Capitol Hill's Garage Is Set To Rock

Some clubs don't need a band to feel like a rock 'n' roll joint. Certainly the J&M Cafe doesn't, it roars all on its own, as does F.X. McRory's, although quieter. The Garage, which opens today on Capitol Hill, has that same combination: a lot of energy in a classy setting.

Perhaps the rock ambiance comes from the ownership. The Garage cartel consists of Pearl Jam manager Kelly Curtis and Peggy Curtis, Alex Rosenast, formerly of RKCNDY and currently of Temple Billiards, Jill Rosenast, who designed The Garage, and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam. The revamped venue at 1130 Broadway houses 18 custom, tournament-quality pool tables, a restaurant serving Pacific Northwest and Tuscan eats and a cozy bar.

At the preview party last Saturday, McCready said he was glad to be a part of it. "I'll have something to fall back on if the band doesn't work out."

-- McCready bandmate Jeff Ament has been working on an out-of-band experience of his own.

Ament met guitarist/vocalist Robbi Robb of Tribe After Tribe three years ago when Robb's band opened for Pearl Jam. They began playing together on the side and a year ago started recording with drummer Richard Stuverud (Pilot, Lazy Susan). The band named itself and its debut album Three Fish, taken from a book of poems by 13th century Persian mystic Jelalludin Rumi given to Ament by Eddie Vedder. There are certainly spiritual elements to Three Fish's music, but it grinds and growls as well.

Three Fish plays tonight at the Showbox. Singer/songwriter Kristen Barry opens.

-- Barry will headline her own record-release party Tuesday at the Crocodile Cafe. The Seattle native has been playing locally for ten years, mostly on piano. But it wasn't until she took up guitar a year and a half ago that things started moving.

"The Beginning The Middle The End" is a much harder-rocking Barry. "Writing on guitar makes everything different," she said from the road last week. "Besides, by learning guitar, I didn't have to teach somebody else the parts."

-- The Townsend Deli, formerly in Snohomish, reopens today in Everett at 1502 Rucker Ave., and plans to continue its policy of music in a nonsmoking, all-ages environment. Mark Pearson of the Brothers Four plays 8 p.m. Saturday. The Townsend will host an open mike 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays, and a gospel open mike 3 to 7 p.m. Sundays.

-- Here's something you don't see every day: live music at The Blue Moon! Three Bricks Shy plays Saturday in honor of Jerry Garcia's birthday. It's free. Meanwhile, former Garcia collaborator Merl Saunders plays tomorrow and Saturday at the Ballard Firehouse.

-- Brian Setzer of the Straycats plays tomorrow at the Fenix. Also tomorrow, it's jazz funk with Medesky, Martin & Wood at Moe's, along with Critters Buggin'. Punk folksters Cornelia's Dad join Giant Ant Farm and Amy Denio tonight at the Tractor. Also in Ballard, at the Backstage, it's Sister Psychic, Flake and Model Rockets tomorrow, singer-songwriter Paul Kelly Saturday, and Jonatha Brooke of The Story Monday.