Wednesday, June 8The National + Menomena + TalkdemonicNot so sure about the headliner, but the middle band’s been chasing a pretty good debut around for a solid two-and-a-half years now, and the openers, whom Willamette Week recently named 2005’s best new band, offer laptop-and-treated-violin instrumentals that are pretty mesmerizing live. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $10Out Hud + Tussle + Synth Club + DJ Fucking in the StreetsSEE CD REVIEW (OUT HUD), P. 46. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $10Slightly Stoopid + FishboneA legendary L.A. band that helped move some ground later planted into by the Chili Peppers and Jane’s Addiction (so, important if not great, per se), Fishbone now finds itself second on the bill to one of its less enlightening progeny. Sad. Beautiful Girls open. Showbox, 7:30 p.m. $18The YellowjacketsFunky fusion Muzak that’s gotten way more dap from kids raised on it than it really deserves; still, their longevity is notable. Triple Door, 7:30 p.m. $27 Also Thurs., June 9Thursday, June 9Meat Beat ManifestoNot just an industrial pioneer—an electro-funk and techno one, too, given how easily DJs of those stripes have been able to fit MBM tracks into their rotation. The iffy new album’s on Thirsty Ear, for which main Meat Jack Dangers also tried to bolster a DJ Spooky–Dave Lombardo collaboration recently. Dub Trio open. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $15Lee Ritenour and Friendship BandGuitarist and smooth-jazz figurehead Ritenour presents a band that includes saxophonist Ernie Watts, keyboardist Patrice Rushen, drummer Alex Acuna, and bassist Abraham Laboriel. Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $24.50–$26.50 Also Fri., June 10–Sun., June 12U.S.E. + the Hold Steady + The CopsSEE FEATURE, P. 43. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $8 adv./10Friday, June 10Antibalas Afrobeat OrchestraSEE SW THIS WEEK, P. 41. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $12Bebel GilbertoFor the uninitiated, Gilberto is the perfect introduction to bossa nova, that steamy fusion of samba and jazz brought to North American bachelor pads by her father, Joao, in the ’60s. Tonight she performs with Peter Cincotti but with any luck, it’ll be less easy-listening and more batucada. Moore Theatre, 8 p.m. $29.50/39.50Kimya DawsonThe ex–Moldy Peach goes for more serious stuff on her own; she goes for sillier, too, and gets nearly all of it. The Pharmacy, Matty Popcharts, and Me and Moments open. VERA Project, 7:30 p.m. $6 with club card/$7DJ Krush + Tetsuro Naito + Morita + Jin tha MCKind of odd to see Krush, that bastion of indie rap fan folks, headlining over a Ruff Ryder, whatever their seeming similarities skinwise. But we thought we heard that Jin was retiring—hmmm. Showbox, 8 p.m. $20 adv./$23Reba McEntire + Brad Paisley + Terri ClarkReba long ago devolved into formula, and Clark’s happy to reside in it as long as there’s paydirt like the stupidly irresistible “Girls Lie Too” at the end of the deal, but Paisley subverts it altogether. He can pick, he can sing, he can write, he’s made a few modestly terrific albums, and while it’s probable he’ll keep a more modest profile than his tourmates, low-key doesn’t automatically equal low-watt. White River Amphitheatre, 40601 Auburn Emunclaw Rd., Auburn, 360-825-6200, 8 p.m. $30–$54.75Miles MaedaA mid-’90s proponent of the re-emerging Chicago house groove, Maeda’s now in San Diego and teaching yoga as well as DJ’ing; often, he combines the two. Trinity, 10 p.m.Mon FrereLed by keyboardist Nouela Johnston and her powerful pipes, these 2004 EMP SoundOff! winners have been impressing fans, and the honchos behind local Cake Records (to which they recently signed) with their brand of electro-rock ever since. Eric Anderson also performs. Old Firehouse, 8 p.m. $6 16510 NE 79 St., Redmond 425-556-2370NekromantixI-love-the-dead punk from Denmark—mmm-mmm, good, or something. Henchmen and DragStrip Riot open. El Corazon, 7 p.m. $10 adv./$12No-Fi Soul RebellionTired of dealing with bothersome bandmates, performance artist Mark Heimer goes the Billy Corgan route by creating and housing songs in wife Andrea’s “Soul System” (oddly resembling a hollowed-out Stratocaster), from which they blast while the duo raise dance-party hell. With Climber and New Grey Area. High Dive, 9:30 p.m. $5 Also Sat., June 11, at Easy Street Records Queen Anne at 3 p.m.NW Free Jazz