Wednesday, December 7The All-American Rejects + Rooney + the Academy Is . . .Emo, like gang colors, doesn’t die, it multiplies. The AAR do it pretty well, though; the openers, not so much. Showbox, 7 p.m. $18 adv./$20Benji B + Steve SpacekAnother stellar Red Bull Academy showcase, this one pairs future soul vocalist Steve Spacek (performing live) with BBC DJ Benji B, who got his start producing Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide at just 16. His Deviations program links soulful tunes of all styles—the latest featured Chick Corea, D’Angelo, and Carl Craig—with verve. Mikki and Oscar Eduaro Mora also spin. War Room, 9 p.m. $7Ted Leo and the PharmacistsZebraclub hosts this Christmas Party featuring the oft-visiting Ted Leo, his Pharmacists, and a fashion show—not necessarily in that order. Get in the photo booth with Santa or knock back some egg nog with DJs Red Leather Chapstick, Shortnin’, Martymar, and Space. Neumo’s, 9 p.m. $12Tim SeelySeely may be the best local songwriter you’ve never heard of. A major-label casualty from his days with the Actual Tigers, his solo debut, Funeral Music features self-proclaimed “sophisticated space-folk for hard-luck lovers.” With a dreamy voice and melodies to match, we say that’s right on. Will Johnson of Centro-Matic and Hart Kingsbery also play. Sunset Tavern, 9 p.m. $7Thursday, December 8Deck the Hall Ball: Death Cab for Cutie + Harvey Danger + Aqueduct + the Saturday KnightsThis benefit for the VERA Project has been sold out for weeks, so if you got your ticket, congratulations—it’s for a great cause. Showbox, 7 p.m. $35Charlie Hunter TrioThe sharp jazz-rock-etc. group is a big local favorite, and this lushly appointed room is the perfect setting for them. Triple Door, 9:30 p.m. $20 adv./$22 Also Fri., Dec. 9Johanna KuninA soft-voiced singer/songwriter with plenty of sweetly sad things to say, Kunin is a fairly new Seattleite (since ’99) who came for Cornish and hasn’t left yet. Her off-kilter, jazz-influenced pop style has plenty of promise; we hope she’s here to stay. The Can’t See open the show. Lo_Fi Performance Gallery, 9 p.m. $5John Lennon JamParticipants in this 25th-anniversary-of-the-honoree’s-death soiree include the Beatniks, Hit Explosion, Alan White, Michael Maker, Richard and Jared of the Radio Nationals, Travis Bracht of Second Coming, Kelli Hanson, Rob Morgan, and Ron Nine. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $15Silent Night, Holy Shit! Sonic Boom partyThe Coconut Coolouts might sing “Who cares about the starving people that you see in the street each day/I wanna dance to the radio,” but the banana-costumed band’s participation in this debauched holiday party, along with the Cops, Whalebones, NEO, and DJs Cleaning Lady, Life the Wolf, and Prairie Dawn, shows they really do care. Aww. . . . Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $2 with canned good/$5The Smile BrigadeThey aren’t the band who played on Brian Wilson’s album from last year, but the Smile Brigade veer in that direction nevertheless—more straightforward and rocking, but still kissed by the wayward psychedelia of Smile and its ilk. The Melody Unit and the Elephants open. High Dive, 9 p.m. $5Velella VelellaTheir Bay of Biscay is one of the best local electronica releases of the year. You’ll have another chance to see the space-age soul brothers (and sister) this month, but the vibe of the S.S. Marie is sure to get a funktastic party started. The supporting lineup of Nate Ashley, the Gift Machine, and Karl Blau ain’t half bad, either. S.S. Marie Antoinette, 1235 Westlake Ave. N., 7 p.m. $5Rocky VotolatoThe ex-Waxwing’s new Suicide Medicine continues the sharp path he’s been taking in his solo work over the past few years. Here’s hoping some of the bigger-show spillover benefits him. Showbox Green Room, 6 p.m.Friday, December 9DJ Fresh + Reid SpeedThis party, called “Boom! Shake the Room!,” should do just that with DJ Fresh, whose associate in Bad Company, Maldini, tore it up at the War Room recently with similarly hard-hitting drum and bass pressure. Reid Speed is one of the U.S. scene’s best female DJs/producers. With Aaron Simpson, Zacharia, Aksion, and Frankie Dubs. Premier, 10 p.m. $15 before 11 p.m./$20No Neck Blues BandArguably the group that augured all this weird folk semi-improv action that’s been going around lately, NNBB are one of those bands that you either don’t know exist or travel from show to show just to catch the buzz again and again. Gallery 1412, 8 p.m. $5–$15Laptop Battle ChampionshipsA bunch of dudes staring at their computers all night = probably the tamest “battle” you’ll ever witness. Still, Seattle’s premier collective of chin-scratching beat-tweakers, Fourthcity, round up a ton of talent: M.O., Dangger Dave, RRine, Let’s Go Outside, DJ Knucklez, Starkey, Humdinger, and Square Root of Evil among them. