Wednesday, November 16
Adult. + Numbers
Detroit DIYers/electro-noise trio Adult. have released a split 7" with Kill Rock Stars' Numbers, and both bands have mellowed their avant tone (just a bit). Not much to watch in the past, the addition of a third Adult. member has supposedly helped their stage show grow up. Genders open. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $10
Depeche Mode + the Raveonettes
Hell, yeah—Depeche Mode is back, after the ho-hum Ultra and Exciter, with a genuinely sexy, danceable piece of work, Playing the Angel. Not that we needed a new album to get excited about this pairing with the Jesus and Mary Chain–esque Raveonettes. KeyArena, 8 p.m. $49–$74
Dillinger Escape Plan + Hella
New Jersey's finest purveyors of jazz-tinged, mathematically challenging hardcore, DEP set the standard for what being technically proficient live means. Sacramento's Hella have been pushing noise onto stadium crowds with the Mars Volta as of late. With both bands on one bill, it will be loud and amazing. Between the Buried and Me open. Neumo's, 8 p.m. $15
The New Yorker College Tour: Stephen Malkmus
Not precisely a rock show, this will feature Malkmus in conversation with The New Yorker's James Surowecki, followed by (we assume) a solo performance. Showbox, 7:30 p.m. $10
Thursday, November 17
Danny Krivit
Among DJs and dance-music aficionados, Krivit is serious royalty. His career began in the early '70s at New York's legendary Loft, moved on to the great Body and Soul parties of the '90s and '00s, and encompasses a frightening knack for re-editing disco classics till they give up even more of the goods than they did prior. This one should be amazing. Trinity, 9 p.m. $10
Red Cross Benefit
Still looking for ways to give, a bunch of mostly Capitol Hill musicians (PartMan PartHorse, Casy + Brian, Katherine Hepburn's Voice, Mathematicattack, DJs Bookends and Paco) rock out for those less fortunate. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., 8 p.m. $5
Friday, November 18
The Bellrays
Like an "MC5 influenced by post-Bop jazz" with a vocalist evocative of Tina Turner, California's the Bellrays give one hell of a performance. The Red, White and Black dropped this year on Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles label. With the Invisible Eyes and the Earaches. Sunset Tavern, 9 p.m. $10
Death Cab for Cutie + DJ Thomas Morr
Thomas Morr runs Berlin's Morr Music, purveyors of all things sparkly, sweet and electronic—as well as a few releases with Ben Gibbard's presence on them—making him a perfect opener for Death Cab's back-to-back shows. Paramount Theatre, 8 p.m. $20 Also Sat., Nov. 19
Larry Heard
As Mr. Fingers and Fingers Inc., Chicagoan Larry Heard helped birth the city's house-music scene and made many of its greatest records—soulful and jazzy without lapsing into tiresome cliché. Do you love house music? Then you have absolutely no excuse for missing this. Trinity, 10 p.m. $10
KJ Sawka + Artis the Spoonman + BShorty + Christa Wells
If you haven't seen Sawka effortlessly, tirelessly wrestle complicated breakbeats from a standard drum kit, what are you waiting for? For his vinyl release tonight he's joined by sultry vocalist Christa Wells, as well as other marvels Artis the Spoonman and beatboxer BShorty. Nectar, 9 p.m. $6
Peace Division
Dark, tribal, dubby, top-rate house. Kimball Collins, BPM and Austin Payne also spin. Element, 9 p.m. $10 before 11 p.m./$15
The Purrs + Spanish for 100 + Energy Dept
With the shimmery guitar talents of the pop-rock Purrs and Spanish for 100, Energy Dept (Dear John Letters' Robb Benson) is icing on the cake. High Dive, 10 p.m. $6
Rogue Wave + Kelley Stoltz
SEE TALK TALK (Stoltz), P. 44. The dot-com bust was good for at least one person: Zach Rogue, whose post-high-tech life includes his band's Descended Like Vultures (Sub Pop), one of the more ambitious, melodically exciting albums of the year. Neumo's, 6 p.m. $10 adv./$12
The Ruby Doe
Lights! Lasers! Propulsive, ass-kicking rock and roll! With Bullet Club and the Viceroy's DJ Curtis! All-ages! Seattle Laserdome, 200 Second Ave. N., at 7 p.m. $7
Taj Mahal
The legendary musician and singer—whether you call his style Afro-Caribbean blues, folk-funk or world—begins a 15-show run with drummer Bill Rich and bassist Kester Smith. Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $25.50 Also Sat., Nov. 19–Sun., Nov. 20 and Tues., Nov. 22–Sun., Nov. 27
Tom Vek
British wunderkind Tom Vek's mish-mash of synth, punk and vocal warblings, We Have Sound (Tummy Touch), has made him the new critic's darling, naturally. See if he lives up to the hype with show-mates the Willowz and Mercir. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $10
Rocky Votolato
Waxwing, Votolato's band with brother Cody (now a member of the Blood Brothers), will play their last shows this December, but he'll keep on keepin' on with his fourth solo album, out in January on Barsuk. Get prepped for it at this CD release for Blue Checkered Record Player, with the Epochs and Invisible. VERA Project, 7:30 p.m. $7 with club card/$8
Wheedle's Groove Band
Local label Light in the Attic introduced Seattle's funky past to a new generation last year with the Wheedle's Groove compilation, which highlighted the musicians playing tonight: Robbie Hill, Calvin Law, Overton Berry, Ron Buford, Pat Wright, Bernadette Bascom, Broham and Tony Gable. Choklate carries on their soulful traditions and Groove compiler Mr. Supreme and DJ Vitamin D keep the joint hopping. Triple Door, 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 19
