Brad / Wednesday, June 16
AJ Farkas
Matmos: Just a happy couple with rainbow balloons.
Lindsay Fuller
Don’t fuck with Lindsay Fuller.
Related Content
More About
Seattle's Brad first gained some spotlight in the early '90s, due to guitarist Stone Gossard's other band (a little well-kept secret called Pearl Jam). But Brad was light-years away from the angsty grunge of the day, relying more on mellow '70s-esque pop and soul. Brad's songs have a loose, organic feel, with Shawn Smith's buttery voice gliding over somber and upbeat melodies alike. Even the band's most rocking numbers have a controlled chaos to them, playing in the pocket rather than beating a listener over the head with screaming riffage. Brad only comes out of hibernation every few years, but with the impending release of their fourth album (Best Friends?), this likely won't be the last we hear of them for a while. With Stuck on a Bus. High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., 632-0212. 9 p.m. $12.GREGORY FRANKLIN
Dog Shredder / Wednesday, June 16 See Rocket Queen.
Bob Log III / Wednesday, June 16
When it comes to motorcycle-helmet- and spandex-suit-wearing one-man bands, Bob Log III is America's best. Making a name for himself in the mid-'90s playing with lo-fi blues duo Doo Rag, Log continued to play his skewed, crispy-fried version of the blues on his own. Log's blown-out vocals and filthy slide-guitar playing scream "juke joint you might get stabbed in," while his goofy personality suggests "Hey, this show might sound better from the Chuck E. Cheese ball pit." And his enthusiasm, showmanship, and just plain out-of-control presence make for a joyful (if slightly twisted), down-home experience. With Little Cuts, Dirty Bird Cabaret. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 9 p.m. $13 adv./$15 DOS.GREGORY FRANKLIN
Ball of Wax Five-Year Anniversary / Thursday, June 17
This month marks the 20th edition of Levi Fuller's quarterly audio compilation Ball of Wax. To celebrate, some of the artists who have been around since the very first year of BoW will perform. Per usual, much of the compilation consists of obscure local songwriters (Brad Dunn, A.W. Feldt), indie pop (Slow Skate, Wesafari), and lo-fi folk acts (The Graze), except that Fuller's expert ear has filtered out the noise to find the gems in the coal. As always, a copy of the compilation is included in the show's cover charge. If you're not yet acquainted with this local institution, here's the perfect opportunity. With Wesafari, Slow Skate, Kelli's Starlight Wishes, Levi Fuller, Virgin of the Birds, Brad Dunn, A.W. Feldt, Colin J. Nelson, The Graze. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880. 8 p.m. $7.SARA BRICKNER
Matmos / Thursday, June 17
In the past, electronic music duo Matmos' glitchy, synthesized mashups have consisted of everything from the amplified neural activity of crayfish to the rattling of rat-cage bars to semen. But on 2008's Supreme Balloon, M.C. Schmidt and Drew Daniel decided to abandon the bizarro sampling in favor of a new challenge: creating an album that consists of synthesizers and synthesizers alone. The result is an oddly compelling amalgam of sunny, pixilated songs that come off like the soundtrack to an obscure '80s video game. Listen to it on your headphones while you're trying to cross a busy downtown street. It's the closest you'll ever come to a real-life game of Frogger. With So Percussion. Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333. 8 p.m. $20. All ages. SARA BRICKNER
KUBE 93 Summer Jam / Friday, June 18
Summer Jam is the antithesis of the Capitol Hill Block Party—a concert filled with overplayed radio anthems, overpriced alcohol, and inebriated college kids. In other words, it's a hell of a party, one at which you can down tequila and shout things like "I'm sick of blowjobs, bitch, leave me alone!" (You can thank this year's headliner Game for that.) Some may argue that the lineup, which also features Drake, Trey Songz, Fabolous, Rick Ross, and Jason Derulo, offers more hype than actual talent. But the Summer Jam experience sure beats the alternative: standing alongside sneering, Pabst-swilling hipsters and nodding along to MGMT's new shiteous album. White River Amphitheatre, 40601 Auburn-Enumclaw Rd., Auburn, 360-802-1469. 6 p.m. $32.50-$86. All ages. ERIKA HOBART
Lindsay Fuller / Saturday, June 19
Throughout the nine tracks that make up Lindsay Fuller's new album, The Last Light I See, the Alabama-born, Seattle-based artist ruminates on dying in bed of mysterious causes, channels Hester Prynne, and generally looks unflinchingly into the abyss. To say the woman is dark is an understatement, but to imply she's only capable of hitting somber notes is inaccurate. A tender strength and delicate sparkle are at play behind Fuller's Lucinda Williams–meets–Nick Cave funeral dirges. However, tonight she flies solo without her backing band (which usually includes Jeff Fielder and Mark Pickerel), so expect the minimalist, mournful vibe to be on undiluted display. With the Starlings, the Holyfields. Conor Byrne, 5140 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-3640. $7. 9 p.m.HANNAH LEVIN
Metal Summer Slam! / Saturday, June 19 See Rocket Queen.
Psychedelic Furs / Saturday, June 19
Led by British singer/songwriter Richard Butler and his bassist brother Tim, the Psychedelic Furs became icons during the punk-forged new wave movement of the '80s. But beyond that legacy, the rockers are seen by many as the bridge between early punk and the alt-rock and grunge that rose not long after the Furs' time in the spotlight. While they may never have translated their popularity into a chart-topping commercial bonanza, the haunting chorus of "Pretty in Pink" and the utterly danceable "Heartbreak Beat" will always have a place in the musical canon—even though the Molly Ringwald era is long gone. With She Wants Revenge. Showbox SoDo, 1700 First Ave. S., 652-0444. 8:30 p.m. $25 adv./$30 DOS. All ages. NICK FELDMAN
