Wednesday, Dec. 18

Led by guitarist Eric Rice, local group Dirty Rice delivers an eclectic array of covers—from T-Bone Walker and Muddy Waters to Seattle’s own Jimi Hendrix—in addition to their own deep catalog of originals. Expect a rocking night of blues with a hard edge. Highway 99 Blues Club, 1414 Alaskan Way, 382-2171, highwayninety
nine.com. 8 p.m. $6. CORBIN REIFF

Unsinkable Heavies For members of the eight-piece Polyrhythmics, the apple doesn’t fall too far from the musical tree. When it came to Unsinkable Heavies, a side project of sorts, the musicians kept the funk grooves they’re known for and added a dash of soul. The Heavies have a deeper sound, but it’s just as easy to dance to as its parent band. Seamonster Lounge, 2202 N. 45th St., 992-1120, seamonsterlounge.com. 
10 p.m. Free. AZARIA C. PODPLESKY

Thursday, Dec. 19

Sam Russell with the Harborrats Sam Russell’s singing and songwriting style is a heartfelt hat tip to obvious influences, from Jerry Lee Lewis to Springsteen, Bowie, Billy Joel, and Tom Waits, and this mature, not-so-modern sound sets him apart from fellow Seattle songsmiths. His band tonight, a group of talented multi-instrumentalists/vocalists known as the Harborrats, provide able accompaniment. With Justin Froese, Jeff Grant. Columbia City Theater, 4916 Rainier Ave. S., columbiacitytheater.com, 722-3009. 8 p.m. $6 adv./$8 DOS. 21 and over. JESSIE MCKENNA

Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside In the video for “Party Kids,” off February’s Untamed Beast, Portland’s Sallie Ford is bartending when a rough-looking group comes in. When one of them gets a little touchy-feely, Ford raises hell while the band raids the bar and snags the offender’s girl. It’s a great visual for its brand of roots-rock, which can go from zero to 60 in a snap. With And the Kids, Red Jacket Mine. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-4618, thecrocodile.com. 8 p.m. $15. All ages. ACP

The Gypsy Allstars A new collaboration finds the Gipsy Kings’ Mario and George Reyes teaming with musicians from India in a dynamic, fiery fusion of traditional music from the subcontinent and the gypsy rhythms the Reyeses are renowned for. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., 441-9729, jazzalley.com. 7:30 p.m. (through Sun.; also 9:30 p.m. Fri. & Sat.) $26.50. CR

Nacho Picasso is Seattle’s answer to Danny Brown. Both have absurd personas steeped in despicable misogyny and ludicrous rhymes. Despite his questionable values, the rapper puts on one of Seattle’s most engrossing, wild hip-hop shows, and his new album, High & Mighty, is finally getting a proper release show at Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., neumos.com, 709-9442. 
8 p.m. $10 adv. DUSTY HENRY

Jason J. Brunet, aka Three Ninjas, is a self-dubbed “musician from New Orleans with a hillbilly heart and electronic blood.” With this makeup, the DJ strays from mainstream trends and creates psychedelic, baffling beats in his sets. One minute he’s sampling G-funk grooves, the next he’s tinkering with Hank Williams or Smashing Pumpkins. Experimental and wildly unpredictable. Skylark Cafe, 3803 Delridge Way S.W., 935-2111, skylarkcafe.com. 10 p.m. $7. DH

If the gritty guitar that kicks off Bear Cove’s “Thick as Blood” doesn’t pull you in, then lead singer Garrett Lamp’s bluesy-rock voice surely will. The trio’s authentic, down-home vibe suggests it’s equally as comfortable playing onstage as at a backyard BBQ. With Heels to the Hardwood, Alotau. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880, sunsettavern.com. 9 p.m. $6. 
21 and over. ACP

Darol Anger and The Cascadia All-Stars If you’ve ever listened to an episode of Car Talk, you’ve heard Darol Anger. The fiddler was a member of the David Grisman quartet for nearly a decade; with Grisman, Tony Rice, and Earl Scruggs he performed Click and Clack’s theme song, “Dawggy Mountain Breakdown.” At this “Keep-It-in-the-Fam Holiday Show,” Anger will be joined by fellow fiddlers, guitarists, and cellists, including Emy Phelps, Mila Phelps-Friedi, Tatiana Hargreaves, and others. Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St., nectarlounge.com. 7 p.m. $15 adv./
$20 DOS. GWENDOLYN ELLIOTT

