Hoquiam, Kate Tucker & the Sons of Sweden, Debonair

Last month, in the Anne Bonny's tiny elevated loft, folks gathered around two siblings as they prepared to play their first live show together. The band, dubbed Hoquiam, was comprised of longtime local favorite, Damien Jurado and his younger brother Drake. "Hoquiam was originally started because I needed an outlet for the less conventional songs I was writing," says the elder Jurado of his new project. "It differs in that it is less polished and more abstract." The dynamic between the two made for a captivating scene. Drake manned the keyboard, midnight black sunglasses shielding his eyes, and mumbled barely audible jokes beneath his breath between songs while Damien, cradled the acoustic and shuffled through newly written lyrics, his characteristic cracked leather vocals blending together seamlessly with his brother's. The songs, inspired by the years the boys lived in Grays Harbor, Washington roll out like an eerie fog of memories, moments culled from the past and spread thin across grey ocean waters. With Kate Tucket & the Sons of Sweden, Debonair. Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St., 632-2020. 8 p.m. $7. AJA PECKNOLD

Nectar

$7. Thu., May 8, 8:00pm

Marty Wilson-Piper, the Mood Maidens, the Transmissionary Six

For the better part of Marty Willson-Piper's half-century on earth (he celebrates his 50th birthday the day before this gig), the singer-guitarist has been most closely associated with the Church. Though that Australian band is largely known in the U.S. as a one-hit "college rock" wonder for 1988's "Under the Milky Way," the quartet has issued a slew of excellent albums since, particularly 2006's Uninvited, Like the Clouds, which always benefit greatly from Willson-Piper's superlative melodic sense and rich, atmospheric guitar textures. Over the years, he's been a part of many a collaboration or side project—his resume includes stints with Cinerama, All About Eve, and the Saints—and he's dropped a half-dozen quality albums under his own name since 1987. His latest, Nightjar, is elegant and dreamy, with hints of darkness and drama. A Church gem or two would certainly be welcome tonight, but Willson-Piper's solo work stands quite well on its own. With the Mood Maidens and the Transmissionary Six. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 8 p.m. $15. MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG

Tractor Tavern

$15. Thu., May 8, 8:00pm

Thor, the Blue Ticks, Skelator

At his physical prime, Jon Mikl Thor made Henry Rollins and Glenn Danzig look like pencil-necked geeks. A former Mr. America, Thor bent steel bars with his teeth and broke bricks over his chest during his concerts. Not only did late-'70s-era Thor resemble the muscular title star of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, but also his catchy glam-metal songs recalled that movie's seminal soundtrack. His career-spanning DVD An-Thor-logy matches Spinal Tap laugh-for-laugh, despite the handicap of being completely true. His cover of Sweet's "Action" on The Merv Griffin Show in 1976, during which he strips away his glitzy costume, inflates a hot water bottle until it bursts and bewilders the house musicians from the Watermelon Mountain Jug Band, ranks among the most surreal appearances in talk-show history. Thor still delivers plenty of flash during his live sets, but these days he concentrates more on elaborate costumes than feats of strength. 2008's Into the Noise, a hard-rock concept album that sees Thor battling an evil twin and facing "The Sound King," proves he hasn't exhausted his arsenal of awesome song topics. With the Blue Ticks and Skelator. King Cobra, 916 E. Pike St., 8 p.m. ANDREW MILLER

King Cobra

Thu., May 8, 8:00pm

Broken Disco 2.2 Gone Fishin' with Mochipet, Lusine, Codebase, Recess, Dr. Mr. M'Chateau, the Googly, Jake J., visuals by KIlling Frenzy

As Mochipet, Daly City, Cali's David Y. Wang is a man who wears a purple dinosaur costume on stage, and cranks out his experimental dance music with undeniable passion. Having worked with artists like Spank Rock and Ellen Allien, he's now releasing an album of highly uncategorizable-but-let's-call-it-hip-hop on his own label. And tonight he's joining local artist Lusine, crafter of gorgeous ambient glitch, for Broken Disco's farewell-til-fall soiree. Starting as a collaboration between four ambitious promoters last April, the consistently banging party has never been afraid of odd lineups, opening minds in the process of loosening limbs. Take it from a temporary Central European resident who's tired of hearing Haddaway passed off as techno in the clubs: not every major city has such an exacting finger on dance music's pulse. Seattle's scene is one to be treasured. Whoop it up, and support BD-associated productions until their summer siesta is over. With Mochipet, Lusine, Codebase, Recess, Dr. Mr. M'Chateau, the Googly Jake J. visuals by Killing Frenzy. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8000. 9 p.m. $10 adv./$12. 9 p.m. $10 adv./$12. RACHEL SHIMP

