Wednesday, August 20

If today’s music is overly manicured for your tastes, old-school Beck is like stripping off your business suit, donning some pungent plaid shirts, growing some socially questionable facial or body hair, and shrugging off pedestrian conventions without a care. As a young artist, Beck’s genius lay in his subversively casual blend of funk, rock, folk, pop, hip-hop, and country. The man pranced around the stratification of musical genres with an ease that artists have imitated ever since. Stoners and squares alike in the ’90s united behind his anthems to life as a beta male, like “Loser,” “The New Pollution,” “Where It’s At,” and “Devil’s Haircut.” Somewhere along the way, the guttural, self-amused stoner of the ’90s grew up, made a hell of a lot of money, got a haircut, and began singing soulfully from the diaphragm. Not to denigrate this musically bankable latest album, Morning Phase, but die-hard fans may be a bit disappointed with the change of tone, and songs from it will provide some pleasant—if sleepy—interludes for his quirky earlier hits. With Jenny Lewis. Marymoor Park, 6046 W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy. N.E., Redmond, 205-3661, marymoorconcerts.com. 7 p.m. $54.50–$79.50. All ages. JENNA NAND

Did you know LeAnn Rimes released an album last year? If you didn’t, you’re not alone. In recent years, Rimes’ love life (which includes a divorce, an affair, a second marriage to actor Eddie Cibrian, and a rumored feud with his ex) has overshadowed her career. Which is unfortunate for the country crooner; Spitfire is a fun mix of feisty and heartfelt tunes. Snoqualmie Casino, Mountain View Plaza, 37500 S.E. North Bend Way, 425-888-1234, snocasino.com. 7 p.m. $20 and up. 21 and over. AZARIA C. PODPLESKY

Thursday, August 21

Ever-industrious Seattle music titan Marco Collins is behind Tag 2.0, a five-band music showcase he’s calling a “social experiment of sorts.” As he puts it, the concept is to make “each artist’s set blend into the next,” meaning all five groups will contribute to a single set, with only one rehearsal allowed during soundcheck. This raises tons of questions—like if bands will swap instruments during live songs, or swap members, etc.—but the thrill of the unknown seems to be what Collins is after. Plus, rumor has it that at least one band on the bill will perform under a pseudonym, so this unique event—more like a game show—is bound to offer a few surprises. With Lovecitylove, Gozer, Blake Lewis, Hightek Lowlives, Aaron Daniel. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8005, chopsuey.com. 8 p.m. $10. 21 and over. GWENDOLYN ELLIOTT

Sometime between John Mayer’s confession of his racist tendencies to Playboy and now, Ed Sheeran took his place as pop rock’s favorite languishing lark. For all the bells and whistles (e.g., pretentiously naming his albums after mathematical symbols—what’s on tap for album #3, an equals sign?), Sheeran’s musical DNA—a credible masculine falsetto and piquant raps bolstered by unexpectedly gritty lyrics—makes him interesting enough to avoid the industry’s infamous sophomore slump. Although his ubiquitous headphone commercial has ruined “Don’t” for me, the rest of Sheeran’s second record, X, is listenable and surprisingly upbeat compared to his debut album, +. Sheeran is known for clinging to his acoustic guitar and eschewing big stage production in live performances. The authenticity angle works well for debut ballads like “The A Team,” but may be harder to pull off with the poppier, hip-hoppier hits of his latest offering, like “Sing.” With Rudimental. WaMu Theater, 800 Occidental Ave. S., wamutheatreseattle.com. 7:30 p.m. $69.40. All ages. JN

Friday, August 22

Pacific Northwesterners take cycling seriously—a fact we recently proved with a piece about a Seattle-made “bike of the future” (The Denny) which nearly crashed our website. You can keep the bike love circulating this weekend at the Gigantic Bicycle Festival. There will be hand-built bicycles, comedy, guest speakers, installations, and visual and performance art. Naturally there’s camping—and, of course, lots of homegrown music. Travel by bike and enjoy hosted rest stops along the way supported by KIND Snacks, Theo Chocolate, Bare Snacks, and Artisana Organic. Through Sunday. With Telekinesis, the Moondoggies, Hey Marseilles, Menomena, No Rey, and lots more. Centennial Fields Park, 39903 S.E. Park St., Snoqualmie, Wash., giganticbicyclefestival.org. Starts Fri. at 8 p.m. $15–$40, under 12 free. GE

