Dates subject to change. Call ahead to verify.
SEPTEMBER
6 HUSKY RESCUE This coed band of lovely Finns—highly recommended if you like Air’s cinematic, wistful electronics—makes their first appearance in Seattle. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 206-324-8000, www.chopsuey.com.
6 THE BLACK KEYS Akron, Ohio’s most celebrated exports always tear it up in town, showing us working-class wanna-bes what raw, bluesy garage really sounds like. Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 206-628-3151, www.showboxonline.com.
8 TALIB KWELI Don’t—repeat, don’t—miss this gig, where the former Black Star member (and lyrical impresario) supports last year’s Right About Now, in a right tiny venue. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 206-324-8000, www.chopsuey.com.
DEVO “Fuck yeah.”—Brian J. Barr, Music Editor. Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., 206-682-1414, www.theparamount.com.
14 HEART 2004’s Jupiter’s Darling was the last we heard from Heart, but Ann and Nancy haven’t been taking many breaks. This is their homecoming show from a nationwide tour, so feel free to go crazy on them. Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., 206-682-1414, www.theparamount.com.
14 DECIBEL FESTIVAL Highlights of this year’s techno extravaganza, which is gaining notoriety as one of North America’s premier electronic festivals, include: the Norteño/techno hybrid of Nortec Collective (Neumo’s, Sept. 14), the Orb’s Thomas Fehlmann (Broadway Performance Hall, Sept. 15), Get Physical Records’ Claude VonStroke (Chop Suey, Sept. 15), the “chin-scratching and body-shaking” Headfuk showcase with Alex Smoke + Telefon Tel Aviv + Apparat + Lusine (Neumo’s, Sept. 15), Chicago house legend Green Velvet (Neumo’s, Sept. 16), Ubiquity Records soulster Jeremy Ellis (Baltic Room, Sept. 16), and the ambient atmospheres of Murcof and Mokira (Broadway Performance Hall, Sept. 17). Phew. Various venues, see www.decibelfestival.com for detailed information, www.ticketwindowonline.com for tickets. Ends Sept 17.
20 DJ SHADOW By this date, Shadow fans have had eight days to scrutinize his latest, the hyphy-laden The Outsider, so it’ll be interesting to see how that somewhat radical departure translates to the turntablist’s live show. Lateef, who raps on the album, will be along for the ri-i-i-ide. Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 206-628-3151, www.showboxonline.com.
21–23 SHAKE THE SHACK ROCKABILLY BALL Though the lineup at press time is still top secret, this annual soiree hosted by KEXP’s resident honky-tonkers is always a raucous good time—and an enthralling, incidental fashion show (greasers, pin-up girls, crinoline-skirted ladies) to boot. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave., 206-789-3599, www.tractortavern.citysearch.com.
25 MOJAVE 3 + BRIGHTBLACK MORNING LIGHT Ex-Slowdive members Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell have made enchanting, dusty country-lite for years as Mojave 3, though they’ve upped the tempo on this year’s Puzzles Like You. Rouse yourself from expectations, and you should be delightfully surprised, though modern nomads Brightblack will deliver for those who can’t do without the “slow” and the “soft.” Neumo’s, 925 E. Pike St., 206-709-9467, www.neumos.com.
29 JUNIOR BOYS The Boys’ debut, Last Exit, was equal parts new-romanticism and hip-hop microbeats, and one of the most intriguing electro-pop albums of 2004. Now going it solo, Jeremy Greenspan sends up Sinatra and OMD alike with So This Is Goodbye. Neumo’s, 925 E. Pike St., 206-709-9467, www.neumos.com.
30 ASOBI SEKSU Don’t sleep on this N.Y.C.-based, MBV-influenced rock quartet. Their name is supposedly Japanese slang for “playful sex,” which is exactly what their music makes you want to get up to. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 206-324-8000, www.chopsuey.com.
OCTOBER
2–3 SCISSOR SISTERS After triumphantly silencing those who’d place them as a novelty group, former Seattleite Jake Shears & Co. bring their GGG (gloriously, glitteringly gay) act back in support of the new Ta-Dah!Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 206-628-3151, www.showboxonline.com.
4 CIBELLE A Brazilian songwriter with an intriguing take on folk and electronic influences, Cibelle’s biggest draw remains her honeyed voice and poetic lyricism. Triple Door, 216 Union St., 206-838-4333, www.thetripledoor.net.
4 TV ON THE RADIO Did they really title their new album Return to Cookie Mountain? Yes, they did. Stoners. (P.S. it’s fantastic). Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 206-628-3151, www.showboxonline.com.
9 METHOD MAN The Wu-Tang member returns in support of this summer’s 4:21 . . . The Day After. Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 206-628-3151, www.showboxonline.com.
