There's an unwritten musical law that no matter what kind of sounds a band is trying to create, the practice spaces always look the same.
A prime example sits in downtown Moscow, where local band Full Monte kicks up its heels and kicks out its jams while the members try and help start a resurgence in local, original rock and roll.
Squinting through a fog of cigarette smoke, a visitor finds all the evidence of an American rock band at work: flags and tapestries hung from the walls, Christmas lights stringing the ceiling, a rotted carpet and numerous instruments leaning against the few pieces of furniture. Taped to the walls are glimpses of musical inspiration, portraits of the Meat Puppets, Nirvana, Flea and J Mascis torn from the pages of Rolling Stone.
The members of Full Monte are all Moscow natives who remember a time when there were more original bands and more places for them to play.
They're hopeful things are looking up for local music, because things are definitely looking up for the band. Drummer Monte Mccully, bassist Jarrod O'Dell and guitarist Geoff Hannaford have played together for awhile, but they all acknowledge things really started to gel when they hooked up with singer Jason Stevens. Stevens met the band about two months ago after a stint in the army and the cultural wasteland of Ft. Riley, Kansas.
The group describes their sound as "heavy mood music," and the few covers they play range in style from Live to Pearl Jam to King's X.
"That's the best part about being in a band," said O'Dell. "Everybody gets their influences in."
When promoter Pete Lindall booked Full Monte for a gig Saturday at the Rathaus in Moscow, the band glimpsed a demo tape of another up-and-coming local group, the Assailants. Made up of four UI students/friends, the Assailants describe their sound as either "straight-ahead blues rock" or a combination of jazz, blues rock and "newer stuff."
Bassist Brian Claus and guitarist Geoff Metts have been playing together for more than two years, and last August they joined with drummer Chris Felts and singer Kevin Lichy to officially get the band going.
"We put it all together real quick," Claus said.
Since then, they've played a few "for-beer" gigs at fraternity houses and shows at the Silver Saddle in Potlatch. Besides their "blues-rock" basics, the Assailants cover the occasional Primus and Beatles song as well.
Full Monte and the Assailants play at the Rathaus Saturday at 9:30 p.m. Cover charge is $3 per person, or $5 per couple, and there will be door prizes given away by Kelson Distributors, so if you want free beer stuff and an earful of local tunage, you know where to be.
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Smash 'em if you got 'em: Comedian Gallagher is most famous for his "Sledge-o-matic" routine that closes his performances, where he crushes anything and everything imaginable and showers the first few rows of the audience with cottage cheese, various vegetables and, of course, watermelons.
Once you get past the slapstick, though, and start listening to the hour or so of material leading up to the grand finale, you realize Gallagher is one of the most lethal political satirists of his time, skewering politicians and Big Brother at every turn. The child of the '60s is adept at pointing out everyday absurdities of the '90s, and his Spokane concert will undoubtedly offer plenty of what he's famous for.
Gallagher performs at the Spokane Opera House at 8 p.m. Saturday, with a pre-show autograph party for ticket holders. Tickets at $18.50, $22 and $25, and available at all G&B Select-A-Seat outlets, or by calling (800) 325-7328.
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Speaking of smashing: After a long week of the usual jazz festival mayhem, you may find it hard to get up for a wild night on the town. Thankfully, the Moscow Social Club Grand Ballroom will have something well worth getting up for Saturday night, when the latest "Latex Fashion Show" hits the stage.
If you've yet to attend any of the leather/fetish/gear shows sponsored by the good folks at Eclectica, you're missing out. Hot clothes and hot music make them a true scene for the Palouse's beautiful people.
And if pure fun isn't enough reason to go, how about a good cause? One dollar of every ticket sold will go to Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse. Tickets are $5 at the door, $4 in advance at Eclectica.
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Marital bliss (and fisticuffs): In one of the least surprising news stories to appear this year, tattooed Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee was arrested Tuesday for brawling with his wife, "Baywatch" actress/Playboy model/floatation device Pamela Anderson Lee.
Tommy is being held in lieu of $1 million bail after Pamela called police and reported he had attacked her in their Malibu home after the couple had been fighting. She complained of a back injury and broken nail.
No word on whether the fight was taped for release on home video.
Dan Nailen covers the University of Idaho and Idaho state politics for the Daily News. His music column, "Soul Patch," appears weekly in The Arts.
