August 4-10, 2005

musicpicks

Photo By: james oliver goodman

Scout Niblett

Rock/pop

You don't know what you got till it's gone. We had shrieking violet indie powder-keg Scout Niblett living in our midst and rocking our clubs and we didn't show the love. Now the wandering British expat has taken her arty, pouncing pop to the Bay Area, and damn if her new CD doesn't have us crying in our diaries. Produced by Steve Albini, Kidnapped by Neptune (Too Pure/Beggars) has her going from quiet guitar pin drops to ferocious drum beats, from gentle coos to roaring "I'll make my fucking noise" in full defiance. Last time we saw Scout Niblett she was hanging onto that crazy blond wig while running back and forth from the drum kit to the ax and back. These days she's backed by stickman Jason Kourkounis (formerly of local heroes Burning Brides and The Delta 72) but probably won't come off any less frantic. That knack for turning potential energy into a kinetic eruption we used to find so scary is now her most alluring attribute. She's gone. Better learn how to face it.

Sat., Aug. 6, 9 p.m., $8, with The Notekillers, King of Siam and Summer Jam Band, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888, www.thekhyber.com.

—Patrick Rapa