Saturday, August 23

If Tommy Ramone’s untimely departure is a bit too much to handle, Terry Malts, a punky trio on Slumberland Records, could provide a momentary remedy. Its second album, 2013’s Nobody Realizes This Is Nowhere, re-ups the nihilism the ensemble expressed on its two-year-old debut, Killing Time. But displeasure never sounded this upbeat and satisfying. Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442, thebarboza.com. 7 p.m. $10. 21 and over. DAVE CANTOR

L.A.’s Open Mike Eagle is more than an adjunct of hip-hop crew Project Blowed. He’s shared a stage with that troupe’s better-known performers, like Busdriver, but also understands the subtleties of wordplay and humor. His latest, Dark Comedy­, is sure to crack some smiles, plus offer a unique vantage point from which to survey American culture. With Graves 33, Theory Hazit, Black Magic Noize, Shadow J Grimm with John Cue Publik. Columbia City Theater, 4916 Rainier Ave. S., 722-3009, columbiacity
theater.com. 8 p.m. $10 adv./$12 DOS. DC

Singer/songwriter/surfer/filmmaker Jack Johnson is nothing if not consistent. For more than a dozen years, he’s churned out sun-soaked jams, most recently on From Here to Now to You. There are funkier grooves throughout the album, but Johnson mostly sticks to what he knows: upbeat acoustic songs about life and love. With Amos Lee, Michael Kiwanuka, Bahamas. The Gorge, 754 Silica Rd., Quincy, Wash., 509-785-6262, gorgeamphitheatre.net. 6:30 p.m. $57 and up. All ages. ACP

The Banner Days, a collaboration by local singer/songwriters Bradford Loomis and Beth Whitney, could easily pass for a Swell Season release if you didn’t know better. The pair blends indie folk with a bit of soul. And like Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Loomis and Whitney’s voices are lovely on their own, but really shine together. With The Native Sibling, And Yet. Secret Crown Hill venue released upon purchase of tickets. bradfordloomis.com. 8:30 p.m. $12–$14. 21 and over. ACP

Celebrity jam sessions have become a familiar commodity these days.

Peter Frampton’s Guitar Circus is just another in the long line of recent supergroups and one-offs akin to Dave Grohl’s Sound City Players and Mick Jagger’s Super Heavy. Still, watching Frampton trade guitar licks with Don Felder of the Eagles still sounds like a rock-&-roll dream—maybe yours, maybe theirs—coming to fruition. With Buddy Guy. Maryhill Winery, 9774 Lewis and Clark Hwy. 14, Goldendale, Wash., maryhillwinery.com. 7 p.m. $49–$225. All ages. DUSTY HENRY

Liam Finn’s third LP, The Nihilist, is more experimental than his pop-focused earlier outings; repeated listens reveal added depth. He’s toured with Eddie Vedder, Black Keys, and Wilco, and though he’ll start this tour alongside The Helio Sequence, by the time he hits Seattle he’ll be on his own. The Tractor, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractor
tavern.com. 9:30 p.m. $12. 21 and over. DAVE LAKE

Tuesday, August 26

To hear Halie Loren sing is to glimpse the divine, and it is easy to see why this jazz vocalist is getting noticed here and abroad. Her seventh and most recent album, Simply Love, hit #1 on Japan’s Billboard Jazz Chart thanks to its combination of gorgeous original tracks, fresh takes on classic songs, and Loren’s lush, sultry singing. Whether her vocals are wrapping their arms around you in a loving embrace, as they do on the subdued title track, or getting playful on the classic “On the Sunny Side of the Street,” there is so much to love about Loren’s talent. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., 441-9729, jazzalley.com. Through Wed. 7:30 p.m. $22.50. All ages. BRIAN PALMER

With “Coffee” from its self-titled debut, Sylvan Esso—that’s Amelia Meath of Mountain Man and Nick Sanborn of Megafaun—have created an unassuming pop hit. Meath’s sweet-and-low vocals and the track’s electro-pop backbone pair in such a way that “Coffee” wouldn’t seem out of place at either a club or an open-mike night. Just try to get it out of your head. With Dana Buoy. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442, neumos.com. 8 p.m. $12. 21 and over. ACP

Depression is a consideration Strand of Oaks frontman Timothy Showalter is all too familiar with. On the band’s latest record, HEAL, he details a low point in his life and the recovery that followed via a synth-pop soundtrack beset with scorching guitar solos. His candid, intimate storytelling offers some comfort for those who have ever felt alone and exiled. With Christopher Denny. Tractor Tavern. 9 p.m. $10. 21 and over. DH