Album Notes

SeattleNoise: Hot Laundry

WHAT: Seattle-based jam band featuring Craig Handzlik (guitar and vocals), Lincoln Ballard (guitar and vocals), Jason Gray (vocals and bass) and Richard Isotalo (percussion). Handzlik is a former radio producer and co-host at KBKS-FM (KISS 106.1), and Ballard is a current University of Washington School of Music Ph.D. candidate. Gray is a U.S. Navy nuclear engineer, and Isotalo is a U.S. Navy combat specialist. (Handzlik's dad, Jan Handzlik, starred as the young Patrick Dennis in "Auntie Mame" in 1958.)

BAND DEBUT: Seattle, 2005. The band has play at Seafair, the Northwest Folklife Festival, Olympia Harbor Days and many Seattle clubs.

SOUND: Rhythmic, groove-oriented, improvisational rock, featuring Handzlik's steamroller vocals. In additional to original songs, the band plays obscure as well as popular cover tunes and prides itself on never playing any song the same way twice.

QUOTE: "Hot Laundry has a little something for everyone interested in shaking their bones," Handzlik says.

"Hot Laundry's primary objective is composing interesting, yet accessible original music that translates into entertaining, energetic live shows for everyone to enjoy. We just put the finishing touches on an original tune (more like an opus) titled 'Way to Cactus,' which touches on blues, funk, Latin, reggae and calypso music -- all in 30 minutes!"

WHERE TO LISTEN: hotlaundry.net (biographies, downloads, photos, "swag," guest book and contact information). Or myspace.com/hotlaundry (more downloads, biographical information and performance dates).

NEXT SHOW: Saturday night at 9 at Tommy's Nightclub, 4552 University Way N.E. Admission: $5. The show is a benefit for EarthCorps' "Year of the Volunteer" program. (Pearl Jam recently donated $100,000 to the organization, whose Web site is www.earthcorps.org.) Opening act The Cricks go on stage at 8. Information: www.tommysnightclub.com

-- Gene Stout, Seattle Post Intelligencer