Kristina Davies
Tara Jane O'Neil
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Wednesday, July 26
Helvetia + Mike Johnson
Former Dinosaur Jr. bassist Mike Johnson has one of those whiskey-and-cigarette baritones that fans of Mark Lanegan will be fond of. The Eugene, Ore., native makes gloomy, snarling tunes that resonate with lovers of heavy rain and cloudy skies. He's probably not gonna make your summer playlist—unless, of course, you hate summer. War Room, 9 p.m. $5
Os Mutantes
Moore Theatre, 8 p.m. $29.50–$39.50
Thursday, July 27
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young
Let's face it—this is nothing more than a Neil Young show in which three overweight hippies flank him. Anyone who witnessed the 2000 and 2002 CSNY reunions will recall how Mr. Young's dominant stage presence put shame to his on-again off-again bandmates, all of whom resembled nothing short of your uncles trying to be funky while wearing Izods. So, if you've got the money to blow, and wish to see Ol' Neil outshine his worn-out friends, it's worth it. White River Amphitheatre, 40601 Auburn Enumclaw Rd., Auburn, 360-825-6200, 8 p.m. $36–$151.
Chris Isaak + Allison Moorer
Charming crooner Isaak returns to the Chateau with his first Best Of in tow, so if you're looking for new material, get over it. His retrospective—including, of course, "Wicked Game"—will perfectly complement the recent heat. Moorer's neo-country Getting Somewhere just came out and is getting favorable attention. Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14111 N.E. 145th St., Woodinville, 425-415-3300, 7 p.m. $39.50–$69.50
Tara Jane O'Neil + Nick Castro and the Young Elders + Jen Wood
Singer-songwriter O'Neil is now known as a Northwest-based painter, and formerly a key musician in the mid-'90s Louisville scene, which produced several near-brilliant bands and recordings (Rachel's, Slint, Rodan's Rusty), then vanished from most of the nation's consciousness. Luckily, she's never stopped working—her new EP, A Raveling, is as smart as anything she's done. Sunset Tavern, 9 p.m. $7
The Raconteurs
Jack White and Brendan Benson's vanity-not-vanity project released Broken Boy Soldiers this spring, and it's decent, but not enough of a departure from their work with the White Stripes and solo (respectively) that it warrants this kind of price-gouging. Moore Theatre, 8 p.m. $30–$33.50
Laura Veirs and the Tortured Souls + Johanna Kunin + Mike Dumovich
Veirs is one of Seattle's best-kept secrets—a genuine storyteller with a strong voice, as heard on her excellent Carbon Glacier and Year of Meteors. Her songwriting chops keep her romanticized tales miles ahead of the coffee shop masses. Tractor Tavern, 9 p.m. $12
Friday, July 28
Blue Cheer + Goblin Cock + Kalas + Mos Generator
SEE PREVIEW [Kalas], P. 39. El Corazon, 9 p.m. $15
Capitol Hill Block Party Mainstage: Slender Means + Helio Sequence + Himsa + Band of Horses + Pretty Girls Make Graves
For the first day of the big bash, this is one hell of an MVP lineup. They're all local kids done well, whether you favor the electro-punk of PGMG, the bracing metal of Himsa, or the atmospheric jangle of Band of Horses, whose existence is one of Seattle rock's most surprising breakthroughs in some time. 10th Avenue and Pine Street, 4:30 p.m. $12 wristband
Capitol Hill Block Party Neumo's Stage: Immaculate Machine + Tennis Pro + the Village Green + thee Emergency + the Cops
Energy abounds on this local stage with garage rockers thee Emergency, the Cops, and the Village Green. An afterparty with Big Business and DJs Franki Chan and Four Color Zack follows at 11 p.m., and it's just five bones or free with your block party wristband. 11th Avenue and Pine Street, 5 p.m. $12 wristband
Capitol Hill Block Party Vera Stage: Tall Birds + Abyssinian Creole + Panther + the Pharmacy + Sea Navy + Macklemore + Visqueen
The Pharmacy sent us a 7-inch a few weeks ago that was slid into a beautiful album sleeve, presumably screen-printed by hand. While that would normally be enough to merit kind words for the band, the tunes etched into the piece of vinyl were quite stellar as well. Side A's "Overcast Summer" is a gem of drizzly pop-punk, the kind of tune that could only be written in the Pacific Northwest. 11th Avenue and Pine Street, 4 p.m. $12 wristband
Justin Martin
Glitzy DJ AM is playing around town tonight, too, but here's where we recommend you go if you really want to get your groove on. Not only is the War Room, with its just-right-sized dancefloor, one of the best places to hear house music, but Buzzin' Fly DJ Martin's recent mix of funked-up house and techno (featuring Iz & Diz, John Tejada, and Swayzak) would sound sweet coming through that soundsystem. With Eric Allen and Sol Calderon. War Room, 9 p.m. $5
PDXplore: Norfolk and Western + Laura Gibson
This edition of PDXplore, which brings the best of Portland to us, really does feature one of Portland's best—so if you've missed the tender Americana of Norfolk and Western before, here's another chance to see why they've been praised by everyone from Pitchfork to their former tourmate M. Ward. Sunset Tavern, 7 p.m. $5
Pete Yorn
Music for the Morning After, Yorn's 2001 debut, was one of the few decent songwriting efforts that year—WB-ready but without sounding rote or stale. Rather, he's always seemed sincere, and not nearly as miserable as his L.A.-based, star-chasing cohorts in that genre. This double gig will preview the August release of Nightcrawler, which looks like it might be—if we know Yorn—kinda sexy. Crocodile Cafe, 8:30 p.m. $20 adv./$25 All ages Also at Easy Street Records, 20 Mercer St., 6 p.m. NC
