Bloglander

FRIDAY

The Blind Pets know a lot about sweat dripping out of every pore. The Austin-based threesome practices in a storage facility — the kind one could potentially suffocate in if left inside too long.

“Practicing in there, there are just buckets of sweat,” says Joshua Logan, the band’s vocalist and guitarist.

The fact Spokane has been enjoying spiked temps in the 90s doesn’t even faze him — “that’s like a nice breezy day for us,” Logan explains.

But the super-cheap practice conditions allow the group to be ready for anything (and have extra money for things like gas and drugs).

“This is what rock ‘n’ roll is all about, it never was about being in a f---ing air conditioned room,” Logan says. “Plus it prepares us for any type of venue where there may not be any air.”

Coming to Jones Radiator Friday, the grunge/punk rockers will bring the heat once again to Spokane (most recently, they performed at Carr’s Corner). On tour of the left half of the country, the guys, rounded out with Dustin Hannah on bass and Michael Anthony Gibson on drums, are out promoting their May-released He Said She Said 7-inch. The tour included opening for grunge originals Mudhoney Sunday in Colorado.

“We’ve always been told we sound like them so we’ve ran with that in a way,” Logan says. “I didn’t really listen to them until then.”

Originally from New Mexico, Logan has called Austin home for a decade. In that time, he considers the town to have become the Seattle/L.A./Portland/New York of Texas — not just culture-wise but band-wise.

But is the scene, infiltrated with bands, too competitive?

“The competition is a good thing,” Logan says. “It weeds out the people who want to be a musician. But shouldn’t be. Everyone loves music, but not everyone is talented enough to make it.”

And while making it is the goal, Logan is convinced his band is above the fray in his Texas town.

“We’re the bastards of Austin because we’re doing what we want to do,” Logan explains. “Austin is really niche-y, and we’re doing our own thing.”

And given that not too many other groups are practicing in storage facilities these days, perhaps he has a point.

The Blind Pets with 66beat • Tonight at 9 pm • Jones Radiator • 120 E. Sprague Ave. • Free • 21+ • 747-6005

Friday also includes yet another folk group out of Portland. But this one has a cello (which makes everything better) and, mostly, passes over the banjo in favor of a mandolin to round out its instrumentation lineup. The Strangled Darlings, George Veech and Jessica Anderly, are much better than most of the wannabe Mumford & Sons or The Decemberists acts around. There’s vague influences of country and scat running through their sound, but mostly it’s down-home groovin’ folk with a teaspoon of odd sexuality. Do check out the songs "Circus" and "Sail Along" before you head that way.

Wolves in the Woods, Strangled Darlings, Tyler Aker • Tonight at 10 pm • Mootsy’s • 406 W. Sprague Ave. • Cost • 21+ • 838-1570

SATURDAY

Shows to check out:

Kramer, Normal Babies at Baby Bar

December in Red, 5 Timers Over, Helldorado, Headway at Carr’s Corner

Raised By Wolves, I Hate This City, Concrete Grip at The Hop!

And, of course, Phish at the Gorge both Friday and Saturday nights