The Short List

Electric Avenue with Charlie B. + Adlib + Novatron

Friday, February 2

While the Vogue's team harnesses CHAC's showroom for its new, ongoing Blacklight weekend of fetish and '80s dance parties (full report coming soon), United House Front and Shameless crews rock on through the lower level each Friday for Electric Avenue. Resident DJs Charlie B., Recess, Swank, Justin Byrnes, Eric Miller, Tekgnosis, and MC Anton Bomb are lining up a series of quality guests, including Jacob London, who kicked off the night successfully last week. Its namesake may be the 1983 Eddy Grant track, but Green Velvet's 2006 hit describes this night best: "I like electro, I like retro, I like ghetto, house, and techno." RACHEL SHIMP CHAC Lower Level, 10 p.m. Free

Genghis Khan III + the Emeralds + Orange Sunshine

Friday, February 2

From the wilds of the Bay Area, the riff warriors Genghis Khan have become a favorite of the Comet Tavern. These former members of Parchman Farm are still stoned on weed and possessed by the blues choogling of Blue Cheer and Phil Lynott. In true '70s fashion, cowbell and harmonica are buried under piles of Sabbath riffs. Live, they are a mass of hair, thin T-shirts, and belt buckles, and the noise is thunderous and greasy. Heavy! They've obviously spent lots of time with stacks of dusty vinyl and jars of fresh bud. I wouldn't be surprised if they tour in a low rider while blasting Nebula. BRIAN J. BARR Comet Tavern, 9 p.m.

Menomena + S + Siberian

Friday, February 2

SEE FEATURE (Menomena), P. 43. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $10

Steve Turner & His Bad Ideas + the Press Corps + Waterbeds

Friday, February 2

Music critic Everett True has compared Steve Turner to Graham Coxon of Blur because of his ability to always reinvent his playing. While I never would have thought to twin the two, True has a point. The Mudhoney ax-man is one of the most subtle and underrated guitarists of all time. He farted out that legendary "Touch Me I'm Sick" riff, and later laced his guitar with LSD for the classic mindfuck "Since We've Become Translucent." His latest solo record, New Wave Punk Asshole, is an adrenaline shot of pure Northwest garage rock delivered with, naturally, tons of sarcasm. Some riffs are meaty, some jangly, some thrashy, and Turner's vocals are the same awesome sneer they've been since he unleashed them on Searching for a Melody. Choice cut is definitely the title track, with its chorus: "No one gives a shit what you do/No one gives a shit what you think/No one gives a shit what you say/So you might as well do it anyway." BRIAN J. BARR Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $6

A-Frames + New Fangs + Phantom Lights

Saturday, February 3

When A-Frames' undeniably fucking terrific Black Forest came out on Sub Pop in 2005, I wrote that the Seattle trio's bleak post-punk sounded "like one of those old Soviet propaganda posters come to life, with Erin Sullivan's sinewy riffs, drummer Lars Finberg's mechanized clangs . . . , and bassist Min Yee's iron-jawed vigor conjoined like the factory worker intertwined with the pistons and gears until he's one with the machine that will swallow his soul." I'm happy to report that my assessment of that powerful album hasn't changed over time, although the band has—Finberg departed amicably last year, replaced by drummer Thommy Northcut. A-Frames are currently at work on their next album, titled Midnight Visions, so there's a great chance you'll hear some new proletariat anthems this evening. MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $6

4 the Love: A James Brown Tribute

Saturday, February 3

Yes, James Brown was the grandfather of soul, funk, and R&B, whose influence on modern music is indispensable. That's nothing to shake a stick at. But he may also have been a wife beater who destroyed azalea bushes in your front yard while on the run from the law (or so says my family in Augusta). The eccentric man's musical legacy will outlive his personal reputation, which, in the end, is a pleasant thought. Championing the good tonight with a New Orleans–style memorial are world-famous break-dance crew the Massive Monkees, Big World Breaks, Jumaane Smith, GodSpeed, DJ Bles One, and performances from B.Y.C., Gabriel Teodros, SoulChilde, Amos Miller, and Bruce Illest. RACHEL SHIMP Nectar, 8 p.m. $10

Danger Bird + Hart and the Hurricane + Michael Vermillion

Saturday, February 3

Like Gram Parsons and Nick Drake, or a relative newbie like Dios Malos, Seattle quartet Danger Bird craft lush country- and folk-tinged rock that's simultaneously earthy and cosmic. Bandleader/multi-instrumentalist Lisa Smith's appealing, yearning voice is the most ethereal component, reaching into other realms in a Harriet Wheeler/Hope Sandoval kinda way. The rest of the band (which the singer cobbled together in 2006, after three years of doing everything by herself) keeps things grounded with Smith's sturdy, classic arrangements, which make room for pianos and strings in the studio but promise to work equally well with the standard guitar-bass-drums live setup. MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG Cafe Venus/marsBar, 9 p.m. $6

OM + the Grails + Grey

Saturday, February 3

SEE FEATURE (OM), P. 47. Neumo's, 8 p.m. $10

Jack's Mannequin + Head Automatica + the Audition + Get Back Loretta