Wednesday, October 5The Legendary Shack Shakers + Gore Gore GirlsThe headliners have one of those generic names that does its job and nothing more (kind of like their music), but the openers are the draw. Amy Surdu is one of the major players in Detroit garage rock of the past decade, and she makes GGG’s revolving lineup go, go, go. Tractor Tavern, 8 p.m. $10System of a Down + the Mars Volta + HellaFans of 2001’s terrific Toxicity aren’t exactly biting down SOAD’s new Mezmerize (Sony), but it won’t stop them from showing up for this, especially with two heavy-hitting openers—the nu-prog Mars Volta and math-noise heroes Hella. KeyArena, 305 Harrison St., 206-628-0888, 7 p.m. $31.50–$44Thursday, October 6The CoupReadying their first album since 2001’s Party Music—it of the inadvertently controversial Twin Towers–explosion cover—Oakland activist/MC Boots Riley and DJ Pam the Funkstress are damn impressive in concert as well as on record. Lifesavas open. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $15Dan BernA smart-aleck folkie with an uneven pen, Bern’s always fun live. Garrin Benfield opens. Tractor Tavern, 9 p.m. $15HIM + Finch + SkindredFinnish “love metal” band His Infernal Majesty just released Dark Light (haha), as well as a legion of heartagram-adorned black hoodies upon the mall near you, but that’s not to say they suck. Finch and Skindred round out the best punk-goth-ragga-metal bill of the year. Premier, 7 p.m. $25Robbie Robertson InterviewThe logy ex-Band leader appears as part of EMP’s ongoing Dylan love-fest. He’ll be interviewed by staff and audience members, presumably about both the folkie he used to back up and the group he used to play guitar for. EMP Liquid Lounge, 7 p.m.Yonder Mountain String BandYMSB’s last album, Mountain Tracks: Volume 3 reached No. 1 on Billboard’s bluegrass chart, and they champion a progressive, jam-band take on that style. Fellow Coloradans Open Road show us how it’s done old-school. Showbox, 8 p.m. $20Friday, October 7BabukishanAs a baul—a mystic minstrel, whose Sanskrit root word means either “divinely inspired insanity” or “fervently eager”—Bengali Babukishan has played with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, and Miles Davis; now he’s bringing his ecstatic music and dance to a yoga hall near you. Samadhi Yoga, 1201 E. Pike, 206-329-4070. 8 p.m. $15Bill Gaither and the Gaither FamilyThe gospel veteran returns to home ground for a full evening that includes “a cavalcade of singers, musicians and comedians,” according to the EEC Web site. Everett Events Center, 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett, 866-332-8499, 7 p.m.Darek Mazzone’s Birthday PartyThe host of KEXP’s Planet Beat celebrates another year on the planet, and you get to join him. Yerba Buena and Kultur Shock perform, and Mazzone himself spins. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $12Jimmie Dale GilmoreSEE CD REVIEW, P. 52. Triple Door, 8 p.m. $23 adv./$25Levi FullerLow-key and lo-fi Fuller is finishing up This Murder Is a Peaceful Gathering, produced by Brian Deck and containing many songs about crows. This First Friday show is altogether pleasant listening, with Wesafari’s Rick Wright as Sifaka and Everything Is Fine. Aurafice, 616 E. Pine St., 8:30 p.m. FreeThe WillowzThis heavily hyped L.A. garage band have more songs than they know what to do with, but one listen to their new Talk in Circles (Sympathy for the Record Industry) effectively deflates the hype, albeit winningly. The Old Haunts and Invisible Eyes open. Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $7Saturday, October 8Tha AlkaholiksHip-hop’s most celebrated drankers (also the most unrepentant, given that they flirted with calling themselves the Liks and switched back) play in advance of their new album, Firewater. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $12The Dirty ThreeOne critic compared the live performance of violinist Warren Ellis, guitarist Mike Turner and drummer Jim White to the Tour de France, full of raucous peaks and sonorous valleys that leave the crowd emotionally exhausted. Converging from three continents to tour for Cinder, their open-ended instrumentals evoke dark days, arriving in Seattle at just the right time. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $12Richard ThompsonSEE CD REVIEW, P. 52. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 8 p.m. $41 adv./$44Visqueen + the Cops + Tennis ProThe always-exciting Visqueen join the Cops and Tennis Pro as they release debut Get Good or Stay Bad and follow-up Cassie’s Junior Varsity Make-Out Squad, respectively. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $8Sunday, October 9Leo Kottke/Mike GordonThe king of low-key ambient guitar and the ex-Phisherman tour together behind the new Sixty Six Steps (RCA). Moore Theatre, 7 p.m. $26.50–$33.50Mark MallmanThis Minneapolis singer-songwriter once performed a single song for 52.4 hours, but here he’ll play a relatively truncated set heavy on material from the new Mr. Serious. Jason Eric Rubin opens. El Corazon, 8 p.m. $6Monday, October 10ThriceThe O.C. (the area, not the show) keeps on bringing us bands like this—”rock/hardcore/experimental,” sez their MySpace profile, though “experimental” is probably pushing it a bit. Underoath, the Bled, and Veda open. Showbox, 6 p.m. $19Tuesday, October 11Adrian BelewThe expert guitarist (King Crimson, various session work) and so-so solo artist comes around with bassist Mike Gallagher and drummer Mike Hodges. Triple Door, 7 p.m. $28.50 adv./$30Anne MurrayLong before the Arcade Fire, et al., made Canada a pop-music hotspot, this native Nova Scotian was burning up the charts with “Songbird,” “Danny’s Song,” “Love Song,” and other songs. Paramount Theatre, 7:30 p.m. $32.50–$52.50Bob Mould BandMould’s guitar-based songwriting has returned on the new Body of Song (Yep Roc), sitting snugly alongside his recent interest in beat-centricity (he’s an excellent DJ who plays regularly around D.C.). This is first tour since the ’90s with a band, which includes Fugazi’s Brendan Canty on drums. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $15 adv./$17Wynonna Judd with Seattle SymphonyThe country siren goes symphonic? There are odder things, we suppose. She plays in support of a new live CD. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 206-215-4800, 7:30 p.m. $20–$68 EUPCOMING SHOWSOct 12 Coheed and Cambria + the Blood Brothers, ShowboxOct 12 The Killers + British Sea Power, KeyArenaOct 13 Against Me! + the Epoxies + the Soviettes, Neumo’sOct 14 Gillian Welch, ParamountOct 14–15 Gov’t Mule + Moe, ShowboxOct 15 Brooks and Dunn, White River AmphitheatreOct 15 The Hold Steady + the Constantines, Neumo’sOct 17 Superpitcher, Chop SueyOct 17 Jem + Josh Kelley, Moore TheatreOct 18 Tortoise, Neumo’sOct 19 Dar Williams + Girlyman, Moore TheatreOct 19 Nada Surf, Neumo’sOct 20 ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra), TractorOct 21–22 Sage Francis, Neumo’sOct 21 The Posies, Neumo’sOct 21 Bauhaus, ParamountOct 22 Iron and Wine + Calexico, Moore TheatreOct 23 David Gray, KeyArenaOct 25 The Go! Team, ShowboxOct 26 Foo Fighters + Weezer, KeyArenaOct 27–28 Decemberists + Cass McCombs, ShowboxOct 30 Rolling Stones + Motley Crue, KeyArenaOct 30 Broadcast, Neumo’sOct 30 Our Lady Peace, ShowboxOct 31 311, Moore TheatreNov 1 Metric, Crocodile CafeNov 3 Paul McCartney, KeyArenaNov 4 Bright Eyes + Sons and Daughters + Willie Mason, Moore TheatreNov 4 My Morning Jacket + Saul Williams, ShowboxNov 5 Rachel’s + Tristeza, Neumo’sNov 6 Clay Aiken, McCaw HallNov 7 The Magic Numbers, CrocodileNov 7 The Moody Blues, ParamountNov 7 They Might Be Giants, MooreNov 7 Atmosphere + Blueprint, ShowboxNov 8 Def Leppard + Bryan Adams, Everett Events Center