Audrey Hendrickson

When A Place to Bury Strangers released their 2007 self-titled debut, the press promptly dubbed the Brooklyn trio "the loudest band in New York."  APTBS' appropriately-named follow-up Exploding Head is more of the same: skull-crushing shoegaze with nods to both My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus and Mary Chain.  It's a wall of noise, a whiplash of volume, a sonic assault of customized effects pedals crafted by frontman Oliver Ackermann himself. Wear a pair of earplugs and then put in another set of earplugs, just to be safe.  Your ears will thank you.

They'll be playing Neumo's tonight with The Big Pink, who will assuredly have nearly as many effects pedals, but probably won't be quite as loud. The British producer duo put out one of the best albums of last year, A Brief History of Love, and will definitely have the crowd dancing through the noise.

• A Place To Bury Strangers, The Big Pink, Grave Babies, and io echo play a 21+ show at Neumo's tonight. Doors at 8 p.m., $15.  Tix are almost sold out!
  

Looks like Conan O'Brien has found something to do with his free time, as today he announced a thirty-city live performance tour.  Dubbed "The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour," his live show promises "a night of music, comedy, hugging, and the occasional awkward silence."  That sounds like the Conan we all know and love.

Kicking off in Eugene, Oregon on April 12th, the tour will take place over two months, making stops in twenty states and three Canadian provinces, as well as a special appearance at Bonnaroo.  Locally, Conan will perform at McCaw Hall on April 18th and April 19th--looks like this second show was just added!  Prices start at $39.50 (but this is Ticketmaster, so let's just say $50) all the way up to $695 for the drool-worthy special VIP meet-and-greet package. 

Full list of tour dates as of right now--ticket sales are strong, so second shows keep getting added--after the jump.

April 12: Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene, Ore.
April 13 & 14: Orpheum Theater in Vancouver, British Columbia
April 16: INB Performing Arts Center in Spokane, Wash.
April 17: River Cree Resort and Casino in Enoch, Alberta
April 18 & 19: Seattle Center, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, in Seattle
April 22 & 23: Nob Hill Masonic Center in San Francisco
April 24 & 25: Gibson Amphitheater in Universal City, Calif.
April 29: San Diego Civic Theater in San Diego
April 30: Dodge Theater in Phoenix
May 1: Pearl Concert Theater at The Palms in Las Vegas
May 4: Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nev.
May 5: San Jose State University Events Center in San Jose, Calif.
May 6: Sacramento Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento
May 9: Mackey Auditorium in Boulder, Colo.
May 10: Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver
May 13: McFarlin Memorial Auditorium, Southern Methodist University, Dallas
May 14: Austin Music Hall in Austin, Tex.
May 15: Brady Theater in Tulsa, Okla.
May 16: Midland Theater in Kansas City, Mo.
May 18: Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis
May 19 & 20: Chicago Theater in Chicago
May 22: Massey Hall in Toronto
May 30: Borgata Spa and Resort Event Center in Atlantic City
June 1 & 2: Radio City Music Hall in New York
June 4 & 5: Wang Theater in Boston
June 6: Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
June 7: Tower Theater in Upper Darby, Pa.
June 8: Constitution Hall in Washington
June 11: Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn.
June 14: Fox Theater in Atlanta

A rainforest tree at Lake Quinault Lodge. Photo care of Aramark Parks and Destinations.

If James Cameron wants to lick his wounds and soothe his bruised ego after losing a whole bunch of Oscars to his smoking hot ex-wife, apparently he'd feel right at home on the Washington Coast. 

Trying to take a bite of that sweet Avatar pie, two of Aramark Parks and Destinations' four Washington properties are advertising themselves as Pandora on Earth.  It makes sense that both Lake Quinault Lodge and Kalaloch Lodge are taking advantage of the film's success to promote the resorts' picturesque rainforest locales--Lord knows sci-fi fanboys will pony up the money (see New Zealand and LOTR tourism, or Forks' active courting of Twi-hards).

So head to the coast to get in touch with your Na'vi side.  Commune with nature, search for precious unobtanium, and/or try to plug your braid into anything that moves (TWSS).  Full press release after the jump.

In the box-office hit Avatar, the unique ecosystem of the Earth-like moon Pandora sets the stage for the Na'vi species to roam. Inhabited by a wide range of hexapodal wildlife and bioluminescent fauna and flora, Pandora boasts a vibrant and exotic landscape. The lush scenery, with giant trees and a luxurious waterfall, no doubt whets the appetite for travelers that thrive on being outdoors and becoming one with nature. 

