Alice Russell, Thursday, March 26: Clearly influenced by music from the heyday of the Motown and Stax labels, this Brighton, UK soul singer-songwriter might be one of the greatest new discoveries in pop music this year. After cultivating a sizable European following, she is currently touring North America in support of Pot of Gold (Six Degrees), her first disc to come out stateside.A aEœGot The Hunger,aE the disc's main single, has a catchy horn arrangement that pays homage to the work of the late Arif Mardin, while aEœFly In My HandaE seamlessly blends funk with Europop tendencies. Russell wrote on her web site that her primary influences include Minnie Ripperton, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and Aretha Franklin. Like her influences, RussellaE™s firm, confident voice makes it seem like sheaE™s been doing this for years, even though she is barely in her mid-twenties. With Big World Breaks. Nectar, 412 N. 36th St., 632-2020. 9 p.m., $10 adv. Note by ERNEST BARTELDES

Roxy Epoxy and the Rebound, Friday, March 27: On Roxy EpoxyaE™s MySpace page, she describes herself as a aEœdelicate fucking flower,aE but thereaE™s nothing overly gentle about the music she plays alongside her band, the Rebound. This Portland-based five piece have a sound more reminiscent of aE™80s new wave acts like Blondie or Soft Cell, but with a bit more of a rock-driven edge. ItaE™s essentially synth punk and not many bands (if any) can pull it off in the Northwest as good as this gang. Most of their songs seem like they could have made the soundtrack to Sweet Sixteen or The Breakfast Club and people love them for that. TheyaE™ve developed a decent following for their ability to make throwback music seem timely and easy to do dance to whether youaE™re hearing them live or listening to a CD. The bandaE™s most recent disc, Band-aids on Bulletholes is full of fun jams with Joan Jett-style singing and brooding melodies that goes great with PBR tallboys. With The Action Design, Veritas, Feverclub, Goodbye Gadget. El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., 381-3094. 7 p.m., $10 adv, $12 dos. All ages. Note by JONATHAN CUNNINGHAM

Pigeon John, Friday, March 27: Los Angeles nerd-rapper Pigeon John, an avowed disciple of the De La Soul school of hip-hop, got his start in the early aE™90s by rhyming at the Good Life CafAc aE“ launching pad for the likes of Jurassic 5, Pharcyde, Dilated Peoples, and other alt-rap icons. Eventually, PJ made his way to venerable Quannum Projects for a solo career in which he flows like a cross between Q-Tip and Mos Def, kicking rhymes about Phil Collins, ping-pong, and girls who wonaE™t talk to him over breezy Native Tongues grooves and the occasional Pixies sample. Fun, funky, and charming as it is, that sorta hip-hop doesnaE™t exactly set the kidzaE™ pants on fire, so now Pigeon John has teamed up with producer Flynn Adam (of L.A. Symphony) for a new EP under the moniker Rootbeer. aEœRather than making an escape attempt on this debut to something that was some subtle artistic departure from the Lost Angels-flavored West Coast underground laid back rap that raised them, the duo has grown more apt to fully open their arms and embrace a vast array of what is relative to their own contemporary culture consumption today,aE says their presskit. In other words, theyaE™re attempting to sell out. They describe themselves as aEœMGMT injected with some N.E.R.D and A Tribe Called QuestaE; dunno if that combination will launch them to fame and fortune, but both are seasoned and engaging enough performers to at least make the show entertaining.A Nectar, 412 N. 36th St., 632-2020. 9 p.m., $10 adv. Note by MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG

Wintersleep, An Horse, Friday, March 27: A loving mesh of Paul MurphyaE™s wise, husky voice, several layers of earnest guitar work and poignant, introspective lyrics, Canadian band Wintersleep makes music of the sort that swells in films just as the underdog triumphs over a more formidable adversary. Brisbane, AustraliaaE™s An Horse opens as the requisite they-came-from-nowhere band, though in reality theyaE™ve been quietly strengthening their chops down under by opening for Death Cab and touring the US with Tegan and Sara aE“ all before releasing a full-length album. Singer Kate CooperaE™s vocals pay a reverent homage to Liz Phair, but An HorseaE™s happily haphazard concoction of tumbling drums, tambourines and sparse guitars produce a sound completely unique unto itself. With Dearboy. Vera Project, Seattle Center, Warren Ave. N. and Republican. 7:30 p.m., $10. All ages. Note by RAECHEL SIMS

Jaguar Love, Saturday, March 28: Given the track record of Jaguar Love's members, it's not surprising there have been changes during the band's barely two-year history. These days, the Portland-based electro-jazz-indie band consists of only two musicians: Lead singer Johnny Whitney and guitar player Cody Votolato, both former members of Seattle's own Blood Brothers. But just two months ago, Jaguar Love also boasted Jay Clark aE” of Pretty Girls Make Graves fame aE” on keyboards and drums. Now, Clark has left the band, and in a recent announcement on the band's MySpace page, Whitney and Votolato claim the band's sound is changing, too. In a blog post, Johnny described the new music as Daft Punk meets New Order meets Black Flag aE” which probably won't be that different from Jaguar Love's current sound. Sure, there will be less keyboards without Clark, and some songs might lose their dance-y quality on account of it, but it's Whitney's trademark wailing, tortured vocals that define the band. With OK Go, IO Echo. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8000. 8 p.m., $18 adv, $20 dos. All ages. Note by PAIGE RICHMOND MP3: Highways of Gold

