The Whore Moans were tearing it up when I got to O'Leaver's Friday night, in fact they were about halfway through their set. The Seattle band is on Mike Jaworski's Mt. Fuji label, the former home of Little Brazil (who moved to Anodyne for their latest record). WM is a completely different animal than LB. They play spazzy, jittery punk that leans forward with an open aggression that is nothing less than impressive, especially on O'Leaver's tiny "stage." Though they're designed on an indie-rock platform, there's something almost glammy about the 4-piece soundwise. They're too self-assured to be mistaken for a garage band, but they're not shiny enough for pure commercial consumption. Put it another way -- they seemed at home at O'Leaver's and would be just as comfortable at The Niner, but I don't know if their sound/style would translate well to a larger stage like The Waiting Room. Like any great party band, they make the most of dungeon-like confines and cramped pseudo stages to the point where that's the only place that I can imagine seeing them, especially when they're doing things like jumping off tables or hanging from the rafters (which they did Friday night). I think this is a band that Fuji can build upon if they can keep them in the stable.

Techlepathy is becoming O'Leaver's pseudo house band (They're playing there again June 6). I don't know what more to add since the last time, other than beneath the unholy, mathy, complex din there is a pop sensibility lying in wait -- whether frontman Lincoln Dickison ever allows it to come out and play for more than one song is yet to be determined.

Late Saturday night I dropped in at The Saddle Creek Bar where I heard the last few songs by singer/songwriter Chris Pureka, which were very strong. Despite the obvious similarities, it's unfair to compare her to Melissa Etheridge or Amy Ray -- her music and style are more indie and more compelling than either of those two. Sarah Benck followed with a solo set that included acoustic versions of a few songs from her last album along with some stuff I haven't heard before, all enjoyed by the 10 or 15 people on hand.

Tonight at Slowdown, it's the power and majesty of Mogwai. As I said in this story, don't expect a ton of fancy lights or any intricate staging, just five guys creating a helluva beautiful noise. Opening is critics' darlings Women (which, incidentally, includes no Women). $17, 9 p.m.

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