The Short List

Michael Schenker

Wednesday, July 8

With his signature black-and-white Flying V in hand, Michael Schenker has easily put as much, if not more, of a stamp on heavy rock as his more visible older brother, Scorpions guitarist Rudolf Schenker. His flightiness as a member of Scorpions and UFO (as well as missed bids to join Aerosmith and Ozzy) sealed Schenker's fate as a cult act in the U.S. But that's not a bad thing, as the artistic integrity of his body of work still stands. Unlike the majority of his guitar-shredder brethren, in his prime Schenker had a knack (not unlike Ronnie Montrose) for showcasing the interplay of his supporting musicians, rather than shredding to the detriment of the music. Which is not to say that Schenker didn't shred, just that he was able to tuck his technical chops into the invigorating drive of heavy blues-rock. The inclusion of one of his songs on the Metallica edition of Guitar Hero isn't likely to make Schenker a household name anytime soon, but a recent clip of a young girl rocking his "Captain Nemo" on a Japanese TV show hints at his renown in other markets. With Doug Doppler, A Lesson in Chaos, Choker. Studio Seven, 110 S. Horton St., 286-1312. 7 p.m. $23 adv./$25 DOS. All ages. SABY REYES-KULKARNI

The Gourds

Wednesday, July 8 and Thursday, July 9

House-party novelty jams, especially those soaked in roots-rock twang, have never totally appealed to me—too corny. Yet there's no denying "Gin and Juice," the opening track off the Gourds' 2001 album Shinebox. Lyrics don't get any raunchier than these: "Two in the mornin' and the party's still jumpin' 'cause my momma ain't home/I got bitches in the living room gettin' it on/And they ain't leavin' 'til six in the morning/So what you wanna do/I got a pocket full of rubbers, and my homeboys do, too." Now in all fairness, the tune is a tongue-in-cheek ode to Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and the pop-culture mythology surrounding gangsta rap. That said, if you're easily offended, pay attention only to the music. That's because the Gourds can totally jam. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 9 p.m. $15. JUSTIN F. FARRAR

Natalie Portman's Shaved Head

Thursday, July 9

Party people always come in crowds—take Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, a posse of five kids who love all things neon and funky. NPSH's hook-filled electropop shook up Seattle last year with the release of Glistening Pleasure, an exultant array of vocals, keyboard, claps, guitar, and shakers. Fast-forward a year: The band has now completed a tour with Lily Allen, won praise from The Village Voice and SPIN, and inked a deal with Warner Bros. Records. Outwardly, NPSH's dance tracks are nutty little odes to everything from voyeurism ("You should really close the blinds/Whose fault is it, yours or mine?") to the dos and don'ts of facial hair ("Eat with it, but don't get messy/The only rule is, keep it classy"), but somehow the songs are able to relate back to tangible themes of youthful rapture and coming of age. Whatever your interpretation, it's music that always makes for a bitchin' party. With Hey Champ, Glint. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-7416. 8 p.m. $12 adv. ERIN THOMPSON

Blutonium Boy

Friday, July 10

German jock Blutonium Boy's granite-hard sound is made for after-hours parties: Only the truly twisted are capable of appreciating it. This isn't to say that he's unlistenable, but that his interpretation of electronic music is tough stuff. It drives deep and stays there. Thing is, he's probably just as well-known for his forays into trance under the alias DJ Session One, which may be his way of admitting that the fascistic, power-mad style he rocks under his other moniker is difficult even for him to swallow. His bass-centric productions made him a hit on the European rave circuit, and one suspects that much of his fan base still comprises many of these folks: all-night wackos whacked on pharmaceuticals. Which means that, yes, Blutonium Boy knows how to put on a show that appeals to more than just your ears. With Flarup, Used and Abused, DJ Ryle, Nympho, J Renegade. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467. 8 p.m. $20. All ages. KEVIN CAPP

Girl in a Coma

Friday, July 10

It's quite fitting that Joan Jett and Morrissey were both instantly impressed by Girl in a Coma. (Jett signed them; Morrissey invited them to open for him.) Like both those icons, Girl in a Coma keeps one foot planted in crunching punk 'n' roll and the other in dreamy pop. The difference: Frontwoman/songwriter Nina Diaz possesses a powerhouse voice that rivals rock's all-time greats. Diaz's sultry, rich singing is extraordinary unto itself, but she also excels at throat-scratching grit, mixing the two styles so that they go together as naturally as chocolate and peanut butter. Diaz allegedly knocked her two bandmates dead with her abilities at the ripe old age of 12. Now 21, the wisdom and craft in her songs still belies her age. She titled the band's 2007 debut, Both Before I'm Gone, for example, after James Dean's quote about learning to be an artist and a person. With Veritas, Miss Derringer, Roxy Epoxy & the Rebound, Pedestre. El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., 381-3094. 8 p.m. $8 adv./$10 DOS. All ages. SABY REYES-KULKARNI