THE FILM
Banff Mountain Film Festival
The Banff Mountain Film Festival began in 1976 as a 10-film festival drawing 450 people to the small but famed mountain town of Banff, Canada. Each November, Banff celebrates the spirit of adventure by featuring that year’s best films on mountain themes. Then the best films hit the road.
If you’re looking for a celluloid high, check out the Banff Mountain Film Festival at the Capitol Theater Saturday. The festival features the best in “mountain†film from all over the world, from white water to heli-kayaking, summitting a high peak to mastering fresh powder. â€" Suzy Stump
[Capitol Theater, Saturday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 2, 6 p.m., $10, $17 for both nights, 206 E. Fifth, Olympia, 360.956. 1699]
MORE FILM: On local screens today.
MUSIC
Pierced Arrows
Fred and Toody Cole, from Dead Moon fame, formed Pierced Arrows this past May, Oregon’s Dead Moon were the definition of seminal over their lengthy career, and when the band officially called it quits in 2006, you could feel the sadness among lo-fi garage fans. Pierced Arrows, while destined to be compared to Dead Moon, fills some of that void.
While it’s true that Pierced Arrows isn’t a drastic diversion from Dead Moon, the sight of the Coles still on stage is enough to bring a smile to most faces. There are deviations, as evident on a 7’’ released by Pierced Arrows earlier this year, and as time goes on the differences become more evident. How’s this for a curveball? The band plans to release a LP in January, and went as far as to employ a few digital recording techniques in the record’s production. I guarantee you that was new territory for Toody and Fred. â€" Matt Driscoll
[Hell’s Kitchen, with The Fucking Eagles, Gold Teeth and The Mosquito Neckties, Saturday, Dec. 1, $5, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]
MUSIC
MxPx
What exactly makes me classify MxPx as a “Christian band?†What I know of MxPx has nothing to do with Christianity. “Move to Bremerton,†the song most people around these parts associate with MxPx, has nothing to do with Jesus â€" nor does “Chick Magnet,†one of my favorite MxPx songs of all time. Even their later work, from ’98’s Going the Way of the Buffalo, to this year’s Secret Weapon, at most, only ever offer vague, ambiguous Christian overtones.
Upon review, it seems I call MxPx a Christian band because they’re Christians, not because they write Christian music. Christian music is full of loving the grace of god and singing the praise of Jesus. MxPx doesn’t do that. They write well constructed pop punk. For me, and so many others, to pass them off as simply a Christian band is, at best, narrow minded.
MxPx will play Club Impact Brick City tonight. It’ll be a high-energy punk rock show at one of Tacoma’s most important all-ages venues. Jesus or no Jesus, this one’s a winner. â€" MD
[Club Impact, with Search/Rescue, The Real You, The Enemies Of, 7 p.m., all ages, $10 at www.brownpapertickets.com, $12 door, 754 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.274.1583]
MORE MUSIC: In the clubs tonight.
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