Oct. 5-11, 2005
Wednesday, October 5
The Legendary Shack Shakers + Gore Gore Girls
The headliners have one of those generic names that does its job and nothing more (kind of like their music), but the openers are the draw. Amy Surdu is one of the major players in Detroit garage rock of the past decade, and she makes GGG's revolving lineup go, go, go. Tractor Tavern, 8 p.m. $10
System of a Down + the Mars Volta + Hella
Fans of 2001's terrific Toxicity aren't exactly biting down SOAD's new Mezmerize (Sony), but it won't stop them from showing up for this, especially with two heavy-hitting openers—the nu-prog Mars Volta and math-noise heroes Hella. KeyArena, 305 Harrison St., 206-628-0888, 7 p.m. $31.50–$44
Thursday, October 6
The Coup
Readying their first album since 2001's Party Music—it of the inadvertently controversial Twin Towers–explosion cover—Oakland activist/MC Boots Riley and DJ Pam the Funkstress are damn impressive in concert as well as on record. Lifesavas open. Neumo's, 8 p.m. $15
Dan Bern
A smart-aleck folkie with an uneven pen, Bern's always fun live. Garrin Benfield opens. Tractor Tavern, 9 p.m. $15
HIM + Finch + Skindred
Finnish "love metal" band His Infernal Majesty just released Dark Light (haha), as well as a legion of heartagram-adorned black hoodies upon the mall near you, but that's not to say they suck. Finch and Skindred round out the best punk-goth-ragga-metal bill of the year. Premier, 7 p.m. $25
Robbie Robertson Interview
The logy ex-Band leader appears as part of EMP's ongoing Dylan love-fest. He'll be interviewed by staff and audience members, presumably about both the folkie he used to back up and the group he used to play guitar for. EMP Liquid Lounge, 7 p.m.
Yonder Mountain String Band
YMSB's last album, Mountain Tracks: Volume 3 reached No. 1 on Billboard's bluegrass chart, and they champion a progressive, jam-band take on that style. Fellow Coloradans Open Road show us how it's done old-school. Showbox, 8 p.m. $20
Friday, October 7
Babukishan
As a baul—a mystic minstrel, whose Sanskrit root word means either "divinely inspired insanity" or "fervently eager"—Bengali Babukishan has played with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, and Miles Davis; now he's bringing his ecstatic music and dance to a yoga hall near you. Samadhi Yoga, 1201 E. Pike, 206-329-4070. 8 p.m. $15
Bill Gaither and the Gaither Family
The gospel veteran returns to home ground for a full evening that includes "a cavalcade of singers, musicians and comedians," according to the EEC Web site. Everett Events Center, 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett, 866-332-8499, 7 p.m.
Darek Mazzone's Birthday Party
The host of KEXP's Planet Beat celebrates another year on the planet, and you get to join him. Yerba Buena and Kultur Shock perform, and Mazzone himself spins. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $12
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
SEE CD REVIEW, P. 52. Triple Door, 8 p.m. $23 adv./$25
Levi Fuller
Low-key and lo-fi Fuller is finishing up This Murder Is a Peaceful Gathering, produced by Brian Deck and containing many songs about crows. This First Friday show is altogether pleasant listening, with Wesafari's Rick Wright as Sifaka and Everything Is Fine. Aurafice, 616 E. Pine St., 8:30 p.m. Free
The Willowz
This heavily hyped L.A. garage band have more songs than they know what to do with, but one listen to their new Talk in Circles (Sympathy for the Record Industry) effectively deflates the hype, albeit winningly. The Old Haunts and Invisible Eyes open. Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $7
Saturday, October 8
Tha Alkaholiks
