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Music Picks

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LOUIS OSBOURNE


Ozzy had two talented kids smart enough to opt out of The Osbournes—daughter Aimee and son Louis. While Aimee’s still forging a singing career, Louis has been establishing funky house/techno DJ cred all over Europe for the past eight years. “I’ve been brought up by one of the most charismatic entertainers of our time,” Osbourne told CNN. “I try to put the energy that I see my dad put into an auditorium into my sets. It’s not about making people move—it’s about moving people.” Thursday, Feb. 13 @ Axis, 108 S. 500 West, 9 p.m. 519-2947


YOUNG HEART ATTACK


An unlikely Molotov cocktail of garage-bred rock & roll, American mullet-metal and boy/girl vocal trade-offs, Austin’s Young Heart Attack could be the weirdest discovery of young 2003—and that’s not even taking into account the presence of the drummer and keyboardist from adult-poppers Fastball. There are also members of beloved Austinites Sixteen Deluxe in the mix, but YHA is lead screamers Chris “Frenchie” Smith and Jennifer Stevens’ show all the way. One spin of the band’s smokin’ debut, Mouthful of Love (XL), proves that. Thursday, Feb. 13 @ The Zephyr Club, 301 S. West Temple, 9:30 p.m. 355-CLUB (with Acroma)


ENUFF Z’NUFF


Chicago’s Enuff Z’Nuff were a cut above the cheesy hair-metal glut of the late ’80s when their debut dropped, but they didn’t do themselves any favors by dressing like a less-manly Bangles. Donnie Vie and Chip Z’Nuff, who were more about the Beatles and Cheap Trick, followed-up accordingly with less hairspray and poppy hard-rock ’90s releases like Strength annually up to 2000’s aptly titled 10 (Spitfire). “We’ve always written pop songs,” Z’Nuff insists. “We’ve always worn our influences on our sleeve.” With and without tassels. Friday, Feb. 14-Saturday, Feb. 15 @ Expose, 204 W. 2100 South, 7 p.m. 800-888-TIXX


DJ VALERIE


While she usually performs with dance troupe Valerie & The Vibe Tribe, Los Angeles’ DJ Valerie is solo behind the decks for the Angels & Devils Valentine’s Day party—she’s obviously a perfect fit. “The funky, groovy, colorful, energetic sounds that flow from my speakers are inspired by Motown, the Grateful Dead, Donald Glaude, Santana …” Valerie muses. “I was a virgin to electronic music until the winter of ’99. Six months later, I started fondling my first turntables—it was true love!” Cherry, baby. … Friday, Feb. 14 @ Club Splash, 404 S. West Temple, 9 p.m. 363-2623


DJ CRAZE


The champeen of more international turntable smack downs than you even knew existed, Miami hip-hop/breaks/drum & bass scratchmaster DJ Craze’s impossible skills have afforded him being dubbed “the Michael Jordan of turntablism” by Spin. Like Mike, you’ve got to see Craze in action to believe. “There’s a lot of ways to juggle hip-hop records to make them sound like drum and bass beats,” Craze told DJ Times of the seemingly odd combo. “You gotta find a way to do it real simple to make it sound intricate.” Friday, Feb. 14 @ Suede, 1612 Ute Blvd. (Kimball Junction), Park City, 9 p.m. 435-658-2665


RAINER MARIA


While longtime Rainer Maria fans may find themselves scratching their adorably tousled bedheads and asking “Where’s Kyle?” upon first listen to the Wisconsin indie-rock trio’s new Long Knives Drawn (Polyvinyl), newbies will likely be seduced by bassist-singer Caithlin De Marrais’ sweetly commanding voice and analytical lyrics/poetry, asking “Who’s Kyle?” Guitarist Kyle Fischer has begged off Rainer Maria’s girl-guy vocal sparring of albums past, concentrating more on colorful string collages and creating a striking rock record without all the “emo” and “post” modifiers. Sunday, Feb. 16 @ Xscape Basement, 115 S. West Temple, 8 p.m. 800-888-TIXX (with Mates of State)


TIERNEY SUTTON


“The biggest challenge is making enough money to eat,” SoCal singer Tierney Sutton told Jazz Review of The Biz. “It’s not that challenging to find a place to play. It’s not that challenging to find great musicians. The challenge is to get paid for it.” Sutton’s day gig as a jazz vocal instructor at USC supplements her recording gig, which hits a new high with Something Cool (Telarc), an album covering everything from My Fair Lady to Patsy Cline to a funny-showy “Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead.” Pay dirt. Monday, Feb. 17 @ Sheraton City Center, 150 W. 500 South, 7:30 p.m. 278-0411


KILLER MIKE, DEAD PREZ


The Lyricist Lounge launched in Manhattan over 10 years ago as a showcase for emerging hip-hop talent; MTV’s Lyricist Lounge Tour features artists a few career steps ahead, with record deals and small claims-to-fame already in place. You know Killer Mike from OutKast’s “The Whole World,” and his solo debut Monster (Columbia) drops in March. Dead Prez’s RGB (also Columbia) won’t be out until May, but they’ve already established a rep as possibly the most politically incendiary hip-hip group since Public Enemy. Tough choice between this and The Roots. Monday, Feb. 17 @ Axis, 108 S. 500 West, 9 p.m. 519-2947


MELVIN SEALS & JGB


Stands for Jerry Garcia Band, with whom Melvin Seals played organ from 1980 until the Dead guitarist became a dead guitarist in ’95. A few years ago, Seals discovered a spot-on Grateful Dead tribute band in New Jersey and was moved to fire up JGB once again. “There are a lot of cover bands, but these guys are different,” Seals says. “[Bassist] Ron Penque has a voice just like Jerry. Jimmy Saluzzi plays guitar identical to Jerry, right down to the mistakes.” Wednesday, Feb. 19-Thursday, Feb. 20 @ The Dead Goat Saloon, 119 S. West Temple, 9:30 p.m. 328-GOAT


COMING UP


The Pharcyde (Suede, Feb. 20). PH Balance (Lazy Moon, Feb. 20). BeauSoleil Avec Michael Doucet (Kingsbury Hall, Feb. 20). Baby Anne (Axis, Feb. 20). Finch (Xscape, Feb. 23). The Wailers (Harry O’s, Feb. 25). Wishbone Ash (Feb. 26). Mistress Barbara (Axis, Feb. 27). Further Seems Forever (Xscape, Feb. 28). Big Head Todd & The Monsters (Harry O’s, Feb. 28). Gene Loves Jezebel (Expose, Feb. 28-March 1). Snocore Rock Tour (Bricks, March 1). Ludacris (Harry O’s, March 5). DJ Rap (Axis, March 6). Folk Implosion (Liquid Joe’s, March 8). Atom & His Package (Kilby Court, March 19).