Friday, Dec. 26
For the Winter may be Brenda Xu’s second full-length, but it’s her first album as a Seattleite. The San Diego native relocated a few years ago and took some time off from making music to settle into the Pacific Northwest. And it would seem that break (from performing and sunny California) helped Xu shift her musical direction. For the Winter has a true singer/songwriter feel, but not as much as its predecessor, A Little Illusion. Xu is still accompanied by acoustic guitar, but Winter is more ambient and subdued, with Xu’s smoky voice sometimes as quiet as a whisper. I guess those dreary days are good for something. With & Yet, Local Strangers, Vanessa Small, Leanne Wilkins. Conor Byrne Pub, 5140 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-3640, conorbyrnepub.com. 9 p.m. $8. 21 and over.
After all the holiday gluttony, you could use a chance to stretch your legs and shimmy. It’s lucky, then, that Portland-based Prince tribute band Erotic City is in town. After 20 years of performing as the funk superstar, vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Julian Stefoni has the singer’s onstage presence down pat. The effortless guitar work, the oh-so-smooth dance moves, the iconic purple jacket: It’s all there. As are all of Prince’s biggest hits, including, of course, “Erotic City.” With the Fat Kids, DJ AC Lewis. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-4618, thecrocodile.com. 9 p.m. $12 adv./$15 DOS. 21 and over.
Jazz singer Sara Gazarek’s latest, Blossom & Bee, is a collection of covers (save for the title track and “Fly Away Birdie”), many by jazz singer and pianist Blossom Dearie. While the album shows Dearie’s far-reaching talent, it also showcases Gazarek’s vocal diversity. In classics like “Tea for Two” (from the musical No, No, Nanette) and “Down with Love” (from Hooray for What) or in more modern songs like Ben Folds’ “The Luckiest,” Gazarek’s voice shines. She even makes album closer “Unpack Your Adjectives” (yes, from Schoolhouse Rock) sound mature. The Seattle native, who now calls Los Angeles home, is an unassuming force to be reckoned with. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., 441-9729, jazzalley.com. Through Sunday. 7:30 p.m. (Also 9:30 p.m. on Fri. & Sat.) $30.50. All ages.
It’s a Christmas miracle! Both the over- and under-21 crowds will have a chance to check out the solid lineup of A Hip-Hop Holiday Special. The early show features Thaddeus David, who will no doubt perform tracks from his very recently released Parallels EP, and Grayskul—the trio of JFK, Onry Ozzborn, and Rob Castro—which combines futuristic beats with more day-to-day topics on Zenith. Headlining is the KnowMads, the duo of Tom Pepe and Tom Wilson, which just released a new EP of its own, Dominoes. The late show features the same lineup, with the addition of Don Dishes. Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St., 632-2020, nectarlounge.com. 5 p.m.: $10 adv./$12 DOS, all ages. 9 p.m.: $10 adv./$12 DOS, 21 and over.
S is one of those names that’s nearly impossible to Google without adding keywords like “band,” “Seattle,” and/or “Jenn Ghetto,” the alt-rocker behind the moniker. Trying to find information about the project can be frustrating, but hearing Cool Choices, Ghetto’s latest release as S, makes all the effort worth it. The Chris Walla–produced album finds Ghetto, formerly of Carissa’s Wierd, recalling the minimalist recording style that marked her first solo release, Sadstyle, by focusing primarily on guitar and vocals. But on Choices, Ghetto has filled out her sound with percussion, bass, and synth. It’s a small change, but it adds a lot of weight to the album. With The Dutchess & the Duke, Ephrata. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. 9 p.m. $10. 21 and over.
Saturday, Dec. 27
Seattle native Skerik, aka Eric Walton, is the epitome of a workaholic. His website lists a dozen bands as current projects, and the saxophonist has toured and performed with at least twice as many, including, Sadhappy, SUNN O)))), Master Musicians of Bukkake, Pearl Jam, and Ani DiFranco. The latest addition to Walton’s extensive discography is Muti, a four-song release as part of Critters Buggin, a quartet that defies boundaries with a fusion of jazz, electronica, rock, funk, and psych. With Rene Hart, Dawn Clement, D’Vonne Lewis. The Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave. S., 906-9920, theroyalroomseattle.com. 8 p.m. Donation. All ages until 10 p.m.
Ruler is yet another band name that requires a certain amount of web-search specificity. Typing it in on iTunes, for instance, returns a handful of measurement apps. Searching for “Matt Batey,” the man behind the music, brings up a single 2006 album, The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Yet based on “Unhindered Pace,” which Batey (also a member of Cataldo) released in October, Ruler (which also includes Cataldo’s Eric Anderson) pairs poppy vocal melodies with solid guitar hooks and a ton of percussion. With Chris Staples Band, Joseph Giant, Baron Carroll. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880, sunsettavern.com. 9 p.m. $8. 21 and over.
Whether you’re looking for a drummer for a gig or someone to teach you a thing or two about percussion, Brad Gibson is your man. The freelance drummer has worked with singers, musicians, film composers, and worship leaders and given lessons on drumming fundamentals. This year, he added two releases to his lengthy discography: I Did It for the Money with jazzy Americana septet Blvd Park and a self-titled collection of originals with Poontet, a psychedelic smooth-jazz six-piece. He leads the Brad Gibson Trio, featuring guitarist Ari Joshua and Joe Doria on keys, all performing tonight. The Triple Door’s Musicquarium, 216 Union St., 838-4333, thetripledoor.net. 10 p.m. Free. 21 and over.
Sunday, Dec. 28
Unconstructed Dream Space, the latest from Seattle rapper Astro King Phoenix, could not be more spot-on. Using sparse synths (sometimes bordering on the psychedelic) and layered vocal effects, Phoenix creates an album that sounds as though it has one foot in reality and the other in an ambient dreamland. Phoenix, born Aubrey Rhodes, majored in English with minors in philosophy and writing—which no doubt helps him create rhymes that come across more as stories than as songs, about issues such as feeling like he’s being controlled by someone else (“On a String”). Phoenix’s is a fresh perspective that’s sure to turn heads. With ZZ Top’s Drummer’s Drum Machine’s Manager’s Band, Dex Dynamite Saga. The Crocodile’s Back Bar. 8 p.m. $5. All ages.
