AUGUST

1 Nipsey Hussle After releasing several well-received mixtapes, this Los Angeles rapper’s long-awaited debut album, ihussle, is tentatively scheduled for later this year. Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St., 632-2020, nectarlounge.com. 7 p.m. $20. All ages.

2 Since it’s election season, Ozomatli is bringing HeadCount, a voter-registration nonprofit, on tour to canvass while concertgoers await the group’s eclectic fusion rock. Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151, showboxonline.com. 8 p.m. $20 adv./$25 DOS.

3 oOoOO One of the few survivors of the practically defunct “witch-house” genre (remember Salem, anyone?), Chris Dexter Greenspan released the Our Loving Is Hurting Us EP in April. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8005, chopsuey.com. 9 p.m. $10.

4 Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside Fresh off a month-long European tour, Ford and co. headline the second night of the Columbia City Theater’s second-anniversary celebration. Columbia City Theater, 4918 Rainier Ave. S., 723-0088, columbiacitytheater.com. 9 p.m. $10.

5 Fang Island This Rhode Island art-rock trio released Major, its sophomore album, last month. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-7416, thecrocodile.com. 8 p.m. $10. All ages.

6 Phosphorescent Matthew Houck’s folk-rock project specializes in spacious Americana. Tractor Tavern, 5231 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. 9 p.m. $12.

7 White Denim This capricious Austin, Texas, four-piece blends garage rock with psych and punk. Tractor Tavern, 5231 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. 9 p.m. $12 adv./$14 DOS.

8 Sigur Rós The latest from Iceland’s most famous post-rockers is the subdued and complex Valtari. The Paramount, 911 Pine St., 467-5520, stgpresents.org. 8 p.m. $45. All ages.

9 Franz Ferdinand More than eight years after “Take Me Out” launched these Scots to indie stardom, they plan to release a yet-untitled fourth album this year. Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151, showboxonline.com. 8 p.m. $31.50 adv./$33.50 DOS. All ages.

10 Dead Can Dance This Australian world-music duo is set to release Anastasis, its first new album since 1996. Marymoor Park, 6046 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway N.E., Redmond, 628-0888, concertsatmarymoor.com. 7 p.m. $49–$99. All ages.

11 Nicki Minaj A recent New York Times article claimed that Minaj, touring behind her second album, might be the most influential female rapper of all time. The Paramount, 911 Pine St., 467-5520, stgpresents.org. 8 p.m. $42–$72. All ages.

12 PonyHomie This recently formed local electro-rock group is finishing work on its debut album, Remable. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8005, chopsuey.com. 8 p.m. $7.

13 Alexz Johnson This Canadian singer/ songwriter started her career as an actress, appearing on the Disney Channel and in the Final Destination horror franchise. Vera Project, 305 Harrison St., 956-8372, theveraproject.org. 7:30 p.m. $11. All ages.

14 Jack White Somewhat uncharacteristically, White recently had hip-hop videographer Hype Williams produce a clip for Blunderbuss single “Freedom at 21.” WaMu Theater, 800 Occidental Ave. S., 381-7555, wamutheater.com. 7 p.m. $49.50 adv./$55 DOS. All ages.

15 Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars Few bands advocate for their country of origin quite like this reggae/Afrobeat group that frequently champions humanitarian causes in Sierra Leone. Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, thetripledoor.net. 8 p.m. $20. All ages.

16 Sightseer This female-fronted local five-piece blends alt-country and classic rock. Columbia City Theater, 4918 Rainier Ave. S., 723-0088, columbiacitytheater.com. 8 p.m. $8.

17 Poliça In an interview with Rolling Stone, fellow Midwesterner Bon Iver called this up-and-coming Minneapolis electronic group “the best band I’ve ever heard.” Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442, neumos.com. 8 p.m. $15.

18 Fox and the Law After putting out an EP and a few singles, this local garage-rock quartet will release its full-length debut Scarlet Fever at this show. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880, sunsettavern.com. 10 p.m. $8.

19 Ruzivo This Seattle-based Zimbabwean Afropop group will be joined by multi- instrumentalist Jacob Mafuleni and dancer Martha Thom at this show. Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave. S., 906-9920, theroyalroomseattle.com. 7:30 p.m. Free.

20 The Funeral and the Twilight Purveyors of a particularly thrashy variety of goth music, this trio’s Facebook page simply describes its sound as “very dark and negative rock.” Funhouse, 206 Fifth Ave. N., 374-8400, thefunhouseseattle.com. 9:30 p.m. $5.

21 The Cult In one of the stranger collaborations of this British group’s 30-year career, a mashup with Flo Rida of its 1985 hit “She Sells Sanctuary” was featured in a Super Bowl ad for Budweiser. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 784-4849, stgpresents.org. 8 p.m. $38.50. All ages.

