Say Yes to Jethro Tull

For the benefit of: Teaching kids music is a great thing. Just think for a second how jacked up America will be when it’s full of people who’ve never had music lessons. For instance, will teenagers of the future ever go to Nordstrom and wrestle the octogenarian pianist away from his keys for a guerrilla rendition of “Chopsticks”? Or drink beer through a trombone? Or get laid by seducing prey with an acoustic Radiohead cover song?

Hate the future.

But this is the present, and this very week two shows at Luigi’s Fun Garden (1050 20th Street) will raise money to teach young kids how to play music. First, Fruit Bats, twangy indie-Americana five-piece from Sub Pop Records, will play a Concerts4Charity benefit tonight with locals the Ancient Sons (8 p.m., $10). The next evening, Brilliant Red Lights and Purple Girl will play a benefit for the West Campus High School music program (8 p.m., $10).

If these shows make at least $4,000, that’s more than 500 woodwind recorders kids can buy off eBay! (Yes, every band in the future will sound like Jethro Tull.) (Nick Miller)

What about Quincy Douby? Who wants to hear a band’s album played verbatim at a live show? Exactly.

Sure, I want the songs I’ve grown to love, but this is a recession, people. I’d like a little something extra if I’m spending money: talent in action. Thankfully, Eric Hutchinson’s impromptu serenade last Tuesday at Blue Lamp seriously gave the crowd that something extra. He sang about Mayor Kevin Johnson and guv Arnold—and even the poor Sacramento Kings (with lines like: “Have you heard of [insert King’s player]? / I didn’t think so / Have you heard of [insert another King’s player]? / Don’t worry he’ll be traded soon.”) It was definitely worth the $14. (Jenn Kistler)

Hog Butcher for the World: It turns out that Chicago isn’t all Kanye all the time. The Windy City has other artists, like Common. But Mulatto Patriot, also from Chicago, came out with Sonic Visuals a couple months ago, and, to be honest, the CD has taken me that long to ingest.

There’s a real production value to this album; it’s very organic and human, which is comforting, especially in an era when everybody’s trying to sound like a frigging robot. M.P.’s organic qualities manifest in tracks like the soulful “Cadillac Vinyl.” And the song “Everybody’s Crazy,” which features Prosper Jones and Czar Absolute, has one of the wildest piano loops that has ever been recorded on a hip-hop track. Mulatto Patriot may not be the greatest emcee alive, but he achieves a mood of I-don’t-give-a-fuck-ness, which is admirable. He often sounds like C.L. Smooth with a little bit of Fresh Prince. Maybe that’s a stretch, but M.P.’s verses on “Swordfish” and “The General” (also with an energetic Casual sample) are spit with a certain ’90s elegance that doesn’t blow you out of your chair, but it doesn’t really need to. And just for future reference, anyone who produces a hip-hop song that utilizes a Yes sample (“Showtime”), I’m buying their fucking album.

Mulatto Patriot is at his best when he’s rhyming over unique production and playing wingman to features like Rass Kass and Pumpkinhead. At worst, he goes by the name Mulatto Patriot. So if we buy your album, can we at least call you M.P.? (Josh Fernandez)