Arcade Fire / Wednesday, September 29
Eric Kayne
Suburban slouch: Arcade Fire.
Moshi Moshi Records
Brooklyn surf kings the Drums.
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Indie went mainstream—big time—this year when Merge recording artists Arcade Fire's third album, the sprawling The Suburbs, debuted atop the Billboard charts. No, The Suburbs isn't as good as their 2004 debut, Funeral, but it's warmer and more affecting—it's easy to understand its emotional mass appeal. It remains to be seen whether a major-label deal will follow, but they've definitely outgrown the local venues they previously played (Neumos, UW's Hec Ed). Dealing with the multilevel tiers and crowds at KeyArena can be overwhelming, but there's no containing the Arcade Fire phenomenon (and it's too cold for the Gorge). Opening will be Tucson's Calexico, who probably never dreamed they'd be playing for a Bieber-size audience. KeyArena, 305 Harrison St., 628-0888. 7:30 p.m. $40. All ages. ERIN K. THOMPSON
Futureheads / Wednesday, September 29
While the early aughts saw a fair share of bands mining post-punk records by the likes of Wire and Gang of Four for precious riffs and inspiration, none of those bands stood out as heirs to the coveted throne as clearly as the Futureheads. The English quartet writes succinct songs that manage to throw the listener some bombastic, noisy curveballs in the space of just over two minutes. Buzzsaw guitars interweave with Beach Boys/barbershop-esque four-part harmonies and frantic, stop-on-a-dime arrangements. Chaotic but still clear, the Futureheads fuse together disparate influences into a sound that doesn't have its head stuck in the past or present. With Young the Giant, The So So Glos. Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-7416. 8 p.m. $13. GREGORY FRANKLIN
James McMurtry / Wednesday, September 29—Thursday, September 30
Every Wednesday, when he's in his hometown of Austin instead of touring, James McMurtry dutifully takes the stage at the stroke of midnight (which technically makes it Thursday) at a dark and dusty Congress Avenue bar called the Continental Club. The weeknight-warrior crowd, a curious mix of college kids and cowpokes, jovially knocks back shots of Herradura and Lone Star longnecks. While performing, McMurtry is stoic, with a faraway look in his eyes and very little between-song banter dripping from his tongue. Rather, he lets his guitar and lyrics do the talking. The son of a famous novelist (Larry), McMurtry is Lucinda Williams with a Y chromosome. Catching him at the Continental Club is like seeing Springsteen play a boardwalk bar in Jersey. Catching McMurtry at the Tractor ain't bad either. With Jonny Burke. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 8 p.m. $18 adv./$20 DOS. MIKE SEELY
Dirty Projectors / Thursday, September 30
Is any band in the current indie-rock canon more polarizing than Dirty Projectors? Is it even possible to be simply indifferent to a band who once made a concept album about Don Henley and another that recreated Black Flag's Damaged purely from memory? Those who love Dave Longstreth's ambitious, multi-instrumental, description-defying songs really love them: last year's Bitte Orca was on numerous top 10 lists. But to actively, regularly listen to Dirty Projectors is to enjoy music not because it's lovely, soothing, or even palatable, but because it's "interesting." All that vocal and instrumental layering makes the music more ephemeral and conceptual than tangible and hummable. Are the Dirty Projectors pioneers or noise-making hipsters who take themselves too seriously? Maybe indifference would be the safest stance to take. With Dominique Young Unique. Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151. 8 p.m. $23 adv./$26 DOS. All ages. PAIGE RICHMOND
Little Penguins / Thursday, September 30
The Little Penguins are a band born out of inactive Seattle institution the Turn-Ons. Turn-Ons drummer Will Hallauer fronts the band; respected producer and solo artist Erik Blood is the guitarist. Like the band that hatched them, the Little Penguins sing brooding songs crafted in the Britpop tradition, though there's a definite West Coast surf-rock flavor to the whole thing. This is not the earnest indie pop that's been dominating Seattle lately: it's darker than that, and better for it. The band plans to release a third album tonight at what it claims will be its last show of 2010. There's something special about the Little Penguins' songs that translates even in small, dingy rooms with shitty sound. In fact, that's just the kind of place you want to hear Hallauer's melancholy lyrics. With Elder Mason, Tango Alpha Tango, Horde & The Harem. Comet Tavern, 922 E. Pike St., 322-9272. 9 p.m. $7. SARA BRICKNER
Cataldo / Friday, October 1
Cataldo's sophomore album, Signal Flare, was one of the most underappreciated local releases of 2008. Eric Anderson's totally nerdy, totally lovable songs have a sing-along quality. A track like "Black and Milds" has a catchy, call-and-response rhythm: Anderson sings the first half of a lyric ("Do you think my name . . . ") and a chorus of backup vocalists finish it (" . . . when someone's keeping you warm?"), while the beat is kept by handclaps. Combine this with a bouncing banjo (on most songs), and Cataldo's music is downright infectious. Plus, there's no better voice than Anderson's slightly nasal one to sing "Pull Hard, Drink Deep," a love song about vampires. Bloodletting has never been so twee. With The Red River, Drew Victor. High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., 632-0212. 9:30 p.m. $7. PAIGE RICHMOND
Das Racist / Friday, October 1
