Wednesday, March 18

Whether bringing life to other people’s words as an actress or her own through any of her three albums, most recently Bound for the Deep, jazz/blues musician Tae Phoenix is a natural-born storyteller. Her resume is full of lead roles in plays like “Les Miserables,” “The Turn of the Screw,” and the upcoming “Into the Woods,” and her onstage experience translates into her music as palpable emotional expression. Phoenix has the polish of an accomplished actress and the authentic edge of a seasoned blues musician, which should become apparent as soon as she takes the stage at this show, part of Tbasa’s Lo-Fi All Stars series. With Tobias the Owl, Science. The Benbow Room, 4210 S.W. Admiral Way, Suite A, 466-1953, benbowroom.com. 8:30 p.m. Free. All ages.

Recording its fourth album, Transfixiation, Brooklyn noise-rock trio A Place To Bury Strangers had one plan: There is no plan. Known for its chaotic live shows, the group wanted the record to feel the same way. Album-closer “I Will Die,” for example, features a layer of fuzz so thick that it nearly masks singer/guitarist Oliver Ackermann’s vocals. At times it seems as though the entire album could come crashing down at any second, but the trio—Ackermann, drummer Robi Gonzalez (making his APTBS recording debut on Transfixiation), and bassist Dion Lunadon—manages to hold it together, albeit with a few intentionally unintentional audio bumps and bruises along the way. With Nightmare Fortress, Grave Babies. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-4618, thecrocodile.com. 8 p.m. $13. All ages.

On his website, rapper Keith Thornton, aka Kool Keith, lists upward of 50 aliases he’s used in his career, which began after he formed Ultramagnetic MCs in 1984. Some were used for a single song; some are characters from music videos; and others, like the Jupiter-born Dr. Octagon, grew to have a life of their own. Octagon made his debut on Dr. Octagonecologyst, but was then killed by another alter ego, Dr. Dooom, on First Come, First Served. Octagon was revived on The Return of Dr. Octagon, only to be killed a second time by Dooom. Thornton goes by Kool Keith on his latest, Demolition Crash, but you never know which personae may crash his live show. With The Gift of Gab; Graves 33; Khingz ft. the X Presidents, Uce Wayne, and Massiah; DJ Indica Jones. Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St., 632-2020. 8 p.m. $17 adv./$22 DOS. 21 and over.

After nearly 10 years of doing things on his own, ambient musician Scott Hansen, who performs as Tycho, had an epiphany of sorts. Prepping for a tour in support of his third album, Dive, Hansen decided to take a full band on the road with him. Liking what he heard and the energy he felt, he filled out the lineup permanently. The band, with guitarist/bassist Zac Brown and drummer Rory O’Connor, made its recording debut on Tycho’s fourth record, Awake. Though some tunes, like “Dye” and “Plains,” are reminiscent of Hansen’s solo work, songs like the title track and “Apogee” reveal Tycho’s new, fuller sound. With Shigeto. Showbox SoDo, 1700 First Ave. S., 652-0444, showboxpresents.com. 8 p.m. $25 adv./$28 DOS. All ages.

Thursday, March 19

“Let your body go/Let the music flow through your soul,” Tazlyn Gue sings on “You’re Fabulous,” the opening track of The Fabulous Party Boys’ self-titled album. It’s sage advice, as even the most headstrong wallflowers aren’t able to stop themselves from grooving when this seven-piece takes the stage. Its blend of funk, soul, and a bit of jazz is downright infectious, and it’s no surprise the band’s recent record-release show sold out. P.S.: Be sure to wear your most spectacular dancing outfit to this show, A Fabulous Electro Swing Affair, as it’s being filmed by the folks from Speakeasy Electro Swing. With Good Co., DJ Mano Meter. Columbia City Theater, 4918 Rainier Ave. S., 723-0088, columbiacity
theater.com. 8:30 p.m. $10 adv./$12 DOS. 21 and over.

Friday, March 20

Country/blues musician Alynda Lee Segarra, who performs as Hurra

y for the Riff Raff, left home at 17 and began traveling the country, eventually settling in New Orleans, where she joined a group of fellow travelers and started playing music on the street. But just one year later, Hurricane Katrina hit. Rather than head somewhere new, Segarra decided to stick it out to thank the community that inspired her to pursue music full-time. The influences of her adopted hometown are evident on Segarra’s latest release, Small Town Heroes, as she sings about local issues like neighborhood violence (on “St. Roch Blues”) and adds a vibrant, modern kick to her era-transcending sound on “No One Else.” With Adia Victoria. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-4618, thecrocodile.com. 8 p.m. $20. All ages.

No idea was too absurd for New Jersey punk-rock quartet The Gaslight Anthem when it entered the studio to work on its fifth full-length, Get Hurt, which explains the record’s impressive variety. The album kicks off with the unexpectedly ferocious “Stay Vicious,” which finds the band nearing metal territory, while the somber “Break Your Heart” is a borderline-country tune. And there’s a classic-rock edge to lead singer Brian Fallon’s rasp on “Stray Paper,” to which guest vocalist Sharon Jones (who fronts the Dap-Kings) adds a touch of soul. The band hasn’t strayed far from its roots, though; plenty of tunes throwback to its 2008 breakthrough, The ’59 Sound. With Northcote, Sammy Kay. The Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151, showboxpresents.com. 9 p.m. $25. All ages.

