Hammer’s pix

Normally, the first full week of January is about the lightest of the year for live shows. Not so this year, because there are a few shows set for this week that look to be as strong as anything you’ll hear all year.

First off, Perfect Nothing will be playing a reunion show at the lovely Emerson Theater on Saturday. As anyone who’s listened to me blah blah blah about music for hours can tell you, Perfect Nothing is and always will be my all-time favorite Indiana band. Why? First of all, their music is the kind of melodic and catchy metalcore that stays with you for days. Co-lead singers Randall Sharkey and Stephanie Brewer are great performers individually and even better when they’re using each other as vocal foils. The rest of the band is as tight as hell. All seven original PN members will be on stage, making it a genuine reunion.

Unfortunately, this is not a permanent reunion but a one-off show driven by public demand. Fortunately, the show will also be a showcase for the various new bands that rose from the ashes of PN. Opening the show will be Painting Jaime (Sharkey’s indie-rock band that features ex-Chuck Marten members), Year of Desolation (guitarist John Hehman’s metal band), Wasteland, DC (member Josh Kappel’s punk band) and Transient Frank (drummer Matt Wilson’s rock and roll jam band). Hopefully, their all-time-classic CD Ten Thousand Stars will be available at the show.

A PN live DVD and compilation CD are also scheduled for 2004 as well as some additional shows. After a band practice on Monday, Sharkey told me that the band is amped about playing again and optimistic about the future. The fun starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday; the opening bands will draw straws to determine the playing order.

Saturday is also a night for super-heavy music at the Melody Inn’s Punk Rock Night. Headlining the bill is Chicago’s Pelican. They’re an all-instrumental band, which gets a doomy, dark sound from their down-tuned guitars. Opening the show will be Eyes of Jade, You Will Die and Devil To Pay. I’ve been advised to bring earplugs to the show. For more information on Pelican, check out www.hydrahead.com/pelican.

Saturday also marks the reopening of Radio Radio after being closed temporarily due to owner David “Tufty” Clough’s recent health problems. Tufty’s fiancée and business partner, Roni Davidson, will be running the show as Blaq Lily, Mother Grove and Callisto will perform. Blaq Lily, of course, is a Corrs-meets-Cranberries rocker band and Mother Grove is the groove-heavy Celtic-rock band anchored by bassist Ryan “Sweaty B” Williams. Tufty himself will be present at the show, I’m told, which is great news.

Also on Saturday: the ultra-funky funk of Freekbass and Audible Thought at the Patio.

Let me double back to Wednesday night, when the great Mab Lab will perform a set at the Jazz Kitchen. Mab Lab shows are always great, and this one will be especially so, given that there’ll be live breakers, dancers and drummers in the house. Also, Mab Lab is working on a new disc and has big plans to take over the world in 2004. I give them a pretty good chance.

Also on Wednesday will be a show at the Melody Inn celebrating the birthday of Indianapolismusic.net executive director Matt Fecher. Helping the beloved figure celebrate his birthday will be Loretta, Lines of Nazca, Eyes of Jade and the all-world rapper Fiti Futuristic. The $1.25 Pabsts will be flowing at the Mel for sure that night.

Friday night’s shows are spotlighted by Chris Shaffer’s return to the Patio. The Polyester Starfish will open. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy of Shaffer’s album while you’re there.

Have a safe and productive weekend. Go Colts!