El Perro Del Mar, Lykke Li, Anna Ternheim

"For you I keep my legs apart, and forget about my broken heart." So goes the painfully honest breakthrough hit "Little Bit" by Sweden's newest indie-pop darling. Lykke Li (pronounced Lick-ee Lee) possesses a demure voice ideal for confessing such vulnerability. Her introspective—and totally sexual—lyrics are set to a background of sparse instrumentation and gentle beats. Though Li's voice is about as audible as a whisper, she easily commands the attention of a rowdy crowd, luring them in with the promise that she'll share her deepest secrets. With El Perro del Mar. Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333. 7:30 p.m. $15 adv./$17. ERIKA HOBART

Triple Door Mainstage

$15 adv./$17. Thu., May 15, 7:30pm

Clinic, Shearwater

Clinic bears an unfortunate, much-mentioned resemblance to the Beatles—they're a four-piece band from Liverpool—but the similarities end there. Where the Beatles specialized in litanies of pop ditties that metamorphosed into universally-loved opuses, Clinic plays with proportions to see how many different song recipes you can concoct with the same basic set of ingredients: distorted surf guitar and an appreciation for churchy organ and muted metal power riffs, to name a few biggies. Known for wearing surgical scrubs and masks during performances (it's a long-standing tradition), the costumes function almost as disguises for the foursome, who want to offset the public's tendency to worship the singer and ignore the rest of the band. Clinicians Ade Blackburn, Brian Campbell, Hartley, and Carl Turney take the democratic approach, constantly swapping instruments and sharing songwriting duties. And even though the oft-bizarre chord amalgamations hardly resemble each other, even though the contents of Do It!, the band's fifth full-length record, shows the progress the band's made in their 11-year evolution, Clinic retains their unique sound. With Shearwater. Neumo's, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467. 8 p.m. $13 adv. SARA BRICKNER

Neumo's

$13 adv. Fri., May 16, 8:00pm

Nas, D. Black, Grynch, DJ Nphared

How will Nas top his declaration that a nuclear winter had smothered hip-hop in a patina of blinged-out bone dust and ashen rhyme structures? That it had lost its way traveling through the back alleys of imagined ghettos slimed with sonic sameness and lameness? That it was—yup—dead? By dropping the n-word, of course. Apparently that's the title of his upcoming album, and that's the only way he could've generated the kind of public squabbling and squawking his last release, Hip Hop Is Dead, did. (One wonders how many white liberal music scribblers—like me—will cringe at having to write, let alone say, the new title. Thanks a bunch, dude.) And yet there it is—the ghost of America's slave-trading past, rattling its chains in the digitized flows of one of the game's greatest. But then again, what did we expect from the "Last Real Nigga Alive"? With D. Black, Grynch, DJ Nphared. Showbox SODO, 1700 First Ave. S., 382-7877. 8:30 p.m. $37 adv./$40. All ages. KEVIN CAPP

Showbox SODO

$37.40 adv./$40. Fri., May 16, 8:30pm

Roy Loney, the Tripwires, the Fucking Eagles

Does anybody really know why Roy Loney didn't make a ton of killer albums after leaving the Flamin' Groovies in '71? Probably not. But the talent has been there in spades ever since. The guy is like Dwight Twilley, had that skinny little twerp toked mad reefer and filled his soul full of Captain Beefheart in his teens. Translation: Loney tears it up classic rock 'n' roll style with the perfect mix of pop hooks, greaser aggression, and punk weirdness. Over the last several years Loney has been jamming with the Longshots, which, as most Seattle denizens should know, contains several dudes from the Young Fresh Fellows. They rock, too. So yeah, get ready for a party. And ladies, wear poodle skirts covered in chocolate stains. That drives Loney wild. With the Tripwires and the Fucking Eagles. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880. 10 p.m. $8. JUSTIN F. FARRAR

