P.O.S., Friday, February 6, Nectar Lounge: Minneapolis MC P.O.S. is a hip hop powerhouse whoaE™s built up his rap career atop punk rock foundations. He spits disaffected cynicism like venom aE” sometimes in the raw, nasal shriek of a punk still dusting off grit from the gutter aE” and in the tense, stormy instrumentals that accompany him. He particularly favors heavy drum rolls, which pervade his third solo album, Never Better. And it’s to P.O.S.’ credit that he can bring in the Warped Tour crowd without alienating the hip hop fans. That he can do this and still put out cerebral, quality music is nothing short of a miracle (when was the last time Warped Tour attracted the brainiacs?) As an added bonus for all you Minneapolis hip hop disciples, P.O.S. returns this time with some of his fellows from Doomtree, a hip hop label and collective he helped found before Rhymesayers scooped him up. P.O.S. remains affiliated with both groups, though, and releases his albums through both labels. HeaE™s performing this time accompanied by producer Lazerbeak (who rarely tours), DJ Plain Ole Bill and two of Doomtree’s finest MCs, Sims and Mictlan. The one bummer is that Dessa, Doomtree’s sole female MC, isn’t coming along aE” even though she’s got an LP coming out this year and makes a cameo appearance on Never Better (you can hear her on Low Light Low Life). With Onry Ozzborn & the Gigantics. Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St 632-2020. 9 p.m., $10. Note by SARA BRICKNER MP3: Stand Up (Let’s Get Murdered)

Ivan and Alyosha, Friday, February 6, High Dive: Above all else, Tim Wilson and Ryan Carbary have the beginnings of something great. The duo aE” Wilson sings and Carbary plays guitars aE” perform as Ivan and Alyosha, a mellow pop band that takes its name from characters in a Dostoevsky novel. And much like the Russian author, these guys are serious about their art: They took two years to write, produce and record The Verse, the Chorus, Ivan and Alyosha’s debut full-length. The end result was an album of sing-along and clap-along melodies, driven by Wilson’s incredibly honest vocals and Carbary’s jangle guitars. The catchy Easy to Love, for example, has earned its title. The song’s simple guitars and chorus aE” Wilson sings, You’re really easy to love/And I can’t take it/My heart is aching followed by a pitch-perfect whistled refrain aE” has the makings of an instant hit. But that song succeeds because of its simplicity: ItaE™s just brushed drums, Carbary’s gentle strums, and some smartly placed claps, augmented by Wilson’s beautiful voice and makes-it-look-too-easy vocal range. It’s when the duo attempts to manufacture a bigger sound by adding a second guitar or background oohs and ahs that the band’s pop formula falls flat. The end result begins to sound a little like Maroon 5, and seriously, the music world does not need another Maroon 5. What it does need is more honest, heartfelt music, something Ivan and Alyosha definitely have to offer when the band members stop trying so hard. With The Kindness Kind, Caught In Motion. High Dive, 513 N. 36th, 632-0212. 9 p.m., $6. Note by PAIGE RICHMOND

Delta Spirit, Friday, February 6, Tractor Tavern: Rock snots everywhere love reveling in tales of attending their favorite bandaE™s very first show. Mystically, these rock ‘ n roll fish tales always somehow manage to negate the unromantic details like rookie jitters, technical problems and the dreaded empty room echo.aE I think there’s nothing like seeing a band in their crest,aE though, and the kids in Delta Spirit are currently riding said crest. They’ve played Conan and landed on all sorts of ’08 top ten lists with their full length soulicana debut, Ode to Sunshine, and will be fresh off a European tour upon the hitting the Northwest. Usually at this time, bands still like each other, start seeing a little money, and their girlfriends get way hotter. They are, for better or worse, living in the middle of Aldo Nova’s aEœrock ‘n roll fantasyaE as they will never play tighter, sound better, or be happier with their lot in life then at this particular moment. For many, the dream dies short of stardom, but if their inspired show at last year’s ACL was any indicator, Delta Spirit have the chops to ride the crest longer than most. With Other Lives, Dawes. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. 9:30 p.m., $10 adv., $12 dos. Note by MAaE™CHELL DUMA LAVASSAR

