[Thursday, July 31] Shai Hulud debuted with 1997aE™s Profound Hatred of Man, and judging by this yearaE™s Misanthropy Pure, they havenaE™t exactly altered their lyrical approach. The group hasnaE™t really tinkered with its sound, either, though metalcore has changed significantly over the past decade. With the Medic Droid, Innerpartysystem, the White Tie Affair. El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., 381-3094. 7 p.m., $13 adv, $15 dos. All ages. Listen to Misanthropy Pure.

[Friday, August 1] Although his voice is slightly more gritty and assertive than Sam BeamaE™s, Seattle singer-songwriter Rocky VotolatoaE™s music has evolved in a manner similar to Iron & Wine over the past few years aE“ going from sparse acoustic guitar-and-voice arrangements to something far more fleshed-out. That is, lush indie-folk thickened with organ and banjo and lots more guitar. With Owen, Nazca Lines. NeumoaE™s, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467. 8 p.m., $13 adv. All ages. Listen to Postcard from Kentucky.

[Saturday, August 2] The good thing about having been in a band in the past is that you already know how to tour. Zak SallyaE”formerly of Minnesota band LowaE”is hitting the road with his pal Nate Denver. Together, theyaE™ll be lugging guitars, amps, and boxes of fresh comics for a limited run up the West Coast. His vocalsaE”heavy on mid-80s moodinessaE”are syrupy enough to make it all come together like a little minor-key pop gem that got mistakenly left off the Left of the Dial compilation. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, 1201 S. Vale St., 658-0110. Music and book signing., 6 p.m. Listen to My Secret World.

[Saturday, August 2] Sultry rockabilly sweetheart Ruby Dee and her band of Snakehandlers are one of a small handful of unadulterated country acts SeattleaE”a city that never was known for its booming country sceneaE”can proudly call its own. Well, at least for another few months: Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers are packing up and moving to Austin at the end of the year. Which is a real shame, because their new album, Miles From Home, is one twangy gem right after the other, from rollicking rockabilly numbers to soulful ballads about (what else?) love lost. With the Rainieros, Kings of Outlaw Country. Bit Saloon, 4818 17th Ave. NW, 782-1680. 9 p.m., $8. Listen to DonaE™t Need a Man.

[Saturday, August 2] Duff McKaganaE™s Loaded sounds like the name of a Broadway revue complete with a medley of memorable bass lines and a jazzy dance number to aEœOne in a Million.aE The veteran rocker would even reenact scenes from GnRaE™s early years: But Axl, weaE™ve come too far to give up nowaE¦ But alas, D.M.L. is just another solid rock band from a dude whoaE™s been in many. With Guns & Rossetti, Girl Trouble, Red Jacket Mine, the I Love Myselfs. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880. 9 p.m., $8. Listen to SeattleHead.

[Saturday, August 2] Wonderfully named, idiosyncratic singer-songwriter Eef Barzelay aE“ whose approach has been described as aEœLou Reed singing Buddy Holly songsaE aE“ spent fifteen-odd years fronting the rootsy, sometimes rollicking Clem Snide before that band fell apart personally and creatively in recent years. But on his own, Eef scored last yearaE™s acclaimed indie flick Rocket Science, and just released his second solo offering, Lose Big, a fantastic collection of sharp, wry, understated indie-pop tunes. With Or, the Whale, Conrad Ford. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 9:30 p.m., $10. Listen to Ballad of Bitter Honey.

[Sunday, August 3] Ahhh, Drummers! Love ’em or hate ’em, these perpetual butts of musical jokes never get seem to get their due. Forever stuck in the background, they have the worst time loading in or out, get last pickins of the ladies, and if the spotlight were vitamin C, they’d all be dead of scurvy. That why it’s so awesome when they bust out of the Zildjian shackles and become kick ass front men, like The Little PenguinsaE™ Will Hauler. With Faunts, Patterns. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880. 9 p.m., $6. Listen to Say It Once.

[Sunday, August 3] If Elliott Smith were still aliveaE”and happy to be aliveaE”heaE™d make music like Joshua James, a native Nebraskan who now lives in Utah. ItaE™s sort of emo, but with the sunny side up, if that makes any sense. And thereaE™s a song about cocaine. She donaE™t lie. With Cory Chisel. Triple Door Mainstage, 216 Union St., 838-4333. 8 p.m., $10. Listen to Joshua JamesaE™ FM Radio.

[Monday, August 4] Jessica Lea Mayfield hails from a Rust Belt city in Ohio, and her connections are decidedly indie; her debut album, With Blasphemy, was produced by sometime-collaborator Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, and her languorous, understated, and often dark sound can best be described as Hope Sandoval meets Jim James meets Neko Case. With the Kin, Samantha Crain. Triple Door Mainstage, 216 Union St., 838-4333. 7:30 p.m., $12.50 adv, $15 dos. Listen to For Today.

[Tuesday, August 5] Given the physical rigors of playing in an insanely fast, ruthlessly technical band, itaE™s understandable that OriginaE™s members need an occasional sabbatical. Live, itaE™s almost impossible to process OriginaE™s velocity at first, but eventually patterns form in the chaos, and spectators reconcile the inhuman sounds with the ostensible mortals on stage. With Misery Index, Abysmal Dawn, Corporal Mortification, I Rot. Studio Seven, 110 S. Horton St., 286-1312. 7:30 p.m., $10 adv, $12 dos. Listen to Staring from the Abyss.