Catch This: Suggestions from the magazine's NOW section, Feb. 10 thru Feb. 14

Mark Baumgarten, Robert Ham, Todd Hamm and Kim Ruehl on
Pop Music

Post Harbor (album release)

Post Harbor...in the grass | photo by ag

Seattle’s Post Harbor returns with a self-titled followup to its promising 2007 debut Praenumbra. Released on Burning Buildings Records, the album showcases the band’s talent for creating swelling soundscapes that can jump from tender to intense at a moment’s notice. Be prepared for walls of sound at tonight’s show.
February 11
Neumos

Fresh Espresso
Coming off a year that saw its debut release Glamour hold a spot on indie music stores’ top sellers lists for the majority of the summer, Fresh Espresso has nothing but big things planned for 2010. However, with a line-up packed with genre bending, ’luded synths and live drums from Truckasaurus and Head Like a Kite, this night should be more of a “third wave” showcase than a one-band
feature. — TH
February 12
Neumos

The Presidents of the United States of America
In honor of Presidents’ Day, the following Monday, Seattle’s favorite pop novelty from the ’90s is throwing its “annual” PUSAFEST for two nights. There has not been much buzz about new material (aside from a theme song the group wrote for Blitz, the Seahawks’ mascot) but the band always promises a little nostalgia and a lot of fun. — MB
February 12-13
Showbox Market

Vivian Girls
Young masters of the don’t-give-a-damn tossed-off aesthetic of lo-fi indie-pop, the Vivian Girls won an audience in 2008 for its ragged, self-titled debut, only to follow it up with last year’s even more raggedy Everything Goes Wrong. Come on down and watch the Brooklyn trio not care in a sometimes pleasant manner. — MB
February 13
High Dive

Nick Jaina
Nick Jaina stands near the center of the Portland folk music revival that includes the likes of Laura Gibson, Loch Lomond and Norfolk & Western, all bands that the dour singer-songwriter has performed with perhaps hundreds of times. Despite being a part of a tight, collaborative community, Jaina still maintains the image of a loner, a necessity to his striking, emotional balladry. — MB
February 14
Sunset

Zach Carstensen on
Classical

Northwest Sinfonietta
Mahler’s Fourth Symphony performed by Northwest Sinfonietta isn’t as angsty as his other symphonies. At the heart of the Fourth is a sumptuous slow movement and a finale which provides
a brief glimpse of heavenly release.
February 12
7:30pm
Benaroya Hall
200 University St. 206.215.4747

Rosie Gaynor on
Dance

Shantala Shivalingappa
Her solo performances of the ancient Indian dance form kuchipudi have won Shivalingappa rave reviews from critics like Deborah Jowitt (Village Voice) and Alastair Macaulay (New York Times).
February 11–13
UW World Series
Meany Hall, 4001 University Way NE 206.543.4880

Break a Heart
Not excited for Valentine’s Day? Try these assorted confections — not in a heart-shaped box — by Wade Madsen, Crispin Spaeth, Diana Cardiff, Kristina Dillard, mouse bones, Sara Jinks and Juliet Waller Pruzan/Stephen Hando.
February 11–14
On the Boards
100 West Roy St. 206.217.9888

Tim Appelo on
Film

The Red Shoes
Fresh from last year’s Cannes Film Fest, a new print of the obsessive Technicolor masterpiece.
February 12-18
Northwest Film Forum
1515 12th Ave.
206.829.7863

Corey Kahler on
Literature

Ed Skoog
Ed Skoog comes out strong in all of the poems within his debut collection, Mister Skylight. Skoog’s words are directed at uncertain realms within the everyday and draw emotion from the leavenings of the physical world’s effect on our inner lives. In Mister Skylight, Skoog takes on the quotidian scrap heap of modern culture, doing away with superficial woes and flowery aphorisms, and from this rough place he creates insight and meaning.
February 13
Elliott Bay
Book Company
101 S. Main St.
206.624.6600

Brian Christian on
Theatre

Trout Stanley by Claudia Dey
Asked to describe Trout Stanley, playwright Claudia Dey begins, “Trout Stanley — part sensualist, part werewolf — has been walking north for ten years.”  Dey’s linguistic flair, and her unique aesthetic, dubbed “Canadian Gothic,” are not to be missed.
February 11-March 6
Balagan Theatre
1117 E. Pike St. 206.718.3245