15 YO LA TENGO In their 21st year together, the Hoboken-based indie-rock stalwarts show no signs of stopping. I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass is hands-down the best album title of the year, though fans of their velvety, ambling pop won’t be harmed in the listening process. Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 206-628-3151, www.showboxonline.com.
15 SUFJAN STEVENS With just Michigan and Illinoise under his belt so far, it remains to be seen if this soft-spoken troubadour will make good on his promise to send up every state in the nation, but he’s back to charm fans with outtakes and oddities. Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., 206-682-1414, www.theparamount.com.
20 EARSHOT JAZZ FESTIVAL Seattle’s biggest and best jazz festival brings Northwest luminaries, rising stars, and genre legends together under many of the city’s finest roofs. In three weeks you’ll hear from Wayne Horvitz’s Gravitas, featuring Bill Frisell (Triple Door, Oct. 20), New York pianist Matthew Shipp (PONCHO Concert Hall, Oct. 23), vibist Bobby Hutcherson (Triple Door, Oct. 28), Portuguese fado singer Ana Moura (Triple Door, Nov. 4), John Zorn with Mike Patton (Moore Theatre, Nov. 5) and many more. Various venues, see www.earshot.org for detailed information, or Triple Door, 216 Union St., 206-838-4333, www.thetripledoor.net. Ends Nov 5.
21 MATMOS The innovative electronic duo are best known by the mainstream for contributing sound effects on Björk’s last two albums. On their own, their highly conceptual compositions are as fascinating as the processes used to make them. Triple Door, 216 Union St., 206-838-4333, www.thetripledoor.net.
22 MADLIB + PEANUT BUTTER WOLF Stones Throw celebrates their 10th anniversary with label founder Peanut Butter Wolf taking badass rapper/producer Madlib on his first nationwide tour (woot!), along with J. Rocc, Percee P, Oh No, and Dudley Perkins on select dates. Neumo’s, 925 E. Pike St., 206-709-9467, www.neumos.com.
27 JANDEK Prolific (45 albums in 28 years), reclusive (making his first public, unannounced appearance in 2004) Jandek is rightfully considered America’s most enigmatic musician. On the Boards, 100 W. Roy St., 206-217-9886, www.ontheboards.org.
28 AKUFEN Producer Marc Leclair’s moniker is, fittingly, a phonetic spelling of the French word for tinnitus—you could go deaf to tech-house that isn’t half this sparkling and inventive, but why bother? Neumo’s, 925 E. Pike St., 206-709-9467, www.neumos.com.
NOVEMBER
1 JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS She loves rock and roll. We love her. Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 206-628-3151, www.showboxonline.com.
4 JAMIE LIDELL The local dance community is divided on Lidell’s live shows—some say pretentious, others soul-affirming—but his Multiply remains the best neo-soul man-via-techno-geek album ever. Neumo’s, 925 E. Pike St., 206-709-9467, www.neumos.com.
4–5 BAND OF HORSES “Are you as nervous for me as I’m nervous for you?” vocalist Ben Bridwell asked an audience this summer. The local boys best find a way to calm their nerves, as they’ve moved up in the venue food chain for this double bill. Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 206-628-3151, www.showboxonline.com.
6–7 BONNIE “PRINCE” BILLY Will Oldham’s world-weary, lo-fi aesthetic will encourage tears in your beers as he plays from new album The Letting Go tonight. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 206-789-3599, www.tractortavern.citysearch.com.
8 DEL THA FUNKEE HOMOSAPIEN “Witty,” “playful,” “literate,” and “silly” are adjectives All Music Guide uses to describe Del, and they’re all spot-on. The rapper continually manages not to sacrifice a smart mind for a serious flow. Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 206-628-3151, www.showboxonline.com.
11 DIXIE CHICKS They lost country fans because of anti-Bush sentiments, but gained a measure of international respect in the process, as well as a pop-friendly sound in Taking the Long Way. Tacoma Dome, 2727 E. D St., Tacoma, 253-272-3663, www.tacomadome.org.
13 FRANK BLACK OK, so the Pixies’ reunion was a calculated play for $$$, but former Black Francis here does his solo thing for ❤. See this year’s double-disc Fast Man Raider Man for proof. Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 206-628-3151, www.showboxonline.com.
22 THE SLITS The short-lived career of this late-’70s punk trio made it OK to approach music with amateurish enthusiasm. The results vary, of course, but the Slits proved that embracing chutzpah can be a glorious end in itself. El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., 206-381-3094, www.elcorazonseattle.com.
DECEMBER
6 IMOGEN HEAP Packing the room at Neumo’s earlier this year, the Londoner enchanted with an unusual voice, and lyrical themes of heartbreak that are all too common. Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 206-628-3151, www.showboxonline.com.