Pandora may be the mere figment of James Cameron's imagination brought to life with the help of a talented team and revolutionary visual effects technology, but the Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest offers a comparable panorama with its emerald green rainforests, sparkling bodies of water and unique wildlife. For Avatar fanatics that are looking to escape to their own "Pandora," Lake Quinault Lodge and Kalaloch Lodge are offering exciting new packages. 

At Lake Quinault Lodge, guests can explore the luscious rainforest and lake with the "Pandora" package*, available through May 1, 2010. Starting at $109, with a savings of at least 27 percent, this package offers a one-night stay and a rainforest tour for two. Additional nights are only $50. During the rainforest tour, guests can see the Quinault Rainforest's "secret tree" located on the North Shore of the lake. It is a gorgeous large tree with several different types of mosses hanging from its gigantic branches—similar to the trees seen in Avatar. Promo code: LQPANDORA 

Available now through June 15, 2010, Kalaloch Lodge's "Oceanside Pandora" package features a one-night stay in a Bluff Cabin or Kalaloch Suite and breakfast for two. Starting at $169 for double occupancy, representing more than 30 percent in savings, this package lets visitors connect with nature and soak in all its beauty. Promo code: KLPAND

The lush surroundings and unique wildlife in the Quinault Rainforest and Kalaloch beaches are reminiscent of Pandora.

For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.visitlakequinault.com and www.visitkalaloch.com or call 866-297-7367.

It's hard to find information on Prodigal Sons, Kimberly Reed's documentary about her truly dysfunctional family, that doesn't reveal too much of the story. The majority of the reviews and even the official trailer gives away more than I think is appropriate.  Since I live a life of NO SPOILERS--what's in the baaaaaahhhhxxxx?--I direct you to the review above (also because I agree with their recommendation of The Ghost Writer) and warn you to seek out further info at your movie-ruining peril. 

It's not a spoiler to say that filmmaker Kimberly Reed grew up as a boy named Paul, a popular dreamboat who never felt quite right in a quarterback's body.  So as an adult, Paul became Kimberly, and the film follows her as she returns to her Montana hometown for a high school reunion.  But she's also reuniting with her older brother, Marc, who she's been estranged from since their father's funeral.  Marc is the family's eldest of three sons, but he's also adopted (crazy) and suffers from the long-term neurological effects of a car accident (double crazy).  And it is the absolute worst when a crazy person has some sort of vague idea that there's a reason (read: excuse) for acting crazy.  That's tough to deal with as it is, let alone when he's your brother who has identity issues of his own.

Prodigal Sons is ridiculously cringeworthy, empathetic, and compassionate, and at times you won't know whether to laugh or cry.  But that's only because it's so damn true.  This is one of those truth-is-stranger-than-fiction films where if it were a fictional adaptation of this story, I wouldn't be able to buy into the conceit.  But the documentary format (along with the tons of the family's home movies and other archival footage) got me hook, line, and sinker.  No spoiler.

• Prodigal Sons plays two more nights at SIFF Cinema, this Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $8 SIFF members/$10 GA.

You've still got about an hour to find a spot to watch the Oscars before the 5 p.m. telecast begins on ABC.  (And girl, the red carpet has been on E! all day, doncha know.) 

The Mayor's Office of Film and Music has provided a list of notable Oscars events, including the Washington Filmworks benefit for local filmmakers at the Spitfire, Three Dollar Cinema's party at SoDo Park, and TheFilmSchool's auction at the Triple Door. On the Central District tip, as previously mentioned, the Bottleneck is hosting a viewing party tonight, and Central Cinema is of course hosting the Reel Grrls' second annual Oscars party.  And don't forget the 20/20 Awards coming at Central Cinema up next Monday the 15th, in which a select group of the Seattle filmmaking community rights the wrongs of the 1990 Academy Awards. 

As for tonight, let's hope for a couple pretty dresses and any film but Avatar winning Best Picture.

Time keeps ticking along, and that means that somehow, though it seems the cozy little bar on Madison just opened its doors, The Bottleneck Lounge is celebrating its third birthday. This past year has brought some changes to the bar, with their expansion into what used to be a barbershop next door, and their latest cocktail menu debuted just last week.  But that kind of change and renewal is all part of growing up.