Fruit Bats, Saturday, February 7, Vera Project: Eric Johnson, songwriter for the Fruit Bats, released two great folk-pop albums, Mouthfuls (2003) and Spelled in Bones (2005), before he and his band dropped off the musical map. At the time, Johnson had taken up performing with Subpop label-mates the Shins and more recently (however briefly) Vetiver. So, itaE™s exciting that the Fruit Bats have returned to the West Coast aE“ and are toting some new material to boot. Despite his efforts to write darker stuff, JohnsonaE™s songs are arrestingly catchy windows into the stops and starts of love. Considering that his work bore a certain resemblance to the ShinsaE™ pop perfection even before shackinaE™ up with them, itaE™ll be interesting to see where their influence has taken him. Sera CahooneaE™s songs feel like a deep bruise: invisible on the surface, but cold and heavy when you slow down to feel their weight. Between drumming in CarrisaaE™s Wierd and Band of Horses, and her solo writing in the Buck Owens/Patsy Cline tradition, CahooneaE™s work will pull you in like an irresistible, familiar truth. With Moon Pulls The Ocean. Vera Project, Seattle Center, Warren Ave. N. and Republican. 7:30 p.m. $13. All ages. Note by ERIK NEUMANN

Nightmares on Wax, Saturday, January 7, Chop Suey: A couple of months ago aE“ just before BritainaE™s Nightmares on Wax, led by DJ/producer and Warp Records veteran George Evelyn, announced its first-ever U.S. tour aE“ I revisited 1999aE™s Carboot Soul (in truth, I found it while rummaging through a box of long-forgotten CDs in my spare bedroom). A decade later, its mix of ambient/downtempo soultronica and playful, Plaid-style IDM seems a little dated, naturally, but at the same time itaE™s a rather easy, appealing listen, and certainly significant as one of the more valiant efforts to escape trip-hopaE™s established boundaries post-PortisheadaE™s Dummy before the whole genre dissolved into pure parody. Then I downloaded NoWaE™s recent Thought SoaE¦ and realized that sonically, Evelyn hasnaE™t really progressed much from that point (if IaE™d purchased a CD copy, it probably wouldaE™ve ended up in that box to be forgotten until 2019). But again, EvelynaE™s lazy, hazy chillectro is hardly unpleasant on the ears, and hopefully he can crank up the interesting with the full band heaE™s bringing along on this inaugural American jaunt. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8000. 9 p.m., $15 adv., $17 dos. Note by MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG

The Whitest Kids U Know, Monday, February 9, Triple Door Mainstage: The Whitest Kids U Know are returning to their stage roots for a few dates in the US and Canada this spring to promote the latest season of their sketch show on IFC. If youaE™re cable-deprived and unfamiliar with their work, it’s a basically a hybrid of Monty Python, Kids in the Hall, the Lonely Island and SNL. WKYN borrow liberally from these aforementioned comedy patriarchs, which occasionally gives the impression that they are mining well-trotted territory. But their approach is smartly executed, so at their worst they are still mildly amusing, and at their best are side-splittingly tinkle worthy. Before shelling out for a ticket, you may want to check them out online and see if their humor is for you. Covering topics from political satire (aEœRapping HitleraE), relationships (aEœPregnancy TestaE) and a heaping helping of potty humor (their currently highlighted clip on YouTube is titled aEœTimmy Poops his PantsaE) The Whitest Kids U know may not be reinventing comedy, but they understand its essence well enough to be entertaining. Triple Door Mainstage, 216 Union St., 838-4333. 7 p.m. $15. Note by MAaE™CHELL DUMA LAVASSAR

