Wednesday, July 20Indigo GirlsThey’ve just issued a rarities disc, and with their usual acuity and, um, imagination, it’s titled Rarities. Maybe they’ll play some of it, but they’ll likely play plenty of hits, too—or instead. Sarah Bettens opens. Summer Nights at South Lake Union, 860 Terry Ave. N., 7 p.m. $36The MalinksWe’d thought these local power-poppers (whose singer, Chris Lorraine, occasionally contributes reviews to SW) had parted company, but are happy to find them playing this show. Will there be more? Sleepy Workers, the Oswald Effect, and Double Bluff open. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $6Mt. Eerie + Thanksgiving + Karl BlauDon’t call them indie, don’t call them folk—don’t even bother categorizing these dudes. With simple aesthetics and loads of imagination, they demonstrate how insular communities like Anacortes (Mt. Eerie’s Phil Elverum, Blau) and Portland (Thanksgiving’s Adrian Orange) can produce genuine talent you don’t have to be “in the know” to appreciate. Old Firehouse, 16510 N.E. 79th St., Redmond, 425-556-2370, 8 p.m. FreeWaterson:CarthyThe folk field has comparatively few giants compared with the wider world of pop, but this two-families-in-one grouping is one of them. If you have any affinity for (extremely) old-fashioned song stylings and acoustic guitars, you’ll be here. Karan Casey opens. Tractor Tavern, 8 p.m. $20Thursday, July 21Oleta AdamsThe gospel-inflected R&B and jazz vocalist’s new All the Love (Bedrock, U.K.) is her first pop album in five years. Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 7:30 p.m. $28.50 Also Fri., July 22–Sun., July 24Weird WarFollowing the demise of the gospel/R&B shagfest that was D.C.’s the Make-Up, founding members Ian Svenonius and Michelle Mae formed Weird War, who were called Scene Creamers for a minute. Svenonius is a notorious frontman worth catching in any incarnation. Anna Oxygen and Emma Zunz also perform.VERA Project, 7:30 p.m. $9 ($8 w/club card)Friday, July 22Brendan BensonThe critically acclaimed Detroit singer-songwriter plays in support of his newest, charmingly titled The Alternative to Love (V2). Crystal Skulls open. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $12 adv.Deep DishWho knows why they chose to call their new album George Is On (Thrive), but their generous, if predictable, DJ style is what’ll pack in whatever’s left of the dance massive here. Element, 8 p.m. $17 adv./$22Issa BagayogoA Malian who got his start playing a six-string kamele n’goni, Bagayogo has issued three albums in the U.S., two of them for San Francisco’s formally adventurous Six Degrees label, including last year’s Tassoumakan. Naby Camara and Kane Mathis open; Jon Kertzer spins. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $12The KnittersSometimes a one-off turns into something more, as when these X-folks went kinda-country 20 years ago. Now they’ve issued a belated follow-up to their 1985 debut, The Modern Sounds of the Knitters (Zoe). Hard Money Saints open. Showbox, 8 p.m. $17.50 adv./$20 Also in-store at Easy Street Records, 20 Mercer St., 206-691-3279, at 6 p.m. FreeSufjan Stevens + Liz JanesSEE FEATURE, P. 47. Triple Door, 8 p.m. $15Saturday, July 23Ann WilsonThe Heart vocalist goes solo for a benefit concert for the Windermere Foundation. Children of the Revolution open. Summer Nights at South Lake Union, 860 Terry Ave. N., 7:30 p.m. $33Kinski + Master Musicians of Bukkake + Charming SnakesSEE TALK TALK (CHARMING SNAKES), P. 54. Kinski’s latest, Alpine Static (Sub Pop), bends and manipulates the band’s favorite past and future experimenters, but it has some rare and uniquely tangible moments as well: A flute duels with a guitar, beats are swallowed like pills, and the fretboard is used as a skateboard. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $8 Kinski also in-store at Easy Street Records, 20 Mercer St., 206-691-3279 at 6 p.m. FREEKUBE Summer Jam: New Edition + Ciara + Nas + Bone Thugs-N-Harmony + Jon B + Pretty Ricky + Mike Jones + Brooke ValentineThough plenty of this bill is negligible (unless you actually called Mike Jones’ cell, and who knows, maybe you did), there are a few folks worth your time here. From the top: Ciara’s “Goodies” was one of the jams of ’04; Nas is one of the top handful of MCs ever; and Brooke Valentine’s new Chain Letter (Virgin) is one of the best R&B records we’ve heard all year. Gorge Amphitheatre, 754 Silica Rd. N.W., George, 206-628-0888, 2 p.m. $49.95Nicolai Dunger + Jesse Sykes and Phil Wandscher + Tim SeelyA pretty fantastic singer-songwriter triple bill, with Swede headliner Dunger on his third U.S.