Eddie Money, Saturday, March 28: Eddie Money (given name: Eddie FuckinaE™ Mahoney) is no longer the cocky, long-haired rocker that took the Bay Area by storm in the late aE˜70s before rising to international prominence. No, 30 years later, the hard-livinaE™ he did in his heyday has taken its toll. The Mickey Rourke of music, he looks like a roughed-up prizefighter whoaE™s held on for too long, and sounds like one too. But then thereaE™s this: This June, Money will stage a self-penned musical based on his life, entitled Two Tickets to Paradise, at the Dix Hills Performing Arts Center in Long IslandaE”which he aspires to take to Broadway and beyond. Too bad the aEœbeyondaE doesnaE™t include this SaturdayaE™s gig at the EQC, but all the hitsaE”aEœTake Me Home Tonight,aE aEœShakinaE™,aE aEœBaby Hold On,aE aEœWalk On Water,aE et. alaE” in that production will doubtless be performed live by the man himself. Even if you canaE™t make out the lyrics, youaE™ll be able to get hammered and hum along. And besides, seeing a performer named Money at a casino showroom? Just like Ronnie said, thataE™s so money! Emerald Queen Casino, 2102 Alexander, Tacoma, 253-594-7777. 8:30 p.m., $20-$25. Note by MIKE SEELY

Leslie and the Lys, Monday, March 30: I once had deluded dreams of grandeur related to becoming an internet-based, chubby-white-girl rap sensation; but alas, Leslie Hall beat me to it, and based on her wicked stage presence and collection of metallic-based fashion, IaE™m not going to try and step to that shit. Indeed, Leslie and the LyaE™s are capable of delivering one of the hottest dance parties youaE™d never expect from a large woman in even-larger glasses and a gold body suit. aEœHow We Go OutaE will bring endless pleasure to anyone from a small town: aEœOn the way to the club we pass a Dairy Queen / You stop cause you know it means so much to me / We take the back seats out of your minivan / Now we roll like a Hummer or a full size sedanaE¦aE I quiver in awe and embarrassment to think that I could have ever hoped to produce such a level ofaE¦ well, awe and embarrassment. All hail Leslie! With Stereo Total. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467. 8 p.m., $13.50 adv. All ages. Note by RAECHEL SIMS

Hooker Farm, Monday, March 30: IA  wasnaE™t there whenA  KD CockBlock, VikkiVegas, Tasty Pasties, J-sin, and Reak-oaE”the kids otherwise known as Hooker FarmaE”came up with their idea to start a tribute band to drunk perverts doing Rock-a-Rokie, but I imagine the conversation went something a little like this: (gurgle , gurgle,A  cough, cough) aEœOh, man! D-do you know what would be sooooo funny?aE (gurgle, gurgle, cough, cough) aEœPunk rock covers of super inane pop songs, except with lyrics mutilated by a 14-year-old channeling his inner Weird Al!aE aEœMY GOD! ThataE™s exactly what I was thinking! Sweet. Would you pass the chips?aE aEœYeah. And so, ok, the titles will be things like, uh, aE˜Heaven is Four Inch GirthaE™ and aE˜Hit Me with Your Best Shot (In The Eye).aE™ Pfffst! aEœBitch, you just made beer come out my nose.aE With Spinalcracker, the Hickmans, Bastard Child. Funhouse, 206 Fifth Ave. N., 374-8400. 9:30 p.m., $5. Note by MAaE™CHELL DUMA LAVASSAR

Rachael Yamagata, Tuesday, March 31: Remember Duncan Sheik? I didnaE™t think I wanted to, given that he recorded aEœBarely Breathing,aE one of the worst/most popular singles of the late aE™90s. Then came Spring Awakening, the Broadway sensation that earned Sheik Grammy and Tony Awards for his orchestral skills, not to mention a coveted slot authoring The New York TimesaE™ Sunday aEœPlaylistaE on January 25. There, he extolled the virtues of one Rachael Yamagata, a gorgeous, husky-voiced singer of a genre that can now simply be referred to as aEœGreyaE™s Anatomy Soundtrack.aE Of YamagataaE™s latest release, Elephants ... Teeth Sinking Into Heart, Sheik said: aEœYou know for a fact that there was not a single A&R or P.R. or marketing person that was in the process remotely, because thereaE™s not a single up-tempo song on the whole album. TheyaE™re all completely self-indulgent, in the best possible sense of the word, indulging in the beauty of the sadness.aE WeaE™ve had YamagataaE™s album in steady rotation for months now, and share SheikaE™s sentiments word for word. Obviously, we still remember Duncan Sheik, and for good reason. The Crocodile, 2200 2nd Ave. 8 p.m., $12 adv. Note by MIKE SEELY

Habib KoitAc & BamadaA , Tuesday, March 31: Arguably one of the most popular Malian performers in the world music circuit, Habib KoitAc is best known both for his guitar technique and for his calm, measured performances, which contrasts with the more fiery style of other artists from his country. A relentless touring artist who is always on the road, KoitAc harldly ever finds the time to get into the studio aE“ his latest release, last year's Afriki (Cumbancha) came after a six-year hiatus aE“ in the meantime, he found the time to collaborate with the likes of Bonnie Raitt (who is a confessed fan) and folk-blues troubadour Eric Bibb.A Unlike the late Ali Farka TourAc or Amadou & Mariam, KoitAc does not use electric guitars, relying instead on his steel-stringed acoustic, which he plays without many effects, save an occasional wah-wah or some reverb. Also, KoitAc bases his sound on the traditional music of his native country, adapting it in his own was aE“ making sound as organic as it gets these days. His music as is like a journey of discovery which will please both weathered fans and newcomers alike. Triple Door Mainstage, 216 Union St., 838-4333. 7 p.m. (all ages), 9:30 p.m., $23 adv, $25 dos. Note by ERNEST BARTELDES