Wednesday, March 23Bonni Suval BenefitSEE SW THIS WEEK, P. 47. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $8 suggested donation.Keith UrbanHe’s Australian, he’s “cute in a dwarfy, early Brad Pitt kind of way” (copyright, Jane Dark’s Sugarhigh! blog), and he’s got a few country hits, most notably “You’ll Think of Me,” which is essentially pretty and at least as dumbly sentimental. Paramount Theatre, 8 p.m. $38.50–$48.50Thursday, March 24Carolyn Mark and Her StallionsCarolyn Mark’s last album, The Pros and Cons of Collaboration (Mint), may not have been the quote-unquote best country-etc. album of 2004, but it’s one of the handful we played a whole hell of a lot. She’s got a sly and eager voice, and she’s so quick-witted live you won’t even need music. You’ll get it, though. Luther Wright and Brent Amaker and the Rodeo open. Sunset Tavern, 9 p.m. $7Emma ZunzAll y’all Jorge Luis Borges headz need to muthafuckin’ represent the 206 and give it up for the sistas of Emma Zunz. If that entails fidgeting about while said brooding, minimalist art-folk duo serenades you with eerie harmonies and harmonics, well shit, that’s how lit majors roll, blood. Gallery 1412, 8 p.m. $5–$15Factums + Schlaze CubedThese two relatively newish punk experimenters represent an exciting underground bubbling. Factum’s camp is grittier and more raw—art punk at its most real, while Schlaze Cubed meld Steely Dan with Neu! as if to say that the Krauts were probably mathematics fanatics, too. Rendezvous, 10:30 p.m. $5LowSEE CD REVIEW, P. 55. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $15 adv./$17 Also Friday, March 25.PlaylistThis began last week but is worth noting now and for the future: Every Wednesday, anyone with an iPod and a healthy sense of self-congratulation about their musical tastes (i.e., us) can come on down to the Mirabeau and play what they like for 15 minutes. It’s hardly a new idea to these parts—the Collins Pub began them a year ago—but it’s still a good one. Mirabeau Room, 5 p.m. Free.The SoresAttention fans of outsider art-damaged punk (and the Country Teasers): Worth checking out are the Sores from Sacramento. Their records (which are not CDs) were recorded with the finesse of an overweight gorilla, and their songs are off-key, off-color sludge-slinging matches that stink of a pissed-upon avant-garde. Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $5Soweto Gospel ChoirTruth in advertising comes no more truthful than this, um, gospel choir from Soweto, South Africa—a place whose musical heritage is primarily vocal, which means if you’re almost but not quite feeling the spirit, chances are they’ll nudge you there. Paramount Theatre, 7:30 p.m. $25–$35Friday, March 25Baby GrampsThe Popeye-voiced busker-plus is always a good bet for a good time, whether he’s pulling out Dylan covers or throwing his own goofball tunes into the mix. Circus Contraption headline; the Bad Things play second. Tractor Tavern, 9 p.m. $10Lou BarlowSEE CD REVIEW, P. 55. Sunset Tavern, 9 p.m. $10Charming SnakesAlthough the Charming Snakes are among the most enthusiastic and well-schooled music fans in town, their new Dirtnap CD can’t be easily reduced to its influences. You might hear early Cure, but it’s been tweaked to sound as if Robert Smith led a garage-rock band—in Chicago in the early ’90s. Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $5GirthTwo-piece instrumental metal—who cares, right? Turns out you should, at least when this duo (drummer Peijman Kouretchian and guitarist Dave Webb) play it. Their debut, Living in Truth (Hector Stenton), gets noodly at times, but mostly stays focused. Porn, featuring Dale Crover of Melvins, headline; the Abodox are second-billed, and Black Horse open. El Corazon, 9 p.m. $8 adv./$10The KillsSEE CD REVIEW, P. 55. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $12 adv.Pat Wright and the Total Experience Gospel ChoirSEE SW THIS WEEK, P. 47. Kenyon Hall, 7904 35th Ave. S.W., 206-937-3613, 8 p.m. $10–$14 Also Saturday, March 26.Saturday, March 26Bloc Party + Erase ErrataTwo neo-post-punk flavors that ought to taste pretty good together. Erase Errata are jagged in the Slits/Raincoats mold but bring their own noise to the table; Bloc Party’s album is a disappointment after their EP, but the EP should be enough to hold you, and hopefully they’ll rev the new stuff’s tempos a bit onstage. Neumo’s, 6 p.m. $10 adv. Bloc Party also play Easy Street Records Queen Anne, 20 Mercer St., 206-691-3279, at 3 p.m. Free.Blue Oyster CultThe Stoned Age’s knucklehead longhair Hubbs, on “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper”: “Every band puts out at least one pussy song so they can find out who the faggots are.” Now there’s something new to ponder while you’re watching this show. Or, save 30 bones and rent Stoned, an underrated Dazed and Confused rip whose entire “plot” revolves around the BOC. Emerald Queen Casino, 2102 Alexander Ave., Tacoma, 253-627-8497. 8 p.m. $15–$30EluviumEndearingly geeky Portland transplant Matthew Cooper is the wizard behind Eluvium’s curtain, specializing in brittle, sometimes gorgeous, piano-based soundscapes. Best appreciated with patience, pot, and somewhere comfortable to sit down and zone out. Sunset Tavern, 9 p.m. $8Sunday, March 27Wayne Horvitz/Briggan Krauss/Dylan Van Der SchyffIf Horvitz isn’t the city’s busiest player, he’s in the top five. Lucky us. He’ll be performing with Krauss and Van Der Schyff—and Horvitz tends to excel in the trio format. Gallery 1412, 8 p.m. $5–$15Man ManThey’re from Brooklyn, they all play percussion, and yet our sources indicate that they’re neither a drum circle nor particularly “tribal.” Those sources also insist they’re a hell of a live act, which intrigues us more than a little. Sunset Tavern, 9 p.m. $7Monday, March 28ZaoOther than Norma Jean, this is pretty much the most entertaining Christian metal band out there right now—melodic, punishing, rabid, and creepily immersed in Gibson-esque lyrical flagellation. I mean, “my meekness lies there shivering and raped . . . anointed wrath of God incarnate”? Shiver me stigmata! Unbearable emo also-rans Juliana Theory headline. El Corazon, 7 p.m. $12 adv./$14Tuesday, March 29Pinetop PerkinsSure, there are lots of veteran blues players, but pianist Perkins probably claims seniority on all of ’em—he’s been playing professionally for nearly 80 years. He’ll be accompanied by guitarist Peter Dammann, drummer Carlton Jackson, and bassist Don Campbell. Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 7:30 p.m. $18.50–$20.50 Also Wednesday, March 30.Terror + Hoods + Blue Monday + the WarriorsWho let the hardcore dogs out? The pound will be in heat tonight; if you don’t clock in at 200 pounds dripping wet in a wife beater, stay home. If you’re feeling adventurously suicidal, expect seriously gruff cookie monster urban assault from the headliner, but show up earlier if you can to catch the Warriors’ delightfully shrill, politically charged Snapcase redux. Studio Seven, 9 p.m. $8Xiu XiuHard to tell if Xiu Xiu are trying to shock you or if this (prefab beats and twisted porn dialoguing) is just how they get their groove on. Their latest, Fabulous Muscles (on Olympia’s 5 Rue Christine), doesn’t reveal a true motive, but it does reveal scream-core pop mastery. Paradox Theatre, 1401 N.W. Leary Way, 8 p.m. $7