Wednesday, September 20

Banco de Gaia Soundsystem

If you’ve ever cocked an ear for Freaky Chakra, Natacha Atlas, Goa trance, or spaced-out, dubwise beats, then you probably already know about Toby Marks, who’s been making magical sounds since the post-acid house explosion in early-’90s England. He’s back with a new album, Farewell Ferengistan, on Six Degrees. KJ Sawka, DJ Anup. Nectar, 10 p.m. $8

Night Canopy + Whalebones

We’ve been visiting Night Canopy’s Myspace page every day for weeks. We can’t get enough of Amy Blaschke’s chilly, robust voice crooning “Signs of Life,” hands-down one of our new wintry pop favorites. We think you’ll agree. Featuring Nick DeWitt of Pretty Girls Make Graves and Jenny Jimenez of the Catch. Neumo’s Bad Juju Lounge, 8 p.m. NC

P.F. Sloan + John Ramberg

That’s right, buddy! Philip Gary Schlein (P.F. Sloan) is back; the man who wrote “Eve of Destruction” and “Secret Agent Man”! His latest album, Sailover, is a mix of old and newer material, which finds him teamed with Frank Black, Buddy Miller, and Lucinda Williams, of all people. While it has garnered some very favorable reviews, others have said it would have made a better tribute album. Either way, it’s still worth checking out considering the guy only releases records once every decade or so. Tractor Tavern, 9 p.m. $12

DJ Shadow + Lateef

SEE FEATURE, P. 44. Showbox, 8 p.m. $30

Thursday, September 21

Dark Side of the Sun (Pink Floyd Tribute): Cantona + Pleasurecraft + Central Services + the Zero Points + the Drug Purse + Mono in VCF

Featuring two members of Puget Sound popsters the Math and Physics Club, Central Services just released their self-titled full length. While they pack in the same knack for vocal harmonies and Euro-pop hooks, Central Services steps up the influence of ’60s American pop, recalling the Turtles. Sunset Tavern, 9 p.m. $7

James Murphy vs. Juan Maclean

Godzilla vs. Ghidra, Coke vs. Pepsi, Man vs. Machine, Murphy vs. Maclean? Are their arsenals really that different? The DFA honcho (Murphy) and one of his progressively funky label’s most successful artists (also a former member of Six Finger Satellite) duke it out with robot rock rhythms that we hope aren’t LCD. With Colby B. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $10

Shake the Shack Rockabilly Ball: Knut Bell and the Blue Collars + Lustre Kings + Eddie Angel + Dragstrip Riot

SEE BARSTOOL BLUES, P. 44. Tractor Tavern, 8 p.m. $15/$40 weekend pass

Two Gallants

This San Francisco punk/folk duo takes their name from a James Joyce story, which should tell you something about their intimate, Southern-flavored storytelling. They’ve also been described as “sensitive and poetic cowboys.” Ride on! With Langhorne Slim and Trainwreck Riders. Crocodile Cafe, 8 p.m. $10 All ages

Friday, September 22

A-Frames + Unnatural Helpers

The Funhouse + the A-Frames: What’s more Seattle than that? The Funhouse + the A-Frames + the Unnatural Helpers, who’ve been called a “local supergroup” in these pages before. Plus, the A-Frames embark on a tour o’ Europe after this show, so if you need yr fix, get it now. Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $6

Cancer Rising + Tennis Pro + the Saturday Knights + Big Digits

You can’t rightfully call the Saturday Knights a hip-hop band. They’re a goddamn party band built out of blues, gospel, and straight-up rock riffs. True, they specialize in hip-hop, but the boys in Saturday Knights will tell you all they wanna do is make you have a good time. High Dive, 10 p.m. $6

Fremont Oktoberfest

Musical acts at this year’s three-day celebration of all things beer include Dudley Manlove Quartet, Anna Coogan and North 19, Helio Sequence, Aqueduct, Viva Voce, Siberian, Cancer Rising, Siren’s Sister, J. Tillman, the Catch, Maggie’s Fury, and DJ Mr. Littlejeans. Fremont Avenue North and 34th Avenue North, 206-633-0422. Also Sat., Sept. 23–Sun., Sept. 24

Pigeon John + Busdriver + Akrobatik + Caural

Celebrating his Quannum debut Pigeon John . . . And the Summertime Pool Party and preparing for a tour with Cut Chemist and Lyrics Born, John appears tonight with a three-piece band, able lyrical supporters, and plenty of good-humored, intelligent hip-hop. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $12

Shake the Shack Rockabilly Ball: The Neanderthals + Betsy-Dawn Williams + Thirteen Stars + the Black Crabs

SEE BARSTOOL BLUES, P. 44. Tractor Tavern, 8 p.m. $15/$40 weekend pass

Saturday, September 23

Seafaring Family Fun Days

Ahoy, mate! These two days are filled with enough flotsam and jetsam to keep any nautically fascinated landlubber busy. Saturday includes musical guests Seattle Ukelele Players, Mariide, Songs of the Sea, Chris Roe, Sanger and Didele, Steve Lalor, Trapper Graves, the Cutters, and Capt. Matt and Tugboat. Sunday, catch Songs of the Sea, Watch the Sky!, J.W. Sparrow, Dan Roberts and Steve Akerman. South Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave. N., 448-0707, 10:30 a.m. NC. Also Sun., Sept. 24, 11 a.m.

Shake the Shack Rockabilly Ball: Johnny Mercury + Jeff Potter + Marti Brom + Crazy Joe and the Mad River Outlaws

SEE BARSTOOL BLUES, P. 44. Tractor Tavern, 8 p.m. $15/$40 weekend pass

USA Is a Monster

SEE FEATURE, P. 64. Sunset Tavern, 6 p.m. All ages with No-Fi Soul Rebellion, 9 p.m. with Holy Ghost Revival and Forrest Friends, $6

Sunday, September 24

Alias and Tarsier + Astronautalis + Truckasaurus

Alias has made some great electronica-laced hip-hop for Anticon., and his latest project is a collaboration with musician and vocalist Tarsier, the pair of which came through earlier this summer. Joined for this round is Astronautalis, a rising star who’s “trying to be the Van Morrison of this rap shit” (and who we used to see silence a roomful of dudes as a high-school kid at open mike night!). Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $8 Also at Easy Street Records, 20 Mercer St., 691-3279, 3 p.m. NC

Deadboy and the Elephantmen + the Pink Mountaintops + the Trucks

Bellingham’s sassy, saucy Trucks release their Faux Play CD tonight alongside the Black Mountain side project and Deadboy, who made an impression on a Sasquatch side stage this year. Crocodile Cafe, 8 p.m. $10

Zanzibar’s Legendary Culture Musical Club

You won’t find a more unique musical option in town tonight than this: 13 musicians and dancers considered to be Zanzibar’s finest exponents of taarab, a blend of Arabian and East African sounds that involves violins, zither, lutes, drums, and accordion. Kenyan signer Amina is a guest vocalist on the Musical Club’s only West Coast date of their tour. Town Hall, 7:30 p.m. $25

Monday, September 25

Mojave 3 + Brightblack Morning Light

SEE FEATURE [Brightblack], P. 46. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $15

Tuesday, September 26

DJ Krush + Sun Tzu Sound

SEE FEATURE [DJ Krush], P. 63. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $15 E