Yo Majesty, Monday, February 9, Nectar Lounge: ItaE™s hard to think thereaE™s still space for crunk music in 2009. The surging, uptempo Southern production style that was popularized by Lil Jon in the middle of this decade is essentially as played out as its creator. Save a few dance crowds in Atlanta, nobody else wants to hear it. But TampaaE™s Yo Majesty puts an edgy enough spin on the genre with their hilarious lyrics and prison rapper personas that folks are falling in love with crunk all over again. The Tampa, FL-based female outfit burst unto the hipster rap scene in 2007 after a handful of insane performances at SXSW helped the bandaE™s popularity catch fire across the blogosphere. At the time, they were a trio and their future as a lesbian version of 2 Live Crew seemed imminent. Their biggest hits, aEœKryptonite PussyaE and aEœClub ActionaE are akin to what Uncle Luke was doing in the aE™80s, but arguably better. Of course theyaE™re perception as butch bad-ass women didnaE™t hurt them either. But since 2007, things appear to have gotten worse, not better, for Yo Majesty. A bit of infighting reduced the trio to a duo (with Shunda K and Jwl B holding things down) and now that duo is temporarily reduced to just Shunda K. Jwl B is currently in jail, and unfortunately, she wonaE™t be on this tour. But Shunda, who is known for whipping her breasts out on stage and performing topless, does have enough energy to get a club crunk-up all by herself. With Natalie Stewart (Floetry), Mad Rad. Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St 632-2020. 8 p.m., $10. Note by JONATHAN CUNNINGHAM MP3: Hit It and Quit It

Laura Gibson, Tuesday, February 10, Triple Door Mainstage: Laura GibsonaE™s smoky warble and elegant, jazzy phrasing will probably have you thinking Feist in fairly short order, but the Oregon indie-folk singer-songwriter has her own mesmerizing vibe going on aE“ more the soundtrack to a sepia-toned Dust Bowl documentary than a contemporary Parisian cafAc (or iPod commercial). Her unruffled songs aE“ typically fashioned out of gently picked nylon-string guitar, dollops of piano, vibraphone, saw, and strings, and the occasional shuffling percussion aE“ have a simultaneously soothing and mournful quality, like lullabies for the dying or peaceful transmissions from the afterlife. GibsonaE™s collaborated with the DecemberistsaE™ Colin Meloy in the past, and sheaE™s got a whoaE™s who of Pacific Northwest musicians aE“ Laura Veirs, Eyvind Kang, MenomenaaE™s Danny Seim, ex-Decemberist Rachel Blumberg, and many more aE“ guesting on her quite stunning forthcoming album, Beasts of Seasons. With Juana Molina.. Triple Door Mainstage, 216 Union St., 838-4333. 7:30 p.m., $16 adv., $18 dos. All ages. Note by MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG

Juana Molina, Tuesday, February 10, Triple Door Mainstage: Armed with keyboards, a series of loop pedals, percussive instruments and an acoustic guitar, Argentinean-born singer-songwriter Juana Molina is not only impressive to the ear, but is also a sight to be seen. Watching her work all the technology she has before her to create her dreamlike sounds is impressive even to the most jaded music fan. Clearly influenced by the likes of BjA¶rk and inspired by the sounds of nature around her, Molina creates much of her music on the spot, scatting to the layered soundscape she records on two separate loop pedals aE“ which makes each of her live shows quite a unique experience. She takes pretty much the same approach in the studio, rarely overdubbing her work (except for a keyboard fill-in) in order to capture the essence of the moment she is searching at any given moment. With Laura Gibson. Triple Door Mainstage, 216 Union St., 838-4333. 7:30 p.m., $16 adv., $18 dos. All ages. Note by ERNEST BARTELDES MP3: Rio Seco

Mose Allison, Tuesday, February 10 and Wednesday, February 11, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley: Mose Allison’s voice is as cool and sweet as a tall glass of iced tea on a blistering-hot summer day. But with that sweetness comes a satirical bite, at times obvious and at others subtle, giving his songs a depth unusual to many nightclub singers. In 50+ years of performing, his casually barbed lyrics and delta blues piano have inspired many, in the US and Britain. The Who’s Pete Townshend once said of Allison: The man’s voice was heaven. So cool, so decisively hipaE¦ I felt him to be the epitome of restrained, screaming power. Other genre-bending artists to cite his influence include Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt and Van Morrison, who in 1996 released an entire album of Allison’s songs. DimitriouaE™s Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Ave. 441-9729. 6 p.m., $24.50. Note by ERIK NEUMANN