Music

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Bastille In September 2013, British alt-rock quartet Bastille made its Seattle debut with a sold-out show at Tractor Tavern. A little over a year and a sold-out Showbox SoDo show later, the band is taking over KeyArena for the night. That progression is pretty impressive, given that the band is still touring behind its debut album, Bad Blood. Multiple singles, including the title track, “Flaws” and the cinematic “Pompeii,” have helped the band’s uphill trajectory, though unexpected covers and mashups and big screen-ready music videos have also added to the buzz. With Grizfolk. All ages. ACP KeyArena (Seattle Center), 305 Harrison St., Seattle, WA 98109 $31.50-$39.50 Tuesday, November 25, 2014, 8pm

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Nikki Lane Nashville-based singer Nikki Lane is, as she says on Facebook, as country/Americana as they come. Her latest album, the Dan Auerbach-produced All or Nothin’, is a collection of nitty-gritty country tunes. From the bouncy “I Don’t Care” to the surf-rock-tinged “ Seein’ Double,” and from “Love’s on Fire,” a romantic duet with Auerbach, to the soulful title track, Lane’s vocals have a vintage feel and a lot of room to play on this album. Her lyrics run the gamut from affectionate (the deceptively titled “I Don’t Care”) to brutally honest (“Sleep With a Stranger”), but that just gives the album an even more down-home feel. With Jamestown Revival, Pete Molinari. 21 and over. ACP Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., Seattle, WA 98107 $15 Tuesday, November 25, 2014, 8pm

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Usher R&B superstar, dancer, actor, The Voice judge, Cheerios spokesman: Throughout his 20-year career, Usher has worn many hats, some that make more sense than others. But no matter what he does, it’s done with a finesse all his own. His voice is always as smooth as his dance moves, even when he’s sharing the spotlight with an animated honeybee. Though his eighth full-length, UR, is still in the works, the singer already has two decades’ worth of hits-including “You Make Me Wanna . . . ” “U Don’t Have to Call,” “OMG,” and, most recently, “She Came to Give It to You”-to entertain audiences with during this “UR Experience” show. With August Alsina, DJ Cassidy. All ages. KeyArena (Seattle Center), 305 Harrison St., Seattle, WA 98109 $35 and up Wednesday, November 26, 2014, 7:30pm

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Gabriel Mintz Singer/songwriter Gabriel Mintz’s latest, Future Wars, is the perfect blend of psychedelic riffs and a more modern rock sound. It has an aged feel, but a mix of folk grooves (“So Close,” “In Us You Trust,” “Killing Me”), instrumental features (“An Ode to Hans Zimmer,” “Demeter”), heavier elements (“Late This Morning,” “Science”), and Mintz’s downright pretty voice keep it feeling fresh. Those vocals exude both a warmth and an ache and can take on an impressive Beck-like quality, especially on album opener “Castles Fall”; and the songwriter’s mix of light and dark folk makes for a contrasting yet engaging listen. With Zachary Lucky. 21 and over. Lo-Fi Performance Gallery, 429 Eastlake Ave., Seattle, WA 98109 $6 Wednesday, November 26, 2014, 8pm

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Nectar’s 10th Anniversary Party For 10 years, Nectar Lounge has welcomed artists from every genre under the sun. Hip-hop and reggae, Americana and bluegrass, dance and electronic: You name it, Nectar has hosted it. The venue will follow suit for Nectar’s 10th Anniversary Party, a two-night extravaganza packed with an eclectic lineup of local artists. The first night will feature Picoso, Project Lionheart, Trolls Cottage, and Clinton Fearon, and will be hosted by Davin Stedman of Staxx Brothers. Crack Sabbath, BShorty (aka Blake Lewis), the Cumbierios, and others will keep the celebration going on night two on Friday. 21 and over. Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St., Seattle, WA 98103 No Cover Wednesday, November 26, 2014, 8pm

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Sturgill Simpson Right off the bat, Kentucky-born country artist Sturgill Simpson’s sophomore release, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, raises a critical question: What exactly is metamodernism? There are many definitions, but it can be best described as an extension of ideas and philosophies developed in reaction to postmodernism. Metamodernism’s aim is not to rehash old forms, but to borrow elements from frameworks of the past and take them in directions that seemed inconceivable at the moment of their creation.

