Wednesday, March 5
Festivals often provide a weekend escape, a time to forget the world and live a brief rock fantasy. With Magma Fest, Hollow Earth Radio forgoes that notion—it spans all of March. Venues throughout Seattle will present bills even more varied than the station’s own DIY programming: There’s Geneva Jacuzzi, an underground electro-pop artist with a knack for ’80s synth production and Lady Gaga theatrics; surf-gazers Lures and math-rock experimentalists Scarves bringing their guitar escapades; and Moon Joe, a “3-year-old percussionist extraordinaire” (yes, a child). While other festivals might present expected favorites with a few surprises, Magma Fest is primarily surprises— a chance to discover something new and weird that pushes musical taste out of its comfort zone. Costs vary; some age restrictions; see hollowearthradio.org/magma for complete details. Through March 30. DUSTY HENRY
Fiona Dawn effortlessly switches between English and Mandarin lyrics in songs that infuse conventional pop-song structures with traces of music from all around the world. Her most recent album, Tricks of the Trade, features ukulele, zheng, and sounds that evoke West African and Balinese music. With Susy Sun, PhilHarmonic, DJ HoJo. Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9951, thebarboza.com. 8 p.m. $7 adv./$10 DOS. MICHAEL F. BERRY
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. OK, be honest: An album title like The Speed of Things makes you think it’s going to be an energetic ride, right? That’s why Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.’s sophomore effort is so beautifully subversive. Technically, it delivers on your expectations, with a pleasing array of synth-pop numbers that will get any retro-oriented party started, but there’s more going on here. The seemingly ebullient track “Run” is actually about sexual deviance and abuse, while hit dance single “If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t on the Dance Floor)” is based on the band’s own experiences getting lost in touring and becoming numb to the world around them. The title is actually a meditation on our culture’s warp-speed nature and our seeming inability to slow the hell down (and a nod to the race-car driver who inspired the band’s name). This duo gives you exactly what you want, and then subtly pulls the rug out from beneath you. With Chad Valley. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467, neumos.com. 8 p.m. $15. 21 and over. BRIAN PALMER
Part blues poet, part rock-and-roll messenger from God, part thought-provoking folk troubadour, Joshua Powell loves turning your expectations inside out. 2013’s Man is Born for Trouble includes songs named after Kerouac, Whitman, and Tolstoy, but “Parable from Calcutta” ’s spiritual bent succinctly captures the many defining characteristics of his discography. With Jake Nannery. The Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave. S., 906-9920, theroyalroomseattle.com. 8 p.m. No cover. All ages. BP
The Soft Hills While this show will be headlined by the excellent boy/girl harmonies of Ephrata, the band in the second slot, the Soft Hills, are the star attraction. Led by Garret Hobba, it’ll celebrate the release of Departure, a lightly psychedelic pop record that manages to be both melancholy and magical, delightfully rolling along like soft hills beneath strange purple skies. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. 8 p.m. $8 adv. 21 and over. MARK BAUMGARTEN
Thursday, March 6
Hobosexual manages to make the most of little things. The lo-fi, no-holds-barred guitar/drum duo channels the best and worst of the 1980s on its second album, Hobosexual II. If you miss the group this week, you can party with it Memorial Day weekend at Sasquatch. With the Spinning Whips, A Breakthrough in Field Studies, DJ/MC Matt Brown. Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St., 632-2020, nectarlounge.com. 8 p.m. $8. MFB
The California Honeydrops have more flair than The Nature Boy. Whether putting together funky jams, giving you a taste of New Orleans–style second-line music, or playing the kind of ragtime jazz that will make you dance yourself silly, this band aims to please on its latest, Like You Mean It. With Umphrey’s McGee. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 441-9729, stgpresents.org/neptune. 8 p.m. $25. All ages. BP
Real Estate There’s an airy, summertime feel to “Talking Backwards” and “Crime,” the first two songs released from Atlas, the third album from this New Jersey–based surf-rock quintet that features Ducktails’ Matt Mondanile. Based on those two songs, Atlas maintains the jangly-pop vibe of Real Estate’s previous release, 2011’s Days, but presents a cleaner, more precise version of the band. With the Shilohs. Neumos. 8 p.m. $20 adv. 21 and over. AZARIA C. PODPLESKY
Paul Revere & the Raiders One might think that at 76, Paul Revere would be more interested in a late-afternoon dinner buffet than a midnight ride. But he and his Raiders have perfected their slapstick show over 50 years, still wearing their trademark colonial costumes and playing the hits that made them a cornerstone of the early Pacific Northwest music scene. Snoqualmie Casino, 37500 S.E North Bend Way, 425-888-1234, snocasino.com. 7 p.m. $19/$41. MFB
To make 2012’s Old World Romance more melody-based, Alex Brown Church, frontman of Los Angeles–based indie-rock quintet Sea Wolf, recorded every song idea he had, reviewed a handful every week, and focused on the standouts. The result highlights Church’s thoughtful musicality, yet doesn’t throw his introspective lyrics by the wayside. With Kevin Long. Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, thetripledoor.net. 7:30 p.m. $15 adv./$18 DOS/$25 VIP. All ages. ACP
King Dude crosses genres from track to track on his latest album, Tonight’s Special Death, but one concept remains intact: Everything is eerie. He can frighten listeners with chugging acoustic guitar chords (“Born In Blood”) or distorted slow burners (“No One Is Here”), and the lo-fi production only heightens his music’s paranormal sensibilities. With J.C. Satan, Grave Babies. Chop Suey. 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8005, chopsuey.com. $7 adv./$10 DOS. 8 p.m. 21 and over. DH