22 The Very Best This genre-hopping production duo’s mix of hip-hop, electronic, and traditional Malawian music is further refined on last month’s MTMTMK. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-7416, thecrocodile.com. 8 p.m. $15. All ages.

23 Lesbian Combining elements of progressive and psychedelic music with a fantastic name for a metal band, this group’s latest was 2010’s Stratospheria Cubensis. Barboza, 925 E. Pike, 709-9951, thebarboza.com. 8 p.m. $8.

24 Fresh Espresso Coming off the June release of sophomore album Bossalona, this local hip-hop group headlines the summer’s final installment of KEXP’s Concerts at the Mural. Mural Amphitheatre, 305 Harrison St., 684-7200, seattlecenter.com. 5:30 p.m. Free. All ages.

25 The Physics Following last summer’s critically lauded Love Is a Business, this South End hip-hop crew will release Tomorrow People at this show. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442, neumos.com. 8 p.m. $12.

26 ZZ Top After all these years, ZZ Top apparently hasn’t lost its sense of humor: “I Gotsta Get Paid,” the first single from their new Rick Rubin–produced LP, was featured in an ad campaign for Jeremiah Weed cola and appears on the soundtrack of Battleship. Snoqualmie Casino, 37500 S.E. North Bend Way, 425-888-1234, snocasino.com. 7 p.m. $49–$179.

27 Wayland When not on tour, these Michigan hard-rockers live together in a pre–Civil War farmhouse. High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., 632-0212, highdiveseattle.com. 8 p.m. $6.

28 Refused This influential Swedish punk band has reunited to tour for the first time in 14 years. Showbox SoDo, 1700 First Ave. S., 652-0444, showboxonline.com. 6:30 p.m. $35 adv./$40 DOS. All ages.

29 The The The Thunder This Brooklyn-by-way-of-Seattle indie band has twice as many members (six) as definite articles in its name (three). High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., 632-0212, highdiveseattle.com. 8 p.m. $6.

30 Yeasayer The New York experimental rockers are set to release Fragrant World, their third album, August 20. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 784-4849, stgpresents.org. 8 p.m. $30. All ages.

31 The Cops After reforming in 2010, this veteran Seattle punk band plans to record an album of new material later this year. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880, sunsettavern.com. 10 p.m. $8.

KARAOKE PICKS

Tug Inn: 9:30 p.m. Sun. & Wed.

On Sunday nights, while most other karaoke venues have tumbleweeds skipping across their vacant stages, West Seattle’s Tug Inn boasts a raucous Friday-night atmosphere. Longtime KJ Christopher Mychael knows how to throw a party. No one unifies a crowd the way he does. And their Wednesdays are just as crazy. 2216 S.W. Orchard St., 768-8852.

Noc Noc: 9 p.m. Mon., Aug. 13 & 27.

The best nights to karaoke downtown are the second and fourth Mondays at Noc Noc, where the sensational Rio Ventura hosts an event called “Spooky Karaoke.” Her loyal followers flock to this venue, so get there early if you want to sing more than once, because her rotations have a tendency to explode. 1516 Second Ave., 223-1333.

Tim’s Tavern: 9 p.m. Tues.–Sat.

It will be very interesting to see if the Rickshaw can reclaim their reputation as one of the best karaoke bars in town when they reopen. Tim’s Tavern, just two blocks away, went from two to five nights a week after Rickshaw’s kitchen burnt down in March, and has fast become the premier spot to sing in Greenwood, a neighborhood that already had four other well-established venues. 602 N. 105th St., 789-9005.

Columbia City Theater: 9 p.m. Wed.

Unlike the north end and West Seattle, which seem to average two karaoke venues per square mile on any given night, the south side’s venues are far more dispersed. Wednesday nights at Columbia City Theater’s Bourbon Bar are among the few times during the week a starving crooner can get some relief down there. 4916 Rainier Ave. S., 722-3009.

The Spectator: 9 p.m. Thurs.–Sun.

If you ask anyone in the know who has the best song selection around, crooners and KJs alike will advise you to head to The Spectator in Lower Queen Anne and check out Baby Ketten’s book. There are songs in it (from artists new and old and from every genre) you will never find anywhere else. 529 Queen Anne Ave. N., 599-4263.

The Attic: 9 p.m. Fri.

Rock star Baby Van Beezly celebrated her first anniversary at The Attic last month. Madison Park isn’t exactly the easiest place to get to, but if I had my choice to sing anywhere on a Friday night, without question it would be here. She is the most captivating host in town. 4226 E. Madison St., 323-3131.

Hamburger Harry’s: 9 p.m. Sat.

A couple of blocks from all the Saturday-night action on Ballard Avenue is this unassuming Market Street venue, which happens to have the most lovable host around, Fehrone Williams (aka DJ Fehronemo). He’s an amazing singer with a gracious personality that makes you just want to give him a big hug every time you see him. 2409 N.W. Market St., 297-8000.