you'll also protect yourself from being turned away in the case of a sellout.

As always, we urge you to drink responsibly, and to use either a designated driver or taxis.

Most of all, though, have fun out there, kids.


HITCH A RIDE ON THE PSYCH BIKE

No, Jennifer Gentle is not a microbus-driving, Birkenstock 'n' patchouli-wearing, macrame enthusiast. Rather, it is the name under which two Italian dudes--singer/guitarist Marco Fasolo and drummer Alessio Gastaldello--perform. The duo released two home-recorded albums overseas, and found fans in fellow musicians such as Oneida, Acid Mothers Temple, Sun City Girls and, oddly enough, Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes. Additionally, they sent a material to Sub Pop way back in 1998, which the label then discounted as "a comically badly recorded demo tape." Well, the boys must have improved a hell of a lot since then, as it's Sub Pop that released the duo's third album, Valende, in January.

Astute Pink Floyd fans might have noticed that Jennifer Gentle's name comes from "Lucifer Sam," a Syd Barrett-era Floyd song that appeared on The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. That's a pretty good starting point in describing the band's sound, too. Valende is loaded with acid-fueled, sloppy psychedelic pop, but it's got more than that. There are also dreamy folk passages, art-noise freakouts, trance-inducing repetition, more obscure instruments than you'll find in the attic of the Chicago Store, and album-closer "Nothing Makes Sense," which sounds like a song by an Elephant 6 band as performed by Spike Jones. Taken as a whole, it's one of the most pleasurable mindfucks we've heard in ages.

Also on the bill are The Out Crowd, who are fronted by Matt Hollywood, a founding member of the Brian Jonestown Massacre who, like most other people who ever worked for Anton Newcombe, is no longer with the band. It's our gain. The Out Crowd's first-full length (they released an EP in 2003), Then I Saw the Holy City (2004, The Kora), is chock full of atmospheric psychedelic rock that, in addition to BJM, calls to mind the Manchester bands of the late '80s and early '90s (Charlatans, Stone Roses et al), the Stones, the Velvet Underground and Ambulance Ltd.

Don't let the fact that you've never heard of these bands keep you away from this show. If you dig psych-rock of any variety, we highly recommend attending.

Jennifer Gentle perform an all-ages show at Solar Culture Gallery, 31 E. Toole Ave., on Monday, April 18. The Out Crowd and Gary Bear open at 9 p.m. Admission is $6. For further details, call 884-0874.


'BONE MACHINE

Bridging the gap between the largely Brit-led second wave of ska bands in the early 1980s, and the largely American third wave ska revival in the '90s, for as little as they're mentioned today, Fishbone was hugely influential to the latter. While second wavers like The Specials included elements of punk rock, Fishbone upped the ante, infusing funk, punk and soul into the mix, thereby bringing ska to a whole new generation that then went and formed hordes of watered-down ska-punk or ska-pop bands (we've got our eye on you, Save Ferris).

But enough blaming Fishbone for five or so years of crappy bands who worshipped them. Anyone who saw a Fishbone show featuring their potent early lineup knows why they were worshipped to begin with: In addition to the aforementioned reasons, there was a time when Fishbone was one of the fiercest live bands on the planet. Hell, maybe they still are (though the show we saw maybe six years ago, once the original lineup had splintered, was nowhere near the level of the ones we saw back in the day). But, hell, when you've got that far to fall, even a relatively lame Fishbone show is probably money well spent.

Fishbone performs on Friday, April 15 at City Limits, 6350 E. Tanque Verde Road. Felonious Groove Foundation and Troy's Bucket open at 9 p.m. Advance tickets are available for $13 at the venue, all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 321-1000. For more information, head to www.calproductions.com or call 733-6262.


AUSTIN, SURLY WENCH. SURLY WENCH, AUSTIN

Whiskey Bitch guitarist Wendy Gadzuk recently informed us she's no longer booking shows at Vaudeville Cabaret. Those who have gotten addicted to her Sunday Night Sugar Fix shows should instead look to the Surly Wench Pub, as she's now booking their early-bird Sundays instead. And she's picked a winner for this weekend, with Austin country-inflected psychobilly band the Flametrick Subs headlining an early show that also includes the Last Call Brawlers and Hobble. The action gets underway at 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 17. Cover is a fiver.

The Surly Wench is hosting another pair of Austin bands on Wednesday, April 20: The Ends, who are heavily influenced by late '70s Brit-punk (think Buzzcocks) and The Winks, who one reader describes thusly: "These chicks dish out trashy, rockin', mid-tempo punk with lots of fuck-you attitude." Both bands open for the mighty Knockout Pills at 10 p.m. (Note: This show may also include performances from two other bands--Montreal's Demon's Claws and Skip Jensen and his Shaking Feet--but we couldn't confirm this at press time.)

The Surly Wench is located at 424 N. Fourth Ave. For more info, call 882-0009.


ON THE BANDWAGON

The Moldy Peaches' Kimya Dawson returns to town this week in support of her 2004 K Records album Hidden Vagenda. Her solo material eschews the bratty goofiness found in much of the Peaches' stuff, opting instead for confessional songwriting that reads like an open diary. Prepare to have your heart broken. Dawson will perform on Monday, April 18 at ITL Coffee Shop, 415 N. Fourth Ave. The all-ages show begins at 8 p.m., with The Pharmacy, 50 Cent Nose and Dear Nora also on the bill. Cover is $5, and more information is available by calling 624-4411.

It's been four years since The Samples have released an album, and far longer since they've appeared in Tucson. But all that changes this week as the Boulder-based band brings its slightly jazzy, reggae inflected, harmony-rich brand of jam-pop to Plush, 340 E. Sixth St., on Friday, April 15. A Fir-Ju Well opens at 9:45 p.m., and tickets are $15 at the door. For more details, call 798-1298.

Did you know that there's such a thing as the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame? Well, neither did we until we were informed that this year's induction ceremony is set to take place at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 17 at Phoenix's Dodge Theatre. Some 22 people will be inducted this year, including Glen Campbell (hey, if a DUI doesn't preclude someone from becoming president of the United States, it sure as hell ain't gonna keep you out of the AMEHF), Al Casey, Waylon Jennings, Jesse Colter, R. Carlos Nakai, Jack Miller, Marty Robbins and the recently departed Lalo Guerrero. Performers at the ceremony include Campbell, Colter, Nakai, Mark Guerrero, The Blazers, Charles Lewis, plus members of the Gin Blossoms, The Pistoleros and special surprise guests. Previous inductees are Wayne Newton, Stevie Nicks and Alice Cooper. All of this, of course, begs the question: Can't Linda Ronstadt get a little love? For more info, head to www.azmusichalloffame.org.