Wednesday, June 21

Calexico

Garden Ruin, Calexico’s latest offering on Quarterstick, boils all their familiar elements of Tex-Mex twang and dusty country shuffles into an elegant pop record. While they’ve often been more recognized for backing up cats like Howe Gelb and Neko Case, this record should shed light on their impressive genre-blending talents. Eric Bachmann and Salvador Doran also perform. Showbox, 8 p.m. $18

The Del McCoury Band

What’s the best way to form the greatest bluegrass band in the world? Give birth to it yourself! Nah, that’s a stretch, but Del McCoury is not only the finest singer/guitarist working in the genre today, his two sons Ronnie and Rob are two of the finest mandolin and banjer pickers, as well. With lightning speed and dazzling solos, Del McCoury Band shows can almost be considered less a show and more of a spectacle. Tractor Tavern, 9 p.m. $25

Goapele

Perhaps the Bay Area’s numero uno soulstress, Goapele returns to Seattle to show off her latest neo-soul effort (created with help from Sa-Ra Creative Partners and producer du jour Linda Perry), Even Closer. Chop Suey, 8:30 p.m. $13

J Church

Another surprise from San Fran (via Austin) is this bill with the now-four-piece pop punk band J Church, whose most recent release, the No Idea disc Society Is a Carnivorous Flower, shows how far they’ve come since 1991. With Dateless, the Femurs, and Unemployables. Funhouse, 9 p.m. $6

Seattle Joe Show

In the old Ballard Ave tradition, the Sunset has gathered together a stellar group of friends to help raise money for drummer Joe Camarillo (Waco Brothers, Dollar Store), who was recently injured in a car wreck. Lucky for him, those friends happen to be members of the Presidents, Mudhoney, and Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, who will all perform covers of the Kinks, Humble Pie, and Bob Seger. Sunset Tavern, 8 p.m. $7

Thursday, June 22

Seu Jorge

Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $20 adv./$25

James Lavelle

Lavelle’s impressive musical career (founder of proto-trip-hop label Mo’ Wax, one-third of brooding production team UNKLE) has found him of late making sometimes-enjoyable, sometimes-wretched Global Underground comps (Barcelona and Romania, respectively)—as well as DJ’ing less glamorous locales, like ours. Locals KRNL.PANIC, working his infectious No Crease Walk mix, and DJ Roy, open the gig. Chop Suey, 9 p.m. $10

Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony + Mahler’s Seventh Symphony

Vast and rather grim—but the composer’s a Schwarz specialty, so check it out—Mahler’s Seventh Symphony is one of the very few orchestral pieces to welcome the delicate colors of guitar and mandolin into the orchestra. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 7:30 p.m. $15-$87 Also Friday, June 23-Sunday, June 25

Friday, June 23

Mass Line Launch Party: Blue Scholars + Common Market + Gabriel Teodros + Native Guns + DJ Scene

Showbox, 8 p.m. $10 adv./$12 All ages

Christopher Lawrence + Spinderella

This wildly random pairing involves (in the main room) trance master Christopher Lawrence, and (in the subterranean area LSC terms the “Urban Level”) Salt ‘N Peppa’s shejay Spinderella! Tomorrow night Spin will also play a pride event for the ladies @ Premier’s Girl4Girl event. Last Supper Club, 10 p.m.

En: Koto and Shakuhachi

Koto master Elizabeth Falconer is Seattle’s priestess of this refined, intimate, silk-stringed Japanese instrument, accompanied by the otherworldly tones of the traditional wood flute. Floating Leaves Teahouse, 2213 N.W. Market St., 7 p.m.

Mojo for Jojo: New Fangs + Vomiting Unicorns + Rotting Apples + TV Coahran

This Concert Carnival, with DJ Greasy and host Rikki Pajamas, features the sharp rock of New Fangs and more to benefit a friend named Jojo. The Northwest chapter of the Grammys offers MusiCares for those in the scene that are injured without insurance, but when they can’t help everyone, there’s friends like these. Sunset Tavern, 7 p.m.

