Love Battery's Show Goes On, Despite A Frisky Week For Finn

Jason Finn, drummer for Seattle's fine Love Battery, is a musician with a deal. A record deal that is. Still, he remains one with the people, the salt of the earth, always in the thick of things, a fan-friendly, hands-on local celebrity.

But last Monday it was the police who had their hands on Finn. While walking down Broadway to a meeting at Moe's, Finn was stopped, surrounded and detained by Seattle police. He was spread across the hood of a prowl car and searched. Why? "Because my coat matched the color of a coat worn by some shoplifter in a jewelry store farther up Broadway," Finn said later. "Without so much as a `How-do-you-do' they gave my body a complete going-over in front of everybody on Broadway. But I'm proud to say, I was clean." Police let Finn go after about 10 minutes with a "Sorry to inconvenience you."

And a good thing, because Love Battery plays tomorrow at the Crocodile Cafe, then hits the road. The band has a new EP, "Nehru Jacket," with a full-length release scheduled for February. Finn said he was pleased with the release, both from the record company and the police, and said he was heading out the door.

"We're going to Egg Studios to record `Louie, Louie' for a soundtrack."

-- The Posies, who had a wonderful show with 7 Year Bitch at the King Performance Center two weeks ago, are clubbing it again Saturday at Moe. Tonight at Moe it's Jesus Lizard, Pegboy and Kepone. And Monday, the second benefit for "Noche de Rabanos" (Night of the Radishes) with Salon Betty takes place.

Tuesday, the Moe will host the 15th anniversary party for The Rocket. Come meet actual Rocket publisher/editor Uncle Charlie Cross - you can look but you can't touch - and the rest of the staff of Seattle's senior rock rag. They're still crazy after all these years. Peach, Pilot, Kitchen Radio and Sicko will play. Proceeds benefit Home Alive.

-- Dada, the fine band best known for "Dizz Knee Land," has a great new album "American Highway Flower" and is playing Under the Rail tomorrow night.

-- Reggae legend The Itals are at the Ballard Firehouse tomorrow with Let's Go Bowling. Mississippi blues guitarist Fenton Robinson appears with the Tom McFarland Blues band tonight and tomorrow at the New Orleans. Robinson is a well-seasoned veteran with a jazz/R&B taste to his blues. At the Brothers Bistro, it's high-flying funk with Apollo Creed.

-- Tonight the mad Mojo Nixon & The Toadliquors bring their traditional holiday party to the Backstage. Tomorrow local blues boy David Brewer celebrates his new CD, "All Tore Down." And Sunday, singer-songwriter Greg Brown plays. Nina Gerber opens.

-- At the Tractor Tavern tomorrow will be a one-day workshop on "Marketing Your Music" with information on recording, airplay, management, PR, copyrights and more. It's conducted by Chris Knab, who co-founded 415 Records (Romeo Void) and survived KCMU, entertainment attorney Bart Day, Backstage owner and Picketts manager Ed Beeson, and Cindy Payne, who does the bookings and promotions for the 'stage. Cost: $39 advance, $49 at the door. Call 723-2344.

-- And for them that never gets to see bands in clubs, more than 30 local acts will appear on "The Spud Goodman Show" 10 p.m. Sunday on KTZZ (Channel 22). Tad and the Young Fresh Fellows will be among those featured.