In the wake of The Faint news, I received a few comments from people who were just as surprised by the news that the Slowdown business/entertainment project was slated to begin construction this week. Well, looking outside my office window from 1400 Douglas I watched as a big steam-shovel-type piece of equipment dug a large hole in the southern portion of the Slowdown property. Construction has indeed begun. I was getting pretty worried there for awhile that barriers put up by various bureaucratic entities were going to quash the entire project. Can they race against the clock and get it finished by the end of the year or will another of my predictions for '06 become a reality? I'll keep you updated as construction progresses, and might even post a few snapshots.

The weekend starts off with a bang tonight as Edith Frost takes the Sokol Underground stage with The Zincs and McCarthy Trenching. I'm guessing last night's Two Gallants show was either a sell-out or damn close (I didn't go, so anyone with data, please post on the webboard posthaste). Tonight could be a different story. Frost has a rep for being a sad-sack singer/songwriter, yet the last time she came through, she most definitely brought the rock (think Throwing Muses/Belly). I've got a feeling tonight will be no different. The Zincs play cool, laid-back indie rock with a frontman who sounds like a cross between Nick Drake and David Bowie. And opener Dan McCartney has become one of the area's must-see singer-songwriters. A terrific show for $8. Starts at 9 p.m.

Tomorrow night brings the return of Scott Roth (Such Sweet Thunder) and his new band, Western Electric, at O'Leaver's. In addition to Roth, the band includes John and Jerry Stevens (Hanna's Porch, Gauge, Box, Hong Gyn Corp, Midwest Dilemma) and Scott Petersen (Four Corners). Roth described the new sound as "more electric than western, but there are some twangy elements that round out the sound." Veeery interesting. The Pendrakes are the openers. $5, 9 p.m.

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