Notable Shows

Wednesday, July 19

The Beatniks

Paying a cover charge to see the indefatigable local cover band, the Beatniks, is not a savvy investment when viewed from the standpoint that your time (and, obviously, money) is better spent listening to KZOK in your car with a 12-pack of beer. But seeing the Beatniks for free at a public park after work on Hump Day? Fuck—tear it up! Animal Acres Park, N.E. 178th and Brookside Blvd., Shoreline, 7 p.m. NC

Dabrye

Probably best known for his "Game Over" with the late Jay Dee, Tadd Mullinix's fusion of hip-hop and IDM has found fans through his Ghostly International label and his work for Prefuse 73's Scott Herren, but the just-released Two/Three will undoubtedly widen that base. Even without the MC talents of Waajeed, Invincible, and Kadence (the latter who's touring with Dabrye), his beats have never sounded this fresh. Stones Throw rapper Percee P, and Truckasaurus also perform. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $10

Graig Markel + Bre Ellen + Zera Marvel + Kaitlyn Ni Donovan

Markel's been hiding out for a while, which is a shame for fans of high-quality songwriting that's just a shade lighter than Red House Painters' blood-red melancholy. Tonight may provide a sneak peek from Markel's in-progress Via Novella, which will feature Tagging Satellites' Zera Marvel, along with Jen Wood and Modest Mouse's Jeremiah Green. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $6

Oneida + A-Frames + Pyramids

For a decade now, Brooklyn's Oneida have been crafting "uncategorizable" music that's subsequently categorized as psych, stoner metal, garage punk, minimal, "maximal, one-step, infinite-wave." Whoa. They're a rock band—with guests on Happy New Year including members of Trans Am, the Fucking Champs, and Ex Models—and Jagjaguwar's most eclectic one. P. 50 Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $7

Thursday, July 20

Microtonal Guitar Fest: Tom Baker + Chris Morda + Stone Crazy Blues Band

On keyboard instruments, you can't do anything with the cracks between the notes; on guitars, especially fretless or slide versions, you can—a scale becomes a spectrum rather than a stepladder. Hear Seattleite Baker and guests from across the country explore this sonic territory. 1412 Gallery, 9 p.m. $7

Plan B + Dept of Energy + Amy Blaschke + R.B. Reed + Cock and Swan + Grayface + Red Jacket Mine + Levi Fuller + Virgin of the Birds

Levi Fuller's Ball of Wax audio quarterly is a great way to stay abreast of relatively unheard local singer-songwriters and bands—each compilation features new music in a handsome package and is sold for cheap. Volume 5, which is included in the price of admission tonight, contains a track from Plan B's forthcoming album and an unreleased one from Dept of Energy's Robb Benson, among 15 others. Sunset Tavern, 9 p.m. $5

Unnatural Helpers + Tall Birds + the Ax

With a couple Sub Pop staffers and members of Kinski, the Lights, and Welcome on board, we're probably safe in calling Unnatural Helpers a supergroup. "Gettin' Classy" blends classic garage simplicity with clanging riffs and "Mr. Children" is wonderfully askew, snotty punk. Easily in our top 10 of locals to keep an eye on. Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $5

Friday, July 21

Hybrid

This Welsh duo's symphonic breakbeats haven't seen wax or plastic since 2004's "I'm Still Awake," but they know how to mix a pretty-damn-close-to-flawless set—one with equal ears for unsyrupy sentiment and body-rocking rhythms. DJ Eva also spins. Element, 10 p.m. $10

Scream Club + No Fi Soul Rebellion + the Nachos

Do we really endorse this show of electro-riot misfits and people who don't actually play their guitars (No Fi's Andrea Heimer plays backing tracks from her hollowed-out guitar's "Soul System")??? Yes, of course, when each of them (though we can't vouch for the Nachos) are as much goofy fun as Scream Club's life-affirming call-and-responses. High Dive, 10 p.m. $6

Saturday, July 22

Eugene Mirman + Michael Showalter + Leo Allen

In case you didn't know, Eugene Mirman is one of the funniest people alive. If you missed his emceeing stint at Suicide Squeeze's 10th Anniversary shows (where he learned that clubs in Seattle don't have air conditioning), then you missed his hilarious bit about bands befriending you on Myspace. If that's the case, here's your second chance! Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $10

Alexi Murdoch

Alexi Murdoch sings unironic, sweet, and earnest songs about love. He makes no qualms about it, either. His formula, in its acoustic foundation and string inflection, was once trod well by Nick Drake and Elliott Smith, but Murdoch lacks their troubled undertones, making his brand of soulful songwriting more akin to Mason Jennings. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $12 Also at Easy Street Records, 20 Mercer St., 4 p.m. NC

The Long Winters

It's been several years in the making, but our local raconteur John Roderick is back with the first Long Winters full-length since 2003's When I Pretend to Fall. The familiar elements are all in the new one, Putting the Days to Bed, which shows Roderick turning his band's rough pop sound into a big rock machine. Neumo's, 8 p.m. $13 adv./$15

Pearl Jam

With a formula that hasn't really changed much since the early '90s, our local golden boys keep fighting the good fight with an equal mix of rock and philanthropy. They've given a tremendous amount of cash to our city via the Vitalogy Foundation, and keep churning out material that's always good, if not great. Like their brethren Mudhoney's lone big hit, just because PJ never wrote "Jeremy" again doesn't mean you should take them for granted. Their latest self-titled effort is one of the most vital since Binaural. Gorge Amphitheatre, 754 Silica Rd. N.W., George, 206-628-0888, 7 p.m. $49-$58.05 Also Sunday, July 23

Sunday, July 23