Bloglander

Local hip-hop band the Flying Spiders released a music video today for their song, "Spokane's Finest." Band leader and emcee, Isamu Jordan, shouts out other local rappers — Freetime Synthetic, Quiz (K. Clifton), Jaeda — and even takes a shot at the Spokane Police Department. Check it out here — and see the band play tonight over at the Blue Spark: 

Read our story on the band's new recorded effort, the Doppelganger EP, here, while you're at it.

The concert features six female musicians from the area who are joining together and donating their talents to support Transitions, a local nonprofit that works to end homelessness and poverty for the women and children of Spokane.

The lineup includes Post Falls alternative rocker Colleen Rice, pianist-singer Stephanie Hatzinikolis, singer-songwriter Liz Rognes, jazz pop songstress Kari Marguerite leading the 76, blues funk group Jesi B and the All Rites, and indie band the Perennials. In addition to music, you will hear first-hand stories from women who have experienced homelessness and how you are necessary in the fight against it.

Tickets are available at the door for a $10 donation.

Headlines

Music legends David Crosby and Graham Nash performed at Occupy Wall Street in Zuccotti Park last Tuesday. In an interview on Thursday, the pair said they thought an album to benefit Occupy protestors was a “fantastic idea.” (Death Taxes)

And speaking of benefit albums, Songs for Japan – the compilation album released last March to benefit relief efforts for the victims of the country’s devastating earthquake and tsunami – has raised $10 million. (Music Week)

Four major record labels will soon become three. EMI has announced the sale of its recorded-music label to Universal for $1.9 billion and publishing arm to Sony for $2.2 billion. EMI, which has been having money troubles for years, has been the home of big names from The Beatles and Queen to Coldplay and Kylie Minogue. (BBC)

R.E.M. (which disbanded in September) will be releasing a two-disc, 40-song “best of” album tomorrow called Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982–2011. To commemorate the band, Stephen Colbert enshrined Michael Stipe on his memorial shelf. He also sang an acoustic “Lean On Me” with Stipe and Brian Eno. (NPR)

Rapper Heavy D (Dwight Arrington Myers) died on Tuesday at age 44. (Spin)

TONIGHT!

Hoo-whee, last month's BeGin, the monthly soiree over at the Museum of Arts & Culture, was packed. And there's a good chance, tonight's event will be just as well-attended. Partnering with young arts organization, Terrain, the event will host Portland band Y La Bamba. They'll start rockin the museum tonight at 6 pm. See our profile on them here. And local favorites, the Terrible Buttons (who we interviewed a few weeks back) will play as well.

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SATURDAY!

Another 20XX gothic-rave (or "grave") tomorrow at the Hop. Read our story about the local events from a few weeks back here.

Way down in Moscow at John's Alley you can check out Ayo.O, a Seattle rapper who rolled through town last spring. Read our story on him here.

An all local bill takes over the big stage at the Knitting Factory tomorrow night, featuring Sweet Rebel D, Ian Miles and the City We Live In, Team Growl and Lack of Respect. 7:30 pm. All-ages. $5.

SUNDAY!

The Appleseed Cast has been emo since before it was a hairstyle. The band has trafficked in swelling harmonies, numb melodies and sudden mid-song change-ups since the late ’90s. Drawing heavily from bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and Explosions in the Sky, the Appleseed Cast captures a feeling that is true to life — beautiful, mundane and defined by moments of raw emotion, excitement and revelation. The band plays with Hospital Ships and Drag Like Pull at 8 pm at Second Space Gallery, 610 W. Second Ave. $10. All-ages.    

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Enjoy old classics like "What a Wonderful World" and "Night and Day" on Saturday, performed by nationally-acclaimed vocal group Five By Design and the Spokane Symphony. The new production of Cool and Swingin' is the group's fifth appearance with the symphony and will feature a special guest: alto sax legend Richie Cole.

Five By Design specializes in music from the American songbook and jazz-influenced harmonies. It began in 1982 at the University of Wisconsin and today features members Lorie Carpenter-Niska, Sheridan Zuther, Kurt Niska, Michael Swedberg and Terrance Niska.  

Cool and Swingin' celebrates Cole's 40-year career with the likes of Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton, Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show Band, the Manhattan Transfer and many other jazz greats. It uses a radio-show format, with classic arrangements among commercials and sketches.

To keep the evening swinging after the concert, Six Foot Swing's Heather Villa and Friends will play their brand of swing and jazz in the lobby of the theater. The bar will stay open and feature drinks created especially for the party.

