Bloglander

TONIGHT
Last year, the Bartlett Christmas Special event sold out — proving that as cheesy as much Christmas music has become, we still crave its familiarity. Once again, the Bartlett’s owners play on our base instincts, whipping up a holiday concert and subsequent album. Local acts on the cheery bill, and featured on the indie rock-influenced Bartlett Christmas — Vol. #2 album, include Cathedral Pearls, Friends of Mine, Loomer, Pérenne and Lucas Brown. For Friday’s event, more local artists will make surprise appearances and Derrick Oliver will emcee. Also, just to make the event a little brighter, expect a sing-along portion. Cost is $15 and the show starts at 8 pm.

For those looking to get a little more wild tonight Moral Crux, the riotous punk band formed in Ephrata, Washington, 30 years ago, comes to Mootsy’s tonight to start some trouble. The show’s local openers include Redvolt, Fun Ladies and Switchin to Whiskey. The show starts at 10 pm and is $5 at the door.

The Nightmare Before Christmas concert series kicks off tonight at Pinnacle Northwest (the Pin!). This is a six-day event that runs Fri-Sun over the next two weekends. During that time it feels like nearly every band is playing the Pin’s stage — that is nearly every metal/punk/screamo act in town. Click here for the full schedule. In order to have time and space for each band, shows begin at 5 pm. Cost is $13 at the door or $50 for the whole series.

SATURDAY
Beat Connection pairs beats that ebb and flow between smooth and harsh with instrumentation and lethargic vocals that revel in the notion of feeling good (check out the track “So Good” as a starting point). The Seattle-based electro-pop four-piece already stopped in Spokane earlier this year; this time, they’re on their Product Placement Tour touting October’s Product 3 album, which took three years to record. The whole record is an exploration of the balance between Top 40 catchiness and indie obscurity. Working within the middle ground, the band has settled into a sound that will only continue to bloom. Tickets are $15 at the door and the show starts at 8 pm. 

Della Mae is back. Yes, this talented bluegrass band of beautiful women plays Spokane a lot, but that’s because fiddle player Kimber Ludiker is from here. They are joined at the Knitting Factory by Mipso and Windoe. The show starts at 8 pm. 

Are you ready to loose your damn mind? Seattle’s soul-tinged rock act Down North can help you do that Saturday night when they take to the Big Dipper stage for the venue’s ugly sweater holiday party. Watching them play is an experience not to be missed. The other bands on this awesome bill are Blackwater Prophet and Bullets or Balloons. Tickets are $8 at the door for this all-ages event. Music kicks off at 7:30 pm. Read our preview story on Down North here.