Oktoberfest Falls On The Paragon

Ah, rich autumn colors, stacks o' pumpkins, lederhosen and the sweet smell of sauerkraut - it must be that yummiest time of year: Oktoberfest!

The Paragon on Queen Anne is again going over the top with its annual Oktoberfest-ivities. Sunday night kicks off two weeks of oompah music with The Nightsticks, a blues band, followed by Reggie Goings (jazz) Monday, the reggae Rude Boy Tuesday and the R&B of Jimmy Frank Wednesday. There'll be a special German menu and, in true Oktoberfest tradition, beer. No Okto-cover.-- October also means Halloween, which means werewolves, which means Warren Zevon.

Zevon, best known for the hit "Werewolves of London," will be at The Backstage Tuesday. Zevon is rightfully considered a man of letters in the world of rock, a brilliant, corrosively sardonic writer with a perverse sense of emotional justice, and a true romantic. Hunter S. Thompson comparisons are common; in fact, Thompson contributed liner notes to Zevon's new anthology "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead."

The comprehensive two-CD set has 44 songs, plenty of photos, telling song notes by Zevon, complete lyrics and celebrity quotes. Bruce Springsteen calls Zevon a "moralist in cynic's clothing" and David Letterman notes that Zevon is probably the only lyricist to ever use the word "brucellosis" in a song. Zevon is also a dynamic live performer, a raw guitarist and piano slammer.

Opening is slide guitarist Chris Whitley, another gifted musician with a dark outlook and great chops. -- The Nightcaps celebrates the release of its first single, "Gamblers Game," tonight at The Showbox. The quintet has been together two years, playing smooth originals along with great American standards. Group founders Dan Cuneen (formerly with Zipgun) and vocalist Theresa Hannam, are longtime fans of the form. Hannam, raised on big band, has a voice truly suited to crooning, while drummer Cuneen says his interest was first sparked when he found a Henry Mancini album at a yard sale.

Tomorrow The Showbox has a special "Electrolux" program with Meat Beat Manifesto, Loop Guru, Electric Sky Church and the very popular DJ Spook. Turn-away crowds are expected.

-- Terry Lee Hale, long a favorite singer-songwriter in these parts, has returned from an extended stay in Europe, primarily Paris. Hale, who describes the City of Light as "expensive," has a new CD and will be doing the CD-celebration shake tonight at The Tractor Tavern. Also on the bill are Austin songwriter Michael Fracasso and Finger Bones.

Tomorrow, blues guitarist Jimmy Thackery, who has a smoking new release, "Drive To Survive," does the Tractor.

-- 1960s San Francisco comes to the southland this weekend with The Jefferson Starship Acoustic Explorer - the latest Jefferson Airplane permutation - and Commander Cody. Cody is at Baldy's in Milton tomorrow and The Detour in Renton Saturday, while JSAE is at The Detour tomorrow and Baldy's Saturday. Got that?

JSAE heralds the return of high-sailing vocalist Marty Balin, founder of the Airplane, along with Paul Kantner and Jack Casady. The band has a new live album, "Deep Space/Virgin Sky," and Marty can still sing. -- The Comedy Underground is holding on-site auditions on Tuesday nights for the Seattle Comedy Competition. The Underground is also celebrating its 15th year in business this month; Elliott Maxx and Amy Alpine play tomorrow through Sunday.

At Giggles, Darryl Lenox will perform his acclaimed one man show, "DNA," tonight. -- The ever-popular Green Apple Quickstep is at Moe's tomorrow night. Two bands of particular up-and-coming interest are also on the bill. Middle act Tiger (with former OK Hotel regular Sally Johnson) will soon be recording at Conrad Uno's Egg Studio. The Presidents of The United States of America guitarist Dave Dederer is producing. Subminute Radio, the baby band (median age: 15) from Gig Harbor that has been getting a boatload of attention from Marco Collins, the top jock at KNDD/The End, has the opening spot. See them now, while you can. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Send club information to Clubs, c/o Tempo, Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle WA 98111; or fax to 464-2239.