One of the most common difficulties that a band encounters is coming up with a name that somehow conveys their sound and, perhaps more importantly, their attitude. In fact, it’s a safe bet that crafting the sound is probably easier than christening the band. So how does Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head fit the model? First of all, it’s a brilliantly evocative name. Who doesn’t get that picture? And it most certainly tips off the band’s twisted tongue-in-cheek sense of humor.
But does it capture the band’s sound? If any name could suggest the giddy danceability of the B-52s, the synth Pop swing of Human League, the snarky entertainment value of Eagles of Death Metal, the sophisticated Dorktronica of Devo and the Techno/Punk delerium of You Say Party! We Say Die!, then it would be Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head.
The Seattle quintet’s debut, last year’s Glistening Party, was roundly and rightly hailed as one of the year’s great subversive dance albums and earned them opening slots for The Go! Team and CSS in 2008, not to mention a plum gig with Lily Allen this year (they’ll be rocking the Mad Hatter on a rare day off from Miss Lily’s tour). They play at 8 p.m. with the Seedy Seeds. Get Sound Advice here.
