Memphis Radio Kings ~ Wednesday, September 23
Anand Seth
Kailash Kher: one of the real voices of Bollywood.
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A few years back, Memphis Radio Kings found itself at a crossroads. The choice: to be a Tweedy band or a Farrar band. MRK decided to veer off the dusty path it'd been following for about a decade, fleshing out its standard Americana sound with some instrumental and stylistic forays: at first just a bit of synth here, a pop-rock structure there, but with 2006's Four, the band managed to weave the two sides of its personality together pretty accommodatingly, pleasing old fans and winning new ones. With this year's Another Punch From a So-Called Friend, the band has stepped firmly off the back porch, largely distancing itself from its roots. The result is something of a mixed bag, sounding energetic and exciting when it works, awkward and forgettable when it doesn't. Even the missteps are exciting in their own way; it's great to see a band take some risks: When was the last time you saw a successful group, with a strong local and growing international fan base achieved through years of perfecting its approach to a very specific style of music, throw caution to the wind and decide to reinvent itself completely? Exactly. MRK, you've got us on board. Just lose the silly vocal effects. With Coles Whalen, Jenni Potts, Sarah Furry, Corner State. Studio Seven, 110 S. Horton St., 286-1312. 7 p.m. $7 adv./$8 DOS. All ages.NICHOLAS HALL
Port O'Brien ~ Wednesday, September 23
For a handy key to Port O'Brien's new album, threadbare, simply look at who recorded it: Papercuts' Jason Quever and Earlimart's Aaron Espinoza, which made for a somewhat melancholy, distinctly Californian album as drowsy and inward-looking as it is lush and spooky with reverb. Formed by Van Pierszalowski and Cambria Goodwin, the now-quartet has done yearly stints in Alaska, but is officially based in Oakland these days. Following 2007's breakout All We Could Do Was Sing, Port O'Brien was suddenly getting "new favorite band" props from M. Ward, touring Australia (where the song "I Woke Up Today" was used in a commercial), and landing on upstart indie label TBD, home of fellow reverb enthusiasts White Rabbits. It's a steep trajectory, maybe, but with its smoky guy/girl vocals and gradual infectiousness, every spin of threadbare makes the group's success seem more warranted. With Sea Wolf, Sara Lov. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880. 9 p.m. $12. DOUG WALLEN
Hope Sandoval ~ Wednesday, September 23
At one time or another, most of us have sat around mooning over someone while listening to Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You." It was so sweet. So touching. So...well, emotional! Mazzy Star hasn't released an album in more than a decade, but singer Hope Sandoval began recording with My Bloody Valentine alum Colm Ó Cíosóig as the Warm Inventions. 2001's Bavarian Fruit Bread continued Mazzy Star's dazed and dreamy style—tinkling bells, the occasional harmonica, and delicate song arrangements, including a magnificent cover of Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne." Sandoval's vocals are what pulled it all together, though; her famously slow, grave voice is genuinely beatific. The group's second album, Through the Devil Softly, comes out this month, and fans all across the Internet are already gushing over the lead single, "Blanchard," with its gentle guitars, nebulous backing vocals, and sensitive lyrics ("I'm merely standing on holes in the ground/If I fall, they'll never know where I'm found"). Sandoval's heavenly voice is still the star. You'll feel like an adolescent in love all over again. With Dirt Blue Gene. Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-7416. 8 p.m. $20 adv./$23 DOS. E. THOMPSON
Grand Archives ~ Thursday, September 24
Keep in Mind Frankenstein opens with the elegiac tale of Topsy, a rampaging elephant electrocuted by Thomas Edison at the turn of the century. Amid plinking guitar and dirge-like strings, Mat Brooke softly and swooningly tells the tale in the voice of the ill-fated pachyderm, creating an unexpectedly poignant composition rife with the air of unavoidable doom and resignation. From that somber beginning, Grand Archives moves into the slightly more upbeat sound of "Witchy Park/Tomorrow Will (Take Care of Itself)," which opens with sun-hazed guitar chords before a lovely vocal harmony rushes in. Keeping things moving in a positive direction, "Silver Among the Gold" follows with an up-tempo beat and propulsive guitars. Multipart vocals are near-constant on this album, used to particularly lovely effect on "Siren Echo Valley (Part 1)," a nearly a cappella track with a haunting melody, a shadowy countermelody, and flavors of traditional folk structure shining through. Finger-picked guitar and harmonica brighten up "Left for All the Strays," likely the album's catchiest track. Grand Archives has created an album of blissful yet sedate folk-pop that hints at sunny melodies yet never comes fully out of the darkness, creating beautiful patterns of dappled light and living shadow. With the Most Serene Republic. Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-7416. 8 p.m. $12.NICHOLAS HALL
Kid Koala ~ Thursday, September 24
Other than Matt & Kim, the happiest, smilingest artist I think I've ever seen live is Kid Koala, aka Montreal-based turntable maestro (and graphic novelist) Eric San. While most DJs have that look of concentration or exude an aura of cool detachment, Kid Koala beamed from ear to ear last year as he masterfully worked the decks, dropped some wacky samples amid his dexterous scratching and experimental techniques, showed off some of his excellent illustrations on an easel, and got the crowd hyped for "The Hard Sell" set by DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist that followed. He's also opened for the likes of Radiohead and Björk, but for this outing he's the star attraction, though he's got some help: Joining the Kid in a presentation they call the Slew are the former bassist and drummer of Australian rock band Wolfmother. The trio plans to kick out some serious jams with live instruments and six turntables, which should make everyone in the room happy as hell. Nectar, 412 N. 36th St., 632-2020. 9 p.m. $10 adv. MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG
