Wednesday, June 1Kurt EllingThe Chicago jazz vocalist has spent a decade carving

Published 7:00 am Monday, October 9, 2006

Wednesday, June 1Kurt EllingThe Chicago jazz vocalist has spent a decade carving out a niche, and though he’s not up with the genre’s giants yet, his intelligent readings and smooth-not-smarmy tone mark him as one of the best around. Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $20.50/$24.50 Also Thurs., June 2–Sun., June 5Sonny Fortune and Rashied AliThe list of folks they’ve worked with (start with Miles and ‘Trane and work from there) would be enough to lure serious jazz lovers, but saxophonist Fortune and superdrummer Ali are their own reason for attending. Triple Door, 7:30 p.m. $20Thursday, June 2Bill HoristComposer and improvisational dynamo Horist teases eerie, intriguing textures from guitars, collaborating with everyone from Kinski to Bill Frisell to Kawabata Makoto of Acid Mothers Temple. Tonight, he plays two solo sets as part of SAM’s First Thursday. Seattle Art Museum, 100 University St., 206-654-3100, 5:30 p.m. NCThe Nein + Charming Snakes + Audio InfidelsIt’s hard to describe the Nein without making them sound like one of those bands that sound like all of those bands. They reference Gang of Four, but in an organic, learned way; and they use funk and skronking noise without being overly “dance punk”-y. It works. Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $7Friday, June 3Tom BrousseauA singer-songwriter from North Dakota, Brousseau comes across as not quite compelling on his atmospheric disc, What I Mean to Say Is Goodbye, which Loveless releases on the 12th. Triple Door, 8 p.m. $10Nova High-School Band ShowcaseOur high-school bands were never this fun: The Symptom, Primevil, Tiny Pink Electric Chair, Jamurai, Isaac and the Newtons, Zotziha, Crab Shrapnel, Dirty Hippie Rhythm Section, Hella Illuminati, and Folkadelic represent their alma mater in an exhaustive display of youthful ingenuity. VERA Project, 7 p.m. $6 ($5 w/club card)Rogue WaveIf indie rock had happened in the late ’70s and early ’80s, Rogue Wave would be a good 20 years older than they are today. Their sound mixes textures of the U.K.’s new wave/pop years (Squeeze, XTC) with sunny, Shins-esque soundtrack sparkle. Math and Physics Club and the Long Ranger open. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $10Maureen Whiting + Gust BurnsWhat to expect from the pairing of an avant dance choreographer with a philosophical pianist? Whiting has a reputation for appearing in only what the Lord gave her and Burns’ improv balances between free jazz and modern classical—but it’s always best not to have any expectations at all. Gallery 1412, 8 p.m. $5–$15Saturday, June 4AphroditeSure, drum and bass’ hip moment passed a while ago. But there’s still good stuff being made, even if it’s not necessarily in the jump-up realm that this DJ, born Gavin King, specializes in. Still, if you want to get down to some wicked-ass basslines and seething percussion, he’s the guy for you. Premier, 10 p.m. $15Kathleen Edwards + Danny MichelSEE CD REVIEW, P. 51. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $15CantonaTogether in their current incarnation since spring 2004, indie-popsters Cantona bring the summer jams for fans of the Spinanes and Copacetic-era Velocity Girl, with hooks big and melodies warm and bright. Playing in support of their Jon Auer–produced EP, A Sort of Smile, tonight they open for Infomatik and headliners Pleasurecraft. Rendezvous, 10:30 p.m. $5Mobius BandMobius Band’s shoegazey take on indie-electro sounds a little like a somber Julian Casablancas guesting on a Dntel record, which is to say, it’s very good and will please fans of any genre previously alluded to. They play between headliners Some by Sea and openers Verona. Paradox, 1401 Leary Way N.W., 8 p.m. $7Sunday, June 5Amusement Parks on Fire + Crutches + Moon RatsThis bill features more explosive local potential than Bangor Naval Submarine Base. Crutches is the New Mexicans plus Colin Roper, formerly of Cobra High. Moon Rats features members of Pretty Girls Make Graves and Your Enemies Friends. Regain consciousness to watch Nottingham’s Amusement Parks on Fire. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $7Tuesday, June 750 Foot Wave + Golden Republic + Ms. LedSEE SW THIS WEEK, P. 41. Crocodile Cafe, 8 p.m. $10Horse the Band + Swarming Hordes + Amanda Rogers + SeanWord on the street is that the Swarming Hordes have a new record out, but you wouldn’t know for sure even if you were as smart as, like, three Internet search engines combined. Then again, we’re talking about a band that’s been flying under the radar (at unsafe speeds) for a long time now. Maybe they like it that way. El Corazon, 7 p.m. $8 adv./$10PinbackRob Crow is one of the hardest-working men in indie rock, moving from project to project (Heavy Vegetable, Thingy, and now Pinback) with the intelligent restlessness he brings to his songwriting. And he loves to bring them here—this is, like, the eleventieth time he’s been here since last year’s Summer in Abaddon was released. Pleaseeasaur and Tic Code open. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $13 adv./$15