Rennie Pilgrem + Uberzone

Pilgrem is a British nu-breaks pioneer; Uberzone’s his compradre from the other side of the pond (California, to be exact). Both have made seminal tracks in their genre, which will get your feet moving no matter which style of techno you like. Element, 10 p.m. $10 before 11 p.m./$15

Pink Mountain (Sam from Quasi) + Zu (the Ex)

Quasi just released a pretty killer album, When the Going Gets Dark, but check out Sam Coomes’ promising side project Pink Mountain, also featuring members of Lozenge, Tom Waits band, and Eskimo). Members of Dutch socialist punks the Ex appear in Zu, and Totimoshi also perform. El Corazon, 9 p.m. $10

Trwst and the Puget Sound Machine + Everstone + Novatone

From the same producer as Blonde Redhead and Twilight Singers, comes mellow and bouncy alt-rock band Trwst and the P.S.M. Before the show, see if you can find their random antismoking video on their soon-to-be-awesome Web site (www.trwst.com). Tonight they’re playing with rock-funkers Everstone, as well as Novatone, a band spiked with the original drummer from Pearl Jam and the current Harvey Danger keyboardist. High Dive, 10 p.m. $6

Saturday, June 24

Dead Moon

Though Dead Moon have been spewing forth their whiskey-soaked blues-rock mania in the Pacific Northwest for decades, the band is only now getting its due. This September, the mighty Sub Pop will release a two-disc anthology, Echoes of the Past, chronicling Dead Moon’s storied career. But don’t wait till then to worship them, they play in Seattle often and every show is a cherished event—some might even say life-altering. With the Kings of Rock and the Wires. Funhouse, 9:30 p.m. $10

The Pillows + the Stereo Future

J-pop fans, Sakura-con attendees, and lovers of inspired pop-punk agree: Japan’s the Pillows are the top of the pops. Seattle’s Stereo Future has toured extensively with them at home and abroad, crafting their own smart and sweet tunes. Crocodile Cafe, 5 p.m. $13 adv./$15 All ages

Sunday, June 25

Elvis Costello and the Imposters + Allen Toussaint

This unique pairing began at a live charity concert in the wake of the flood (also known as Hurricane Katrina) and has morphed into a full-length melding of mainly-Toussaint ditties by these two titans and their more than competent bands. Costello fans expecting Spike to draw from his vast catalog on this tour are likely to be disappointed, but those heading in with a wide open mind should leave satisfied, still buzzing from $10 bottles of wine. Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14111 N.E. 145th St., Woodinville, 425-415-3300, 7 p.m. $45-$75

Melissa Etheridge

Never before in the history of popular music has a musician’s livelihood rested so squarely on the shoulders of Planet Lesbos. To the rest of the universe, a Metheridge concert means two-plus hours of grating, proto-dyke folk-rock from a poor woman’s Kim Carnes. Paramount Theatre, 7:30 p.m. $35-$100

Pink + All American Rejects + Nick Lachey + Teddy Geiger + Ashley Parker Angel + Aly and A.J. + Rihanna

“Disasters all around/World despaired/Their only concern/Will they fuck up my hair?” sings Pink on “Stupid Girls,” whose video takes aim at Lachey’s ex-wife—should be an interesting scene backstage! Pink’s calculated persona of power makes her the odd one out on this KISS 106.1-sponsored parade of pre-fab. But count Rihanna in the cool corner too—her “S.O.S.” is the song of the summer. KeyArena, 305 Harrison St., 5 p.m. $35-$75

Yellowman and the Saggitarius Band

Known as Jamaica’s first dancehall superstar, looks like we’ve got the once-foul-mouthed Yellowman (nee Winston Foster) at least partially to blame for the equally “slack” lyrics of today’s reggaeton and crunk. He popularized toasting with the same bravado and attitude rap stars employ today, and his longevity proves his talent. Triple Door, 7:30 p.m. $23.50 adv./$26

Monday, June 26

Buck 65 + the Evening Episode + Tiny Vipers

Tiny Vipers (aka Jesy Fortino) can hush every room she performs in. Though she’s physically slight, her voice carries a big boom, like some sort of phantom crying out in the woods. Delivering creepy, minimal folk songs, her shows are fragile, mystical, and haunting. Buck 65 headlines, with the Evening Episode in between. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $12 All ages

Tuesday, June 27

The Bronx + Priestess + Riverboat Gamblers + Wires on Fire

Though Priestess have plenty of things that would convince us of their retro-stoner-metal cred (tours with Dinosoaur Jr., album art by Arik Moonhawk Roper), something about them seems a little bland and contrived, as if they aimed for Led Zeppelin, but hit Skid Row instead. Crocodile Cafe, 7 p.m. $10 adv./$12 All ages

Dillinja + Lemon D

Some of the hardest-hitting drum and bass producers since the early ’90s, Dillinja and Lemon D are known for their Valve Sound System, a wall of speakers they built specifically for their Miami-bass-surpassing jams. The six stacks—each measuring 18 feet wide and 9 feet tall, with 52 bassbins—won’t be coming across the Atlantic, but the War Room’s system is the best in town for the deep, wobbly bass they’ll drop. War Room, 9 p.m. $12