Chick Corea Trio/Thursday, December 1–Sunday, December 4
Josh Sisk
Dan Deacon comes in peace.
Jan Rasmus Voss
Ganglians.
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Since releasing his first album in 1966, pianist Chick Corea has covered more stylistic territory than most jazz musicians could ever hope to. After gaining widespread recognition for his influential 1968 post-bop album Now He Sings, Now He Sobs, Corea went on to play in Miles Davis' band, experiment with electric instruments, and incorporate elements of rock, free jazz, and Latin music into his repertoire. To some degree, Corea's stylistic shifts were indicative of the general trajectory of jazz as the genre evolved from hard and post-bop into avant-garde and fusion in the '70s. But regardless of his ample legacy, which includes 15 Grammys, Corea continues to experiment (he's dabbled in classical music in recent years) and tour incessantly. This four-night residency at Jazz Alley offers a chance to see a true jazz innovator at work. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., 441-9729. 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. $40. ANDREW GOSPE
Mico de Noche/Thursday, December 1
To the dismay of many, Mico de Noche dropped off the scene not long after unleashing an unbelievably radical split seven-inch with Brothers of the Sonic Cloth in late 2009, leaving a riff-sized void in the heart of the local metal monster. The scene got a blast of good news, though, when MDN resurfaced from hiatus this summer, and started booking shows like, well, like they weren't on hiatus any more. MDN—whose name basically translates to Monkey of the Night (which is awesome)—repeatedly summons the Melvins-derived "sludge-metal" tag from descriptivists, and that's no surprise: Their forceful riffage carries low-end weight, and, like the Melvins', routinely makes people's brains work all slow and sludgy. Come welcome the dudes back into the swing of things, and rock the hell out while you're at it. With Jr. Worship, Argonaut, Hand of Doom. Funhouse, 206 Fifth Ave. N., 374-8400. 9:30 p.m. $6. TODD HAMM
Lucas Field/Friday, December 2
After splitting with L.A.-based rock group Low vs Diamond, vocalist Lucas Field moved back to his native Seattle and began composing vibrant, soul-inflected pop melodies he regularly performed at Eastlake bar Laadla with a vintage Rhodes organ, a full band, and a cast of vivacious backup singers. The Laadla sessions were enormously popular, attracting scenesters of diverse backgrounds who loved the venue's eclectic energy and Field's fun-loving, approachable vibe (he was regularly high-fived and bought shots midsong). In fact, Field's show is so exuberant and dynamic that his latest self-released album, Conquest of Happiness, sometimes feels as if it lacks the zest and spontaneity those vital qualities added to songs like "Givin' It All You Got" and "Let It All Begin." Though he's moved past Laadla, the best Lucas Field experience is still a live one, where his charismatic range of talent, soulful harmonies, and winsome backup band are on full, unedited display. With Shaprece, Prom Queen. Columbia City Theater, 4916 Rainier Ave. S., 722-3009. 9 p.m. $10. GWENDOLYN ELLIOTT
Midday Veil/Friday, December 2
It's been a year since the self-described spiritual and psychedelic Midday Veil released their blissed-out, meditative debut full-length Eyes All Around. This fall, the band followed up with a two-song cassette called Subterranean Ritual II (the two spacey, synth-heavy jams more than fill it—"Moon Temple" is almost 24 minutes long, "Naxos" clocks in at 15), but it's time for another album. Midday Veil is preparing to take a break from the live-music circuit to record their second LP with Randall Dunn, a man who's been behind records by other heavy hitters like Black Mountain, Wolves in the Throne Room, Earth, Sun City Girls, and a lot more. It's a divine pairing. (It'll also be the first time Midday Veil's worked with a professional producer). Expect the resulting record to be nothing less than earthshaking. Tonight is the band's last show before recording hibernation. With Os Ovni, Panabrite. Cairo, 507 E. Mercer St. 8 p.m. $5. All ages. ERIN K. THOMPSON
The Sea and Cake/Friday, December 2
At the very least, the dubious term "post-rock" has given us two solid if nearly identical puns: first, in the title of the excellent (and stylistically appropriate) Joan of Arc song "Post-Coitus Rock;" second, in the Los Campesinos! lyric "More post-coital and less post-rock" from the ace song "Straight In at 101." To back up a bit: "Post-rock" was meant to describe a handful of Chicago bands of the mid-'90s, The Sea and Cake among them, who fused elements of jazz, exotica, and musique concrète to poor, old hapless indie rock. Led by Sam Prekop, an accomplished solo artist in his own right, The Sea and Cake's sound is lite, breezy, grooving if not exactly funky. Rock has survived, but so too has The Sea and Cake's unique take on it. With Lia Ices, Elba. Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-4618. 8 p.m. $13. ERIC GRANDY
STAG's Rock 'n' Roll Circus/Saturday, December 3
When you think of the cheeky power-pop trio Presidents of the United States of America, what's the last musical genre you'd equate them with? If you answered '70s acid rock, well, you'd be absolutely accurate. Yet President Andrew McKeag's new trio Hard Roller, which includes Vendetta Red vet Jonah Bergman and Triple Door booker Scott Giampino, plays precisely that, according to STAG frontman Ben London. Thus, STAG's 6th Annual Rock 'n' Roll Circus at Shoreline's stellar Darrell's Tavern should provide PUSA hounds with a rare opportunity to catch McKeag playing songs about something other than fruit. If that's not enough, rumor has it London is going to play STAG's entire set in a Santa suit. With Sterling Loons, the First Times, Gavin Guss, DJ AOR. Darrell's Tavern, 18041 Aurora Ave. N., 542-6688. 9 p.m. $7. MIKE SEELY