Sunset Tavern

$8. Fri., May 16, 10:00pm

Dead Meadow, SubArachnoid Space, Whalebones, Patrol

Man, the stoners haven't had a pairing this perfect since Comets on Fire played the same night as Hempfest in '06. Whalebones, as we know, is our local hero of rootsy stoner rock. Listening to them is like sifting through some cool old dude's records at a flea market: heavy on the Crazy Horse, Band, Stones, '70s riff rock, etc. In a live setting, they fuckin' bring it, jamming on chords as if they're riding a bucking horse. Dead Meadow, from D.C., is all about oozy electric riffs, mixing the narcotic swell of Spiritualized, the blooze-choogle of Blue Cheer, and the spacier nod-off moments of the Verve's Storm in Heaven. Tonight, the two are joined by SubArachnoid Space, a Portland band specializing in heavy space-prog instrumentals that fans of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Explosions in the Sky, Floyd, Earth, and the like would do well to check out. See what I mean? Total stoners' paradise. With Patrol. El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., 381-3094. 7 p.m. $10 adv./$12. BRIAN J. BARR

El Corazon

$10 adv./$12. Sat., May 17, 7:00pm

Thee Emergency (CD release), the Valley, the Hands

With Dita Vox at the helm, Seattle garage-rock band Thee Emergency specializes in metal-punk hybrid songs that simply can't be contained. For the true Thee Emergency experience, you must see the band live, because no album can capture Thee Emergency's boundless energy. To truly benefit from Dita Vox's sultry, raw vocals, to rightfully appreciate Nick Detroit's smooth bass lines and Tom T. Drummer and guitarist Matt "Sonic" Smith's power riffs, you must do so in person—and you'll have several chances in the next few weeks. Plus, Thee Emergency's upcoming King Cobra show will celebrate the official release of Sonic, the band's first full-length record to date. And even if your home stereo only manages to capture a quarter of Thee Emergency's righteousness, tracks like "Heartbreaker" and "It's All in the Reflexes" pack a punch nonetheless. With the Valley and the Hands. King Cobra, 916 E. Pike St., 8 p.m. SARA BRICKNER

King Cobra

Sat., May 17, 8:00pm

A 60s Mod Garage Party with the Black Hollies, Big Nasties, Autolite Strike

I'm a firm believer that finance should never dictate fashion. Some of the best, worst, and most memorable outfits I've ever worn were bought by the bag at some thrift store for what a kid at Mickey D's makes in one hour. Others were used but tastefully chosen by those fashionably forward kids at Atlas or Red Light. My greatest find ever was a black A-line dress by '60s mod manufacturer Bleeker Street. A feat of tailored excellence with its perfect pleats, fitted empire waist, and hem just above the knee, wearing it always made me feel like a chubby Audrey Hepburn, simply sophisticated and tastefully timeless. Tonight's show, with its mod theme, "tastefully timeless" throwback bands, and crowd of dedicated followers of fashion, makes me think of that dress, and of perhaps getting on the treadmill so my post-baby booty will one day wear it again. Sigh. With the Black Hollies, Big Nasties, Autolite Strike. Comet Tavern, 922 E. Pike St., 323-9853. 8 p.m. MA'CHELL DUMA LAVASSAR

Comet Tavern

Sun., May 18, 8:00pm

Kublakai, Cancer Rising, D. Black, Neema, JFK of Greyskul

Besides a clever title, the 206 Degrees and Rising tour features a busload of Seattle hip-hop talent. See, in case you haven't heard, there's something happening here—something steaming in the underground rhymesayers' lairs in a part of the country heretofore known only for incessant rain, big planes, dirty rock, and rich white people. Organized by Sportin' Life's DeVon Manier and Ian Waller, aka Kublakai (also a performer), the pavement-pounding event will hit at least eight cities throughout the Northwest, bringing the wide and varied styles (and that's the thing about the scene—no one sound dominates, let alone defines, it) of Cancer Rising, D. Black, Neema, JFK of Greyskul, and a rotating cast of local MCs, DJs, and hosts in venues across the slate-gray Pacific Northwest. Tonight's the kickoff. Be there. High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., 632-5656. 9 p.m. $8. KEVIN CAPP