Festival: Ion ZooEspecially when taken in context of this year’s NW Free Jazz Fest, Ion Zoo are easily understood just by thinking about their name. With reed and string instruments, percussion, keyboards, and voice, the Vancouver, B.C., collective pushes and pulls, and loses and gains, to acquire a net electric charge. With 2Bit Trio. Gallery 1412, 8 p.m. $5–$15PhotekOnce Photek was the knottiest of more-or-less straight-up drum and bass producers. Then he moved to L.A. and decided he liked house music better. These days, he’s maneuvered back to terra firma, but it should be interesting to see whether he backslides. The opening consortium includes Gridlok, the Dowlz, Demo, MC?, the Specialist, Quentin J, Circle of Fire, and DJ Scene. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $15 adv./$18Three Imaginary Girls Anniversary show: The Divorce + the Catch + Dolour + White GoldAnother year of TIG’s superlative listings site, another thoughtful, rocking showcase of local favorites. This is also a CD release show for the Catch. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $8 adv./$10Saturday, June 11At the SpineA ninth anniversary party for Fugazi-esque At the Spine frontman Mike Toschi’s Global Seepej label, Electric Sheep, Colin Spring and Solyoni also appear, along with free beer and sangria! Mars Bar, 8 p.m. $7DovesManchester’s darling Doves have a sound that is just right. Like the perfect bowl of rock porridge, they aren’t too psychedelic, and aren’t too predictable. Lead singer Jimi Goodwin is recovering from a case of Coachella, but is now back on the road and ready to sing like, well, a bird. Showbox, 8 p.m. $20 adv./22S + Eugene MirmanShe used to be in Carissa’s Wierd and now does the annoyed-depressed thing better than pretty much anyone in town. He’s a stand-up comedian, here to get us ready for her outbursts. What a match. Langhorne Slim and Brendon Small open. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $12Eddie Spaghetti and the SauceThe Supersuckers frontman’s side project, a status befitting its name. Humble Pie tribute band the Fixers and the Press Corps open. Sunset Tavern, 9 p.m. $7Jesse Sykes and the Sweet HereafterArguably the best Barsuk release of 2004, the bewitching Oh, My Girl made its way around the country with Bright Eyes earlier this year. Sykes & Co. bring their country-noir home for a show with the Stares (CD release) and Winifred E. Eye. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $8 adv./10John TejadaTejada runs Palette Recordings and spins in a variety of styles, most couched in Detroit techno. Trinity, 10 p.m.Sunday, June 12J-Live + Vast Aire + C Rayz Walz + Vordul MegaOne of the most forthrightly skillful (and skillfully forthright) MCs in indie rap, J-Live is a Brooklyn, and national, treasure. Vast and Walz and Mega are all on Definitive Jux, which is a mark of at least some quality. Karniege and 4th Pyramid open. Chop Suey, 5 p.m. $12The Headphones + Crystal SkullsThe Headphones are Dave Bazan of Pedro the Lion’s other band, and though the songs are similarly built, the sounds aren’t—in Pedro, Bazan plays guitar, but the Headphones are an all-synth-and-drums project. Crystal Skulls are highly regarded local janglers. Western States and the Sea Navy open. Neumo’s, 7 p.m. $10Mia NicholsonA round-toned jazz/pop singer from Portland; she’s not the most original performer in this style, but she’s plenty comfortable within it. Triple Door, 7:30 p.m. $12Monday, June 13Electrelane + Shoplifting + Sick BeesSEE AMERICA, U.S.A., P. 44. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $10Tuesday, June 14Aesop Rock + Mr. LifAes isn’t the most likely MC to rhyme happy, so it’s extra notable that his new Fast Cars, Danger, Fires and Knives EP (Definitive Jux) finds him doing plenty of just that. Lif’s got a few things to say of his own—less effervescent than the headliner, but still worth attending to. Cage and DJs Big Wiz and Scene open. Showbox, 8 p.m. $15 adv./$18DeicideOne of the crucial death-metal bands of the past 20 years, tickets to which you probably already have if you knew that in the first place. Immolation, Skinless, Despised Icon, and With Passion open. Studio Seven, 7 p.m. $24 adv./$27EisleyIt’s a family affair for this Texan quintet (three sisters, one brother, and their best friend), whose age and closeness inform their moody indie-pop harmonies. Lovedrug and Pilotdrift open. El Corazon, 7 p.m. $10 adv./12