Wednesday, July 17
Gran Rapids These locals’ most recent, self-titled effort, out this past spring, is club-ready rap built around producer Jay Battle’s synth-centric beats. Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9951, thebarboza.com. 8 p.m. $7 adv.
Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank Minnesotan brothers Teague and Ian Thomas Alexy are touring behind the rootsy blues-folk of Number One Contender, an album representative of their maturation over eight years as a band. With the Harmed Brothers, Clearly Beloved. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880, sunsettavern.com. 8:30 p.m. $7.
• Rogue Wave Over the past decade or so, this group has reliably manufactured the sort of chiming, emotionally resonant indie rock that was so popular in the mid-aughts. Unsurprisingly, June’s solid Nightingale Floors plays comfortably to the group’s strengths. With Papa, Wardell. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442, neumos.com. 8 p.m. $16.
Thursday, July 18
• Aidan Knight Though he has the mild voice and the artfully disheveled look of your everyday, paint-by-numbers folk musician, Knight and his namesake band are more Grizzly Bear than coffee-shop troubadour. The quintet’s music is moody and richly detailed, incorporating samples, synthesizers, horns, and odd meters. Vera Project, 305 Harrison St., 956-8372, theveraproject.org. 7:30 p.m. $9. All ages.
Grayskul This Fake Four–signed trio—JFK, Onry Ozzborn, and Rob Castro—recently released a video for its streetwise single “Come On,” the first from Zenith, due out in September. With RA Scion, Continental Soldiers, Clutch Douglas, DJ Phil Anthony. Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-7416, thecrocodile.com. 8 p.m. $10.
Roadkill Ghost Choir The harmony-mad Floridians in this band are presumably fans of modern folk-rock titans like Wilco and Fleet Foxes, whose expansive sound influences the group’s debut EP. With Shepherd, Ghosts I’ve Met. Tractor Tavern, 5231 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. 9 p.m. $8.
Friday, July 19
Black Flag No one’s certain what motivated guitarist Greg Ginn to revive Black Flag now, more than two and a half decades after the iconic hardcore band broke up, but it’s been a contentious reunion. Videos from this tour reveal a band that’s the antithesis of tight, and another band of Black Flag expatriates are touring as FLAG and playing Black Flag songs. Feel free to pay homage to the legends, but it might be a shitshow. With Good for You, Piggy. El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., 381-3094, elcorazonseattle.com. 7 p.m. $25 adv./$30 DOS. All ages.
• Debo Band Eleven members strong, this Sub Pop–signed ensemble re-energizes the sounds of ’60s and ’70s Ethiopian funk. With Gabriel Teodros. Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, thetripledoor.net. 8 p.m. $20 adv./$25 DOS. All ages.
Peter Murphy Widely considered the founding father of goth music, Murphy is on tour to commemorate 35 years with Bauhaus, and he’s playing only Bauhaus material. With Ours. Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151, showboxonline.com. 8 p.m. $35 adv./$40 DOS.
Terrible Buttons This Spokane seven-piece plays bluesy country rock with a wide gothic streak. With the Hoot Hoots, Candysound, Secretary. Comet Tavern, 922 E. Pike St., 322-9272, comettavern.com. 9 p.m. $8.
Saturday, July 20
Candlebox If scientists charted the evolution of grunge, Candlebox would be the missing link between the genre’s first wave and the widely derided “post-grunge” dreck that soon followed. “Far Behind,” an early-’90s MTV staple and the band’s biggest hit, contains all the pertinent sonic information: soft/loud verses and choruses, vaguely pensive lyrics, and Kevin Martin’s borderline-yarling vocals. The Moore, 1931 Second Ave., 467-5510, stgpresents.com. 7 p.m. $25 adv./$27.50 DOS. All ages.
Danava This Portland outfit draws its raw, heavy rock sound from old-school metal and prog. With Lecherous Gaze, Golgothan Sunrise, DJ Mama Casserole. Comet Tavern. 9 p.m. $8.
Melissa Ferrick A contemporary of early-’90s musicians like Liz Phair, Ferrick recently released the self-produced The Truth Is, which features her characteristically raw and sincere style of songwriting. Triple Door. 7 p.m. $20 adv./$23 DOS. All ages.
Sunday, July 21
Bruno Mars is about as big as pop stars come these days, and his success is predicated on genuine talent—he’s a prolific songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist—that, depending on whom you ask (Tyler the Creator?), belies his pretty-boy image. With Ellie Goulding. Key Arena, 305 Harrison St., 684-7200, seattlecenter.com/events/concerts. 6:30 p.m. Sold out. All ages.
Zo! This producer, keyboardist, and songwriter relies on guest vocalists for his ultra-smooth neo-soul cuts, but his understated proficiency on the keys drives his songs. With Kimberly*Nichole, Camila Recchio, DJ Fresh1. Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St., 632-2020, nectarlounge.com. 8 p.m. $12 adv./$15 DOS.
Monday, July 22
Holy Grail plays traditional-leaning melodic metal, full of ultra-technical guitar leads and arpeggios, double-time kick drums, and ragged but generally nonscreamed vocals. With Anti-Mortem. Highline, 210 Broadway Ave. E., 328-7837, highlineseattle.com. 8 p.m. $10 adv.
Oranges make the kind of bright, emo-tinged pop-punk you’d probably expect to find at El Corazon on a Monday night, but with a decidedly SEO-unfriendly name. With These Colors, Postmadonna, Dear Mister Manager. El Corazon. 7:30 p.m. $8 adv./$10 DOS. All ages.
Tuesday, July 23
The Cat Empire This Australian sextet incorporates elements of jazz, Latin, reggae, and ska into its boisterous sound. Neumos. 8 p.m. $20 adv.
• Heartless Bastards Like fellow Ohioans the Black Keys, Heartless Bastards are a workmanlike blues-rock band whose sound has mellowed considerably over the years. Last year’s The Arrow is far removed from the blown-out invective of the band’s early days, but the band’s songwriting remains on-point. With Writer. Crocodile. 8 p.m. $16 adv. All ages.
Shelby Earl This free in-store performance coincides with the release of the songwriter’s sophomore record, Swift Arrows. Sonic Boom Records, 2209 N.W. Market St., 297-2666, sonicboomrecords.com. 6 p.m. Free. All ages.
