Wednesday, September 28
Every Time I Die + High on Fire + the Red Chord + Esoteric
One of the best metal bills you're going to find here (or anywhere), this should be packed, so get there early. El Corazon, 7 p.m. $13 adv./$15
Le Vide: Rebel
Fans of the Country Teasers know that the Rebel is singer Ben Wallers' "solo act" (two others join him tonight). Those fans also know that Wallers can put on a hell of a show; just imagine how far he'll go when he's acting as an insurgent. With Climax Golden Twins and DJ William F Buckley. Re-bar, 9 p.m. $3
Sigur Rós
The opening track from this Icelandic quartet's 2002 album, ( ), is perfect funeral music—one of the most beautiful, ageless-sounding dirges pop music has produced in a good long while. We don't know much about their new record, Takk . . . , except that its songs, unlike ( )'s, have names. Amina open. Paramount, 8 p.m. $25–$35
Thursday, September 29
Dengue Fever
A few years ago, garage and pop bands discovered songs from the vaults of 60s-era Third World countries and island nations were like, totally hot. L.A. band Dengue Fever, with their sultry, evocative singer, a recent immigrant from Phnom Penh, make the trend modern. The Militant Rhythm Section and Plentyface also perform. High Dive, 9 p.m. $5
Four Tet
The spastic experimentation of Everything Is Ecstatic has thrown some fans for a loop as Hebden continues working outside the box. "Pastoral" this one is not. Neumo's, 8 p.m. $13 adv./$15
The National + Clap Your Hands Say Yeah + Talkdemonic
SEE TALK TALK, P. 45 (Talkdemonic). Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $10 adv./$12
Rodney Crowell and the Outsiders
Crowell's been on a roll lately, not just as a songwriter (he's always done that well) but as a record-maker (where things have tended to be more uneven). He plays in support of the new The Outsider; Will Kimbrough and Jedd Hughes open. Tractor Tavern, 9 p.m. $20 adv./$23
Friday, September 30
Angelique Kidjo
Born in Benin, Africa, and based in Paris, Kidjo is a Grammy-nominated fusionist blending indigenous sounds with European pop, American funk and jazz. 2004's Oyaya! saw her collaborating with Dave Matthews—your guess who's funkier. Meany Hall at UW, 15th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 41st Street, 206-685-2742., 8 p.m. $29
Cut Copy
Also opening on the Franz Ferdinand bill this week, this Aussie electro unit is already a huge hit in the U.K., Easy Street Records West Seattle, 4559 California Ave. S.W., 9:30 p.m. Free
Earth
The heaviest band in the galaxy, much less in town or near it, brings the fuzz at this free in-store. Hope the low end doesn't damage too much merch. Easy Street Records Queen Anne, 20 Mercer St., 206-691-3279, 7 p.m. Free
Girls of NW Rock
This region is swarming with sensitive women playing weepy acoustic guitar, but these broads bring the noise: Go Like Hell, Fabulous Disaster, the Gloryholes, the Hatchetwounds, Betty X, the Spazms, Sputterdoll, Sugarpuss, the Mechanical Dolls, the Snot Rockettes, the Dead X's, the Histrionics, Kiss Her for the Kid, and Universal Measure. Studio Seven, 3 p.m. $10
Idlewild
A few years ago, these Edinburgh upstarts earned the two greatest comparisons in the past decade of pop writing: "Like a flight of stairs falling down a flight of stairs" and "What Fugazi would sound like if they ate meat." They've mellowed since, but there's still plenty of fight left in them. Inara George opens. Neumo's, 8 p.m. $12
Night of the Living VERA
The hardworking volunteers and members of Seattle's favorite all-ages spot get their own night to rock the stage. See what they're up to with Murgatroid, Chris Hong, Jon Carr, Fifty Fifty, Adjust Your Face, Anne Rogers Quartet, Michaud and DJ Jizosh. VERA Project, 7:30 p.m. $6 ($5 w/club card)
Radio Nationals
After this, there will be only one Radio Nationals show left before the well-loved roots-rock band calls it quits, so pay your respects and lift your bottles one (next-to-) last time. Evangeline and Riffbrokers open. Crocodile Cafe 9 p.m. $7
Saturday, October 1
Degenerate Art Ensemble + Infernal Noise Brigade + Seattle School
If you love experimental music and/or a good old-fashioned controlled mess, look no further than this bill, which doubles as a CD release party for DAE. Consolidated Works, $5–$15
Franz Ferdinand
SEE SMALLMOUTH, P. 44. Paramount Theatre, 7:30 p.m. $30 adv./$35 Also Sun., Oct. 2
KJ Sawka
The drum and bass kit-playing phenom is starting to get notice outside our fair city, and this hefty bill should showcase him nicely. Also on it: DJ Collage, M.O., BShorty, Christa Wells, and Electroset. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $6
John Vanderslice + the Double + Crystal Skulls
SEE FEATURE, P. 49 (Vanderslice). Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $10
Voyager One
Dreamy space-rockers finally release a follow-up to 2002's highly praised Monster Zero (Loveless). Titled Dissolver, the vibe at tonight's show—with bill-mates This Is a Process of a Still Life, Jen Wood, and Treasures—is sure to be exquisitely restrained. Paradox, 8 p.m. $7
Sunday, October 2
Blackalicious
These Bay Area rap faves have made good records, but the new The Craft (Anti-) isn't one of them, unfortunately. Neumo's, 8 p.m. $15 adv.