High Dive

$8. Sun., May 18, 9:00pm

Was (Not Was), Courtney Jones

Don Was boasts an astonishing legacy as a Grammy-winning producer, working with everyone from Roy Orbison to Iggy Pop to George Clinton. He also fathered Eve 6's drummer and supervised the Thelma and Louise soundtrack. But his crowning accomplishment remains Was (Not Was), the nine-piece funk juggernaut he co-founded. During the 1980s, Was (Not Was) released brazen tunes such as "Walk the Dinosaur" (fueled by the caveman chant "boom-boom-hacka-lacka-boom-boom") and "Knocked Down, Made Small (Treated Like a Rubber Ball)," (which features an awesome, YouTube-preserved video in which the group travels back in time to confront a boorish father with magical ball-and-string toys). On this year's Boo!, their first studio album since 1990, Was (Not Was) supplements its blazing horns, potent rhythms, and slaphappy bass with slow-burning soul and falsetto balladry. Sir Harry Bowens and Sweet Pea Atkinson haven't let their pipes rust: Both versatile vocalists can still belt out the blues, unleash power-rock growls, and melt together during Motown-style harmonies. Touring with its original lineup, the Detroit-based outfit only plucks a couple selections from the new disc, spending the bulk of its set transforming classic cuts (such as the aforementioned hits and its incendiary cover of "Papa Was a Rolling Stone") into rich, expansive jams. With Courtney Jones. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 8 p.m. $25 adv./$27. ANDREW MILLER

Tractor Tavern

$25 adv./$27. Sun., May 18, 8:00pm

Blue Rodeo with Luke Doucet

In the late '80s, Blue Rodeo's records were always for sale via that 39-cassettes-for-a-penny scam that appeared in Star magazine. Little did we know that these savvy roots-rockers from up north were digging Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers long before those punks in Uncle Tupelo and the Jayhawks. Of course, it was the '80s, which meant Blue Rodeo's earnest jams also sounded a lot like Crowded House, the Proclaimers, and cheesy Bruce (the one who busted Caucasian moves in the "Dancing in the Dark" video). Yet there's no denying that Diamond Mine album from '89; "Girl of Mine" is just an awesome chunk of country-soul. Hell, even last year's Small Miracles contains a good 20–25 minutes of country-rock heaven. The organ tones rule. With Luke Doucet. Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333. 7 & 9:30 p.m. $25 adv./$30. JUSTIN F. FARRAR

Triple Door Mainstage

$25 adv./$30. Mon., May 19, 7:00pmMon., May 19, 9:30pm

Langhorne Slim, Ferraby Lionheart

Dammit, Langhorne Slim, you sexy folk bastard! I experienced all five stages of grief coping with the fact that last summer I found my No. 1 record even before I had a tan: starting in denial ("In Camera the best record I'll hear all year? Bahhh, it's only June!"), then anger ("Why., Band of Horses? I was counting on you!), getting stuck in bargaining/depression ("Sure, Sound of Silver is pristine, but it's also [insert voice wobbles] sooo chilly. Wahhhhhhh. . . ."), and finally ending '07 in Arthur & Yu acceptance. It's only freakin' May, but I've just accepted that no record, no matter how anticipated, impressive, or open I am to it, is going to give me the complete listening satisfaction, the it's-so-good-the-pit-of-my-stomach-hurts, heart-'n'-spine-shivered feeling which I got upon hearing the sweet-ass, angsty perfection of Langhorne Slim's soul and organ-soaked debut. With Ferraby Lionheart. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 9 p.m. $10 adv./$12. MA'CHELL DUMA LAVASSAR

Tractor Tavern

$10 adv./$12. Mon., May 19, 9:00pm

To Do List

Friday, May 16

Bike to Work Day
We need Bike to Work Day for the same reason we need Mother’s Day, or ... More>>
City Hall, Fri., May 16, 7:30am

Clinic, Shearwater
Clinic bears an unfortunate, much-mentioned resemblance to the Beatles—... More>>
Neumo's, Fri., May 16, 8:00pm, $13 adv

Nas, D. Black, Grynch, DJ Nphared
How will Nas top his declaration that a nuclear winter had smothered hip-ho... More>>
Showbox SODO, Fri., May 16, 8:30pm, $37.40 adv./$40

164 more things to do today>>