Chop Suey

$10 adv./$12. Fri., May 9, 9:00pm

NOFX, No Use for a Name, American Steel

Don't go looking for NOFX to slow down or change things up now that they're marking 25 years as a band, and its members have all said hello to 40. The music? Still loud, fast, crunchy, careening, melodic, Cali-style punk-rock. The humor? Still self-deprecating to the hilt: Frontman "Fat Mike" (a.k.a. Michael Burkett) continues to embrace his given nickname despite never having been that fat, and the quartet titled its latest disc They've Actually Gotten Worse Live! The attitude? Still snotty and defiantly anti-establishment: Fat Mike started both Punkvoter.com and the Rock Against Bush movement; and NOFX: Backstage Passport—a current docu-series on Fuse, which shows the band getting into dicey situations while performing in Peru, Turkey, Korea, and elsewhere—came about because, as Fat Mike put it, "Playing the U.S. isn't as dangerous as it used to be. It's all about corporate rock, and it sucks." I'm guessing Seattle won't provide the danger he so desperately craves tonight, but hey, you never know…With No Use for a Name and American Steel. Showbox SODO, 1700 First Ave. S., 382-7877. 8:30 p.m. $20 adv./$22. All ages. MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG

Showbox SODO

$20 adv./$22. Sat., May 10, 8:30pm

The Bottle Rockets, Massy Ferguson (CD release)

During the Bottle Rockets' 2006 album Zoysia, Brian Henneman sang his heart was "better than broken, not as good as new." The same goes for the Rockets, who are celebrating their fifteenth anniversary with only two founding members (Henneman and drummer Mark Ortmann) intact. Throughout the personnel changes and a disastrous major-label dalliance in the mid-'90s (similar to what alt-country peers Richard Buckner and Robbie Fulks endured), the Festus, Missouri-band has maintained a remarkably high level of quality, pairing crackling twang-rock guitars with wearily resilient vocals. Some out-of-towners might make the trip for this gig, one of just fifteen shows on the Rockets' anniversary itinerary. ("Fifteen years into this relationship, we think it's your turn to do some of the drivin'," the band deadpans on its Web site.) These concert tourists can get their first glimpse at Seattle's gritty roots-rockers Massy Ferguson, who are adding to the bill's celebratory atmosphere by seizing this occasion to unveil their new EP The Ride. With Massy Ferguson (CD release). Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 9:30 p.m. $15. ANDREW MILLER

Tractor Tavern

$15. Sat., May 10, 9:30pm

Trannyshack Seattle hosted by Heklina & Ursula Android, DJ Baby J

In last year's Seattle TrannyShack preview I let you in on a few "always" for the first time T-Shacker.(Always abide by a queen's alias, a friend in drag always looks fabulous (even at four a.m.), and always reward their efforts in ferocity with many, many drinks). And you must have complied, because this year's event, hostessed by SF's Heklina and our own Ursula Android, two goddesses so majestically drag-rific they should have honorary verses of "Walk on the Wild Side" bestowed upon on them, is going to be even more insane.(Saturday night at Neumo's?! Holla' Bitches!). What these minxes have in store is anyone's guess, but hold on to your knickers, 'cause here are a few of Ms. Heklina's current "interests"(via Myspace): drag, rock 'n roll, theater, rimming, fine restaurants, serial killers (especially the Manson Girls) and Liquid Sky. That, kids, is one party recipe! With DJ Baby D. Neumo's, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467. 9:30 p.m. $10. MA'CHELL DUMA LAVASSAR

Neumo's

$10. Sat., May 10, 9:30pm

The Dirtbombs, Dan Sartain, Terrible Twos

Detroit's Dirtbombs are back with their first full-length in five years. That's big news for Mick Collins fans; they're more obsessed than a wolverine devouring a pack of rancid pork chops. Of course, the guy sounds a little older, a little less aggro these days. We Have You Surrounded, the band's latest, trades the sandpaper punk-soul of High Octane Salvation-era Dirtbombs for more of a quirky indie funk/disco-wave aesthetic. On tracks like "Sherlock Holmes" and "La Fin Du Monde" (great beer), Collins and his buddies rely more on mood and atmosphere than sweaty groove research. It's a pretty nifty album overall, although it's not nearly as mind blowing as his work with the Gories. But hey, how many classic records can one man produce? With Dan Sartain and Terrible Twos. Neumo's, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467. 8 p.m. $12 adv. JUSTIN F. FARRAR

Neumo's

$12 adv. Tue., May 13, 8:00pm

To Do List

Friday, May 9

Broken Disco 2.2 Gone Fishin' with Mochipet, Lusine, Codebase, Recess, Dr. Mr. M'Chateau, the Googly, Jake J., visuals by KIlling Frenzy
As Mochipet, Daly City, Cali's David Y. Wang is a man who wears a purple di... More>>
Chop Suey, Fri., May 9, 9:00pm, $10 adv./$12

Chelsea Handler
I saw only one episode of the old Oxygen Network show Girls Behaving Badly,... More>>
University Book Store, Fri., May 9, 7:00pm

The Naked Gun 2 1/2
OJ is still free. Leslie Nielsen is still alive (and co-star George Kennedy... More>>
Egyptian, Fri., May 9, 11:59pmSat., May 10, 11:59pm, $6.75-$9.25

159 more things to do today>>