Social Zero's bio reads like a post office Wanted poster: The Wooster band's four members refer to themselves as "suspects" . . . and they all go by the name "Richard." "All suspects are considered to be armed with the knowledge and appreciation for musical genres, such as metal and heavy progressive rock," says Neil Sheehan, promoter of Friday's Summer Smackdown, a ready-to-rumble showcase of seven Northeast Ohio bands -- including headliners Social Zero (pictured) -- taking place at the Odeon. "See related case files for Mudvayne and Tool."
Co-headlining is Another Path, a two-year-old Cleveland band that's just released its debut EP, Multiple Personality Disorder. (Morality Check, Illegal Fate, 13th Omen, KCV, and Post Mortum also appear.) Since selling out their Agora show at last year's Cleveland Music Festival, metalheads Another Path have opened for Erase the Grey, Sponge, and Three Days Grace. They also headlined holiday shows for WXTM-FM 92.3 and WMMS-FM 100.7.
"They [have] a recording that tends to occupy CD players for weeks at a time," says Sheehan. "And a live show that would kill five regular mortals." Summer Smackdown starts at 6 p.m. Friday at the Odeon, 1295 Old River Road. Tickets are $10 to $12, available by calling 216-241-5555. -- Cris Glaser
Clothes Call
A stirring, shaking party.
THU 6/24
Sometimes the clothes can make the man or woman. "Your smile is brighter, you feel better at that moment, and that moment can change your life," says Nickole Guines, who'll be talking about her experience with Dress for Success at Martini Madness, a cocktail party and auction benefiting the nonprofit organization that provides interview suits for low-income women. Guines returned to Cleveland two years ago to take care of her mother, leaving behind a scholarship-funded education in Los Angeles as well as all her clothes. With a job interview looming, Guines called Dress for Success, which provided a wardrobe. She's been working at Chase Financial Services ever since. Up for grabs at Thursday's auction are hand-painted martini glasses and two tickets to The Ellen DeGeneres Show (and a pair of sneakers autographed by the Emmy winner). Guests can lube up at five martini stations, nosh on appetizers, and listen to a DJ. It starts at 5:30 p.m. at WKYC-TV3, 1333 Lakeside Avenue. Tickets are $50. Call 216-391-2301 for more information. -- Nadia Michel
Voices Parry
Spitboxing at the Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam.
6/25-6/26
Ten teams from six states battle at this weekend's 2004 Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam (a cool $500 is up for grabs). Tongue 'n Groove and past members of the Cleveland slam team show off their verbal skills too. "This captures that grassroots feeling that the National Poetry Slams may have lost, with its record 80 teams this year," says spokesperson Michael Salinger. The slammin' starts at 8 p.m. Friday, continues the next day at 3, and wraps up at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Road. Admission is $5 for the first two rounds, $8 for Saturday night's finals; a weekend pass is available for $12. Call 216-383-1124 for more information. -- Michael Gallucci
Short Cuts
6/25-6/26
Of the half-dozen 2004 Oscar-Nominated Shorts screening this weekend, "Harvie Krumpet" -- an animated tale about a lovable loser -- and "Squash," a live-action drama in which a game of racquetball turns physically and psychologically deadly, are the ones not to miss. The former snagged an Academy Award; the latter packs more suspense than many features five times its length. They're at the Cleveland Cinematheque (11141 East Boulevard) at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $8; call 216-421-7450. -- Michael Gallucci