Maybe it’s Simpson voice, which bears a striking similarity to Waylon Jennings’, but this release and last year’s High Top Mountain have led casual listeners and cultural commentators to peg Simpson as a modern-day facsimile of 1970s outlaw country. It’s a lazy assumption, one the singer rejects out of hand by way of his latest record’s title. The 36-year-old has spent most of his life playing music, but it took a while to earn the recognition now rolling in, after a series of odd jobs and a stint in the Navy. His now-wife encouraged him to move to Nashville to give music a real chance, and that’s where his singular style bloomed.

If you think of Hank Williams or Lefty Frizell as modernists and Johnny Cash or David Allan Coe as postmodernists, Simpson’s aesthetic begins to make more sense. His approach isn’t to re-embody days long past, but to make an original statement altogether in his own time. You need only parse the words from Metamodern’s leadoff single, “Turtles All the Way Down,” to get the point. The tune sounds like a country track that might have been created by almost any artist at any point in the past 50 years, highlighting Simpson’s deep warble. But midway through, the music shifts into a cosmic, echo-inflected breakdown that isn’t really rooted in any form at all. Listen to the content and the lyrics-reptile aliens, LSD, different realms-and you’ll understand we’re not in Nashville anymore. One of Metamodern’s best songs is Simpson’s take on “The Promise” by British new wave group When in Rome. On the surface, this is a song that shouldn’t work in a country format, and its inclusion here smacks of gimmickry. Then you press play-and by song’s end you’re wondering how it could have been arranged and performed any other way; it’s as tender a country ballad as the best of them. It takes great confidence to take on something so different, something so recognizable, and not only distort it in such a manner but turn it into something arguably better than the original-praise many listeners have lavished on it.

Simpson’s not an alternative, not an outlaw, not a torchbearer or an antidote. He’s simply a country artist producing the only kind of music he can in the service of his muse-one which is rendering him a leader in an exciting new period of country music. With Lucette. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. SOLD OUT. 8 p.m. Wed., Nov. 26. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., Seattle, WA 98107 SOLD OUT Wednesday, November 26, 2014, 8pm

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Fly Moon Royalty

Unfinished Business, the latest EP from electro-soul duo Fly Moon Royalty-aka singer Adriene “Adra Boo” Green and producer/DJ Mike “Action Jackson” Sylvester-is just that: a collection of songs the pair felt they needed to put out before releasing a full-length. And it would appear that the duo still has some business to take care of with the release of Unfinished Business-Deluxe Edition. The revamped package includes the original tracks, instrumental versions of the songs, remixes, a new song called “Rx,” a lyric booklet, and the music video for the vocoder-heavy “DNA.” Oh-did I mention that the duo is giving the whole thing away for free? With Dave B., Otieno Terry. All ages. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., Seattle WA 98121 $13 adv. Friday, November 28, 2014, 8pm

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Nacho Picasso Rapper Nacho Picasso, aka Jesse Robinson, is one of those artists you either love or hate. For instance, on “Nacho Man,” the opening track from his latest release, Trances With Wolves-The Prixtape, Picasso laughs while saying “Gave my ex a back rub with a Mack truck/Did her like a speed bump/And then I backed up.” He can be crass (the recently released “Big Ass Titties” is a prime example), but Picasso’s dark imagery sets him far apart from other rappers, local or otherwise. If you can get past his lyrics-or even if you can’t-Picasso takes listeners on a trip into rap’s seedy underbelly. With Ugly Frank, Sneak Guapo, DJ Beeba. All ages. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., Seattle, WA 98122 $12 adv. Friday, November 28, 2014, 8 – 9pm

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Noah Gunderson At 25, Noah Gundersen has already logged more miles on the road than many musicians 10 years his senior. His songs are like that, too-impossibly conjured from wisdom he couldn’t possibly possess in his mid-20s. This combination propelled the Seattle musician to a successful 2014, which saw the release of his debut solo album, Ledges, in February and a new EP, Twenty-Something. Between a nationwide tour and mixing a full-length for release next year, Seattle Weekly probed Gundersen about the past year and his homecoming. With Rocky Votolato. Read the full interview at seattleweekly.com.

