EAR CANDY: PHONE CALL, PURSE CANDY, FRINGE CLASS
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Sadly, Phone Call had to cancel tonight's appearance due to a family emergency. We wish them well. Purse Candy and Fringe Class will still perform. See My, What a Busy Week!
TV ON THE RADIO, NATASHA KMETO
(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) See My, What a Busy Week!, and read our article on TV on the Radio.
THE THESIS: LOAD B, NATURALLY GROWN MISFITS, MIKEY FOUNTAINE
(Kelly's Olympian, 426 SW Washington) Tonight is the inaugural night of the Thesis, a monthly collaboration between radio station KPSU and Northwest hiphop culture blog We Out Here. The event brings the two media groups together to share resources, creating a live event that showcases local hiphop artists who often get overlooked despite their talent. Load B (emcees Milc and Brill) are on the cusp of releasing their latest, Escape from Snortlandia, giving fans hope for a possible preview of new material. Naturally Grown Misfits, the duo of Daelonz and Chance, share a caustic irreverence with Load B, but create their own lane with a decidedly more psychedelic take. Arrive early for Mikey Fountaine, a lyricist and producer whose long-awaited debut, Blak Sushi, will prove that he's one of the most criminally slept-on artists in town. RYAN FEIGH
HOT RIZE, CAHALEN MORRISON AND ELI WEST
(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) The past, present, and future of forward-thinking acoustic music will converge tonight at the Aladdin, where Seattle duo Cahalen Morrison and Eli West open for legendary progressive bluegrass band Hot Rize. Let's start with the latter: Formed in the late 1970s, Hot Rize had a tight command of the genre's traditions—clean, fast picking, plus high-lonesome harmonies—but bassist Nick Forster played an electric instrument, which gave the band a more contemporary sound. After the release of 1990's Take It Home, Hot Rize disbanded at the height of their powers and pursued solo careers. Now, they're touring behind their first new album in nearly 25 years, the elegant, efficient When I'm Free. On Thursday, they'll follow Morrison and West, who imbue their old-time sound with a modern feel and magnificent sense of melody. Their live set is positively sublime. This is a can't-miss bill for bluegrass fiends. BEN SALMON