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $8Saturday, December 10BlowflyWhat a claim to fame: Blowfly’s raunchy, rewritten funk tunes predate 2 Live Crew’s, Kool Keith’s, and Weird Al’s. His debut, Weird World of Blowfly, was released in 1971 and contained 14 reworked popular soul and pop songs. This is his second recent Seattle show. Expect a crowd and crazy costumes. With Hot Rollers and Fe Fi Fo Fums. Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $10Fifth Element Beatbox Battle: Macklemore + Altered State of Consciousness + the Rebelz + RA ScionA good local hip-hop lineup, though we wish Macklemore’s political naivete didn’t mar his CD, The Language of My World (NWX), so much. (The Bush song is as dumb as it claims the president to be—and we’re no fans of the president.) RA Scion, meantime, has a great album out with DJ Sabzi of Blue Scholars titled Common Market. VERA Project, 7:30 p.m. $5 with club card/$6Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings + ChoklateAs anyone who’s seen her rock the stage knows, pint-sized, 48-year-old Brooklynite Sharon Jones is one of the fiercest frontwomen around, and she’s got a killer band to match. Choklate is younger and more modern (the Dap Kings’ entire MO is to ape ’60s-’70s cusp James Brown), but is beginning to make her own waves. A dynamite pairing. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $12Los StraitjacketsWho better to record an album of Christmas tunes than this instrumental surf group who perform in Mexican wrestling masks? That’s just what we get with the new Tis the Season for Los Straitjackets (Yep Roc), and at this show. The World Famous Pontani Sisters ft. Kaiser George and Lushy open. Tractor Tavern, 9 p.m. $15Twee, Pop Fest: Lillydale + Tullycraft + Parks and Recreation + Speaker Speaker + Central Services + Dutch Elms + Dept. of Energy + BoatSEE FEATURE (Speaker Speaker), P. 40. Paradox, 7 p.m. $8Kanye West + Fantasia + Keyshia ColeSEE FEATURE (Kanye West), P. 37. Everett Events Center, 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett, 425-322-2600, 7:30 p.m. $33–$43Sunday, December 11My Chemical Romance + (International) Noise Conspiracy + Circa SurviveMCR’s eerily addictive songs and goth-punk superpowers are reason enough to attend, though Noise Conspiracy will sadly never inspire the dancing or activism singer Dennis Lyxzen’s short-lived Refused did. Equal Vision Records keeps pumping out the emo hits, as Philly’s Circa Survive demonstrate. Premier, 6 p.m. $19.99Schoolyard HeroesHeroes vocalist Ryann Donnelly is Seattle’s punk princess, backed by a trio of gorgeous geeks, and their bombastic show is not to be missed. Especially tonight—the performance is being filmed for a music video. Nightmare of You, the Cops, and Burning Armada also rock the flaming heart. El Corazon, 6 p.m. $8Monday, December 12Christmas with CeCe WinansThe gospel veteran with a huge voice is a perfect choice for those of you who want to celebrate the holidays with some real spirit. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 206-215-4800, 7:30 p.m. $16–$55 Also Tues., Dec. 13MF Doom + Moka Only + Count Bass D and John Robinson + One.Be.Lo + MacklemoreSEE ARTS PICKS, P. 35. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $10 adv./$12 Also Tues., Dec. 13 (with Oldominion replacing Macklemore)Tuesday, December 13Tre HardsonThe former Pharcyde member still raps, albeit in a lot less high-profile a fashion than before. He’ll be backed up by Minneapolis’ mini-Roots live hip-hop band, Heiruspecs. Nectar, 412 N. 36th St., 206-632-2020, 9 p.m. FreeCalvin Johnson + Tender ForeverNever mind that Johnson is getting on in years. He still takes young women from all over the twee-osphere—in this case, Tender Forever (Melanie Valera)’s southern France—under his wing, helping them record at his Dub Narcotic studio. Valera’s debut, The Soft and the Hardcore, is hyped as being “gently aching” and “raw and juicy”—sorry guys, but it’s all getting a little creepy. S.S. Marie Antoinette, 1235 Westlake Ave. N., 8 p.m. $5UPCOMING SHOWSDec 16–17 The Wrens + Pretty Girls Make Graves, Neumo’sDec 16 Dokken, Fenix UndergroundDec 30 Camper Van Beethoven + Cracker, Crocodile CafeDec 31 Maktub, ShowboxJan 5 Vendetta Red, Neumo’sJan 7 Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Emerald Queen CasinoJan 7 Disturbed, ParamountJan 18 Colin Meloy, ShowboxJan 19 INXS, ParamountJan 21 Toby Keith, Tacoma DomeJan 25 Coldplay + Fiona Apple, KeyArenaJan 29 Chris Botti, Moore TheatreFeb 22 Il Divo, Benaroya HallFeb 25 Supergrass, ShowboxMarch 6 Bon Jovi, KeyArenaMarch 25 Ministry, ShowboxApril 10 Queen + Paul Rodgers, KeyArena