Friday, March 7
Angel Olsen may not yet be a household name, but for fans it’s clear that the Missouri-born, Chicago-bred roots-rock artist is having her moment (or is about to). Having already worked with a number of American indie-rock champions, including Tim Kinsella of Cap’n Jazz and LeRoy Bach of Wilco, it’s apparent there’s something special about Olsen. And with four full-length albums under her belt, she continues to build a reputation as an emotive performer whose rich vocals prove the perfect catalyst for her brave, engaging songs. It’s for these reasons, among others, that her newest release, Burn Your Fire for No Witness, is such a gem. It’s Olsen’s most personal work to date—a collection of stories she brings to life with the help of a full backing band that spans the gamut of emotions, from sad and thoughtful ballads to bold and expressive rock cuts. Onstage, the songs, and Olsen herself, are sure to be both captivating and cathartic. With Cian Nugent and Shenandoah Davis. Barboza. 7 p.m. $12 adv. 21 and over. KEEGAN PROSSER
It’s tempting to dismiss anything happening at the Hard Rock Cafe as corp-rock garbage, and I usually do, but Hard Rock Rising is perhaps the exception. Billed as a “global battle of the bands,” each cafe holds a series of live competitions, then forwards the best band to nationals. Tonight’s show is round two. I was a judge in a preliminary round last year, and was happily reminded that whenever you get a teenager and an electric guitar in the same room, a whole lot of crotch action isn’t far behind. There was something organic and unpretentious about the entire show that is hard to find not just in Hard Rock Cafes but on Capitol Hill as well. The wrong band won my round, but I left satisfied nonetheless. Bands TBA. Hard Rock Cafe, 116 Pike St., 204-2233, hardrock.com/cafes/seattle. 8 p.m. Free. DANIEL PERSON
SXSW Send Off SXSW, meet the PNW. Three local favorites—alternative synth-pop trio The Flavr Blue, featuring “White Walls” singer Hollis; soul/hip-hop chanteuse Shaprece; and James Apollo, who leads a group of bluesy indie-rock musicians—will make their way to the annual Austin, Texas festival. But before they hit the road to the land of endless barbecue, they’ll show us exactly what makes them SXSW material. Neumos. 8 p.m. $5 adv. 21 and over. ACP
G-Eazy, the so-called “James Dean of hip-hop,” best known for his reimagining of the 1960s hit “Runaround Sue,” releases his next album, These Things Happen, soon. With Rockie Fresh and Kyle. The Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151, showboxonline.com. 8 p.m. SOLD OUT. MFB
Saturday, March 8
The seventh event in Fremont Abbey’s Cathedrals Concerts series features Danish songstress/pianist Agnes Obel, accompanied by cellist Anne Mueller and Timber Timbre’s Mika Posen on viola, performing songs from Obel’s sophomore album Aventine. Its sparseness, a result of minimal instrumentation and Obel’s smoky, jazzy vocals, should be magnified by the cathedral’s resonant acoustics. With Bryan John Appleby. St. Mark’s Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave. E., 323-0300, fremontabbey.org. 8 p.m. $17–$19. All ages. ACP
OCnotes defies most hip-hop trends. While many producers are moving toward dubstep samples and brutal bass drops, OCnotes is forging his own genre he calls “AlienBassBooty,” which he says is based on a foundation of freedom and artistic expression. It incorporates psychedelic guitar lines and woozy synth runs, and he’s creating danceable beats in new, innovative ways. With WD4D, Chef Jerm. Lucid, 5241 University Way N.E., 402-3042, lucidseattle.com. Free. 21 and over. DH
Common Kings touts itself as an assorted-genre band, with influences from pop, rock, R&B, reggae, and soul that it blends into its own type of “island music.” With members of Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan, and Fijian origins and inspiration from artists from Led Zeppelin and D’Angelo to Jim Croce and the King of Pop himself, the California-based quartet has found a formula that creates a perfect harmony from its own backgrounds and musical journeys. Pair lead singer Sasualei “Junyer King” Maliga’s soulful vocals with the vibrant beats created by his band mates Ivan, Mata, and Rome, and you’ve got a smooth sound with an island twist that makes you feel good inside. Popular single “Wade in Your Water” and tracks from the August 2013 EP Summer Anthems, Common Kings whisk listeners away to a place of sun, sand, and “good vibes” all around. With Island Bound and Tribal Order. The Showbox. 9 p.m. SOLD OUT. All ages. MARGERY CERCADO
There have been big developments in the world of Campfire OK. Frontman Mychal Cohen got married. Congrats, Mychal. May your unending joy not impinge on your ability to write arresting lyrics like “orphan life I lead on a bridge to nowhere,” which appears on your latest collection When You Have Arrived. And if it does, who cares? You still have that incredible sense of melody, knack for dramatic pop compositions, and a crack band behind you. With Tango Alpha Tango, the Green Pajamas. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880, sunsettavern.com. 9 p.m. $7 adv. 21 and over. MARK BAUMGARTEN
Sunday, March 9
Countless musical trends have come and gone, but Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and its blend of jazz, swing, and rock have persevered. The septet, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and released its eighth album, Rattle Them Bones, in 2012, shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Snoqualmie Casino. 7 p.m. $19–$47. 21 and over. ACP
Tuesday, March 11
Good grief, is LAKE STREET DIVE a sexy band. Its hypnotic fusion of old-time jazz, soul, R&B, and blues swings like nobody’s business. Its debut full-length album, Bad Self Portraits, is a blast, and its recent performance on The Colbert Report proves it knows how to knock ’em dead live. With The Congress. The Neptune. 8 p.m. $18 adv./$20 DOS. All ages. BP