Can't Blow the Blues Away: New Orleans Musician Benefit
Les Femmes d'Enfer, the Mount Zion Men's Chorus, the City Cantabile Choir, the Settle Peace Choir, Shoreline Unitarian Choir, and Grand Trevillion gather for this benefit show. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 206-215-4800, 7:30 p.m. $15 adv./$17
T. Raumschmiere + Jerry Abstract + Foscil
SEE CD REVIEW, P. 71 (T. Raumschmiere). Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $10
Monday, October 3
The Dead Kenny G's
Skerik on sax, Mike Dillon on bass, and Brian Haas on keyboards equals, according to them, "punk jazz"—no wonder they copped their name from a legendary SF punk band. And since anything Skerik is involved with is at least worth hearing, this ought to be a treat. Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, 7:30 p.m. $19.50
Easy Star All Stars + John Brown's Body
We didn't think a Dark Side of the Moon tribute album performed by a dub-reggae band was a good idea, either, until hearing Dub Side of the Moon at a coffeehouse or five convinced us otherwise. Now they're bringing it to the stage, and taking JBB, one of the best new-roots reggae bands around, with them. Irie! Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $12
The Fiery Furnaces
SEE FEATURE, P. 43. Neumo's, 8 p.m. $15
Mike Doughty + Erin McKeown
Doughty didn't sound especially interesting among the literati he shared the Bumbershoot stage with, but he's an engaging performer who works best with a band, which he'll have tonight. McKeown is a highly regarded folk-pop singer with a lovely voice. Showbox, 7 p.m. $17 Mike Doughty also plays Easy Street Records Queen Anne, 20 Mercer St., 206-691-3279, at 1 p.m. Free
Tuesday, October 4
Black Dice
Black Dice's new Broken Ear Record (DFA/Astralwerks) is startlingly namby-pamby and polite, like Byrne/Eno skipping lightly through digital mud; they should have called it My Life in the Bush of Dorks and gotten it over with. Blood on the Wall and Spider and the Webbs open. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $10
Dungen + Mia Doi Todd
SEE CD REVIEW, P. 71 (Dungen). Neumo's, 8 p.m. $12 Dungen also plays Easy Street Records Queen Anne, 20 Mercer St., 206-691-3279, at 6 p.m. Free E
UPCOMING SHOWS
Oct 5 System of a Down + the Mars Volta + Hella, KeyArena
Oct 6 HIM + Finch + Skindred, Premier
Oct 6 Yonder Mountain String Band + Open Road, Showbox
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 17 Jem + Josh Kelley, Moore Theatre
Oct 18 Tortoise, Neumo's
Oct 19 Dar Williams + Girlyman, Moore Theatre
Oct 19 Nada Surf, Neumo's
Oct 20 ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra), Tractor
Oct 21–22 Sage Francis, Neumo's
Oct 21 The Posies, Neumo's
Oct 21 Bauhaus, Paramount
Oct 22 Iron and Wine + Calexico, Moore Theatre
Oct 23 David Gray, KeyArena
Oct 25 The Go! Team, Showbox
Oct 27 Decemberists, Showbox
Oct 30 Rolling Stones, KeyArena
Oct 30 Broadcast, Neumo's