Kelli Hanson
Hanson's Lullaby For an Astronaut (Bigger Than the Barn) is one of the more striking local singer-songwriter albums of the year; should be interesting to see how its hushed ambience will fare in a live setting. Tart headline; Amateur Radio Operator opens. Cafe Venus/Mars Bar, 9 p.m. $6
Kinski + IQU + Unnatural Helpers
A little bit of everything here: From Kinski you'll get epic space jams; from IQU, stylish and substantial electro-abstractions. From the Unnatural Helpers, you'll get garage songs like "Operation Dry Pants" and "Mr. Children" played by past and present members of the Intelligence, Double Fudge, and the Pulses. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $10
Laura Veirs and the Tortured Souls (CD release)
Released in late August, Seattle singer-songwriter Veirs' Year of Meteors (Nonesuch), one of the year's best local albums, deserves as many parties as possible. Cool, precise, and dense with nature imagery and heartfelt sentiment, it shimmers with loving production by Tucker Martine (Modest Mouse), who also plays drums in Veirs' band, the Tortured Souls. With Great Lake Swimmers and Karl Blau. Tractor Tavern, 8 p.m. $12
Charlie Sexton + Shannon McNally
After a few years playing alongside some guy named Bob Dylan, Sexton's got a few blues-rock tricks of his own up his sleeve. McNally does, too, some of them with Sexton—they'll lead the same band and guest on each other's songs. Triple Door, 8 p.m. $18 adv./$20
Josh Wink + Funkstorung
Two headlining DJs get two hours apiece to flex their decks. Funkstorung's never been especially compelling on record, while Wink's made a handful of classics ("How's the Music," "Higher State of Consciousness"), but it should be fun to hear what they each play. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $15
Sunday, November 20
Damien "Jr. Gong" Marley
Welcome to Jamrock (Atlantic), Marley's latest, is one of the solidest, most exciting records of the year—from Jamaica or not. We're betting his show will be equally high-energy. Showbox, 8 p.m. $20 adv./$23
The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
Often described as arty, atmospheric, and sometimes creepy, TTFP play beautiful songs set to a slideshow of found slides, with highly praised 9-year-old daughter Rachel starting to play bass as well as drums. Tullycraft and Tim Seely open. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $10
Monday, November 21
Gwen Stefani + M.I.A.
When asked recently about selling her single "Galang" to Honda, Mia Arulpragasam (M.I.A.) said "How else am I going to get money to [give to] the people that need it?" Obviously, making delirious dance music is the only way, and we've been in the wrong line of work—time to get a drum machine. KeyArena, 7:30 p.m. $35.50-$65.50
Madraso
Madraso recall the glory days of the early '90s Dischord acts with hints of the Jesus Lizard and Shellac. Shouting and minor chords are to be expected. Rendezvous, 10:30 p.m. $5
Tuesday, November 22
Andy C
2004's Nightlife 2: A Drum and Bass Odyssey (Ram) was a stellar overview of the hard and funky sound of its label as well as a vanity project—Andy C's seamless mixing puts most of his contemporaries to shame. Zacharia and Demo beamed him in for this 360 BPM anniversary party. War Room, 9 p.m. $10
Cage + Camu Tao + Slow Suicide Stimulus + Onry Ozzborn + DJ Crazy Glue
After a stint as a shock-rapper, Cage has dropped the new Hell's Winter (Definitive Jux), one of the year's more powerful hip-hop records. Camu Tao, Slow Suicide Stimulus, Onry Ozzborn, and DJ Crazy Glue open. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $10
Punks and Pints (CD release)
Pick up a compilation in honor of the Saloon's long-running Punks and Pints night, featuring regulars (and tonight's performers) the Spazms, Shift Man Shift, Sledgeback, No Means Yes, Slitliquor, Called in Sick, Mauser, Fifty Fifty, HANG, Whiskey Tango, and Eight Hour Disease. Central Saloon, 8 p.m. $5 E
UPCOMING SHOWS
Nov 23 Fiona Apple, Moore Theatre
Nov 25 Jane Siberry, Triple Door
Nov 25 Super Furry Animals + Caribou, Neumo's
Nov 26 Donovan, Moore Theatre
Nov 26 The Lovemakers, Crocodile Cafe
Nov 27 Ozomatli, Showbox
Nov 28 Trans-Siberian Orchestra, KeyArena
Nov 29 Lyfe + Vivian Green + Goapele, Showbox
Nov 29 Trey Anastasio, Paramount
Dec 1 Princess Superstar, Chop Suey
Dec 3 Blue Scholars, Chop Suey
Dec 3 Morcheeba, Showbox
Dec 3 !!!, Crocodile Cafe
Dec 3 Echo and the Bunnymen, Neumo's
Dec 3 Umphrey's McGee, Showbox
Dec 4 Nickel Creek + Andrew Bird, Paramount
Dec 4 Morcheeba, Showbox
Dec 9 Rosie Thomas + David Bazan, Crocodile Cafe
Dec 10 Kanye West + Fantasia + Keyshia Cole, Everett Events Center
Dec 11 My Chemical Romance + (International) Noise Conspiracy, Premier
Dec 16–17 The Wrens, Neumo's
Dec 16 Dokken, Fenix Underground
Dec 30 Camper Van Beethoven + Cracker, Crocodile Cafe
Dec 31 Maktub, Showbox
Jan 7 Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Emerald Queen Casino
Jan 19 INXS, Paramount
Jan 29 Chris Botti, Moore Theatre
Jan 28 Richard Lewis, Moore Theatre
Feb 22 Il Divo, Benaroya Hall
March 6 Bon Jovi, KeyArena
