Be thankful for shows on Saturday
Reunions, collaborations, anniversaries, an album release party – this Saturday night is packed with live music highlights – and all of them are local.
With this menagerie of Spokane favorites and familiars playing specials shows Saturday, there are plenty of opportunities to work off Thursday’s turkey and support local music in the same scoop.
Here’s the roadmap for a cross-town pub crawl of local proportions.
Six State Bender Reunion with The Creeps and Belt of Vapor
When, where: Saturday at 9 p.m. at The A Club, 416 W. Sprague Ave.
Cost: $10, 21 and older only
In a handful of homes throughout Spokane there are refrigerator magnets depicting sumo wrestlers in war paint and burlesque girls wearing very little at all. And on those stickers reads the name of a local music legend – Six State Bender – regarded for relentlessly raucous and raging live shows, belligerent stage personas and no-holds-barred rock ’n’ roll.
Now, after a years-long hiatus, Six State Bender has come back for a reunion show, and they pulled their friends in The Creeps out of retirement as well.
Playing crunchy, catchy old-school punk-rock, The Creeps, too, were known for high-intensity live shows in their heyday.
Filling out the bill is Spokane experimental rock trio Belt of Vapor.
Six State Bender organized this double reunion as a benefit for lead singer Jay-T Hottinger’s cousin, Leland Johnson, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in early August.
The Camaros CD Release Party with Catholic Guilt, Gabe Soileau, Duck Duck Superpunch
When, where: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Baby Bar, 827 W. First Ave.
Cost: Free
More dive-bar delights abound with The Camaros at the Baby Bar on Saturday night, where they will be releasing their new album.
The Camaros specialize in unabashedly gritty rock anthems that go down like a shot of whiskey with a PBR chaser.
For their album release show, The Camaros will play two sets. At 7:30 p.m. is an all-ages show featuring Lewis and Clark High School student Gabe Soileau, who recently competed in the Tropheé Mondial World Accordion Championships. The late show starts at 9:30 p.m. with Catholic Guilt and Duck Suckerpunch completing the lineup.
Karrie O’Neill and Kari Marguerite
When, where: Saturday at 7 p.m. at The Shop, 924 S. Perry St.
Cost: Suggested $3 donation, all ages welcome
The rejuvenated singer-songwriter series continues at The Shop with the soulful twosome of Karrie O’Neill and Kari Marguerite collaborating on a dual bill. Another new addition to The Shop is the sale of beer and wine to pair with the music and dance. Shows at The Shop are typically free, although there is a suggested donation for the artists.
Matthew Lindley and Brandon Humpheys
When, where: Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Forza Cofee Co., 325 S. Sullivan Road, Suite C, Spokane Valley
Cost: Free
Longtime friends and former bandmates Matthew Lindley and Brandon Humphreys are reuniting for a special one-off while they are in town for the holiday. They’ll each play a solo acoustic set, and then a combined collaborative set. Lindley is also releasing his new album, “Paper Lion” for his Spokane-area fans.
Avenue Pizza 3rd Anniversary Pizza Party with Bullets Or Balloons, The Lion Oh My, and Diamond Speedboat
When, where: Saturday at 8 p.m. at Pacific Avenue Pizza, 2001 W. Pacific Ave.
Cost: Free, all ages welcome
Avenue Pizza is celebrating its third year in business with a hard rock show with radio-ready powerhouse Diamond Speedboat (fronted by Benjamin Ham), Bullets or Ballons (formerly Cyrus Fell Down) and newish band The Lion Oh My.