Slow Education at Alley Katz
The cultural publication that lives somewhere between the Internet and the bookstore, Slow Education (www.sloweducation.com), is host to a Back to School Party Sept. 2 featuring underground hip-hop and turntable mischief from the likes of DJ Krames, DJ Hoodrich, Bobby La Beat and DJ Disco Elixir. Bring your No. 2 pencils. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. $3. 643-2816.
New Electric, Souvenir’s Young America and Tinamarie at Nanci Raygun
New Electric’s foursome started out studying jazz in college only to have Sonic Youth and Fugazi interfering with their schemes, bending their guitars toward heavy, fuzzy rock and, perhaps, leaving a tear in the eye of the jazz world. Souvenir’s Young America (a contender for Band Name of the Week) turned a duo into a three-piece and tuned its sound to heavy electronica and stoner metal. Tinamarie was spawned from Best Friends Suicide Pact (the winner of Band Name of Times Past) and plays a brand of space rock, though with heavy practice schedules, they do so infrequently. See them before they scatter, Aug. 31 at 10 p.m. Tickets are $5. 353-4263.
Rod Picott at Ashland Coffee and Tea
Ashland prides itself on being a true listening room, as acoustically sound as a recording studio at the bottom of the sea (which could be pretty quiet if you think about it). And singer-songwriter Rod Picott takes similar pains to perfect his sound, as is evident in the work he put into his newest album, “Girl From Arkansas.” The vocals were recorded live along with the tracks, with little overdubbing, a feat of minimalism that, according to the Web site www.rodpicott.com, heightens the “effect of intimacy and immediacy.” Which means what, kids? Shut up and listen, Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. $10-$15. 798-1702.
And the Band Name of the Week Is …
Direct From Hollywood Cemetery. Did you guess these guys are local? And being locals, they have an almost genetic urge to be a costume band. So they are. The undead walk, sing and play, in the words of lead vamp Rev. Dr. Phineas Fangs, “Southern-fried big-band garage punk.” Yes! Direct plays the Nanci Raygun Sept. 3, along with Partyline, Fascist Fascist and The Rip Off at 10 p.m. $5.