Tonight's their big birthday party and everybody's invited.  Starting at 8 p.m., there'll be cocktails galore ($1 off everything on the Hair of the Dog Menu) and Skyy Vodka specials all night, not to mention $3 glasses of champagne for the first hour.  Come for the drinks and stay for the party favors--while you're there, be sure to entire to win prizes, including a night's stay at the Ace Hotel in Portland. 

And if you can't make it tonight, no worries; just stop by the Bottleneck tomorrow for the Oscars and wish them many returns.

Here we are, just a couple days away from the Oscars, so let's take a look at the films new to DVD, care of our good friends at Scarecrow Video. This week features the release of two recommendable family films, Ponyo and Where the Wild Things Are, though the latter is more for dysfunctional young adults than actual children. Also out this week is Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak, a tribute to the author directed by Lance Bangs and Spike Jonze, made during the filming of Where the Wild Things Are. There's plenty of Maurice in it, but it also features James Gandolfini, Meryl Streep, Catherine Keener, and Tony Kushner giving Sendak some love. 

This week also brought the DVD release of 2012, which you should not see, and which I have already discussed at length. I did not see Gentlemen Broncos, the latest from Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess, but I heard it was bad, like, unwatchable-even-on-a-plane bad. Yes, even with Jemaine Clement.

On the indie front, this week brings plenty of films made by the ladies. There's Rebecca Miller's The Private Life of Pippa Lee, which received pretty good reviews for a random name-heavy cast (Keanu Reeves, Alan Arkin, Blake Lively, Julianne Moore, Winona Ryder, Monica Bellucci, Maria Bello, and starring Robin Wright Penn as the totally cray-cray lead). There's also The Beaches of Agnes, French director Agnes Varda's self-portrait, which--as a documentary on a filmmaker made by the filmmaker herself--actually has a lot in common with We Live In Public, Ondi Timoner's look at web guru Josh Harris. Harris made (and lost) tons of money by being way ahead of his internet time, in terms of foreseeing things like virtual communities, user-generated video content, and the voluntary surrender of any expectation of online privacy. As a documentary, We Live in Public is great (and po-po-po-mo freaky), but as a human being, Josh Harris is a FAIL.

And as for a random pick of the week, there's Bollywood Hero, in which Chris Kattan plays Chris Kattan...in India! It was an "IFC musical comedy miniseries event" last summer.

If Governor Rick Perry, Texas' newly nominated Republican candidate for the US Senate, goes through with his lowest common denominator-baiting calls for the state to secede from the Union, I hope he lets America keep The Strange Boys.  We need 'em. The newly six-piece Austin band delivers straight-up rock that sounds as if it could have been made circa 1965.  It's all very "Louie, Louie," so feel free to recommend them to your dad in an attempt to cross the generation gap (but don't get stuck listening to all of his British invasion vinyl).  On the band's second full-length Be Brave, just released last week, the Boys bring plenty of their garage sound, fuzzed-out jangle, and ragged vocals to the fore.  Tonight, they hit up the Comet, along with Lovvers and Chain and the Gang.  Just add whiskey, but don't mess with Texas.

• The Strange Boys play the Comet tonight with Chain and the Gang and Lovvers.  9 p.m., $10, 21+.

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A couple months ago, Neon Monster, the San Francisco-based arts/toys/comics collective introduced their very own toy line.  The first of their stuffed monsters?  A cuddly version of cycloptic mascot Mitch.  Sure, he's basically just a big eyeball, but an eyeball full of love.  And he's green too--Mitch is made out of 100% recycled fleece plush, which makes him extra environmentally lovable. 

To celebrate Mitch's Neon Monster debut, The SunBreak has one albino pink Mitch to give away.  Enter below for your chance to win.  We'll be drawing a winner's name Friday at noon.

In January of this year, Neon Monster, the San Francisco-based arts/toys/comics collective introduced a toy line of their own.  The first of their stuffed monsters?  A cuddly version of their cycloptic mascot Mitch.  Sure, he's just a big eyeball, but an eyeball full of love.  And he's green too--Mitch is made out of 100% recycled fleece plush, which makes him extra environmentally lovable. 

To celebrate Mitch's Neon Monster debut, The SunBreak has one albino pink Mitch to give away.  Enter below for your chance to win.  We'll be drawing a winner's name Friday at noon.