Weekly Notable Shows

Wednesday, April 19

Matthew Dear (Audion) + Mister Leisure + DJ Eddie

Dear's album as Audion last year, Suckfish (Spectral Sound), sounded rough and nightmarish to us, but what do the people think? Amazon.com yields P. deGategno's take: "The techno is viscerally sexual and violently primal, like a person's id expressed through dance music." So, yeah, a dream or a nightmare, depending. Matt Corwine makes his 2006 comeback as Mr. L, and DJ Eddie opens. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $10

Gary Hefferns' Cavalcade of Stars

Tonight in Ballard, there are "more stars than you can shake a stick at," including Carla Torgerson, the Royal Pains, the Ones, Peter Blackstock, Robert Roth, Nova Bossa, Jake London, Hearseburner, Gustav Swanson, John Bigley, Earl, and the Press Corps—which features some stars even we who are ignorant of No Depression know, like Mudhoney's Steve Turner. Tractor Tavern, 8 p.m. $12

Thursday, April 20

The King Britt Experience

His DJ sets are great but even better are the live interpretations he'll perform tonight (in addition to some DJ'ing, of course) from his music with Sylk130 collective. Adding dimensions are vocalist Lady Alma Horton, who's lent her pipes to Zapp Mama and 4Hero in the past, and percussionist Doc Gibbs. Nectar, 9 p.m. $10

Mates of State + Viva Voce + Smoosh

Neumo's, 8 p.m. $13 adv./$15 All ages

Friday, April 21

Lostep

Because We Can (Global Underground) is one of the strangest electronic releases yet this year, marrying extreme chill-out with spacious big beats and nerve-wracking (in a good way) tech-house scrapes. Hatiras and Eva also spin. Element, 10 p.m. $15 before 11 p.m./$20

LTJ Bukem + MC Conrad + Kid Hops + the Dowlz

Chop Suey, 10 p.m. $15

Mercir + Velella Velella + Head Like a Kite

Celebrate the High Dive's first year of existence—and solid booking that makes us want to take the bus to Fremont on a regular basis—with three exciting bands that mix indie attitude with experimental wowza! High Dive, 10 p.m. $8

Rooney + Everybody Else + the Catch

I added a "Rooney 4Eva" button to my "I ♥ Seth" T-shirt and heartful of teen angst after these long-haired L.A. boys crashed the OC. So are the trendy pop-punkers being ironic when they pick on vapid celebrity with their catchy anthem's lyrics, "These are the words of the popstars"? Who cares? Enjoy the unbridled keyboards. Chop Suey, 6 p.m. $10 All ages

Shoplifting + Mecca Normal + Steve Fisk + the Punks

New albums from relevant-as-ever Northwest punks include Shoplifting's Body Stories (Kill Rock Stars), Mecca Normal's A Portrait of the Artist Online Dating (KRS) and the Punk's We're the Shit, Pt. 2 (we think) on (5RC)—check 'em out at this warehouse show. Studio 108, 912 12th Ave., 8 p.m.

Unnatural Helpers + Tall Birds + Trashies

At least two variations on trashy here (sorry, we can't speak for the middle band). The openers are straight-up Trashie—cheap beer, cheap chords, cheap fun. The Unnatural Helpers take a slightly more, well, classy-trashy approach, best captured on the song, "Gettin' Classy," which proves that they're at least "thinkin' 'bout" it. Comet Tavern, 9 p.m. $5

Saturday, April 22

Thomas Dolby

Revenge of the Nerds V: The Man Who Took Part in the Synthesizer Explosion and the Techno Geeks Who Love Him. Fenix Underground, 8 p.m. $15

Guitar Goddess Showcase: Alice Stuart + Nicole Fournier + Teri Anne Wilson + Amy Stolzenbach

This showcase features four of Seattle's hottest women and their hottest licks, including Alice Stuart, a local legend, and Amy Stolzenbach, a founding member of AC/DC tribute band Hell's Belles. Doc Maynard's,

9 p.m. $8

Monica Nelson with Dan Hawthorne

An influential female figure to Kathleen Hanna and the late Mia Zapata, Monica Nelson (then of the Obituaries) returns with the Nein's Hawthorne, who'll back her on recent and cataloged tunes. With the Emergency, and Bug Nasties. Funhouse, 9 p.m. $6

South + Something for Rockets + Margot and the Nuclear So and So's

The U.K. indie band—do they have a caravan or what this week?—just released their third album, Adventures in the Underground Journey to the Stars (Young American). We hear they've "lost their Stone Roses jones" and are coming into their own as pop artists. Should be interesting, with Something for Rockets, and Margot and the Nuclear So and So's. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $11

Sunday, April 23

Magic Numbers + Willy Mason

The Magic Numbers are blessed with the ability to croon tender, heartfelt songs that don't sound the least bit weepy or wimpy—even if their last show at this venue was a gushfest on behalf of the crowd. Willy Mason was just in town! Here's your second shot at love. Crocodile Cafe, 8:30 p.m. $10 adv./$12

Rose Melberg + Calvin Johnson

Oh, it's a jolly holiday with you, dear. . . . You'll feel light and cheery as Mary Poppins strolling through Ballard today, and stopping in this fanciful dress shop while these cherished indie folksters do their thing. Velouria, 2205 N.W. Market St., 4 p.m. NC All ages

Pinback + the Jade Sharer

California dudes Pinback play just about the most laid-back form of indie rock there is—bordering on snoozy—but don't let the rabid fans of their complex harmonies and subtle guitar experimentation see your eyelids drooping. The Jade Sharer opens. Showbox, 8 p.m. $15 All ages

Monday, April 24