Wednesday, September 21The Arcade FireThe ornate old theater is a fitting backdrop for the Arcade Fire’s cabaret rock, which attracts more fans each time they pass through town. Paramount, 8 p.m. $22.50Carla Bley and the Lost ChordsOne of the great composers and pianists in modern jazz, Bley’s always got something up her sleeve, and with this unit (longtime bassist—and husband—Steve Swallow, saxophonist Andy Sheppard, drummer Billy Drummond), anything can and hopefully will happen. Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 7:30 p.m. $22.50LTJ Bukem + MC ConradHe hasn’t released anything in a while, but LTJ keeps busy with his Good Looking label, its roster of jazzy, ambient drum and bass artists, and touring the world with his sidekick, the fluid and able Conrad. With the Dowlz and Quentin J. Soular. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $12KMFDMThe German-born, locally based industrial giants celebrate the release of their newest CD, Hau Ruck (Metropolis), and kick off their new tour. Premier, 8 p.m. $22.50 adv./$25ZZ TopBeards to the floor, guitars to 10, hits to here, Texas’ greatest boogie band stops by the fair for a spell to bring the goods. Puyallup Fair, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup, 206-628-0888, 7 p.m. $41.50–$46.50Thursday, September 22The Robert Cray BandNot just a local performance by one of the hardiest blues dudes kicking it out, the Thursday night show is also the venue’s second anniversary. Have a toast. Triple Door, 8 p.m. $50 Also Fri., Sept. 23Wolf Parade + Vells + Dante DecaroSEE CD REVIEW (WOLF PARADE), P. 50. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $10Ashlee SimpsonWe’d pay money to see the sound guy’s instructions for this one. Showbox, 7 p.m. $39.50No Depression 10-Year AnniversaryTonight, it’s Peter Case and Christy McWilson; Friday, Raul Malo of the Mavericks headlines; and Saturday, the bill is Richmond Fontaine, Chuckanut Drive, and Mike Coykendall. The best of them all comes Sunday, with the Waco Brothers Bloodshed Revue, featuring Jon Langford, Sally Timms, and Dollar Store. Sunset Tavern, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $48.50Decibel DJ LoungeSEE FEATURE, P. 43, AND SEVEN NIGHTS, P. 56, FOR FULL DECIBEL LISTINGS INFORMATION. Barca maintains your Decibel pre-func throughout the weekend with associated DJs from Seattle and Portland, including Camea, Derek Fischer, Jacob London, Jeromy Nail, Jizosh, Misha, Noah Pred, Ramiro, the Perfect Cyn, and Tim Xavier. Barca, through Sun., Sept. 25.Shake the Shack Rockabilly BallThis ladies showcase features Lil’ Bit and the Customatics, Nicky Kay and His Fabulous Kay Tones, Meary Lanahan, Lauren Marie, the Donettes, the Triple R Rhythm Ranch, and lots of tight black dresses, pompadours, and red pouts. Tractor Tavern, 8:30 p.m. $12Spaz 360On cable’s syndicated Dance 360, wanna-be fly girls and guys battle each other and brave ridiculous dance moves in an improv atmosphere. Re-bar’s first spin on it, hosted by Mr. Grant and Queen Lucky, promises nothing short of hilarity. Re-bar, 10 p.m. $3Friday, September 23Nine Inch Nails + Queens of the Stone Age + AutoluxSEE CD REVIEW (NINE INCH NAILS), P. 50. KeyArena, 7:30 p.m. $35–$45The Intelligence + TyradesTheir first on In the Red, Icky Baby is also the first Intelligence record to feature, on a few songs at least, a full band executing—and here, both definitions of that word apply—full-on controlled chaos. From Chicago, the Tyrades play extreme sport, grrl-fronted hardcore outre punk. The Swimmers open. Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $5Raul MaloSEE THURSDAY. Sunset Tavern, 7 p.m. $17 adv./$20Portastatic + Two Gallants + Holy Ghost Revival + the RosebudsSEE CD REVIEW (PORTASTATIC), P. 51. Crocodile Cafe, 8 p.m. $10ConvergeThis great band’s You Fail Me (Epitaph) was named the second-best album of 2004 by Decibel magazine, which is good enough for anyone. Terror and Cursed Mare open. El Corazon, 6:30 p.m. $12Saturday, September 24Brad Paisley + SugarlandSEE CD REVIEW (BRAD PAISLEY), P. 51. Puyallup Fair, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup, 206-628-0888, 7 p.m. $28.50–$33.50Ladybug MeccaFresh off her onstage reunion with the rest of Digable Planets at Bumbershoot, one of the most lovely-flowing MCs ever brings it solo. Steveni opens. Nectar, 10 p.m. $6The New PornographersIf Twin Cinema (Matador) isn’t quite up to the Vancouver power-poppers’ best, it’s still smarter and more fun than 99 percent of everything else in the category. Immaculate Machine opens. Showbox, 8 p.m. $16 adv./$18Nuclear AssaultFeel like cleaning out your ears some more after Converge last night? This will do you just fine. Bring your younger sibling along to have their wits scared out—it’s fun! The Braindead, Black Goat, Global Genocide, and No One Lives open. Studio Seven, 7 p.m. $20Hamell on TrialEd Hamell is an upstate New Yorker with a very funny songwriting pen and