The Moore, 1932 Second Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $20 adv./$22.50 DOS Friday, November 28, 2014, 8pm

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Ryan Bingham If “Broken Heart Tattoos” is any indication, Ryan Bingham’s upcoming fifth album, Fear and Saturday Night, is going to be an open and honest look at where the gravel-voiced Americana singer is in his personal life. The song, a message to his future children, opens with “You are unborn and yet to be scarred with tattoos/The blood in your arm/Hell, it’s good and it’s warm/It’s still free to choose” before Bingham advises his kids to walk a straight line but not to be afraid to cut loose. The biographical lyrics give listeners some insight into Bingham’s rough past and hopes for the future. 21 and over. Columbia City Theater, 4916 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98118 SOLD OUT Saturday, November 29, 2014, 8pm

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The Flavr Blue It’s been just over a year since alt-electronic trio The Flavr Blue released its latest EP, Bright Vices, and the wait for more music is almost over, as the group plans to release a new project early next year. But before that, the trio (Lace Cadence, Parker Joe, and Hollis Wong-Wear) has released a video for “Hearts Racing” off the five-track EP. Sultry vocals from Cadence and Wong-Wear and a dynamic beat from Joe complement the clip, which features flashbacks to a couple’s happier moments interspersed with scenes of them fighting. The Billboard post that premiered the vid says those darker tones will carry over to the band’s upcoming project. With Katie Kate, Cuff Lynx, DJ Simon Thwaits. 21 and over. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., Seattle, WA 98122 $10 adv. Saturday, November 29, 2014, 8pm

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Black Whales Seattle five-piece Black Whales has a sound that really is all its own. The band’s sophomore album, Through the Prism, Gently, is a mix of pop sensibilities and darker psych-rock elements. A focus on catchy melodies and big hooks is there, but the band adds enough fuzz and ambience to keep Prism from feeling overly polished-a balance that makes it one of those records that fits a variety of spaces. There are enough pensive moments for a quiet night in, but danceable beats also make it a strong live album-something fans can experience for themselves at this album-release show. With the Young Evils, Timbre Barons. 21 and over. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., Seattle, WA 98107 $8 Saturday, November 29, 2014, 9pm

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Eric Hutchinson If loving solid power-pop records is wrong, then I don’t want to be right. Case in point: singer/songwriter Eric Hutchinson’s latest release, Pure Fiction. Unapologetically upbeat, it lets listeners know it’s OK to be happy. Pure Fiction is more than just auditory cotton candy, though; Hutchinson incorporates a variety of techniques to keep things interesting. He slows things down on “Goodnight Goodbye” and “Sun Goes Down,” and adds soulful flair to “Love Like You.” Also, the album closes with three acoustic tracks, including a take on opener “Tell the World,” that show that Hutchinson’s pop mastery isn’t all smoke and mirrors. With Tristan Prettyman, Nick Howard.. All ages. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., Seattle, WA 98105 $20 Sunday, November 30, 2014, 7:30pm

UW Gospel Choir 100 voices strong. Meany Hall for the Performing Arts, UW Campus, Seattle, WA 98105 $10-$15 Monday, December 1, 2014, 7:30pm

UW Jazz innovations Standards and originals from the Studio Jazz Ensemble and the Modern Band. Meany Studio Theater, UW campus, Seattle $10-$15 Monday, December 1, 2014, 7:30pm

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Thee Oh Sees It’s been an odd year for Thee Oh Sees. The quartet, led by singer/guitarist John Dwyer, announced it was taking a break at the end of 2013, leading many to think it was going on indefinite hiatus. The April release of a new album, the psychedelic Drop, added to the confusion over the band’s status. Plus, before Drop was recorded, three members left the band, leaving Dwyer to work with frequent collaborator Chris Woodhouse by himself. The band’s social-media accounts also haven’t been updated since the break, but despite all that, the band, now a trio, is back on the road. With Jack Name. All ages. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., Seattle WA 98121 $15 adv. Monday, December 1, 2014, 8pm

106.1 Kiss FM’s Jingle Ball 2014 106.1 KISS FM, Seattle’s #1 Hit Music Station, today unveiled the star-studded lineup for its annual holiday concert, 106.1 KISS FM’s Jingle Ball 2014 taking place on Tuesday, December 2, at 6:00p.m. PST at the WAMU Theater. 106.1 KISS FM’s Jingle Ball 2014 is part of the national iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour, the season’s biggest annual music event that captures the holiday spirit of the iHeartRadio app, in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, Miami, and Tampa, with additional Jingle Ball concert events in Dallas, Atlanta and Columbus.

106.1 KISS FM officially announced the all-star performers for 106.1 KISS FM’s Jingle Ball 2014, which will include Lil Jon, Afrojack, Fall Out Boy, Mary Lambert, Fences, Jake Miller, Rixton, Lindsey Stirling and MAGIC!.

