WEDNESDAY,

AUG. 28

Andrew Belle This Chicago-based songwriter’s widescreen, synth-laced folk rock deigns to be played at the Tractor—his is a surprisingly big sound that’s more Coldplay than country. With Grizfolk. Tractor Tavern, 5231 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. 9 p.m. $10 adv./$12 DOS.

• D33J Djavan Santos is immersed in the burgeoning L.A. electronic scene (he’s acquainted with producers like Shlohmo and Ryan Hemsworth), but his nocturnal, synth-pad–heavy music is more contemplative than that of his bass-crazy contemporaries. He wouldn’t sound out of place on a Seattle label like Hush Hush or Dropping Gems, where mood wins out over beats. With Beat Connection DJs. Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9951, thebarboza.com. 9 p.m. $10 adv.

Moderat Berlin electronic acts Apparat and Modeselektor recently released their second collaborative LP, the creatively titled II, marrying once again the former’s cerebral electro-pop with the latter’s club-friendlier IDM. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 784-4849, stgpresents.org. 7 p.m. $26.50. All ages.

THURSDAY, AUG. 29

• Destruction Unit Space rock and hardcore punk are unlikely bedfellows, but that’s the combo served up by former Jay Reatard collaborator Ryan Rousseau, who fronts this new band. With Dream Decay, the Lindseys. Barboza. 8 p.m. $10 adv.

Gregory Alan Isakov Colorado-by-way-of-South Africa musician Isakov is a capital-S songwriter—the type of guy with a rustic-looking website (where you can read his lyrics but not listen to his songs) and gentle, lilting folk songs that emphasize what he’s saying more than how he’s saying it. With Sera Cahoone. Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-7416, thecrocodile.com. 8 p.m. SOLD OUT. All ages.

Keiko Matsui

Currently in the midst of her 25th-anniversary tour, pianist Matsui is one of instrumental music’s biggest international stars. In the smooth-jazz realm, she has all the staid safety of a Kenny G, but thankfully none of the schmaltz. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., 441-9729, jazzalley.com. 5:30 p.m. $25.50.

MTNS Austin Hund and Daniel Enders’ scorched-earth noise rock is well-known in these parts (at least among those who read Seattle music blogs). With them and Haunted Horses, this show features two of the town’s loudest bands. With Elephant Rider, Big Trughk. Comet Tavern, 922 E. Pike St., 322-9272, comettavern.com. 9 p.m. $7.

FRIDAY, AUG. 30

Andy Coe Band Though local guitar hero Andy Coe originally formed this five-piece as an homage to Jerry Garcia, it has evolved to become a powerful jam band with a sound of its own. At this show, the eighth observance of Jerry Garcia Celebration, Coe and friends circle back to pay tribute to their original inspiration. With Kuli Loach. Tractor Tavern. 9:30 p.m. $10.

Crying Shame On January’s New Rock, Crying Shame is more rough-edged than the typical Seattle folk-rock act, a stylistic choice that imbues their songs with some necessary energy. With Dirty Cello, Safeword Sasquatch. Conor Byrne, 5140 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-3640, conorbyrnepub.com. 9 p.m. $8.

D.O.A. Always stridently political, D.O.A. frontman Joe Keithley recently ran for a New Democratic Party MLA position (roughly equivalent to a state representative) in his native British Columbia. He didn’t win, but that gives him time for his trailblazing hardcore band’s 35th-anniversary farewell tour. With Fastbacks, Dreadful Children, Sledgeback, Loud Eyes. El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., 381-3094, elcorazonseattle.com. 8 p.m. $10 adv./$12 DOS. All ages.

SATURDAY, AUG. 31

• Cold Cave Wesley Eisold’s dark new-wave project is in a period of transition between 2011’s Cherish the Light Years, the former hardcore artist’s most accessible (even pop-oriented) work to date, and his forthcoming material, for which he distanced himself from his former collaborators. Get there early for the industrial synth-punk of Portland openers Vice Device. With Nightmare Fortress. Neumos. 8 p.m. $10 adv.

Daughters of the Dead Sea This grunge-leaning West Seattle punk trio’s final show before going on an extended hiatus. With Hobosexual. Easy Street Records, 4559 California Ave. S.W., 938-3279, easystreetonline.com. 8 p.m. All ages. Free.

Feral Children’s strange strain of primal, experimental folk rock is best experienced live. Same goes for the left-field, laptop-free electronic music of opener Dada Trash Collage. With PonyHomie. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880, sunsettavern.com. 9:30 p.m. $8.

• Hibou On their Dunes EP, this local act deals in reverb-drenched, darker-than-usual surf-pop that would, as the name implies, be the ideal soundtrack for a beach trip, particularly to one of those Washington beaches where it’s perpetually too cold to swim. With Blooper, Punishment. Heartland. 2 p.m. All ages.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 1

Whitney Ballen This local songwriter, guitarist, and Joanna Newsom sound-alike plays a free show on the Fremont Bridge as part of the Bummershoot Festival, a multi-day, multi-venue event put on by the DIY community. With Slashed Tires. Fremont Bridge. 7 p.m. Free. All ages.

Gimmicks This indie band has only two songs to their name, both featuring lots of sedate piano playing, reverb- and echo-heavy guitar figures, and diffident vocals. One of them, “Dark Figures,” also boasts a pretty solid groove. With Brian James, Jef Shocki and The Workforce, Rafael Tranquilino & Brooke Lizotte. High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., 632-0212, highdiveseattle.com. 8 p.m. $6.

MONDAY, SEPT. 2

The Protomen This mysterious and theatrical synth-rock band tours heavily, writes concept albums based on Mega Man video games, and has an avid Internet fan base. Not the most traditional way to spend your Labor Day, but it’s sure to be a spectacle. With MC Frontalot, Area of Defect, Abducted by Sharks, Gloom. El Corazon. 8 p.m. $15 adv./$17 DOS. All ages.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 3

Gold Fields These Australian synth-rockers, touring behind debut album Black Sun, are going for a sound similar to that of countrymen Cut Copy. Catch them at this show or on a festival stage somewhere next summer. With Rush Midnight, Airport. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8005, chopsuey.com. 8 p.m. $12 adv./$15 DOS.

Mars and The Massacre “We have travelled from Mars to fuck your eardrums,” boasts this Los Angeles trio’s website, but their loosely psychedelic rock focuses on having a good time (sample song title: “Four Loko Blues”) rather than making noise. With Verdant Mile, The Duke Evers Band. Comet Tavern. 9 p.m. $5.