Thursday, Nov. 5-Sunday, Nov. 8: You hear that thumping coming from Pioneer Square? It’s not the constant construction of a growing city. It’s Baba Obscura, a new music festival from Baba Yaga owner Ryan Granger and Desert Daze organizer Phil Pirrone. It’s four packed days at six killer venues with one hell of a lineup, a sensational mix of both local and international acts; some are tried-and-true legends, while others are up-and-comers you’ll want to catch before they blow up. And think of all the good food you’ll be able to nosh on to carb up between sets.
Some highlights:
💀 Thursday, Nov. 5: An all-Baba Yaga night, with DJ Alex White spinning tracks upstairs while the underground section goes full psycho freakout with Frond and Weep Wave, plus indie outfit Dalmatia and synth-pop soul from RUB.
💀 Friday, Nov. 6: In addition to Baba Yaga (get excited for nihilistic punk from Mexico’s Carrion Kids, West African blues from Mdou Moctar and solo work from Warpaint’s Emily Kokal), the festival expands to two stages at AXIS Pioneer Square (alt rockers Skating Polly and the Macks are sure bets, as is Krautrock duo Packaging), and absolute slayage on ye olde Central Saloon stage (kick some ass with Shifters!!, Alex Vile and King Youngblood).
💀 Saturday, Nov. 7: Consider scummy punk chaos from Sux and blue rock from the Black Tones at Central Saloon; choose your punk fighter at Baba Yaga if you want to dance (Seattle-based Linda From Work) or be gleefully trashy (Albuquerque’s the Drags); tear down the walls of your sanity with Zookraught and Dark Chisme at AXIS.
💀 Sunday, Nov. 8: End the festival with the Black Angels at the Showbox Market as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album “Passover” and then go into the night with the Noches De Rock After Party back at Baba Yaga.
Monday, Nov. 2: Lime Garden, the all-female four-piece out of Brighton, are fun as hell. I guess I would call them danceable, synthy, surf rock, but that barely scratches the surface of their infectious, hooky excellence. They’re swinging through the States to promote their second album, “Maybe Not Tonight,” and stopping by Barboza to crush it.
Friday, Nov. 6: Billy Corgan’s been getting real messy in interviews lately, but the reunited Smashing Pumpkins can still tear the house down (and the Climate Pledge Arena acoustics are a perfect match). Sure, I’m one of those poseurs who didn’t glom onto the band until they glammed up their sound and hired the future filmmakers of “Little Miss Sunshine” to direct their music videos for their 1995 double album “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness”(that title couldn’t cater more to theater kids if you tried), but, in my defense, it was middle school. Also, now I get my first of three chances to reference Matt Groening cartoons in this article.
Sunday, Nov. 8: Didn’t get enough Beck–ness at the Chateau Ste. Michele in September? Are you more of an indoor cat? Would you rather walk out of the Symphony light rail stop directly into the concert venue than drive to Woodinville? Benaroya Hall’s got you covered, and Mr. Hansen is touring with his 15th album. (Hint: it’s the name of the tour). And who knows? Maybe someone will play a washboard solo.
Tuesday, Nov. 10: Don’t be an L-7 weeeeeeenie, and certainly don’t get on their sh*tlist. Because once-revolutionary punk band L7 rides off into the sunset after this farewell tour (they’re swinging by the Showbox Market), there are no do-overs. Thrash in the pit like your life depended on it.
Tuesday, Nov. 10: The Fugees’ second album, 1996’s “The Score,” went septuple platinum and influenced three generations of hip-hop music. Now 30 years later, you can Fu-Gee-La with them again at Climate Pledge Arena for their long-delayed tour. Or at least see Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, two-thirds of the group; their initial 2021 reunion tour was canceled by COVID, and now Pras Michel is serving a 14-year sentence for criminal conspiracy. Sh*t happens.
Thursday, Nov. 19: Get in your car / And go to the Neptune / You will have a good time / I bet that you will groove a lot / to CARS. That’s right. Time to dance like a robot for a couple hours as Gary Numan bleeps and blorps on his gadgety doohickeys. (I mean this all as a compliment).
Monday, Nov. 23: I recently worked a film festival in Texas, and the closing night party involved free horror-themed tattoos, a mummy DJ (I bet he likes wrap music, lol)… and a performance from GWAR, the gang of heavy metal intergalactic warriors known for their ludicrously entertaining, interactive shows and their gigantic prosthetics-wielding costumes. I started the evening in a nice skirt and a Grace Glowicki “Dead Lover” tee; I ended the evening covered in stage blood and enough memories to last a lifetime (e.g., getting a nasty look from my Lyft driver). As GWAR returns to the Showbox SoDo, I am now better prepared: I’ll be there with a poncho, sharper elbows for the pit and three towels waiting for me back in my Prius for the drive home.
ALSO!
Once again, another hearty shout-out to Belltown Yacht Club for being a bangin’ space that slings good drinks and books excellent acts:
📌 Thursday, Nov. 5: Fruit Lo0ops, Miscomings, 9-5 Hypefuck, SH!TOMATO
📌 Saturday, Nov. 7: Punktuals, Moon Letters, Foul Blooded
📌 Saturday, Nov. 14: DumDums, Panoramics, Radio Weekend
