Tucson Weekly: Soundbites (March 11

FRENCH CONNECTION: Ah, the French. Rich food, fine wine, an unholy appreciation for Jerry Lewis, and a very special way with...how you say...romance? Add to this list fine pop songs: the sweet sound of "the little sparrow," Edith Piaf, the lascivious longings of cult hero Serge Gainsbourg, the beautifully drony pop of Stereolab (singer Laetitia Sadier is French), and the campy musings of Dimitri From Paris. Whatever your pleasure, if it's French it's enjoying a newfound vogue here in the States.
Sound Bites And our own humble burg is no exception. France's The Little Rabbits have recorded at Waterworks West, micro-power radio station Radio Limbo (when it's on the air) features a Sunday evening French pop show, and fabulous French improvisational avant-pop duo Amor Belhom Duo now call Tucson home...and are about to embark on their first U.S. tour.
Hitting the road from the end of March through mid-April, singer/guitarist Naim Amor and drummer/percussionist Thomas Belhom will make their way through Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, New Mexico and Nevada. So in true Tucson musician community fashion, local artists have pooled their talent for a benefit show for the tour, so no one has to wire them gas money in Boise.
The show will feature some of Tucson's finest musicians doing covers of French pop songs. The lineup--which could very well expand by the time the show rolls around--features Al Perry, Cecile Amor, and Naim Amor covering the Serge Gainsbourg/Brigitte Bardot classic "Je T'aime, Moi Non Plus"; Joey Burns weighing in with "Requiem Pour Un Con" (also by Gainsbourg), as well as a tune by Francoise Breutz; Wise Folk Malcontent covering Amor Belhom Duo's "Elevator Baby"; DJ Ben McQuillin mixing his favorite French tunes, and a host of other surprises featuring the likes of Howe Gelb, the Musikers, Twine, Al Foul, Ani Cordero, Rolf Jordhal, the Weird Lovemakers, Pirates of Pennance, and more.
The event will also feature a cancan performance by local pyros Flam Chen, with the final set belonging to the men of the hour, le duo themselves, with special guests John Convertino and Joey Burns sitting in.
So get off the couch and join in the joie de vivre, dammit! Don't miss this French popstravaganza at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at the Mat Bevel Institute, 530 N. Stone Ave. Admission is a $5 donation.
L7 LIVE: Apparently dropped from their most recent label (Slash/Reprise), Seattle ass-kickers L7 have recently issued a live CD appropriately titled Live Omaha to Osaka (on renowned poster artist Frank Kozik's Man's Ruin imprint). All for truth in advertising, the disc was culled from 1997 and '98 performances in those two cities. In addition, it starts off curiously with a six-minute-plus medley of L7 tunes as performed by the John Marshall High School Marching Band. While the album sufficiently demonstrates the band's prowess live, the recordings are wanting in the sound quality department; they appear to be mixed by someone with tinnitus (read: all treble, no bass). Luckily, soundman extraordinaire Fletch has no such problem; so you can expect their Monday, March 15, show at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., to be a fine one. Bluebird kicks off this early show around 7 p.m. Advance tickets are available for $10 at the club and at Zip's University. Call 622-8848 for details.
BAND WAGON: While they're hardly known for being on the cutting edge, this year's Grammy Awards telecast was particularly devoid of both merit and entertainment value. It seems like the most interesting awards are usually given out "in a ceremony prior to the telecast." Prime example: What I wouldn't have given to see Buffy the Vampire Slayer (or whoever the hell it was) announce that Nashville Pussy were nominated for an award this year.
For the uninitiated (you say you missed their previous two Tucson performances at Club Congress?), Nashville Pussy have single-handedly stomped on the necks of all wuss-rock proponents with their unique brand of no-holds-barred, Nugent-meets-the Stooges RAWK, as demonstrated on their debut album, Let Them Eat Pussy (recently reissued on The Enclave/Mercury, and produced by Kurt Bloch of the Fastbacks).
However, the band is definitely best experienced live when singer/guitarist Blaine Cartwright (formerly of Nine Pound Hammer), lead guitarist Ruyter Suys, drummer Jeremy Thompson and bassist Corey Parks unite in a frenzied flash of heavy noise and sweat to pummel you into submission.
And as if that weren't enough, Parks (sister of NBA star Cherokee Parks) has a penchant for breathing fire Gene Simmons-style, though she's far easier on the eyes than the aging Simmons. Do not miss this all-ages show, which hits town on Wednesday, March 17, at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St. Nebula and The Bel-Rays open the show at 8 p.m. Advance tickets are $7, available at Congress Street Store, Hear's Music, Zip's University, and Guitars, Etc. Call 740-0126 for more information.
Metal fans will be pleased to hear that Phoenix's Flotsam and Jetsam make a trip down south to promote their seventh album in 15 years, Unnatural Selection (Metal Blade). Killing 4, Grudge Holder, G.O.Y.A., and The Factor provide opening duties for this all-ages show, which hits the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., at 7 p.m. Friday, March 12. Advance tickets are available for $11 at CD Depot, Sticks and Strings, and Strictly CDs. Call 740-0126 for details.
A fabulous triple-bill of female performers hits the Plaza Pub this weekend: the jazzy, funky folk of the Annie Hawkins Band headlines the show, which also features performances from O Solo Ramona (a solo performance by San Francisco's Ramona the Pest frontwoman, Valerie Esway), and the soothing strings of acoustic guitar/cello duo, Agave. It all goes down at 9 p.m. Friday, March 12. The Plaza Pub is located downtown at 20 E. Pennington St., and cover is $3. Call 882-0400 with questions.
And finally, the award for Best Name for a New Local Band goes to Man Gravy and Noodles, who get on stage for their debut gig at 10 p.m. Thursday, March 11, at the Double Zero, 121 E. Congress St. Expect the unexpected. Cover is $2, and you can call 670-9332 for details.

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