Admittedly, I haven't always been a full-fledged supporter of Tacoma's alcohol lacking New Years Eve Party â€" First Night. However, in its absence, I must also admit I kind of missed the annual event. Since it's back this year and a number of noteworthy performers will help make it memorable, here's a peek at a few musical acts not to miss tomorrow night:
Alex Duncan will play the First Night Main Stage at 10:30 p.m., and his set will lead the party right into '08. Having seen Duncan unleash his impressive reggae styling on Jazzbones a number of times, one can only assume his presence at First Night will be nothing short of infectious â€" in a good way, not like the flu. If there's one thing about reggae crowds it's that they know how to have a good time. The music is designed for it. On New Years Eve (even though we're nowhere near the tropics) Duncan's groove should hit the spot like a spliff the size of a baby's arm.
Oftentimes, there's a serious rift between intellects and rockers. Usually they're separate crowds, and commingling is frowned upon. A handful of bands (Seattle's Bloodhag comes to mind) bridge that gap and prove that rockers can be intellects, and vise versa. Another band bringing the two worlds together is Seattle's Sugarcane Mutiny, who will play First Night's Theatre on the Square Stage (901 Broadway) at 7:30 p.m. According to the band's press release, "Sugarcane Mutiny takes two shots of single-malt rock, adds a dash of twang, and muddles the mix with fresh lime. The band’s lyric-driven songwriting and power-pop beats recall the pub rock of Elvis Costello and Graham Parker, blending the dark humor of a Cracker or Wilco with the loud jangly pop of the Smithereens and Fastball." All I know is that a band that knows the value of a well written verse, even after half a bottle of Jack, is a band I want to become acquainted with. First Night will provide that opportunity.
Oh the Elephants. I love them so. I saw Cody from the band at Stadium Video the other night, but like a school girl with a crush, shyly turned my eyes to the ground. Too bad for this piece, because had I not been such an anti-social chickenshit (or had I not been so stoned), I could have asked him about the band's scheduled gig on the First Night Theatre on the Square Stage at 8:30 p.m. First Night is giving the Elephants 45 minutes, which (at a typical Elephants show) is just about the time their psychedelic gluco-pop gets interesting. At First Night Trevor and Cody will have to speed things up a bit, but know that they're up to it. The Elephants may just be the best thing First Night has going for it â€" besides, of course, the fact that it exists again this year. Enjoy First Night this year, and get your button now! â€" Matt Driscoll