-issued album, This Cloud Is Learning (Overcoat). Tractor Tavern, 9:30 p.m. $10The Pale PacificMore sad-eyed indie for lovers, dreamers, the intersection between the two, and folks who are suckers for pretty guitars—like us, sometimes. Mercir, Careen, and Tom Grant open. Paradox Theater, 1404 N.W. Leary Way, 8 p.m. $7Sunday, July 24Elliott SharpThis avant-garde fixture has played just about every kind of free music imaginable, so hearing what he has to bring to the Gallery should be a treat. Gallery 1412, 8 p.m. $5–$15Michelle Payne + John MagnificoBoth are singer-songwriters raised on a diet of punk and indie in the Deep South before migrating to L.A. (Payne) and Portland (Magnifico). Those familiar with Gainesville, Fla.’s No Idea roster (Hot Water Music, Against Me!) and its post-hardcore emo-folk may remember Magnifico’s late, great band Twelve Hour Turn. Mr. Spot’s Chai House, 8 p.m. FREEMutant Dinner Party Doo Wop: Diatric Puds + Climax Golden Twins + The Sea Donkeys + The BlobettesWe’re told Diatric Puds and the Blobettes are from San Francisco, where they’ve invented and mastered a genre you might call monster doo-wop, which is (duh) influenced by B movies and gore flicks. Sea Donkeys are set to release their first record on the Sun City Girls’ Abduction label. Rendezvous, 9:30 p.m. $5Team SleepHard rock make-out music? You bet. A side project between Deftones’ Chino Moreno and guitarist Tom Wilkinson, their initial sessions with Seattle producer Terry Date were leaked to the Internet four years ago, repackaged with help from members of Hella, Helium, and Pinback’s Rob Crow (!), and finally released this year, picking up where White Pony’s steamy intensity left off. Idiot Pilot and Scene Index open. El Corazon, 8 p.m. $12 adv./15Monday, July 25Hieroglyphics + Non Phixion + O.C. + Boom Bap ProjectThe Oakland-based Hieroglyphics collective includes Del the Funky Homosapien, Souls of Mischief, Casual, and Pep Love, who took five years to follow up their excellent 1998 debut, Third Eye Vision. With one-time Matador rappers Non Phixion and local favs Boom Bap, let them up you on how they just chill.Showbox, 8 p.m. $18 adv./20PeppermintsOn Paw Tracks (the Animal Collective label), Peppermints are a San Diego thrash-pop outfit who deal in Melt Banana–ish funk and nonsense-core. Their newest is titled Jesus Chryst. With Thieves and headliner King Cobra. Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $5Ruins Alone + Yoshida/Horist/Mowen Trio + Degenerate Art Ensemble + Bill Horist + GirthFor the sharpest intersection between heavy and out, look no further than this bill. The Seattleites tying up the middle of the bill are local favorites for a reason, but we especially like openers Girth, a heavy, nimble two-piece that can roar and negotiate tricky time signatures better than most bands who only concentrate on one of those things. The headliners are from Japan and have a fervent following in the States; seeing them in action should be (even) better than the records. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $10Tuesday, July 26The Pernice Brothers + Royal Gun + the Can’t SeeSEE AMERICA, U.S.A., P. 49. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $12Pyramids (members of the Lights, Factums) + Wolf Cougar (Lights) + Honey for the BearsIn this installment of My Other Band Is a . . . , your best bet is the Pyramids, who are Seattle’s Butthole Surfers—only with half the membership. Both psychedelic and sluggy, the two-piece’s rumbling howls comprise some of the best sounds available around here, circa now. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $5Shelby LynneNot often you get to see someone as famous as Lynne in a room this (comparatively) small, but given the intimacy of her last couple albums, it makes sense. Triple Door, 7:30 p.m. $30Stanley JordanThe renowned jazz guitarist’s new, Web-only-so-far disc, Ragas, was recorded at Jazz Alley, so it was a natural that he’d stop by for a few days to play from it. Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 7:30 p.m. $7 Also Wed., July 27–Sun., July 31UPCOMING SHOWSJuly 27–28 Jane Bunnett & the Spirits of Havana, Triple DoorJuly 27 Bruce Hornsby, Woodland Park ZooJuly 27 Tears for Fears, Chateau Ste. MichelleJuly 27–30 Creation Fest, Gorge AmphitheatreJuly 28 Jesse Cook, Marymoor ParkJuly 30 Bob Dylan, Maryhill WineryJuly 30 Motley Crue + Sum 41, White River AmphitheatreJuly 30 Tim Kasher, Chop SueyJuly 30 Mark Knopfler, Chateau Ste. MichelleJuly 30 Femi Kuti, ShowboxJuly 30 Capitol Hill Block PartyJuly 31 Capitol Hill Block PartyJuly 31 Carbon Leaf, Woodland Park ZooJuly 31 Ben Harper + Trey Anastasio, Gorge AmphitheatreAug 2 Clint Black, South Lake Union ParkAug 2 Soilent Green, Studio 7Aug 3 Goldie, Chop SueyAug 3 Patty Griffin, Woodland Park ZooAug 4 Nikka Costa, Chop SueyAug 4–7 Terence Blanchard, Dimitriou’s Jazz AlleyAug 5 Gipsy Kings, Chateau Ste. MichelleAug 6 Aimee Mann, South Lake Union ParkAug 6 The White Stripes + Sleater-Kinney, Gorge AmphiteatreAug 7 Hugh Masakela, Triple Door