[Thursday, October 9] Hearing a band which has seasoned a record with peculiar instrumentation can cause one of two reactions in rock ‘n roll purists: 1) Immediate seizure of the opportunity to cite every musician that has ever employed a theremin, vibraphone, or kazoo since the beginning of recorded sound, or 2) exaggerated eye rolling coupled with exasperated sighs so overwrought you may fear them epileptic and not just snotty. Hardly Art’s latest darlings the Pica Beats, fronted by musical mastermind Ryan Barrett, make swelling, pretty songs tinged with ironic sadness that will bring back the taste of your first serious heartbreak. With Cock & Swan, the Curious Mystery. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8000. 8 p.m., $7. Listen to Poor Old Ra.

[Thursday, October 9] There are about nine zillion excellent shows in Rocktober, but having so many impressive underground acts on one bill just might be the best thing on the agenda, at least for music fans who like their art punk served straight from the garage or viewed through a kaleidoscope. Thee Oh Sees are a vital part of San FranciscoaE™s richly complex post-punk stew, swimming in psychedelic-flavored pop and garnished with enough fascinating racket to make you wonder if youaE™ve stumbled upon the soundtrack for a shootout between a plumbersaE™ union and a disgruntled pack of math rockers. With Ty Segall. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880. 9 p.m., $8. Listen to Ghost In The Trees.

[Friday, October 10] Amorphis shows play like a Finnish literary tutorial, with the group borrowing liberally from the country’s national epic the Kalevala. ItaE™s prime progressive-metal fodder, depicting heroic feats (a character must bridle the DemonaE™s horse and shoot the swan of the underworld) and hideous villains (a hag who steals the sun and moon from the sky). Historians credit the Kalevala with partially catalyzing the national awakening that led to Finland declaring independence from Russia. The exotic instrumentation only enhances the fantastical nature of AmorphisaE™ ancient tales, and Tomi Joutsen (singer since 2004) boasts a deep, rich voice perfect for poetry reading. With Samael, Virgin Black, Asema, Black Breath. El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., 381-3094. 7 p.m., $20 adv., $22 dos. All ages.

[Friday, October 10] IaE™d love to report that thereaE™s an Air Supply hipster revival kinda thing underway, but alas, there isnaE™t. At least none that IaE™ve caught wind of. Perhaps the Aussie-British groupaE™s infamous soft-rock is too toxic for even ironic appreciation or a aEœYacht RockaE spoofaE”after all, they were the antithesis of all things rock, the Kenny G of the late aE™70s and early aE™80s, the kind of group Musak producers thanked for making their job so easy. Emerald Queen Casino, 2102 Alexander, Tacoma, 253-594-7777. 8:30 p.m., $20-$40. Listen to All Out Of Love (Unplugged).

[Friday, October 10] Despite PitchforkaE™s sad puppy dog review of Partie Traumatic, Black Kids have met with success on a nonstop tour circuit. They’ve hit festivals like Glastonbury and Lollapalooza and toured with the likes of Cut Copy, Sons and Daughters, Kate Nash and a slew of others. Past live performances have received mixed feedback from the media peanut gallery, but the upbeat, electro-laden pop is a fun vibe to groove on, and danceable music is hard to hate outright. If you missed their Neumo’s appearance in April, here’s your second shot. With the Virgins, Man Plus. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467. 8 p.m., $15 adv. All ages. Listen to IaE™m Not Gonna teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You.

[Saturday, October 11] West Seattle isnaE™t exactly one of the cityaE™s live music hubs (I know, I live there), but thataE™s changing, and hereaE™s a big reason why: the Admiral Theater has begun hosting live shows in a space that can fit up to 400 people. TheyaE™re applying for a liquor license. And best of all, the theater is a three-minute walk from my house! Oh, joyous day! A healthy dose of noise and grit will shake up my yuppie neighborhood in a very good way. Plus, booker Dinah Brein pulled together a very solid, beautifully diverse line-up for the AdmiralaE™s first show: knee-slappinaE™ country concern (and new Gravewax records signees) Brent Amaker & the Rodeo headline, with support from melancholy folk band Panda & Angel and local rock darlings the Hands. With Animals At Night (DJ set) and host Troy Nelson. Admiral Theater, 2343 California Ave. S.W. 938-0785. 8 p.m., $10 adv., $15 dos. Listen to Give Me the Whiskey.

[Saturday, October 11] Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band came charging out of the gates surrounded by a cloud of self-made hype so thick and intoxicating that SeattleaE™s music community got completely swept up in it before anyone even heard the bandaE™s music. Which was the idea (specifically, guitarist Benjamin VerdoesaE™ idea). And it was a brilliant one. Now that the hypeaE™s died down a little, we should seriously ask ourselves: Was this band worth all the hullabaloo? Or was Seattle a little too taken in by what was, essentially, a brilliant marketing strategy cooked up by a band attempting to jump-start a career in a town saturated with talented, but essentially straightforward indie rock outfits like itself? With Super Secret Special Guest, the Ruby Suns, DJ Righteous Trash. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467. 8 p.m., $15 adv. Listen to Dull Reason.

[Sunday, October 12] Ill Bill grabbed the title of his new release The Hour of Reprisal from a Slayer song, and then devoted a track to a rhyming timeline of the groupaE™s career. Add cameo appearances from Killswitch Engage singer Howard Jones, Bad Brains and Soulfly growler Max Cavalera, and raprock-phobes might get a little antsy, especially since Ill Bill consorts with a known member of Limp Bizkit in his side-project La Coka Nostra. But that affiliate, DJ Lethal, started out in House of Pain, and Ill Bill’s grimy material resembles that crew’s gruff sound much more than it recalls nu metal. With Sean Price, Grayskul, Onry Ozzborn & the Gigantics, DJ Redheadone. El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., 381-3094. 7 p.m., $15 adv., $17 dos. All ages. Listen to Society is Brainwashed.

[Sunday, October 12] ItaE™s been about 25 years since Tucson, Arizona singer/multi-instrumentalist Howe Gelb slapped his Giant Sand moniker on a piece of vinyl and launched a career of atmospheric, sun-baked, Neil Young-inspired roots-rock, one thataE™s delivered nearly two dozen high-quality recordings and directly influenced legions of similarly styled artists. A few years ago, Giant SandaE™s longtime rhythm section departed to form another like-minded outfit, Calexico, but Gelb has kept the bandaE™s moody, elegantly addictive sound intact. With Chad VanGaalen. Triple Door Mainstage, 216 Union St., 838-4333. 7:30 p.m., $15 adv, $18 dos. Listen to Increment of Love.

[Tuesday, October 14] Forget the GorillazaE”MC Chris is the real cartoon character of hip-hop, and not just because he plays them on Cartoon Network. His voice has a shrill quality that sounds like the squeal ejected by those animated creatures in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, who, if youaE™ll recall, were dispatched by being dunked into a vat of acid. This, of course, is the kind of trivia that MC Chris fans will know, as his appeal falls squarely on the lenses of four-eyed geeks everywhere. If nerdcore has a king, heaE™s it. With Totally Michael, Beefy, DJ Ketchup. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8000. 8 p.m., $13 adv., $15 dos. All ages. Listen to Nrrrd Grrrl.