by SHANE SINNOTT

Around 20 years ago, Lou Barlow (of Dinosaur Jr.) and Eric Gaffney started releasing cassettes under the name Sebadoh, and from around 1990 to 1993, along with Jason Loewenstein, had an impressive run that contributed immensely to lo-fi indie rock. Gaffney left in ’93, but things continued to go well until the release of Harmacy in 1996, after which the band’s output became sporadic and bad.

Ten years later, the original three members are touring again. You’d have to be naïve not to think this has something to do with their lack of success in other projects, but still, to see something that was once a cornerstone of the American indie rock scene, head to la Sala Rossa this Saturday. To get you in the mood, I’ve dutifully tracked down their first single, the classic “Gimme Indie Rock,” at www.kingblind.com/2007_02_01_michiganblind_archive.html.

The Sebadoh show might be good only for nostalgia, so it’d be prudent to get yourself into the Black Lips, with the Ponys and the Sunday Sinners, next Wednesday at Sala. The Black Lips play noisy, ’60s-inspired garage rock that they’ve sometimes described as “flower punk.” Check out “Not a Problem,” purportedly recorded “live in Tijuana,” off the album Los Valientes del Mundo Nuevo, at www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2007/03/daily_downloads_1125.html. Supposedly, lead singer Cole Alexander has been refraining, as of late, from pissing in his own mouth and then spitting it on the audience, which is too bad, but the show should be good nonetheless.

Finally, readers, I must confess that my biggest disappointment this week was not being able to find for you the track “Better,” leaked from the forthcoming Guns N Roses album Chinese Democracy. GNR’s management has been vigilant about erasing it from most legitimate-type blogs, and any link I could find would no doubt be dead by the time you read this anyway. So stay on the lookout, as the inevitable leak of Chinese Democracy stands to be the online music event of the year so far. If you’re still not interested, keep these facts in mind: the album has been in the making for over 13 years, has so far cost $13 million, and, according to Atlantic Monthly, “…included an in-studio chicken coop built to appease a finicky guitarist.” Emphasis mine.

Lacking a strategic plan… ssinnott@gmail.com