Pierced Arrows

Descending Shadows (Vice)

Fred and Toody Cole, patron saints of Northwest punk rock, have kept it pretty real through three decades of music-making, putting out their own albums and touring like it kept them alive. After Dead Moon disbanded in 2006 after 20 years together, it wasn’t long before the Coles and new drummer Kelly Halliburton were back on the road as Pierced Arrows. Full-length Vice debut and second LP Descending Shadows has some good songs (“Paranoia,” “Zip My Lip”), but it’s no big stretch from Dead Moon’s formula: There’s the requisite Toody-sung ballad (“Ain’t Life Strange”), a song about graveyards (“Buried Alive”), and Fred’s witchy crackle of a voice. The term legend applies to Fred Cole, absolutely – he’s played in rock bands nearly 50 years – so at this point, all stripes have come hard-fought/rocked. There’s almost no need for albums. Live is where the Coles have always shone, right until the candle went out. (Thu., 11pm, Red 7 Patio; Fri., 12mid, Encore Patio.)

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This article appears in March 19 • 2010.

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