Sept. 21-27, 2005
Wednesday, September 21
The Arcade Fire
The ornate old theater is a fitting backdrop for the Arcade Fire's cabaret rock, which attracts more fans each time they pass through town. Paramount, 8 p.m. $22.50
Carla Bley and the Lost Chords
One of the great composers and pianists in modern jazz, Bley's always got something up her sleeve, and with this unit (longtime bassist—and husband—Steve Swallow, saxophonist Andy Sheppard, drummer Billy Drummond), anything can and hopefully will happen. Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, 7:30 p.m. $22.50
LTJ Bukem + MC Conrad
He hasn't released anything in a while, but LTJ keeps busy with his Good Looking label, its roster of jazzy, ambient drum and bass artists, and touring the world with his sidekick, the fluid and able Conrad. With the Dowlz and Quentin J. Soular. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $12
KMFDM
The German-born, locally based industrial giants celebrate the release of their newest CD, Hau Ruck (Metropolis), and kick off their new tour. Premier, 8 p.m. $22.50 adv./$25
ZZ Top
Beards to the floor, guitars to 10, hits to here, Texas' greatest boogie band stops by the fair for a spell to bring the goods. Puyallup Fair, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup, 206-628-0888, 7 p.m. $41.50–$46.50
Thursday, September 22
The Robert Cray Band
Not just a local performance by one of the hardiest blues dudes kicking it out, the Thursday night show is also the venue's second anniversary. Have a toast. Triple Door, 8 p.m. $50 Also Fri., Sept. 23
Wolf Parade + Vells + Dante Decaro
SEE CD REVIEW (WOLF PARADE), P. 50. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $10
Ashlee Simpson
We'd pay money to see the sound guy's instructions for this one. Showbox, 7 p.m. $39.50
No Depression 10-Year Anniversary
Tonight, it's Peter Case and Christy McWilson; Friday, Raul Malo of the Mavericks headlines; and Saturday, the bill is Richmond Fontaine, Chuckanut Drive, and Mike Coykendall. The best of them all comes Sunday, with the Waco Brothers Bloodshed Revue, featuring Jon Langford, Sally Timms, and Dollar Store. Sunset Tavern, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $48.50
Decibel DJ Lounge
SEE FEATURE, P. 43, AND SEVEN NIGHTS, P. 56, FOR FULL DECIBEL LISTINGS INFORMATION. Barca maintains your Decibel pre-func throughout the weekend with associated DJs from Seattle and Portland, including Camea, Derek Fischer, Jacob London, Jeromy Nail, Jizosh, Misha, Noah Pred, Ramiro, the Perfect Cyn, and Tim Xavier. Barca, through Sun., Sept. 25.
Shake the Shack Rockabilly Ball
This ladies showcase features Lil' Bit and the Customatics, Nicky Kay and His Fabulous Kay Tones, Meary Lanahan, Lauren Marie, the Donettes, the Triple R Rhythm Ranch, and lots of tight black dresses, pompadours, and red pouts. Tractor Tavern, 8:30 p.m. $12
Spaz 360
On cable's syndicated Dance 360, wanna-be fly girls and guys battle each other and brave ridiculous dance moves in an improv atmosphere. Re-bar's first spin on it, hosted by Mr. Grant and Queen Lucky, promises nothing short of hilarity. Re-bar, 10 p.m. $3
Friday, September 23
Nine Inch Nails + Queens of the Stone Age + Autolux
SEE CD REVIEW (NINE INCH NAILS), P. 50. KeyArena, 7:30 p.m. $35–$45
The Intelligence + Tyrades
Their first on In the Red, Icky Baby is also the first Intelligence record to feature, on a few songs at least, a full band executing—and here, both definitions of that word apply—full-on controlled chaos. From Chicago, the Tyrades play extreme sport, grrl-fronted hardcore outré punk. The Swimmers open. Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $5
Raul Malo
SEE THURSDAY. Sunset Tavern, 7 p.m. $17 adv./$20
Portastatic + Two Gallants + Holy Ghost Revival + the Rosebuds
SEE CD REVIEW (PORTASTATIC), P. 51. Crocodile Cafe, 8 p.m. $10
Converge
This great band's You Fail Me (Epitaph) was named the second-best album of 2004 by Decibel magazine, which is good enough for anyone. Terror and Cursed Mare open. El Corazon, 6:30 p.m. $12
Saturday, September 24
Brad Paisley + Sugarland
SEE CD REVIEW (BRAD PAISLEY), P. 51. Puyallup Fair, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup, 206-628-0888, 7 p.m. $28.50–$33.50
Ladybug Mecca
Fresh off her onstage reunion with the rest of Digable Planets at Bumbershoot, one of the most lovely-flowing MCs ever brings it solo. Steveni opens. Nectar, 10 p.m. $6
The New Pornographers
If Twin Cinema (Matador) isn't quite up to the Vancouver power-poppers' best, it's still smarter and more fun than 99 percent of everything else in the category. Immaculate Machine opens. Showbox, 8 p.m. $16 adv./$18
Nuclear Assault
Feel like cleaning out your ears some more after Converge last night? This will do you just fine. Bring your younger sibling along to have their wits scared out—it's fun! The Braindead, Black Goat, Global Genocide, and No One Lives open. Studio Seven, 7 p.m. $20
Hamell on Trial
Ed Hamell is an upstate New Yorker with a very funny songwriting pen and equally sardonic performance style, meaning he's a lot of fun live. Sunset Tavern, 7 p.m. $10
Richmond Fontaine + Chuckanut Drive + Mike Coykendall
SEE THURSDAY. Sunset Tavern, 7 p.m. $10
A Particularly Vicious Rumor + Crooks and Nannies
This trio of street musicians from New Orleans (Kid Twist and Miss O from Rumor, Walt Ever as the crook and nanny) have enjoyed the gypsy-musician lifestyle for a while, but now find themselves on a perpetual tour. If the Katrina benefits keep passing you up, here's another chance to show the Big Easy some love. Nine Pound Hammer, 10 p.m. Also Sat., Sept. 25 at Fado, 10 p.m.