Spokane Symphony SuperPops 2: Cool and  Swingin' takes place on Sat, Nov. 12 at 8pm at the Fox Theater. Tickets are $25-$58 and you can purchase them at spokanesymphony.org or by calling (509) 624-1200.

Headlines

Michael Jackon's doctor, Conrad Murray, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter today. He was charged with administering a deadly dose of a hospital-grade sedative to Jackson on June 25, 2009. Murray could face a four-year prison sentence and a loss of his medical license. (Spin)

The initial SXSW 2012 lineup has been announced and includes Against Me!, Class Actress, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Thee Oh Sees, Yukon Blonde and a hundred others. The festival takes place Tues, March 13 through Sun, March 18, 2012 in Austin, Texas. (SXSW)  

Over at the Baby Bar, the one man show of "multi-instrumental-turntable-wizardry and performance art" that is Portland's Boy Eats Drum Machine happens tonight. Check him out with Cyrus Fell Down and Bandit Train. 9 pm. $5. Gotta be 21.

If Mark Mothersbaugh — the guy from Devo who did the soundtrack to The Life Aquatic — made world fusion music, it would sound like Moksha. This is a good thing. Moksha is all about African drums, but also features a variety of flutes, electronic wind instruments and harp. Moksha performs with Todd Milne tonight at Ichiban at 7 pm. All-ages. Free.

The local all-girl punk rock outfit Hotbox tears down the house tonight at Mootsy's with Laylah's Drink and Lack of Respect. 9 pm. Gotta be 21.

SATURDAY!
Lo-fi instrumental surf-pop locals, BBBBandits, bring their unique take on an old rock 'n' roll sound tomorrow to the Checkerboard Tavern. Check out our story on the band here, and see them with Myth Ship and Strong Killings (from Seattle). $3. 9:30 pm. Gotta be 21.

And Moksha (see Friday) plays again, as well. Catch them at the Spokane Buddhist Temple (927 S. Perry St.). $10 suggested donation. All-ages.

The kids will be all twitterpated with Andrew McMahon and his band, Jack's Mannequin, tomorrow. You might remember McMahon as the frontman of piano-rock band Something Corporate, known for such hits has “Punk Rock Princess” and the iconic hate ballad “If You C Jordan,” in which McMahon expounds on his utter loathing for Jordan, “a little redhead bitch.” JM is touring on a new album, and they rock the Knitting Factory tomorrow with Allen Stone and Lady Danville. All-ages. $26.

A decade-old wish will come true tomorrow night for the Whitworth Jazz Ensemble as they play alongside lauded jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman. Read our story on the collaboration here and check the show out in the Cowles Auditorium at 8 pm. All-ages. $10-$15.

Easily the heaviest show to happen tomorrow is over at the Hop!, where locals Rutah, Funeral Age, Odyssey, Stress, Devoured Soul, Cold Blooded, I Live Under Your Bed and Shrieks of the Impaled. 7 pm. $5-$7. All-ages.

SUNDAY!
Your dreams have come true, nerds and children. The three-decade-old band They Might Be Giants sings about all kinds of silliness to the masses on Sunday at the Knitting Factory. Read our story about them here, and check them out at 8 pm. $22. Gotta be 14 (you read that right)

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TONIGHT!

Seattle's Blue Scholars approach hip-hop in a brainy, bookish kind of way. Read our interview with them here and check them out tonight at A Club. It's $15, and all-ages. Starts at 7 pm

Downstairs at Mootsy's, a few locals congregate: Diamond Speedboat, Team Growl, BBBBandits and Casey Rogers. 10 pm. $5. Gotta be 21.

And if you're in the Moscow area, head on over to the Kenworthy Theater where the Horse Thieves (who we wrote about in last week's paper) will host their second CD Release show at 7:30 pm. Bart Budwig opens. $10-$12. All-ages.

SATURDAY!

If you missed the Blue Scholars in Spokane, head southward to check them out at the Belltower in Pullman on Saturday night.

At the Baby Bar/Neato Burrito, honky-tonkers Silver Treason, one of our 2011 Bands to Watch, play alongside the Perennials. Shows there start around 10 pm, and are usually free. All-ages.

Just over the Monroe Street Bridge, at the Hop!, Detroit punks the Koffin Kats will be back to rock the house. They play with locals Reason for Existence, Losing Skin, Mercy Brown, the 45s and Rockin Yotes. 6:30 pm. $13. All-ages.

Downtown at Mootsy's, local purveyor of the very darkest of music, Dan Ocean (another one of our 2011 Bands to Watch), hooks up with Justin East to produce Brothers of Midnite — a creepy DJ project spinning darkwave, drag and witchhouse. $3. 9 pm.