Thursday, Sept. 25

Contributing to Ornette Coleman’s earliest and most expansive experiments in free improvisation would alone have assured bassist Charlie Haden’s enduring prestige within the jazz community. But those recordings, made during the late 1950s and into the following decade, were only a part of the bassist’s work, which expanded to include cross-cultural efforts like his Liberation Music Orchestra and later ECM records endeavors. Haden died in July, and to commemorate his work, Birch Pereira and the Wayward Music Series have organized A Tribute to Charlie Haden, with an ensemble of area bassists and other musicians to play compositions Haden had a hand in writing. A large group is slated to appear; expect a wide-ranging selection of the man’s material. With John Seman, Paul Kemmish, Geoff Harper, Carmen Rothwell, Evan Flory-Barnes, David Michael Marcus, Jason Goessl, Ben Krulewitch, Seth Alexander, Scott Morning. Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., 789-1939, waywardmusic.org. 8 p.m. $5–$15 suggested donation. DAVE CANTOR

Friday, Sept. 26

Tom Morello has never been afraid to stand up for what he believes or use his platform as a world-renowned musician to raise awareness of social and political injustice. In the past, the Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave/Nightwatchman guitarist has protested the use of music in interrogations at Guantanamo Bay and performed at Occupy movements around the world. In 2002, he co-founded a nonprofit, Axis of Justice, with System of a Down’s Serj Tankian. Most recently, Morello has lent his voice to 15 Now, which seeks to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour across the U.S. For this show, an acoustic concert benefiting the organization, he shares the bill with Chris Cornell. Yeah, it’s sold out. With Subject to Downfall, The Missionary Position. El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., 262-0482, elcorazonseattle.com. 8 p.m. All ages. AZARIA C. PODPLESKY

In February, Daniel G. Harmann laid his band, The Trouble Starts, to rest to resurrect his solo career. Shortly after, he collaborated with Vox Mod on “New Concerns,” a EDM-oriented track in some contrast to his ex-band’s spacious post-rock sounds. “When you work with a band, you give a lot of yourself away,” he said in a recent interview, alluding to his new sonic direction. His solo work leans toward a more intimate, stripped-down sound—one he says “captures a place and time that hasn’t really changed”—and he just finished recording his first solo album in seven years, due out this spring. With Honeybear, Carrie Akre, Heidi Five Ash. High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., 632-0212, highdiveseattle.com. 8 p.m. $8 adv./$10 DOS. MICHAEL F. BERRY

Saturday, Sept. 27

Elton John doesn’t need marketing. If he announces a show, no matter where or when, odds are it’s going to be difficult to get your hands on a ticket. If he names his tour All the Hits, as he has for his current outing, that’s just a classic example of overselling. He could easily play a four-hour medley gig and still not get through all of his many hits. Certainly he will play “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Candle in the Wind,” “Rocket Man,” and “Tiny Dancer,” but will he get to “Crocodile Rock?” How about “Your Song” or “The Bitch Is Back?” No, wait, come back, Elton! Key Arena, 305 Harrison St., 684-7200, keyarena.com. 8 p.m. $50 and up. CORBIN REIFF

A few years back, the Canadians in the Constantines called it a day. Getting back together to commemorate the 11th anniversary of Shine a Light, the troupe’s first disc, which Sub Pop reissued in June, seems like an awkward reason for reuniting. But it’d be easy to guess that the twitchy coming-of-age songs that the Constantines raved up and slowly molded into surfeit-expressive rock stuff was more than a job. It likely served to define them as dudes. And coming back into the fold, regardless of the ravages of time, grants the ensemble not just another chance at self-examination, but fans an opportunity to look at what the music means 11 years later. With Constant Lovers, Dreamsalon. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442, neumos.com. 
8 p.m. $20. DC

After the success of its debut album, 2012’s Kids Raising Kids—which featured the undeniably hip-shaking number “Heartbeat” (and its hilarious accompanying video) and rockers like “Wandering Eyes”—the indie-rock Kopecky Family Band is ready for the next thing. Fortunately it has a new album coming out this spring, and though singer Kelsey Kopecky says the album might be a bit of a curveball for some fans, she hopes people will come along for the ride. “That’s something I always fear when I like a band,” she says. “They’re happy about this record they created differently, so what does that mean? Are they going to lose that special thing I loved about them? I get that, but we’re definitely still the same band.” With Avid Dancer. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. 9 p.m. $10. 21 and over. BRIAN PALMER

Sunday, Sept. 28

Pinback’s Rob Crow is a sort of an inhumanly multi-talented chap. While half the core duo of Pinback with bassist Zach Smith, Crow keeps himself busy with several other worthy side projects and solo releases, most notably his doomy stoner-metal project Goblin Cock. Somehow he still finds time for his beloved indie-pop outfit, which seems to play bigger venues each time it hits Seattle. While some fans don’t like the high-energy songs the band is known to perform live—as opposed to its more melancholy studio versions—on-the-fence fans should still check it out, especially since this stop will include the classic album Summer in Abbadon, released 10 years ago this year, played in its entirety. With Tera Melos. The Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151, showboxpresents.com. 7 p.m. $18.50 adv./$22 DOS. All ages. JAMES BALLINGER

Monday, Sept. 29

Complete Surrender, the latest album from Slow Club, the English duo of Charles Watson and Rebecca Taylor, is a bit like a Choose Your Own Adventure book. While sharing vocal duties, the pair presents several musical options for listeners. For fans of ’60s pop, there are tunes like “Tears of Joy” and “The Pieces.” Those in the mood for something more melancholy should check out “Paraguay and Panama” and “Dependable People and Things That I’m Sure Of,” while those looking for a new take on bluesy soul will appreciate the title track and “Suffering You, Suffering Me.” Despite the variety, Complete Surrender doesn’t sound disjointed; Watson’s bright voice and Taylor’s powerful vocals tie everything together. With Roses, Hibou. Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9951, thebarboza.com. 8 p.m. $12 adv. 21 and over. ACP

Living Colour stood out as a lone prominent black voice amid the heavily whitewashed metal scene of the late 1980s. Its unique sound came from a mild infusion of funk into the genre’s crunchy, distorted riffs and hypermasculine guitar solos. The band’s touring to celebrate its 30th anniversary, and a new album, Shade, its first since 2009, is due later this fall; it draws inspiration from the blues of Robert Johnson and Led Zeppelin. Opening act Ayron Jones and The Way, proteges of Sir Mix-A-Lot, seem like natural heirs to the throne. The Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, thetripledoor.net. 7:30 p.m. $35 adv./$40 DOS. All ages. MFB