THE CUFF IS OFF Celebrating the release of their first CD, The Tongue Offends, and the Ears Get the Cuffing, The Cuff embark on their first tour this week, a fortnight-long outing with British punk rockers Pellethead. Led by ATS frontman Evan Knauer , the Cuff mix pop melodies with a fast, dangerous, garage-rock vibe. The unique sound -- evocative of nothing so much as a night in a smoky bar -- is the work of Brian Richmond and Tom Puckett of Hellbelly, and Liverball guitarist Buck Knauer (yes, a sibling). Pellethead, joining the Cuff from England, mix garage rock and punk with a sense of humor -- and with catchy guitars and keyboards that force you to listen. Pellethead's sound, although unquestionably more punk influenced, makes for a nice complement to the Cuff's melodic style. Catch the two groups on Sun., Feb. 4 at Club Café with the Working Poor and Alexi and the Justins ; again at Club Café on Tues., Feb. 6; and at the Lava Lounge on Wed., Feb. 7. And if all that isn't enough, you can follow them to Columbus, New York

"...PELLETHEAD have been around a fair bit longer but it's impossible to tire of their scratchy, prickly, surf-power-punk-pop. Not that I'm obsessed with labels or anything like that. They're just in a class of their own really. An afro on spaced out rythmn guitar, a Stuart 'Psycho' Pearce lookalike on bass, moon walking and staccato vocals, a skinhead on booming percussion and a skater on spikey guitar and off balance duck walk. A rum bunch indeed..."Middlesbrough Evening Gazette, November '99.