Wednesday, August 17Cowboy JunkiesWhat a coincidence—this show will occur the day after the Junkies’ new album, Early 21st Century Blues (Zoe) is released. It sounds like their other albums, pretty much, in case you wondered—which means that some folks will find it very seductive and others, very sedative. Woodland Park Zoo, 601 N. 59th St., 206-651-0076, 5 p.m. $19Johnny CleggOne of the first South African performers to go international, as much for his backstory (white countryman battles apartheid) as for the music itself, which tended toward the mild. He’s easy enough to like, though, and is renowned for his energetic live show. Triple Door, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $30Thursday, August 18DJ Jeppe LaursenJeppe (pronounced “yep-puh”) Laursen is the not-so-ambiguously gay half of Danish dance-pop duo Junior Senior, whose 2002 single “Move Your Feet” rocked countless dance floors. Following an early-evening Dandy Warhols CD release party, Laursen (along with DJs F.I.T.S. and Blue Blue Day) will get the real one started. War Room, 11 p.m. $8Math and Physics ClubFast becoming the most beloved twee-pop band in town, M&PC couldn’t have picked a more appropriate place to, you know, show off their arty side. Cough, cough. Seattle Art Museum, 100 University St., 206-654-3100, 6 p.m. FreeFriday, August 19BTBT hasn’t composed a trance song as gorgeous as “Godspeed” since 2000, when his overexuberant live show already had us gagging. But if the man’s cheese, he’s a cave-aged gruyere: nutty and slightly elegant, but common enough for the masses to love. He’ll perform a “Laptop Symphony Remix” set with Eva and DJ Mb. Element, 9 p.m. $17 adv./$22Dave Matthews Band + North Mississippi AllstarsAnother year, another Gorge stand from the modestly superstarry headliners; this time, they brought along one of Matthews’ signings to his ATO label to open. Given the NMSAS’s predilection for getting loose, it’s a good match. Gorge Amphitheatre, 754 Silica Rd. N.W., George, 4 p.m. $48–$60. Also Sat., Aug. 20–Sun. Aug. 21.Gus GusIcelandic proprietors of sexy electro-soul take a break from crafting albums to DJ house, disco, and “other delights” at hot spots ’round the world. Lucky us. DJ Colby B also spins. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $10Ian McFeron BandHe’s not always our cup of tea, but McFeron bears watching—his audience is growing steadily, he’s got serious rapport with them, and his stuff is close enough stylistically to the megashow playing in George (see above) that folks who like the type but prefer cozy environs might want to check him out. Thomas Cunningham opens. Triple Door, 8 p.m. $10 adv./$12Saturday, August 20Charming Snakes + Gorch Foch + Tia CarreraThe Charming Snakes sound like Seattle (garage vibes with Sonic Youth appeal and some art thrown in on the side), but they’re from Austin—as are their friends on this bill, who sound like their own homebase in that Keep-Austin-Weird sort of way. Butthole Surfers fans: This could be good. The Comet, 9 p.m. $5Dinosaur Jr. + Love as Laughter + AlaskaSEE FEATURE, P. 49. Showbox, 8 p.m. $25 adv./$30Eastlake Shake: Wesafari + Optimus Rhyme + Spanish for 100 + the Look + RA Scion + Pistol Star + Love Hotel + the Western States + Slender MeansThis talent-packed free fest features hot up-and-comers Spanish for 100 and Wesafari, and a dose of hip-hop (Optimus Rhyme, RA Scion) that was oddly lacking at another recent neighborhood bash. Seward School/Rogers Playfield, 2500 Franklin Ave. E., Noon. FreeEngine Down + These Arms are SnakesA friend once recently referred to TAAS as “karate emo,” which is part of their splenetic appeal—last we saw, they moved around plenty, and they’ve got the music to do it to. Bella Lea and Des Ark (former Denali members) open. VERA Project, 7:30 p.m. $8 ($7 w/club card)The FemursSunday Night Blackout and the Dead People are headlining, but you won’t regret skipping your pre-func for openers the Femurs. Light-hearted but literate and pop without being obnoxious, this duo is the closest thing Seattle’s got to the Violent Femmes. Funhouse, 7 p.m. $5Natasha Bedingfield (CD release)The younger sister of relatively brisk Brit phenom Daniel, Natasha’s got as much moxie and more hooks on her debut, Unwritten (Sony). She appears here as part of Girl4Girl, with DJ Ricki Leigh. Premier, 7 p.m. $10The Makers (CD release) + the Minus 5Good match between this pair of pop-rock local heroes, with the Makers celebrating the release of their new CD, Everybody Rise (Kill Rock Stars). Jeremy Wilson of Dharma Bums opens. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $8 adv./$10The WalkaboutsCatch everyone’s favorite local gothic romantic folksters at everyone’s favorite Georgetown Record store. About to embark on their European tour, the Walkabouts will be readying their touring set in this fantastically industrial-retro environment. With Jonah Cohen. Georgetown Records, 1201 S. Vale St., 7 p.m. FreeSunday, August 21Cass McCombsSinger-songwriter McCombs’ lazy drawl and somber moods evoke strange comparisons to Bob Dylan and Echo and the Bunnymen. Tonight he supports his 4AD full-length PREfection with Mt. Egypt and Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. Crocodile Cafe, 8 p.m. $8Erin McKeownOne of the pithier, funnier young folkies out there, McKeown tours in support of her new We Will Become Like Birds (Nettwerk). Kris Delmhorst opens. Tractor Tavern, 8 p.m. $13 adv./$15Monday, August 22The New PornographersSEE TALK TALK, P. 53. Sonic Boom Ballard, 2209 N.W. Market St., 206-207-2666, 11 p.m. FreeTuesday, August 23Eddie PalmieriSEE CD REVIEW, P. 60. Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 7:30 p.m. $22.50–$24.50Rebecca GatesThe husky voice behind the defunct Spinanes, Gates played stripped-down selections from her Ruby Sessions at the same venue last summer, a performance it seems she’ll unfortunately repeat just once yearly. Tractor Tavern, 9 p.m. $8 adv./$10Res + ChoklateIt’s been four years since the new-wavey R&B of How I Do introduced this Philadelphia singer, but despite a modest hit with “Golden Boys,” she remains somewhat obscure. We haven’t heard of anything new, but now that she’s on the road let’s hope there is something forthcoming. Choklate opens. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $12.50 adv. EUPCOMING SHOWSAug 24 John Mellancamp + John Fogerty, White River AmphitheatreAug 24 Los Lobos, Woodland Park ZooAug 25 Susan Tedeschi, South Lake Union ParkAug 26 (smog), Neumo’sAug 26 Ben Folds + Rufus Wainwright + Ben Lee, Chateau Ste. MichelleAug 26 Trio, South Lake Union ParkAug 27 James Taylor, Gorge AmphitheatreAug 27 Tracy Byrd, Emerald Queen CasinoAug 27 Galactic + the Consul, ShowboxAug 27–28 Shellac + Scout Niblett, Neumo’sAug 28 Brian Wilson, Paramount TheatreAug 28 Neko Case + Laura Veirs, Woodland Park ZooAug 29 Pam & Mel Tillis, Evergreen State FairAug 30 Blue Oyster Cult, Evergreen State FairAug 31 Earth, Wind & Fire + Chicago, White River AmphitheatreAug 31 Taj Mahal Trio, Woodland Park ZooSept 1 Fabio + Grooverider, Chop SueySept 1 Pearl Jam, Gorge AmphitheatreSept 1 Tanya Tucker, Skagit Valley CasinoSept 2–5 Bumbershoot, Seattle CenterSept 2 The New Pornographers, ShowboxSept 2 Crosby, Stills & Nash, Chateau Ste. MichelleSept 2–3 Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers + Black Crowes, Gorge AmphitheatreSept 3 Bill Engvall, Tulalip AmphitheatreSept 4 Crosby, Stills & Nash, Maryhill AmphitheatreSept 8 Tori Amos, Chateau Ste. Michelle