equally sardonic performance style, meaning he’s a lot of fun live. Sunset Tavern, 7 p.m. $10Richmond Fontaine + Chuckanut Drive + Mike CoykendallSEE THURSDAY. Sunset Tavern, 7 p.m. $10A Particularly Vicious Rumor + Crooks and NanniesThis trio of street musicians from New Orleans (Kid Twist and Miss O from Rumor, Walt Ever as the crook and nanny) have enjoyed the gypsy-musician lifestyle for a while, but now find themselves on a perpetual tour. If the Katrina benefits keep passing you up, here’s another chance to show the Big Easy some love. Nine Pound Hammer, 10 p.m. Also Sat., Sept. 25 at Fado, 10 p.m.Erase Errata + the Lights + Sick BeesWe might switcheroo the lineup to allow the two book-ended girl groups to slur, shake, and stampede concurrently, but nonetheless, this might be the show of the week. As the Lights are more oxygenated and raw live than they are on record, three sets of convulsive, propulsive post-punk equals rapture. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $8 adv./$10Sunday, September 25Rickie Lee JonesDo you think she still plays “Chuck E’s in Love?” Maybe not, but she’ll probably play “Ugly Man,” from her Evening of My Best Day (V2), in which she promises that “we’ll take it back” (the country) from that truly unattractive beast (George W). Triple Door, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $48.50 adv./$50The Waco Brothers Bloodshed RevueSEE THURSDAY. Sunset Tavern, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $48.50 adv./$50 Also at Sonic Boom Ballard, 2209 N.W. Market St., 206-297-2666, at 6 p.m. FreeMonday, September 26Less Than JakeThe wackos behind Crazy Frog aren’t the only ones who enjoy coaxing insanity from tolerable, mildly fun songs—take ska-punk heroes Less than Jake, whose new B is for B-Sides (songs that didn’t make the cut on 2003’s Anthem) is available as a techno remix album special to this tour. Whoomp, there it is! El Corazon, 8 p.m. $17Green Day + Jimmy Eat WorldNo, they didn’t prevent Bush from getting elected, but hey—they tried. Too bad the album they did it with is kind of a bore. Ditto the openers, minus the overt (or not) political oomph. Tacoma Dome, 2727 E. D St., Tacoma, 206-268-0888, 7:30 p.m. $39.50–$45Local H + the GiraffesJust to prove he could still do it, Scott Lucas (he who is Local H, basically) made a triumphantly rockin’ version of Britney’s “Toxic” and put it on the band’s Web site last year. Hope for an album that follows in the same vein. The Giraffes are sort of mediocre, as we found out when their label sent 578 copies of their album to the Weekly offices. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $12Pedro the LionOne of the city’s finest low-key pop-rock groups haven’t made an album for a while, but the Web site says they’ll have some new tunes to preview. Yay! Crocodile Cafe, 8 p.m. $8. All agesTuesday, September 27Acid Mothers TempleDefinitely weird and psychedelic and expansive, but this Japanese conglomerate is also a bit draggy, at least on the couple albums we’ve heard. (No, we haven’t heard all 84—next time, OK?) The Occasion and Sean open. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $10 EUPCOMING SHOWSSept 28 Sigur Ros + Amina, ParamountSept 29 Carl Cox + Evil Nine, ShowboxSept 29 Four Tet, Neumo’sOct 1 Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Neumo’sOct 1 Jon Scofield, Tractor TavernOct 1 T. Raumschmiere, Chop SueyOct 1 M83 + the National + Athlete + Math and Physics Club, Neumo’sOct 1 Billy Ray Cyrus, Emerald Queen CasinoOct 1–2 Franz Ferdinand + TV on the Radio + Cut Copy, ParamountOct 3 The Fiery Furnaces, Neumo’sOct 3 Mike Doughty, ShowboxOct 4 Proclaimers, Tractor TavernOct 4 Black Dice, Chop SueyOct 4 Danzig + Chimaira + Himsa + Behemoth, PremierOct 4 The Frames + Josh Ritter, ShowboxOct 5 System of a Down + the Mars Volta + Hella, KeyArenaOct 8 The Dirty Three, Neumo’sOct 11 Bob Mould, Neumo’sOct 13 Against Me! + the Epoxies + the Soviettes, Neumo’sOct 14 Gillian Welch, ParamountOct 15 Brooks and Dunn, White River AmphitheatreOct 17 Superpitcher, Chop SueyOct 18 Tortoise, Neumo’sOct 19 Dar Williams + Girlyman, Moore TheatreOct 19 Nada Surf, Neumo’sOct 21–22 Sage Francis, Neumo’sOct 21 The Posies, Neumo’sOct 22 Iron and Wine + Calexico, Moore TheatreOct 25 The Go! Team, ShowboxOct 27 Decemberists, ShowboxOct 30 Rolling Stones, KeyArenaOct 30 Broadcast, Neumo’sNov 1 Metric, Crocodile CafeNov 3 Paul McCartney, KeyArenaNov 4 Bright Eyes + Sons and Daughters, Moore TheatreNov 7 Atmosphere + Blueprint, ShowboxNov 8 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Benaroya HallNov 9 Jethro Tull, McCaw HallNov 12 Broken Social Scene, ShowboxNov 12 Henry Rollins, Moore TheatreNov 12 Bonnie Raitt, ParamountNov 14 Chicks on Speed, Chop SueyNov 17 Joss Stone, ParamountNov 18 Death Cab for Cutie + Stars, Paramount TheatreNov 21 Gwen Stefani + M.I.A., KeyArenaNov 25 Jane Siberry, Triple DoorNov 26 Donovan, Moore TheatreNov 27 Ozomatli, Showbox