Erase Errata + the Lights + Sick Bees
We might switcheroo the lineup to allow the two book-ended girl groups to slur, shake, and stampede concurrently, but nonetheless, this might be the show of the week. As the Lights are more oxygenated and raw live than they are on record, three sets of convulsive, propulsive post-punk equals rapture. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $8 adv./$10
Sunday, September 25
Rickie Lee Jones
Do you think she still plays "Chuck E's in Love?" Maybe not, but she'll probably play "Ugly Man," from her Evening of My Best Day (V2), in which she promises that "we'll take it back" (the country) from that truly unattractive beast (George W). Triple Door, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $48.50 adv./$50
The Waco Brothers Bloodshed Revue
SEE THURSDAY. Sunset Tavern, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $48.50 adv./$50 Also at Sonic Boom Ballard, 2209 N.W. Market St., 206-297-2666, at 6 p.m. Free
Monday, September 26
Less Than Jake
The wackos behind Crazy Frog aren't the only ones who enjoy coaxing insanity from tolerable, mildly fun songs—take ska-punk heroes Less than Jake, whose new B is for B-Sides (songs that didn't make the cut on 2003's Anthem) is available as a techno remix album special to this tour. Whoomp, there it is! El Corazon, 8 p.m. $17
Green Day + Jimmy Eat World
No, they didn't prevent Bush from getting elected, but hey—they tried. Too bad the album they did it with is kind of a bore. Ditto the openers, minus the overt (or not) political oomph. Tacoma Dome, 2727 E. D St., Tacoma, 206-268-0888, 7:30 p.m. $39.50–$45
Local H + the Giraffes
Just to prove he could still do it, Scott Lucas (he who is Local H, basically) made a triumphantly rockin' version of Britney's "Toxic" and put it on the band's Web site last year. Hope for an album that follows in the same vein. The Giraffes are sort of mediocre, as we found out when their label sent 578 copies of their album to the Weekly offices. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $12
Pedro the Lion
One of the city's finest low-key pop-rock groups haven't made an album for a while, but the Web site says they'll have some new tunes to preview. Yay! Crocodile Cafe, 8 p.m. $8. All ages
Tuesday, September 27
Acid Mothers Temple
Definitely weird and psychedelic and expansive, but this Japanese conglomerate is also a bit draggy, at least on the couple albums we've heard. (No, we haven't heard all 84—next time, OK?) The Occasion and Sean open. Neumo's, 8 p.m. $10 E
UPCOMING SHOWS
Sept 28 Sigur Ròs + Amina, Paramount
Sept 29 Carl Cox + Evil Nine, Showbox
Sept 29 Four Tet, Neumo's
Oct 1 Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Neumo's
Oct 1 Jon Scofield, Tractor Tavern
Oct 1 T. Raumschmiere, Chop Suey
Oct 1 M83 + the National + Athlete + Math and Physics Club, Neumo's
Oct 1 Billy Ray Cyrus, Emerald Queen Casino
Oct 1–2 Franz Ferdinand + TV on the Radio + Cut Copy, Paramount
Oct 3 The Fiery Furnaces, Neumo's
Oct 3 Mike Doughty, Showbox
Oct 4 Proclaimers, Tractor Tavern
Oct 4 Black Dice, Chop Suey
Oct 4 Danzig + Chimaira + Himsa + Behemoth, Premier
Oct 4 The Frames + Josh Ritter, Showbox
Oct 5 System of a Down + the Mars Volta + Hella, KeyArena
Oct 8 The Dirty Three, Neumo's
Oct 11 Bob Mould, Neumo's
Oct 13 Against Me! + the Epoxies + the Soviettes, Neumo's
Oct 14 Gillian Welch, Paramount
Oct 15 Brooks and Dunn, White River Amphitheatre
Oct 17 Superpitcher, Chop Suey
Oct 18 Tortoise, Neumo's
Oct 19 Dar Williams + Girlyman, Moore Theatre
Oct 19 Nada Surf, Neumo's
Oct 21–22 Sage Francis, Neumo's
Oct 21 The Posies, Neumo's
Oct 22 Iron and Wine + Calexico, Moore Theatre
Oct 25 The Go! Team, Showbox
Oct 27 Decemberists, Showbox
Oct 30 Rolling Stones, KeyArena
Oct 30 Broadcast, Neumo's
Nov 1 Metric, Crocodile Cafe
Nov 3 Paul McCartney, KeyArena
Nov 4 Bright Eyes + Sons and Daughters, Moore Theatre
Nov 7 Atmosphere + Blueprint, Showbox
Nov 8 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Benaroya Hall
Nov 9 Jethro Tull, McCaw Hall
Nov 12 Broken Social Scene, Showbox
Nov 12 Henry Rollins, Moore Theatre
Nov 12 Bonnie Raitt, Paramount
Nov 14 Chicks on Speed, Chop Suey
Nov 17 Joss Stone, Paramount
Nov 18 Death Cab for Cutie + Stars, Paramount Theatre
Nov 21 Gwen Stefani + M.I.A., KeyArena
Nov 25 Jane Siberry, Triple Door
Nov 26 Donovan, Moore Theatre
Nov 27 Ozomatli, Showbox
