The Song Show / Wednesday, April 21
Deer Tick loves the American way.
Everso Records
Virginia country diva Shelby Lynne.
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The second episode of the quarterly Song Show (hosted by City Arts editor Mark Baumgarten) features a swath of performers stripped down to their most honest and exposed. Showcasing a rare glimpse into the inspiration behind the artists and the music they make, onstage interviews are coupled with intimate performances that prove just how gifted our local musicians are. And while the first Song Show featured some of Seattle's best from across the genre spectrum, this staging—featuring reps from the energetic folk-rock group Hey Marseilles, power-pop ensemble the Lashes, and electro-rap and hipster-hop outfits Mad Rad and Fresh Espresso—seems poised to follow up with no less excitement. Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333. 7 p.m. $12. All ages. NICK FELDMAN
Steel Pulse / Wednesday, April 21
In the late '70s, a young reggae band from an inner-city district of Birmingham (England's Detroit) was losing gigs due to their Rastafarian beliefs. Their anti-racist stance linked them to the punk movement sweeping the UK, and they wound up opening for the Clash and XTC, among others. Fast-forward three decades: They've racked up six Grammy nominations, winning once, and they're the lone reggae band to play a Presidential inauguration (Clinton's in '93). A showcase for the singing and songwriting excellence (and world-class dreadlocks) of guitarist David Hinds, Steel Pulse fuses a strong foundation in roots music with a powerful political and social consciousness and takes it to another level onstage. With Selecta Raiford. Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151. 7 p.m. $25 adv./$30 DOS. MICHAEL MAHONEY
The Wedding Present / Wednesday, April 21
Even though David Gedge of The Wedding Present is the stereotypical definition of a prickly British rocker, he's managed to spend 25 years delivering the sort of transcendent, aggressive, and literate guitar pop that Americans sometimes seem genetically incapable of creating. But whether because of constant lineup changes or the fact that Gedge basically shuttered the outfit for seven years, these days the band is mostly a fond memory from the late '80s and early '90s. Now Gedge is reliving the past—in honor of the 21st anniversary of the release of The Wedding Present's high-water mark, Bizarro, the band is together, touring, and playing the classic album in its entirety. With Girl in a Coma. Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-7416. 8 p.m. $15. JASON FERGUSON
Band of Skulls / Thursday, April 22 See preview.
Born Anchors / Thursday, April 22
Since the Blood Brothers broke up in 2007, there's been a tangible shortage of smart, listenable post-punk in Seattle. The genre—somewhat dissonant, almost always dark—fell out of fashion early in the aughties and never really found its footing again. (It's not any particular band's fault, but the overexposure of The Used and My Chemical Romance didn't help.) Fortunately, there's Born Anchors to fill the gap. "Deep Cuts," one of many tempo-changing, powerful tracks from their album Sprezzatura (2009), is so full of intricate guitar work and fast drumming that it's hard to believe only three musicians recorded the song. That's the greatest appeal of the Seattle trio: While channeling new wave and punk, their music still manages to sound simple and effortless. With Nazca Lines, Ticktockman, Fireworks. Comet Tavern, 922 E. Pike St., 323-9853. 9 p.m. $6.PAIGE RICHMOND
David Grisman Quintet / Thursday, April 22–Sunday, April 25
When a player is as obscenely skilled as mandolinist David Grisman, the risk is that their music will be so technically proficient that a performance will slip into auto-snore mode. On the flip side, chances are high that your mind will be sufficiently blown by his or her musical prowess. I've seen Grisman enough times to know that he's capable of tearing open your skull with his colorful acoustic adventures. Taking the instrument where no one has before, Grisman's music has morphed into a vast, swirly trip, informed by practically every genre of music ever played by humans, ever. A friend of the late Jerry Garcia, Grisman's music is akin to the Dead's, if that band's members were straight-A overachievers. In other words, before going off on a musical trip, he first learns all there is to know about where he's headed. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., 441-9729. 7:30 p.m. $32.50. BRIAN J. BARR
Deer Tick / Thursday, April 22
Rhode Island's Deer Tick plays Americana music in the vein of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers—rootsy, guttural rock-and-roll. The band started as a solo project for then-19-year-old songwriter John J. McCauley III, but now operates as a quartet, including their newest member, guitarist Ian O'Neil, who last year left Titus Andronicus to play with Deer Tick full-time. While Deer Tick lyrics typically skew, in true Americana tradition, toward women, drinking, and the blues, their new single, "20 Miles," has McCauley hoarsely singing such sweet lyrics as "If you're running away/I'm looking for you/And if you've lost your way/I'm seeing you through." With Holy Sons, Jeremy Burk. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 9 p.m. $13 adv./$15 DOS.ERIN K. THOMPSON
Holly Golightly / Thursday, April 22 See Music News & Notes.
Dan Bern / Friday, April 23
Dan Bern has changed since entering the public eye with his serious-minded, minimalist folk. In the late '90s, Bern was tagged a "new Dylan" for his strong likeness in sound and style to The Jester. These days, Bern's songs are replete with chiming guitars, up-tempo arrangements, and strongly melodic vocal lines. His lyrics have shifted from overtly serious and darkly melodic to more accessible and genuinely funny. Humor is likely Bern's greatest gift—his delivery is key, treating his funny stuff with no less care and finesse than his more straightforward material. Solid musical craftsmanship, pop charm, and a chuckle: What better way to support Noise for the Needy? With Common Rotation. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880. 7 p.m. $12 adv./$15 DOS. NICHOLAS HALL
