[Thursday, November 20] If David Byrne and Brian Eno collaborated with Animal Collective, you might expect a sound like YeasayeraE™s: with vocal harmonies, complex and ornate instrumentation, electronic accompaniment and clear Eastern influences. In 2007, this Brooklyn-based quartet released their debut LP, All Hour Cymbals, bringing the future and the distant past together in an awkward, yet comforting postmodern embrace. One day I picture them giving a guest sermon at ByrneaE™s church of evangelical atheists. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467. 8 p.m., $15. Listen to 2080.

[Thursday, November 20] Now that wonderfully overblown pomposity like power metal and progressive metal are back in vogue, Iced Earth is finally getting love from those longhairs who didnaE™t stop buying records in 1987. And thataE™s a good thing, because the groupaE™s new album, The Crucible of Man: Something Wicked Part 2, totally rules. Oh sure, I donaE™t know what in hell theyaE™re ranting about (something about the Antichrist and how he corrupts mankind for 2,000 straight years), but that the narrative takes a backseat to the albumaE™s overall sound. With Earlyman, HMP, Vigilance. Studio Seven, 110 S. Horton St., 286-1312. 7 p.m., $28 adv., $30 dos. All ages. Listen to Minions of the Watch.

[Thursday, November 20] Last year, married North Carolinians Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp aE“ better known as The Rosebuds aE“ delivered a terrific album of dark, stylish, synth-heavy pop (Night of the Furies) that merged ominous imagery with HowardaE™s nocturnal guitar, CrispaE™s jaunty keys, and the pairaE™s dramatic vocal interplay in a manner that suggested early Cure combined with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. TheyaE™ve somehow managed to one-up that disc with the stunning new Life Like aE“ impeccably crafted, itaE™s even more seductive and atmospheric than its predecessor; still lyrically obsessed with trouble and strife, yet packed with plenty of sweet melodies. With No Kids, The Kindness Kind. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 9 p.m., $10. Listen to Blue Bird.

[Friday, November 21] Pit Er Pat plays like a jazzy Portishead revamp, with the chilly female vocals recast in a rain forest of jungle beats and sweltering rhythms. Fay Davis-Jeffers brings a torch-singer vibe to highly flammable backdrops, igniting dub reggae, brassy lounge funk and organ-mellowed garage rock. On its new release High Times, the Chicago-based trio empties its exotic-instrument arsenal, employing bells, bongos, cuica (think of that odd laughing-chimp sound in BeckaE™s aEœTropicaliaaE) and a wide array of shaken/clapped percussive devices. ItaE™s unclear how much room the group left in the van for all the toys, but these songs would remain seductive even if stripped to their keys/bass/drums core. With Tinsel. The Vera Project, Seattle Center, Warren Ave. N. and Republican. 7:30 p.m., $8. All ages.

[Saturday, November 22] Before Master P popped his trunk and started distributing his albums direct to the streets, there was Too Short. Before 50 Cent declared, aEœIaE™m a motherfucking p-i-m-p,aE there was Too Short. And before Jay-Z announced his retirement, only to return like the Ghost of Christmas Past, there was Too Short, resurfacing just three years after the release of his aEœfinalaE album in 1996. Since then, heaE™s released a slew of albums. All praise the Mac. Studio Seven, 110 S. Horton St., 286-1312. 8 p.m., $35. Listen to I AinaE™t TrippinaE™ (Remix).

[Saturday, November 22] Brothers and Sisters is an Austin based six-piece that plays indie rock combined with a mix of AM sunshine pop and disco. Their second full-length, Fortunately, is an oldie/indie hybrid that harkens back to Simon and Garfunkel, the Byrds and ABBA. Brothers and SistersaE™ songs usually lean more towards tradition than experimentation, and nostalgia is a guiding force in their work, instrumentally and lyrically. With the Warm Gun. Comet Tavern, 922 E. Pike St., 323-9853. 7 p.m., $7. Listen to One Night.

[Saturday, November 22] Like it fast, loud and dirty? So do the Whore Moans. After self-released Wizard House debut Watch Out For This Thing knocked our socks (and slipped our panties) right off, The CopsaE™ frontman Mike Jaworski approached the Whore Moans about releasing their next album, a sexy little gem called Hello From the Radio Wasteland, on his label, Mt. Fuji Records. No sophomore slump here; just a second rock-hard helping of This Thing’s garage punk, garnished with drrty Delta blues (listen to No Soul if you don’t believe me) and slathered in saucy smut. Mmmmm. Delicious. With the Hands, Wild Orchid Children. King Cobra, 916 E. Pike St. 9 p.m., $7. Listen to X-Ray Eyes.

[Sunday, November 23] Immortal Technique is not gentle with his politics, his lyrics, or his beats. In aEœFreedom of SpeechaE he raps: aEœI guess to America I’m a disaster/A slave that was destined to own his masters.aE If street cred were a numbers game, fivethirtyeight.com might put Immortal Technique near the top. Born in Peru and raised in Harlem, educated in hip-hop as a battle rapper, he released Revolutionary, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 without major label support. His latest effort, The 3rd World, is a mixtape collaboration with DJ Green Lantern, and itaE™s just as furious an indictment of American politics as the Revolutionary albums were. With Hasan Salaam, Poison Pen, Mic Crenshaw. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467. 8 p.m., $18 adv. All ages. Listen to The 4th Branch.

[Monday, November 24] Yes. Blues Traveler is still around. Long ago frontman John Popper graduated from the more-is-more school of blues-rock jamming, his dissertation a seven-minute harmonica solo tucked into a 23-minute jam about a sweet-talking hippie. Honestly, I owe these guys for making my 9th-grade year infinitely more tolerable. Their brilliant Travelers and Thieves gave my fourteen-year-old self scads of lines to mull over during those crappy bus rides, back when the world still had a place for a good harmonica solo. With Shurman. Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151. 7 p.m., $25. Listen to Run Around.

[Tuesday, November 25] IaE™ll wager that if you put all the aEœwolfaE bands in a room and let them fight to the death, the last two standing over the corpses of Wolfmother, Wolf Parade, Steppenwolf, Guitar Wolf, et al. would be MontrealaE™s AIDS Wolf and DetroitaE™s Wolf Eyes. The most vicious, scary, and bloodthirsty of the bunch, both are noise bands extraordinaire, and while neither is particularly enjoyable to listen to on your iPod while riding the bus (unless you truly loathe yourself), theyaE™re pretty fascinating and enjoyable aE“ in that extreme assault to your senses and sensibilities kind of way aE“ in a live setting. But thataE™s okay. In the noise game, everybody wins. Or loses. Or something. Bring earplugs. With Arrington de Dionyso, Midwife. The Vera Project, Seattle Center, Warren Ave. N. and Republican. 7:30 p.m., $9. All ages. Listen to Tied Up In Paper.