WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Ladyhawke Four years after Pip Brown’s self-titled debut as Ladyhawke led to a New Zealand Music Award for Breakthrough Artist, her synth-pop act released Anxiety in May. With American Royalty. Barboza, 925 E. Pike, 709-9951, thebarboza.com. 8 p.m. $15.
Syas This Seattle quartet’s churning, atmospheric tunes bear a distinct post-rock influence. With the Last Temptations, Sea of Misinformation. High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., 632-0212, highdiveseattle.com. 8 p.m. $6.
Yogoman Burning Band Named after a comic-book character and inspired by the music of Jamaica, this Bellingham ska group has performed with artists as disparate as Iron and Wine and Blue Scholars. With Mts. & Tunnels, Day Laborers, and Petty Intellectuals. Tractor Tavern, 5231 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. 9 p.m. $7.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Black Prairie This Portland progressive string band has more star power than your average bluegrass act—60 percent of its members play in the Decemberists. With Shelley Short, Darren Hanlon. Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, thetripledoor.net. 7:30 p.m. $15. All ages.
Don’t Talk to the Cops This eclectic hip-hop/b-boy group headlines a diverse bill of local hip-hop, with Cloud Nice MC Jarv Dee and thoroughly blunted beat-maker Keyboard Kid on the undercard. With ShowYouSuck, Ronnie Voice. Vera Project, 305 Harrison St., 956-8372, theveraproject.org. 7:30 p.m. $8. All ages.
The Staxx Brothers This local seven-piece blends hip-hop, funk, and Motown on Jungle Cat, its third album. With Radio Raheem. Barboza. 8 p.m. $12.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Dispatch True to its egalitarian principles, this roots-rock three-piece is offering concertgoers a free download of the live audio from this show. The Moore, 1931 Second Ave., 467-5510, stgpresents.com. 8 p.m. $41. All ages.
Onry Ozzborn Along with Chicago producer Alex Zavala, Ozzborn quietly recently created one of the year’s best local hip-hop albums as Dark Time Sunshine. ANX, the duo’s sophomore effort, abounds with heady beats and spacey flourishes. This show will give him the opportunity to display his equally solid solo material. With Rob Castro, Wolf Hotel, Mr. Hill, JFK, Smoke, Gash, Bishop I, Destro, Azrael, Lojique, Audio Dose Crew. Columbia City Theater, 4918 Rainier Ave. S., 723-0088, columbiacitytheater.com. 8 p.m. $7 adv./$10 DOS.
Picoso Growing from a group of street performers into a seven-piece band, Picoso blends Afro-Latin jazz with reggaeton and salsa. With Thione Diop’s Afro Groove, DJ Chilly. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-7416, thecrocodile.com. 8 p.m. $8.
Serj Tankian Best known as the frontman of nu-metal act System of a Down, Tankian is also a published author: He’s released two books of poetry, most recently last year’s Glaring Through Oblivion. With Viza, The Mother’s Anger. Showbox Market, 1700 First Ave. S., 652-0444, showboxonline.com. 8 p.m. $25 adv./$30 DOS. All ages.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Brent Amaker & The Rodeo The latest from the steely-voiced Amaker and his self-styled “country new-wave” band is Please Stand By. With Fox and the Law, NighTrain. Columbia City Theater. 9 p.m. $8 adv./$10 DOS.
Case Studies This new project from Jesse Lortz (The Duchess and the Duke) released its debut, The World Is Just a Void to Fill the Space, last year on venerable indie label Sacred Bones. With Hume. Vera Project. 7:30 p.m. $9. All ages.
The Pharmacy It’s been a big 2012 for this local garage-pop trio, which has played Bumbershoot, been written up in The New Yorker, and released the excellent Dig Your Grave EP earlier this year. With Natural Child, Warm Soda, Dude York. Comet Tavern, 922 E. Pike St., 322-9272, comettavern.com. 9 p.m. $8.
The Raveonettes Earlier this month, the dark Danish duo of Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo released their sixth album, Observator, a collection of songs inspired by a drug-and-alcohol bender that Wagner fell into after after suffering a back injury and a bout of depression. With Melody’s Echo Chamber. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442. 8 p.m. $18.
Tulsi Though Tulsi’s most recent project—a concept EP called Burn Me Down, released under the pseudonym Daydream Johnny—isn’t overly adventurous past its multimedia concept, its presentation should be interesting, and hopefully will involve some fabulously greased-out costumes. With The Gnu Deal, Graves 33, Specs One, DJ Able, DJ Modul8r. Nectar, 412 N. 36th St., 632-2020, nectarlounge.com. 8 p.m. $8.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Friends and Family This family-sized group (eight members, if its press photo is to be believed) plays quirky, theatrical indie pop. With the Hoot Hoots, Yet. The Crocodile. 8 p.m. $8. All ages.
Matisyahu & The Dirty Heads Everyone’s favorite Hasidic Jewish reggae artist recently caused a minor controversy by filming a promotional video for a new single in which he appears clean-shaven and without a yarmulke. July’s Spark Seeker is his first album under the new aesthetic. With Pacific Dub. The Moore. 7:30 p.m. $27.50 adv./$37.50 DOS. All ages.
Ringo Deathstarr Bands who brand themselves “shoegaze” are as common as Wayfarers at a music festival, but this Austin, Texas, four-piece stands out from the pack with its droning, abrasive take on the genre. With Black Nite Crash, Vibragun, Jetman Jet Team. Comet Tavern. 9 p.m. $8.
Zambri This duo’s steady aggregation of blog hype is hardly surprising, as it has a near-perfect formula: a semi-gimmicky band setup (twin sisters Cristi Jo and Jessica Zambri) coupled with a post-chillwave sound that lends itself to mp3 embeds. April’s House of Baasa is gothic-tinged electropop anchored by the Zambri sisters’ sultry vocals. With Song Sparrow Research, Hooves and Beak. Tractor Tavern. 8 p.m. $8 adv./$10 DOS.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Blicky This local trio plays tightly wound post-punk with a tinge of electronica. With Blackpool Astronomy, XY Beautiful. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880, sunsettavern.com. 9 p.m. $7.
Cuchillo The latest from this Spanish psychedelic band is January’s Encanto EP. With Magic Mirror, Guitars. Comet Tavern. 9 p.m. $7.
Tegan & Sara The Calgary indie-rocking twins have recently been dipping into electronic music, appearing on songs with Morgan Page and David Guetta; they’re currently touring in support of their Juno Award–nominated concert DVD, Get Along. With SPEAK. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 877-784-4849. 8 p.m. $35. All ages.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Communist Daughter Hailing from the Midwest and sharing its name with a Neutral Milk Hotel song, this group plays harmony-rich folk music. With Terrible Buttons, Tuktu. Sunset Tavern. 9 p.m. $6.
Zach Fleury An accomplished local session player who has collaborated with the likes of Macklemore, Fences, and Allen Stone, acoustic songwriter Fleury will release his debut album, Be Still, Neverland, Egypt, at this show. With Le Wrens, Amanda Sue Winterhalter. Triple Door. 7:30 p.m. $12 adv./$15 DOS. All ages.
Furthur: Phil Lesh & Bob Weir Are you grateful that Washington Mutual is dead? Then this show will leave you conflicted, as the “theater” south of CenturyLink inexplicably still bears the failed bank’s name. Either way, Phil’s still got perfect pitch. WaMu Theater, 800 Occidental Ave. S., 800-745-3000, wamutheater.com. 7:30 p.m. $59.50 adv./$65 DOS. All ages.