There’s an aged quality to Dismal Tide’s music that doesn’t match the youth of its creators. The quartet makes classic rock tunes with a touch of blues—songs that wouldn’t sound out of place on a ’70s throwback station but could also fit in on modern-rock radio. The band released its debut album, The Breaks, in October. With Keaton Collective, Lanford Black. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. 
8 p.m. $8. 21 and over. ACP

Friday, Dec. 20

Yogoman Burning Band He’s a DJ. He’s an alien. He’s Jordan Rain. And he’s got a knack for mixing all sorts of music to create original work as Yogoman. Pulling influences from hip-hop, classic rock, and funk (among others), Rain has been creating dance-friendly experimental music in the Northwest since the early ’90s. With each new release, he continues to push the boundaries of what we might expect. With Guardian Alien, DJ Marc Muller. Columbia City Theater. 9 p.m. 
$8 adv./$10 DOS. 21 and over. KEEGAN PROSSER

After spending much of 2012 on hiatus, blues/garage rock duo My Goodness has been a little more active these days. Since drummer Ethan Jacobsen’s departure last year, new skins man Andy Lum and guitarist/vocalist Joel Schneider are set to release a 7-inch 
in February, along with a full-length early next year, 
too. With XVIII Eyes, Duke Evers. Crocodile. 8 p.m. 
$12 adv./$14 DOS. JAMES BALLINGER

Branden Daniel and the Chics have a great Pacific Northwest garage sound that recalls the Sonics’ jangled pop and Mudhoney’s sludge rock, with an added touch of New York glam like the Stooges or the Strokes. In fact, the band recently opened for Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. when he recently played Chop Suey in support of his new solo album. With Cute Lepers, the Hugs, Brother Janes and the Soul-Vation. Lo-Fi Performance Gallery, 429 Eastlake Ave. E., 254-2824, thelofi.net. 9 p.m. $7. GE

Though in the industry for only two years, RL Grime, aka Henry Steinway, sure has worked with a roster of impressive musicians, including Drake, Kanye West, Rihanna, Benny Benassi, and Chief Keef. Well, kinda. Grime produces trap and electronic remixes of some of your favorite hip-hop artists’ biggest songs. The 22-year-old has an ear for picking out a song’s most vital parts, accentuating what’s familiar while adding his own spin. His remix of Kanye’s “Mercy,” for instance, for which he teamed with producer Salva, is a massive overhaul of the original—the two completely do away with the verses, though the original’s still immediately recognizable thanks to their manipulation of the chorus. But Grime, a member of the WeDidIt collective, doesn’t just stick to remixes; the L.A. native already has two EPs of original material under his belt—most recently July’s High Beams—with another in the works for 2014. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 682-1414, stgpresents.org/neptune. 9 p.m. SOLD OUT. All ages. ACP

A Google search of “Dangerfield Newby” brings up articles about a man who was born into slavery and died during abolitionist John Brown’s 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry. It figures that Jeremy Best, the man behind this indie-pop project, is a history teacher. Best released his sophomore album, The Global Scheme of Things, this summer. With The Loveless Building, We Say Bang. Skylark Cafe. 9 p.m. $7. 21 and over. ACP

Acoustic Christmas in Ballard (Night 1) This two-night happening is the handiwork of legendary DJ Marco Collins, who has flexed his programming muscle by gathering an eclectic roster of Seattle artists, stripped them of electric accompaniment, and invited them to sings songs of the season. Tonight’s lineup is the more traditional of the two, featuring two of the city’s most celebrated young acoustic balladeers, Kris Orlowski and Noah Gundersen, as well as blues guitar heavyweight Ayron Jones, who doesn’t need electricity to blow your Santa-loving mind. With Braden Blake (Super Deluxe), Ben Carson (Hot Bodies in Motion), Exohxo. Volterra Drawing Room, 5407 Ballard Ave. NW, 789-5100, volterraballard.com. 8 p.m. $15 adv. All ages.