All’s been quiet on the Pickwick front as of late. The band’s last Facebook post publicizes a sale on music and merch from November, and the most recent news entry on its website touts the April 2014 release of Window Sill (Recall) 7”, which features “Window Sill” and an alternate version of “Halls of Columbia,” both from the Seattle six-piece’s 2013 debut album Can’t Talk Medicine. No doubt fans are still spinning Medicine; it’s a mix of garage-rock edge and smooth R&B, a majority of which comes from singer Galen Disston. This is the only show Pickwick has booked so far this year. Could the band be trying out some new material? With Bardo, DJ Leopold Bloom. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880, sunset
tavern.com. 9 p.m. SOLD OUT. 21 and over.

Saturday, March 21

Umphrey’s McGee’s upcoming release, The London Session, is the result of a spur-of-the-moment decision to fulfill a dream to record at the world-famous Abbey Road’s Studio 2. With just 12 hours in the studio, the jam-rock six-piece recorded a mix of old and new tunes. The first six, which include acoustic takes on “No Diablo” and “Cut the Cable” from UM’s latest, Similar Skin, were recorded a handful of times to “ensure there was a keeper,” while the final four, which include a cover of the Beatles’ “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” were cut in one take. It’s a fun project from a band who knows how to make the most of its time. With the Revivalists. The Moore, 1932 Second Ave., 877-784-4849, stgpresents.org/moore. 7 p.m. $25 adv./$27.50 DOS. All ages.

Whether or not the song is about her own nomadic experiences, alt-country singer Andrea Peterman captures wanderlusts everywhere in “Gypsy” off her sophomore album, Faster Than the Days: “She can’t settle down/She’s got the road in her veins and a fire in her bones/She’s a wanderer.” And Peterman knows a thing or two about wandering. She was born in Minnesota, grew up in the Midwest and Montana, and graduated from Northwestern on a scholarship before making a name for herself in New York’s theater scene. She then moved to Los Angeles, where she released her first album, Miles to Go. Now based in Seattle, Peterman is charming locals with her polished pipes. With the Ramblin’ Years, Lonely Mountain Lovers. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 9 p.m. $10. 21 and over.

Monday, March 23

Multi-hyphenate Kristin Hersh likes to keep busy. She founded alt-rock band Throwing Muses with her stepsister Tanya Donelly (the Breeders, Belly) when both were in high school, and has performed with the band since its 2003 reformation. She also began a mostly acoustic solo career in 1994 with eight releases to date, most recently Crooked. Plus, she founded punk trio 50 Foot Wave in 2003. But that’s not all. Hersh is also the author of a children’s book (Toby Snax) and a memoir (Rat Girl), and she added “nonprofit founder” to her resume in 2008 with CASH Music. Luckily for fans, her creative wellspring seems nowhere near close to running dry. Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, 
thetripledoor.net. 7:30 p.m. $15 adv./$18 DOS. All ages.

Anacortes-based singer Karl Blau’s latest release, Maherican Dream, came together after an “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine” agreement with Olympia folk-pop band LAKE, in which Blau agreed to produce a LAKE record (Circular Doorway) if the quartet backed him on his. In Olympia, Blau and LAKE improvised, using a variety of sounds to create an eclectic mix of instrumental tracks. Blau then wrote lyrics for each (except “7 Sisters,” “Big Kalimba Blues,” and “When the Trees Take to Dancing”) based on what each track made him feel. Some tunes lean toward folk while others head down an ambient route, perfectly combining Blau’s and LAKE’s go-to sounds. With Little Wings, With Child. Vera Project, 305 Warren Ave. N., 956-8372. 7:30 p.m. $8 adv./$10 DOS. All ages.

Tuesday, March 24

More often than not, Chicago-born, L.A.-based OK Go’s increasingly creative music videos overshadow the music in them—which is unfortunate, because from one release to the next, the band seems keen on flipping musical expectations on their head while still keeping its alt-rock base intact. The quartet’s latest, Hungry Ghosts, for instance, is just as diverse as its predecessors, but on Ghosts, the band experiments with electronic elements that seem both otherworldly (“Another Set of Issues”) and straight from the ’80s (“Obsession,” “I Won’t Let You Down”). It’s not surprising to hear so much innovation from OK Go, but it is impressive how many tricks the band still has up its sleeve. With White Arrows. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 682-1414, stg
presents.org/neptune. 8 p.m. $22 adv./$25 DOS. All ages.

Before True North, the latest from California punk-rockers Bad Religion, begins to play, song titles give away the issues with which the band has a bone to pick: “Robin Hood in Reverse,” “Land of Endless Greed,” “Dharma and the Bomb,” “Dept. of False Hope,” and what is perhaps the most appropriately titled Bad Religion tune of all, “Fuck You.” The six-piece is known the world over for its musical bursts of social commentary, and True North only adds to that claim to fame. The drums are thundering, the guitar riffs fast, and lead singer Greg Graffin is just as eager to vent. With each album Bad Religion releases, a new group of discontented youths find their voice. With OFF! Showbox SoDo, 1700 First Ave. S., 652-0444, showboxpresents.com. 8 p.m. $30 adv./$35 DOS. All ages.