Gang of Four/Wednesday, February 16
Jaein Lee
Sullen youth: Smith Westerns.
Don't Stop Believin' Records
Triumph and a lady's shoe.
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While England's love of infusing punk with reggae influences is most often associated with The Clash and to a lesser extent with John Lydon, it's arguable that Gang of Four did the best job of rendering that chemical equation. Taking something as gently hypnotic as dub and massaging it into the sharp edges of their jarring, jittery dance-punk was a true stroke of genius that made what could have been a discordant shambles into a cerebral, confrontational dance party. While young Turks like Radio 4 and the Rapture do commendable jobs exhibiting Gang of Four's sizable influence, they can't compete with the original source. With Hollerado. Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151. 8 p.m. $27 adv./$29 DOS. HANNAH LEVIN
Godspeed You! Black Emperor/Thursday, February 17
Godspeed You! Black Emperor make music for eschatologists and movie lovers, and not just because their song "East Hastings" was the perfect choice for the opening scene in the post-apocalyptic zombie nightmare 28 Days Later. Their wildly imaginative topography of sound envelops listeners much as a darkened theater does, surrounding audiences with eerie, uneasy beauty that is transportive and often trance-inducing. Here's hoping that their work is powerful enough to override their unfortunate move from Showbox at the Market to the markedly less intimate Showbox SoDo. With Thrones. Showbox SoDo, 1700 First Ave. S., 628-3151. 8 p.m. Sold out. All ages. HANNAH LEVIN
Shabazz Palaces/Thursday, February 17
Though Seattle hasn't stopped reeling from Shabazz Palaces' incendiary 2009 debut, their proper full-length debut on Sub Pop is already right around the corner (it's due out this spring). Hearing the recently mastered (and still tightly under wraps) recordings last week, a few things became immediately clear—primarily, that Shabazz has another mind-blower on their hands, but also that it's going to take several more listens to do any kind of justice to describing the thing. There is Shabazz's "usual" out-of-this-world bass, chanted anti-choruses, dislocated jazz and hip-hop, and poetry, but then there are also moments of almost "chillwave" ambience. Wild sonic invention abounds, and everything sounds simultaneously more plush and more sinister. It's going to make an outstanding sequel to 2009's two EPs, and tonight could be your first chance to hear the new material. Don't sleep on it. With THEESatisfaction. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442. 8 p.m. $15. ERIC GRANDY
Smith Westerns/Thursday, February 17
Sophistication isn't a word you'd normally associate with a group of 20-year-old boys, but the second record from Chicago's Smith Westerns, last month's Dye It Blonde, proves that polishing and glamorizing garage rock is possible—and fruitful. The aristocratic Dye It Blonde is one of the year's most breathtaking releases. On standouts like "Weekend" and "All Die Young," Max Kakacek's guitar rips and wails with a stately quality that complements frontman Cullen Omari's youthfully sincere vocals—because of his tender age, he can sing things like "Love and lust—how come that is such a must?" and still sound winsome and genuine. The band's lush and lulling atmospherics, bold guitars that riff grandeur and aplomb, and bleeding lyrics about the best years of young lives mean that somewhere, the ghost of Marc Bolan must be smiling. With Unknown Mortal Orchestra, The Pharmacy. Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-7416. 8 p.m. $10. ERIN K. THOMPSON
Yo La Tengo/Thursday, February 17
If you're a fan of Yo La Tengo, you've probably already seen them—they've been around for 25-plus years and tour consistently. But just because they haven't released a new album since the last time they hit Seattle on the back of 2009's stellar Popular Songs doesn't mean tonight's show is going to be the same old, same old. In the interest of keeping things interesting, Yo La Tengo's bringing a fourth member on this tour—a giant spinning wheel that will randomly determine the band's onstage activity. Example: At a recent show in Chicago, the spinner hit "Sitcom Theater" and the band re-enacted the entire "Chinese Restaurant" episode of Seinfeld. Other options? They could end up playing songs from James McNew's Prince-covering side project, Dump, or excerpts from the instrumental documentary score they wrote in 2001, The Sounds of the Sounds of Science. Hopefully they'll find time to play "Pass the Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind" among all the fun and games. With The Corin Tucker Band. Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151. 7 p.m. $18 adv./$20 DOS. All ages. ERIN K. THOMPSON
The Presidents of the United States of America/Friday, February 18–Sunday, February 20
When I was in high school, or junior high, or whenever it was kids took Algebra II, I used to listen to the Presidents of the United States of America's self-titled debut every day when I worked on my homework. For a teenage kid with a palpable case of ADD, it provided a reliable sense of comfort and stability—and proof that songs about lumps, kitties, and getting naked and famous never get old. Fifteen years later, the band hasn't always been stable or comfortable, but they've reliably made music for people who just want to have fun, get drunk, or finish their Algebra II homework. It takes three nights to accommodate all of us. Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151. Sold out Fri. & Sat. Sun.: 8 p.m., $20. CHRIS KORNELIS