Saturday, Dec. 21

Lonely Mountain Lovers describes itself as “County, Not Country.” Confused? It’s actually a spot-on descriptor when you consider its bluegrass twang and folky group vocals next to its more rock-minded electric guitars. It’s a jumble, but it really does work out in the end. With Hand in the Attic, Mariko Ruhle. Conor Byrne Pub, 5140 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-3640, conor
byrnepub.com. 9:30 p.m. $7. ACP

Duffy Bishop Band Known around the Northwest as a star of circus/dinner theater Teatro ZinZanni, blues singer Duffy Bishop has been performing in one capacity or another for years, something that becomes immediately apparent upon seeing her onstage. Bishop has a sly sense of humor, and she and her brassy band are masters of knowing when to be subtle and when to go all-out. Highway 99. 8 p.m. $17. 21 and over. ACP

Benefit Concert for Haiti Seattle-based nonprofit Carbon Roots International, which primarily works to promote clean energy and agriculture in Haiti, hosts this benefit concert, reception, and live auction. With Budo, Gravity Kings, and special guests. Nectar Lounge. Auction 6:30 p.m., concert 8:30 p.m. $50 (concert only $10 adv./$15 DOS). JB

Like the highly detailed Gothic-style circular windows that inspired its name, Rose Windows takes a simple thing—in this case, good old-fashioned classic rock—and infuses it with tastefully layered psychedelia, folding in the exotic rhythms of the Middle East. With Unnatural Helpers, Low Hums. Neumos. 8 p.m. $12 adv. 21 and over. JM

Seattle band IVAN & ALYOSHA (named after two of the brothers in Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov) has been busy touring, gigging on radio stations, and generally promoting the shit out of itself. It’s been working. Since its debut album All the Times We Had, featuring the swelling single “Easy to Love” and an overall Beatlesque pop vibe, the group now has hipsters coast to coast smiling and singing along. With Campfire OK, Pacific Gold. Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151, showboxpresents.com. 8 p.m. $25 adv./$30 DOS. ALICIA W. PRICE

Acoustic Christmas in Ballard (Night 2) The second of Marco Collins two-night musical feast might just have enough juice to generate a Christmas miracle. Macklemore acolytes Wanz and Hollis Wong-Wear headline the evening and should bring some surprises, as both artists have a breadth of talent that goes beyond pop hooks. In support are three of the cities most powerful, soulful voices—Katie Kate, Adra Boo and Radio Raheem’s Josephine Howell. Hold on to your stocking caps. With Hobosexual. Volterra Drawing Room. 8 p.m. $15 adv. All ages.

Sunday, Dec. 22

Hatters For Hire To fund its debut EP, this Christian pop-rock quartet created an Indiegogo campaign that offered some interesting rewards: A $150 pledge bought a batch of homemade cookies; for $500 the group would perform the patron’s yard work. Neither prize was snatched up, but 18 Hours was funded nevertheless, and will be released at this show. With Matt Bacnis Band, Saving Sunsets, Laser Fox, Rob Domos, Lover Fighter. Through Monday. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8005, chopsuey.com. 5:30 p.m. $10 adv./$15 DOS. All ages. ACP

Liam Gallagher—originally from Belfast—was the first to grace the tiny Kells stage 30 years ago, and he’s still performing traditional Irish favorites, rich with stories and infamous characters he does great justice to. His repertoire also includes American folk-rock and original odes to Seattle. He accompanies his endearing, seasoned voice with a Taylor acoustic guitar; both reverberate among the old pub’s dark, wood-lined walls. Kells, 1916 Post Alley, 728-1916, kellsirish.com. 
9 p.m. Free. JM

Gorilla Battle of the Bands Though Gorilla Music, a Cleveland-based booking company, sued Tacoma garage-rockers Girl Trouble after the band raised concerns online over Gorilla’s questionable “pay to play” ticketing format, the judge ruled in favor of the band and the lawsuit was dismissed. Gorilla Music, however, charges on, and continues to stage its Battle of the Bands at Studio Seven, as it has for years. With Black Bone Exorcism, Jenny’s Last Stand, Esoson, Sorrow’s Edge, C.S.P., Minimum Age, Pariah’s Revolt, Orbiting Giants, Daughter of Lost Albion, Losing Daylight, Arcanum. Studio Seven, 110 S. Horton St., 286-1312, studioseven.us. 4 p.m. $8 adv./$10 DOS. 
All ages. ACP

Monday, Dec. 23

To say New Age pioneer David Lanz has mastered his craft is an obscene understatement. The Seattle native and Grammy-nominated pianist recently released his 41st recording, Movements of the Heart. Whether he’s playing an original piece or putting his spin on Beethoven, Lanz crafts a dreamy soundscape his website says “paints a lush tapestry of cascading melodies that simmer into graceful refrains.” Jazz Alley. 7:30 p.m. $29.50. ACP