Music

Unsilent Night Caroling with a twist: Download a preselected app or electronic track (from ontheboards.org), play it on your sonic device of choice, and join the 45-minute procession “as we become a roving surround-sound stereo system” spreading dreamy ambient music throughout LQA. Devised, and the music tracks created, by Greenwich Village musician Phil Kline in 1992, it’s an experience now organized in cities around the world. It’ll start and end at On the Boards. GAVIN BORCHERT Various locations, Free Saturday, December 19, 2015, 5 – 6pm

Psychedelic Holiday Freakout The three-day Psychedelic Holiday Freakout festival isn’t necessarily very psychedelic-maybe one of five acts playing each night might be considered such. But don’t let that be an excuse not to trip balls at this seasonal, multi-venue fest, which amazing L.A. shitgaze duo No Age is headlining, along with promising local up-and-comers like the Pavement-worshipping Great Grandpa, the all-American teen pop of Dude York, and the Dionysian glam punk of Steal Shit Do Drugs. Neumos, Barboza, Highline. 21 and over. Fri., Dec. 18-Sun., Dec. 20. KELTON SEARS Various locations, $15 per night Saturday, December 19, 2015, 7pm

Merso Portland’s chugging, sludgy Gaytheist is something of the flagship group of Seattle’s hard rocking Good to Die Records, but tonight’s show serves as the label debut for the newest kids on the roster, Seattle’s freshly signed Merso (formerly Leatherdaddy). While the group maintains the label’s abrasive vibe, Merso is the most post-rock act Good to Die has signed thus far. Nimbly dancing among soft melodic interludes, mathy drum breaks, and crushing gut-rumbler riffs, Merso’s got a little bit of something for everyone. Apparently, its new record, out in 2016, is inspired by Alan Moore’s turn at writing the Swamp Thing comic, so expect things to get a little . . . swampy tonight. With VHS, Old Iron. Sunset Tavern. 8 p.m. $8. 21 and over. KELTON SEARS Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave., Seattle WA $8 Saturday, December 19, 2015, 8pm

Smokey Brights/Cataldo/Planes on Paper If you’d like to close out 2015 with a bill of bands who are preparing for big things in 2016, this is your bill. It’s been a year since Smokey Brights released its first proper full-length album, Taste for Blood, a conversely bright and hazy kind of pop record that impresses with its balance of tender and sinister and begs for a sophomore effort. Cataldo is preparing for the follow-up to the transformative 2014 release Gilded Oldies, which found lead man Eric Anderson stepping out from behind his guitar and infusing his balladry with some bass. He should have some new material in tow. Planes on Paper hasn’t made its big splash yet, but a debut full-length of the group’s otherworldly folk duets is rumored to be in the works.  21 and over. MARK BAUMGARTEN Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., Seattle, WA 98107 $10 Saturday, December 19, 2015, 9pm

Briana Marela Winter is the perfect season to finally dive into the crystalline universe of local vocal-looper Briana Marela. Her latest album, All Around Us, recorded in Reykjavik with Sigur Ros producer Alex Somers, swirls, plinks, and shimmers like a gentle dusting of snow observed from your bedroom window. Marela will be soundtracking today’s ArtAche market at Chop Suey, where you can peruse for last-minute locally crafted gifts for your punky loved ones. Also, make sure to check out Hollow Earth Radio host and Rare Air regular DJ Explorateur’s radiant electronic and ambient mixes as you shop. Way better than whatever they’re probably playing on the PA over at Pacific Place. 21 and over. KELTON SEARS Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Sunday, December 20, 2015, 1 – 6pm

Psychedelic Holiday Freakout The three-day Psychedelic Holiday Freakout festival isn’t necessarily very psychedelic-maybe one of five acts playing each night might be considered such. But don’t let that be an excuse not to trip balls at this seasonal, multi-venue fest, which amazing L.A. shitgaze duo No Age is headlining, along with promising local up-and-comers like the Pavement-worshipping Great Grandpa, the all-American teen pop of Dude York, and the Dionysian glam punk of Steal Shit Do Drugs. Neumos, Barboza, Highline. 21 and over. Fri., Dec. 18-Sun., Dec. 20. KELTON SEARS Various locations, $15 per night Sunday, December 20, 2015, 7pm

David Bazan Christmas is an appropriate time to see David Bazan. The Seattle indie rocker, after all, has fashioned a deep catalogue out of the kinds of philosophical and theological questions that arise when one is, say, forced to spend a week with family, alcohol, and the ghosts of a religious youth. So bring your questions about the virgin birth, and Bazan will actually answer them between his deeply melancholic-and achingly excellent-pop songs. Perhaps he will even give us all the gift of some new material, since he hasn’t released a full-length since 2011’s Strange Negotiations. At the very least, let’s hope he plays his transcendent cover of the Killers’ “Read My Mind,” which was released as a part of Polyvinyl’s Singles Series earlier this month. With Andy Fitts. Tractor Tavern. 8 p.m. $20. 21 and over. MARK BAUMGARTEN Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., Seattle, WA 98107 $20 Sunday, December 20, 2015, 8pm

• 

Hannah Weeks No matter your feelings about country music, it’s hard not to like Hannah Weeks. The Seattle-born, Nashville-based singer’s self-titled album is a collection of incredibly relatable twangy tunes. Weeks has an especially good day on “Good Hair Day,” embraces her free spirit on “Wild Pony,” realizes she might be in love on “I Think I Am,” cuts loose a significant other on “I Broke Up With You First,” and reflects on the ups and downs of life on “Life’s a Drama.” This down-home vibe makes Weeks seem like the friend you can call up day or night just to chat or for a real heart-to-heart. With Cassie Correlle. All ages. The Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle, WA 98101 $12 Wednesday, December 30, 2015, 8pm