Hip-hop's most celebrated drankers (also the most unrepentant, given that they flirted with calling themselves the Liks and switched back) play in advance of their new album, Firewater. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $12
The Dirty Three
One critic compared the live performance of violinist Warren Ellis, guitarist Mike Turner and drummer Jim White to the Tour de France, full of raucous peaks and sonorous valleys that leave the crowd emotionally exhausted. Converging from three continents to tour for Cinder, their open-ended instrumentals evoke dark days, arriving in Seattle at just the right time. Neumo's, 8 p.m. $12
Richard Thompson
SEE CD REVIEW, P. 52. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 8 p.m. $41 adv./$44
Visqueen + the Cops + Tennis Pro
The always-exciting Visqueen join the Cops and Tennis Pro as they release debut Get Good or Stay Bad and follow-up Cassie's Junior Varsity Make-Out Squad, respectively. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $8
Sunday, October 9
Leo Kottke/Mike Gordon
The king of low-key ambient guitar and the ex-Phisherman tour together behind the new Sixty Six Steps (RCA). Moore Theatre, 7 p.m. $26.50–$33.50
Mark Mallman
This Minneapolis singer-songwriter once performed a single song for 52.4 hours, but here he'll play a relatively truncated set heavy on material from the new Mr. Serious. Jason Eric Rubin opens. El Corazon, 8 p.m. $6
Monday, October 10
Thrice
The O.C. (the area, not the show) keeps on bringing us bands like this—"rock/hardcore/experimental," sez their MySpace profile, though "experimental" is probably pushing it a bit. Underoath, the Bled, and Veda open. Showbox, 6 p.m. $19
Tuesday, October 11
Adrian Belew
The expert guitarist (King Crimson, various session work) and so-so solo artist comes around with bassist Mike Gallagher and drummer Mike Hodges. Triple Door, 7 p.m. $28.50 adv./$30
Anne Murray
Long before the Arcade Fire, et al., made Canada a pop-music hotspot, this native Nova Scotian was burning up the charts with "Songbird," "Danny's Song," "Love Song," and other songs. Paramount Theatre, 7:30 p.m. $32.50–$52.50
Bob Mould Band
Mould's guitar-based songwriting has returned on the new Body of Song (Yep Roc), sitting snugly alongside his recent interest in beat-centricity (he's an excellent DJ who plays regularly around D.C.). This is first tour since the '90s with a band, which includes Fugazi's Brendan Canty on drums. Neumo's, 8 p.m. $15 adv./$17
Wynonna Judd with Seattle Symphony
The country siren goes symphonic? There are odder things, we suppose. She plays in support of a new live CD. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 206-215-4800, 7:30 p.m. $20–$68 E
UPCOMING SHOWS
Oct 12 Coheed and Cambria + the Blood Brothers, Showbox
Oct 12 The Killers + British Sea Power, KeyArena
Oct 13 Against Me! + the Epoxies + the Soviettes, Neumo's
Oct 14 Gillian Welch, Paramount
Oct 14–15 Gov't Mule + Moe, Showbox
Oct 15 Brooks and Dunn, White River Amphitheatre
Oct 15 The Hold Steady + the Constantines, Neumo's
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 26 Foo Fighters + Weezer, KeyArena
Oct 27–28 Decemberists + Cass McCombs, Showbox
Oct 30 Rolling Stones + Mötley Crüe, KeyArena
Oct 30 Broadcast, Neumo's
Oct 30 Our Lady Peace, Showbox
Oct 31 311, Moore Theatre
Nov 1 Metric, Crocodile Cafe
Nov 3 Paul McCartney, KeyArena
Nov 4 Bright Eyes + Sons and Daughters + Willie Mason, Moore Theatre
Nov 4 My Morning Jacket + Saul Williams, Showbox
Nov 5 Rachel's + Tristeza, Neumo's
Nov 6 Clay Aiken, McCaw Hall
Nov 7 The Magic Numbers, Crocodile
Nov 7 The Moody Blues, Paramount
Nov 7 They Might Be Giants, Moore
Nov 7 Atmosphere + Blueprint, Showbox
Nov 8 Def Leppard + Bryan Adams, Everett Events Center
