Tucson Weekly: Soundbites (July 10

Sound Bites PIPING HOT: Certainly the biggest and best hyped show of the week, probably the month, is The Verve Pipe with Tonic and K's Choice tonight, July 10, at The Cage, 5851 E. Speedway. The Verve Pipe, although no newcomers to the alternative scene, have lately become highly visible, with reams of press in publications like Spin and Rolling Stone, as well as more audience-specific industry mags like Drum! and Guitar World (lending some credence to their claims that it's all about the music, not just becoming glitzy rock stars). That's not to mention their recent appearances on both Letterman and Leno, and last year's opening slot on the international KISS tour.
The Verve Pipe graduated from indie label LMNO Pop!, which released their first two albums, Pop Smear and the subsequent I've Suffered A Head Injury, to release their junior effort, Villains, on RCA--which, by the way, has also re-released both previous albums. The five-piece pop sensation from East Lansing, Michigan, chose, fittingly enough, producer Jerry Harrison--noted for his work with Live and Crash Test Dummies--to give their first major label release that extra special something. Villains is intelligent, melodic and charming in its musical maturity, and accessible in the manner of Pearl Jam a few years back. Their current single "The Freshman" is working overtime nationwide, along with Tonic's heartfelt ode to love, "If You Could Only See."
A mainstay on KFMA, "If You Could Only See" seems to be gaining summer anthem status in much the same way that their single "Open Up Your Eyes" did last year. Lemon Parade, Tonic's first Polydor release (it's the same label that's proud home to the BeeGees, who have a new disc out by the name of Still Waters) is solid pop with sharp hooks in all the right places, reason enough for their widespread appeal and middle position on tonight's bill.
Openers K's Choice hail from Antwerp, Belgium, and have broken big in the U.S. with their breathy single, "Not An Addict," off of 550 Music release Paradise In Me. As is usually the case, other tracks on the record are of greater interest, but the narcotic theme of "Not An Addict" seems to have captured the media's attention. Songs about drugs are practically a sub-genre of rock, and with all the media attention given to the yet-again popularity of heroin, the theme is a pretty "safe" bet. K's Choice is a natural selection to open the tour, having already provided the same service on eastern and mid-western legs of Alanis Morissette's tour last year.
All three bands ride proudly down the middle of the mainstream alternative pike, with nary an excursion down any experimental two tracks along the way, but I'll wager each will put on one hell of a rock-solid performance. If this all-ages show is not already sold out, you can probably count the remaining tickets on your fingers and toes. Usually I'm the first one to gripe about high-dollar shows, but this time around fans should get their money's worth, even at $17.50 in advance and $18 the day of the show. Call 885-3030 for more information.
LAST NOTES: It's a triple bill, and it's a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll: Al Perry, James Dead, and Honeywagon perform Friday, July 11, at the Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. At last Friday's Fourth of July extravaganza, Perry joined recently departed Sludge Nation for a rollicking farewell set that had everyone shouting for more. Call 622-8848 for more information.
Bargain Town--not Chris Morrison playing solo as you may have previously heard--and Hobart are the hot local pick for Saturday, July 12, appearing at the Airport Lounge, 20 E. Pennington St. Call 882-0400 for more information.
Kepone, Starfish, and a local opening act yet to be announced perform an in-store appearance at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, at Toxic Ranch Records, 424 E. Sixth St. Kepone is a trio based in that lovely southern capital, Richmond, Virginia. They took their name from an insecticide deliberately dumped into the Appomatox River back in the '70s--contaminating the river as well as parts of the Chesapeake Bay and forcing a ban on oyster fishing in the area which lasted more than a decade. The band, like the chemical, is a pernicious, subversive substance that's repeatedly dredged up by cataclysmic events--the last time Kepone surfaced in Arizona, they were touring to support the almighty Jesus Lizard, who also, along with Helmet, just happen to be Kepone fans. Signed to Quarterstick/Touch and Go, these guys (Michael Bishop, Tim Harriss, Edward Jefferson Trask) are hard, sharp and consistently regaled for their righteous, devastating performances. Cover is only $2. Call 623-4008 for information.
Mississippi Mudsharks return to Tucson and the 3rd Stone Bar & Grill, 500 N. Fourth Ave., for a house-rocking performance Saturday, July 12. Show time is around 10 p.m., with the opening band yet to be announced. Call 628-8844 for more information.
Monsoon Madness is here in force, bringing sweet relief to your stressful week at the Winsett Park Stage on Fourth Avenue. LD & The Funkateers with Malfunkshun and Nicole Stein are slated for Thursday, July 17. The shows start at 7 p.m., free of charge.
WRITING WRONGS: Last week's Soundbites included some grievous and regrettable errors, so let me take this opportunity to set the record straight. First, the Supersuckers guest star performance on Must Have Been High was Kelley, not Kim, Deal. Secondly, big apologies also go out to The Rock, Spacefish, Funky Bonz and O'Malley's for any confusion caused by my mistaken reporting. The Thursday, July 3, double bill of Spacefish with Funky Bonz took place at The Rock, not at O'Malley's, as cited by yours truly. I apologize for the error, guys. In case my misdirection steered anyone off course and you missed the show, you can check out Spacefish on Wednesday, July 16, at the 3rd Stone Bar & Grill. Updates on future Funky Bonz shows are forthcoming.

--Lisa Weeks

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