February 15, Wednesday

Bright Half Life This story of two lovers plays with time, bouncing throughout a single relationship from death to children to marriage. Perhaps more exciting than the work itself is that New Century Theatre Company is collaborating with two 2016 standouts: The Hansberry Project, which paired with Intiman to stunning results last year, and director HATLO, who directed the groundbreaking work That’swhatshesaid. 12th Ave. Arts, 12avearts.org. $5–$20. 7:30 p.m. Ends March 11. MARK BAUMGARTEN

WordsWest The ongoing West Seattle reading series tonight features two very good Seattle-area poets: Ann Teplick and Sierra Nelson. Teplick’s knockout poem “MOON, in ten parts,” is readily available on the Internet. Nelson has written a choose-your-own-adventure poetry book and her eagerly awaited next collection, The Lachrymose Report, is out this year. C&P Coffee Co., 5612 California Ave. S.W., wordswestliterary.weebly.com. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PAUL CONSTANT

Miscomings If you haven’t gotten your face blasted by some of Seattle’s finest, weirdest no-wavers yet, tonight’s a great night to start. Miscomings and Male/Female join Newlywed and Celluloid for this show, part of the DIY Appreciation month series, whose proceeds will go toward updating vital local DIY spaces. Vermillion, 1508 11th Ave., vermillionseattle.com. Sliding-scale donations. 21 and over. 8 p.m. KELTON SEARS

February 16, Thursday

This Is How It Always Is and The Guineveres

Seattle author Laurie Frankel’s This Is How It Always Is is an excellent novel about the family of a young trans girl. Georgia novelist Sarah Domel’s The Guineveres is about four rootless young women named Guinevere who wind up at a convent and have to care for four comatose men. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., 634-3400, bookstore.washington.edu. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PC

Ugly God This self-deprecating Houston rapper—founding member of the brutally honest Little Dick Clique—has seized the Internet. “I’m a Pornhub specialist/Booty squishy like a jellyfish,” he raps as he touches on two of his favorite topics: masturbation and butts. Lizards also play a prominent role—like the ones he attaches to his nostrils in Instagram videos. You won’t know whether to laugh or cry at this display of hip-hop weirdness. With Nessly. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St, 538-0556, chopsuey.com. $17–$20. All ages. 8:30 p.m. GREGORY SCRUGGS

February 17, Friday

Dust Remember that New Year’s resolution, the one where you said you were going to see more dance this year? Here’s your chance to fulfill that pledge, four times over. A quartet of new works by four young choreographers, including Daniel Costa, Kimberly Holloway, Emma Hreljanovic, and Ashleigh Miller, are showing their newest work—come get a head start on the next generation of Seattle dance. Velocity Dance Center, 1621 12th Ave., 325-8773, velocitydancecenter.org. $18–$25. 8 p.m. Fri., Feb. 17–Sat., Feb. 18. SANDRA KURTZ

Derrick Carter Techno may be all the rage in the 2010s, but as purveyors of funky 4/4 grooves are fond of pointing out, house music lives! And Chicago OG Derrick Carter, who came up in the ’90s during the second wave of the Windy City’s native sound, is one of house’s finest ambassadors. He headlines mega-festivals in Europe, so don’t miss this intimate set that will go well into the wee hours, kicking off a holiday weekend that may keep you dancing into Monday. With Xan Lucero, Brian Lyons, Sean Majors, Wesley Holmes, Almond Brown. Kremwerk, 1809 Minor Ave., kremwerk.com, 682-2935. $20–$35. 21 and over. 10 p.m. GS

A Tiny Sense of Accomplishment This podcast, hosted by two of Washington’s most vital authors, Sherman Alexie and Jess Walters, comes to Town Hall for a live recording. Along with the dry-side banter between the Spokane-native hosts, the show will feature an interview with Karen Russell, MacArthur “Genius Award” recipient and author of Swamplandia! Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255, townhallseattle.org. $20. All ages. 7 p.m. DAN PERSON