Pre-Sale tickets will be sold exclusively to 106.1 KISS VIP’s via Ticketmaster outlets on Friday, October 17 from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. PST.  Fans can register for free to become a 106.1 KISS FM VIP Club Member by logging on to www.KISSFMSEATTLE.com.  Any remaining tickets following the will be available for public purchase starting Saturday, October 18, at 10a.m. PST via Ticketmaster.com.

“There’s truly something for everyone on this year’s Jingle Ball lineup,” said Eric Powers, 106.1 KISS FM Program Director.  “We’ve got range … pop favorites like Jake Miller and Rixton … hometown legends Mary Lambert and Fences … plus huge DJs in Lil Jon and Afrojack. This is gonna be one huge holiday party!

Every year 106.1 KISS FM’s Jingle Ball gives back to the community to celebrate the holiday season.  This year’s official charity for 106.1 KISS FM’s Jingle Ball 2014 is the station’s annual Radiothon partner Seattle Children’s Hospital in advance of Bender’s One Big KISS for Seattle Children’s Hospital.

For up-to-minute information on 106.1 KISS FM’s Jingle Ball 2014 log on to www.KISSFMSEATTLE.com keyword: Jingle Ball or listen to 106.1 KISS FM on-air or online via the station’s website, as well as on iHeartRadio.com and the iHeartRadio mobile app, iHeartMedia’s all-in-one music streaming and digital radio service. iHeartRadio is available across web, mobile phones, tablets, automotive partners, smart TVs, gaming devices and more. iHeartRadio is always free for listeners to use, with no capped hours or monthly subscription fees. It delivers everything listeners want in an all-in-one platform: Instant access to more than 1,500 radio stations from across the country, user-created Custom Stations inspired by a favorite artist or song, thousands of curated digital stations “Perfect For” any mood or activity, and a Shows & Personalities feature giving users access to the best on-demand news, talk and entertainment content available today.  To see all available platforms and to download the app, visit iHeartRadio.com/apps.

Artists and/or event subject to change or cancellation without notice. Wamu Theater at Centurylink Field, 800 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98134 Visit website for more info Tuesday, December 2, 2014, 6pm

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106.1 KISS FM MAZDA Jingle Ball Every year, 106.1 KISS FM brings together up-and-coming pop stars for one night of music to ring in the holidays. This year’s 106.1 KISS FM MAZDA Jingle Ball is no different. Local favorites Mary Lambert, who recently released her debut album, Heart on My Sleeve, and indie-rock quartet (and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis collaborator) Fences are scheduled to take the stage, as is YouTube sensation Lindsey Stirling, who combines classical and electronic music and dance through choreographed violin routines. Florida-based hip-hop artist Jake Miller, English pop quartet Rixton, and Canadian reggae-rock quartet Magic!, whose song “Rude” topped the charts this summer, will also perform.  All ages. The Moore, 1932 Second Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $22.50 and up Tuesday, December 2, 2014, 7pm

Ricardo Guity Music of Honduras from this visiting artist in the UW ethnomusicology department. Brechemin Auditorium, Music Building (1st floor), University of Washington,

West Stevens Way NE & Skagit Lane, Seattle $5 Tuesday, December 2, 2014, 7:30pm

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Alvvays The self-titled debut from Toronto-based indie-pop quintet Alvvays (pronounced “always”) covers every state of being in love with a ‘60s-inspired jangle-pop feel. There’s “Archie, Marry Me,” in which lead singer Molly Rankin boldly proposes despite Archie’s distaste for matrimony and fears that alimony could ruin his student-loan payments; and the easy invitation of “Party Police”: “You don’t have to leave/You could just stay here with me.” The band also handles the “delusional” act of waiting for someone who just doesn’t feel the same way in “Red Planet” and losing the one you love in “Next of Kin.” Alvvays is a solid indie-pop package: charming, stylish, and refreshing. With Absolutely Free. 21 and over. Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., Seattle, WA 98122 $10 adv. Tuesday, December 2, 2014, 8pm

HOT House Party The New HOT 103.7 (KHTP) proudly announces the first HOT House Party featuring your favorite all-time old school throwback artists Bobby Brown, Tony! Toni! Tone!, Ginuwine and Rob Base. ShoWare Center, 625 W James StreetKent, WA 98032 $48.50-$114 Friday, December 12, 2014, 8pm