Tonight. The only thing you need to know:

Ride it.

Black Mountain, Yeasayer, MGMT, Howlin' Rain
We asked Whalebones frontman and stoner-rock player/listener/lover Justin Deary to chime in on his pals Black Mountain and Howlin’ Rain. Here’s where he took it: If you look to rock ’n’ roll to keep your spirit wild, young, and free—to keep your thirst for love on fire, to keep your heart and legs strong to kick against authority—look no further for the truth. Black Mountain are here. They will lead you to the glowing, healing lake where you will wade in and feel your burdens lifted. They will leave you in the middle of the wilderness alone and connected to the spirit of the earth. They’ve led you through the halls of hell. You can swim underwater forever with your eyes open. See it all float by. If only for a moment, in this twisted nonstop world, get fucking lost. Ride the epic rainbow. Raise a glass and thank them from afar. There is no substitute for these sounds. There is no other band with this power. You’ve got the time. Lay your troubles down. Don’t look behind you. You are safe and free. There is no better time in your life for a Black Mountain show. Howlin’ Rain are another chapter in the definitive ledger of modern rock masters. Go to their MySpace page and listen to “Dancers at the End of Time.” Ethan Miller and his band of Bay Area rad dudes shred house-rockin’ rhythm and blues to lose your mind to and find it again. Transcendence is the key in which these songs are written. Two questions: Do you believe? Which side are you on? With Yeasayer and MGMT. Neumo's, 8 p.m. JUSTIN DEARY

Eels
When: April 11
Where: The Showbox
Random Moment With Mr. Everett: When he was touring behind (my favorite Eels album) Souljacker, he told me that it was "the best album since Sgt. Pepper, the movie."

One of the first rock songs I ever saw performed live.

The Can't See's John Atkins

In this past Sunday Seattle Times, Sub Pop head honcho Jonathan Poneman offers up some enlightening tidbits--such as what exactly Mark Arm's title is at the label, and how the first Nirvana demo landed in his hands--in a Q & A with Tom Scanlon. When asked which Seattle band has impressed him most in the last five years, he answers:

"I can think of several: Grand Archives, Band of Horses, Unnatural Helpers and Fleet Foxes. Sex Vid are from Olympia, but count them in there, too. Blue Scholars, Arthur & Yu, the Moondoggies, the Can't See and the Pica Beats."

I'd agree (obviously, I make no secret of that), the Can't See are one of the very best bands to come out of Seattle in the last five years. And yet, they remained UNSIGNED. Guess it takes more than being a favorite of the boss to make it on the roster over there.

All photos by Laura Musselman.

Nada Surf
When: Wednesday, Jan. 30
Where: The Triple Door

While Avril Lavigne's 2004 release, Under My Skin, was pop perfection and easily one of the most underrated albums of all time, this year's Best Damn Thing generally blows (amazingly, the worst track of the bunch, "Girlfriend," rates as the #23 single of the year in the Voice's Pazz & Jop poll). That's why I'm not as excited as I might normally be that the A-Train just announced a stop at the Everett Events Center on May 10. But for diehards (i.e., teenage girls), at least this means mom won't have to drive you to Spokane to catch the tour.

All photo by Marcella D. Volpintesta. Click here for a slideshow.

The Decemberists
When: Wednesday, Jan. 30
Where: The Moore Theatre
Also: The band plays again, tonight, at The Moore. Tickets are still available through Ticketmaster.

Bobby Bare Jr. is a one of the best working songwriters in America today. Argue that with me, and you'll lose (or at least get tired of arguing and eventually surrender). He's playing an early show this Friday at the Sunset and you should go (doors are at 6pm, tickets are over here). Here's a little taste of what he did at one of his last Seattle shows:

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From this week's Short List:

Beehive, the Stereo Future, Breaker Breaker, Bre Loughlin
Comet Tavern, $6, 9 p.m.
Though many indie-pop bands go chasing after the ’80s synth sound like Aimee Mann chased the dragon, Seattle staple the Stereo Future is one of the few that actually manage to nab the sucker. After releasing their first EP, Young People, independently, the band was signed by Japan-based Delicious Label and subsequently released a second EP, Grit!. But while the follow-up demonstrates a marked increase in focus and confidence for the group, better things are yet to come. “Level Eight,” a brand-new track, improves on the synthy, maudlin ’80s pop style many of us cut our teeth on. But perhaps it’s time to stop looking back. With the kind of talent and potential the Stereo Future already exhibit, we have something even better waiting on the horizon of Northwest electro-pop. With Beehive, Breaker Breaker, and Bre Loughlin.
-- SARA BRICKNER

Black Mountain, Yeasayer, MGMT, Howlin' Rain
Neumo's, $12, 8 p.m.
We asked Whalebones frontman and stoner-rock player/listener/lover Justin Deary to chime in on his pals Black Mountain and Howlin’ Rain. Here’s where he took it: If you look to rock ’n’ roll to keep your spirit wild, young, and free—to keep your thirst for love on fire, to keep your heart and legs strong to kick against authority—look no further for the truth. Black Mountain are here. They will lead you to the glowing, healing lake where you will wade in and feel your burdens lifted. They will leave you in the middle of the wilderness alone and connected to the spirit of the earth. They’ve led you through the halls of hell. You can swim underwater forever with your eyes open. See it all float by. If only for a moment, in this twisted nonstop world, get fucking lost. Ride the epic rainbow. Raise a glass and thank them from afar. There is no substitute for these sounds. There is no other band with this power. You’ve got the time. Lay your troubles down. Don’t look behind you. You are safe and free. There is no better time in your life for a Black Mountain show. Howlin’ Rain are another chapter in the definitive ledger of modern rock masters. Go to their MySpace page and listen to “Dancers at the End of Time.” Ethan Miller and his band of Bay Area rad dudes shred house-rockin’ rhythm and blues to lose your mind to and find it again. Transcendence is the key in which these songs are written. Two questions: Do you believe? Which side are you on? With Yeasayer and MGMT.
-- JUSTIN DEARY

The Academy Is ...

That tour from high school in Seattle on Aug. 9. No venue named yet. Qwest Field parking lot? When that space was called "The Kingdome Parking Lot," I saw this angry feller play Warped Tour there:

Few of the acts announced:

Every Time I Die, Relient K and The Academy Is..., Gym Class Heroes, The Briggs, TheBronx, From First to Last, The Street Dogs, Reel Big Fish, Norma Jean, We the Kings, The Devil Wears Prada, Pierce the Veil, The Color Fred, 3Oh!3, The Lordz, Katy Perry, Shw and Gym Claayze.

Photo by JJ Wandler

Our beloved Israelis have signed with the nice peeps over at Drag City, who will release their Body Language EP on April 22. They will be coming back to the Comet Seattle on February 22.

Incidentally, Drag City loved these pics (the one above, more over here) we ran on Reverb during their last stop in town that they are using them as promo shots for the band's press kit. Sweet!