February 18, Saturday

David Bazan Great musicians make great shows happen. In this case, that musician—drummer Sean Lane—isn’t even taking the stage, but his friends are. David Bazan and Cumulus will likely play new material, while Gregg Keplinger puts on a drum clinic and Dustin Busch plays the blues to help pay for some of Lane’s recent medical expenses. Cafe Racer is tiny, and there is no pre-sale, so get there early to guarantee a spot. Cafe Racer, 5828 Roosevelt Way NE, 523-5282. $10. 8 p.m. 21 and over. MB

Seattle’s Fremont and the Centerless Universe Seattle memoirist Elissa Washuta was selected as the very first Fremont Bridge Writer-in-Residence, meaning last summer she kept a writing office in one of Seattle’s most beautiful bridges. This afternoon she’ll give a presentation on her experience and be interviewed by Seattle author Anca Szilagyi. Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., 386-4636, spl.org. Free. All ages. 2 p.m. PC

Century on Tap For 20 years the Century Ballroom has been a home for all kinds of rhythm, teaching partner dancing and hosting performances and parties. You could learn to dance like Fred and Ginger, or watch other people doing it. They’re celebrating their birthday all month long—including this evening, starting with dinner followed by a tap showcase featuring local rhythm luminaries and guest Lindy Hopper Chester Whitmore. Then you can finish the evening on the dance floor yourself, or just sing “Happy Birthday” to one of the loveliest venues in town. Century Ballroom, 915 E. Pine St., 324-7263, centuryballroom.com. $30 show only; $70 dinner and show; $85 dinner, show, and dance. 6:15 p.m. dinner, 7:30 p.m. show, 9:30 dance. 21 and over. SK

February 19, Sunday

Nothing to See Here: The Slippery Slope Away From a Free Press Hugo House event coordinator and novelist Peter Mountford will talk with Sri Lankan journalist Frederica Jansz and Seattle University professor Sonora Jha about “exercising free speech during times of political and social upheaval.” Hm. I wonder if that subject has any practical applications for our current moment in history? Auburn Library, 1102 Auburn Way S., kcls.bibliocommons.com. Free. All ages. 2 p.m. PC

Never Again: Japanese American WWII History and American Muslim Rights Today Hear Council on American-Islamic Relations director Arselan Bukhari and Japanese-American historian Tom Ikeda dig into the obvious parallels between the hostile treatment and eventual incarceration of Japanese-Americans during WWII and the current climate of fear and distrust among many Americans toward all Muslims, American or otherwise. Fisher Pavilion, Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St., 386-4636, spl.org. Free. All ages. 2–3:30 p.m. CASEY JAYWORK

February 20, Monday

Universal Harvester Reading Mountain Goats lead singer John Darnielle’s debut novel, Wolf in White Van, was an incredibly affecting story of a wounded soul trying to come to terms with society. Darnielle’s second novel is about a video-store clerk in 1990s Iowa who discovers a bizarre secret hidden on the films in his store. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255, townhallseattle.org. $5. All ages. 7:30 p.m. PC

Tennyson This brother/sister act from Edmonton, Alberta, creates loopy electronica that is alternately ambient and driving. Their press photos make them look 15, and though their music sounds older, they are a perfect fit for the all-ages Vera Project on a quiet Monday night. Vera Project, 305 Harrison St., 956-8372. $13. 7:30 p.m. DP

February 21, Tuesday

Chain Letter Poet Jeremy Springsteed, one of the organizers of the late, lamented Breadline reading series, debuts a new concept. Chain Letter features performances by local writers and musicians, who will then curate the next event in the series. Tonight’s readers: Springsteed, Evalynne McLaughlin, and Amber Nelson. Tonight’s music: Tarsier Eyes. Come get in on the ground floor. Vermillion Art Gallery and Bar, 1508 11th Ave., 709-9797, vermillionseattle.com. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PC