Editor’s Note: The Selective Echo, once again, welcomes Wendy Christensen from Positively 4th St. Music, located in the street level of the Stoneground Restaurant Building at 249 E 400 S.

The store is readying its new performance area. Local musicians and DJs are encouraged to contact the staff.

Highlights and Reviews:

Sea Wolf - May 19 show at In The Venue

Sea Wolf is the project name of a sole singer/songwriter who drafts other musicians as the occasion warrants. That singer/songwriter is Alex Church, a California native who looks to local authors like John Steinbeck and Jack London (whose 1904 novel The Sea Wolf provided the band name) for inspiration. As one of three songwriters in Irving, Church soon found himself with a clutch of songs that didn’t fit the band’s dreamy ’60s-inspired psych-pop sound. Sea Wolf has a sound all its own amid familiar composition and mellow indie rock combined with cello and some great melodies to boot.

George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic – June 1 show at the Paladium

The mastermind of the ParliamentFunkadelic collective during the 1970s, George Clinton broke up both bands by 1981 and began recording solo albums, occasionally performing live with his former bandmates as the P.Funk All-Stars. Recording both as Parliament and Funkadelic, the group revolutionized R&B during the ’70s, twisting soul music into funk by adding influences from several late ’60s acid heroes. The ParliamentFunkadelic machine ruled black music during the ’70s, capturing more than 40 R&B hit singles (including three number ones) and recording three platinum albums. If you have never seen George Clinton live you will be missing an history-making performance.

Ladytron — June 2 show at In the Venue and June 3 album release

Though they were momentarily lumped in with the electroclash movement, Ladytron always had a stronger sense of melody and pop songcraft than most of the other artists associated with that style, and — with electroclash all but dead — the band’s identity comes through even more clearly. Much darker and less overtly synth pop than any of their earlier work, Witching Hour is almost unrelentingly gloomy, covering topics like the fleeting nature of relationships, destruction, and war. However, the album wears it well. It’s not often that bleakness sounds this pretty. It also helps that Witching Hour boasts some of Ladytron’s finest songwriting to date.

Upcoming shows — Buy tickets at the store:

May 19 SEA WOLF @ In the Venue
May 26 THE PRESETS @ Urban Lounge
May 30 JOAN OF ARC @ Urban Lounge
May 30 DAVID BAZAN (of Pedro the Lion) @ Kilby Court
June 1 GEORGE CLINTON & Parliament Funkadelic @ Paladium
June 2 LADYTRON @ In the Venue
June 6 HANK III @ Paladium

Recommended shows:

May 18 MIA @ The Depot
May 19 THE MARS VOLTA @ Saltair
May 21 MASON JENNINGS @ Paladium
May 23 DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN @ Paladium
May 26 DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE @ Thanksgiving Point
May 29 CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE @ Kilby Court