Wednesday, January 25
God Forbid
One of the most ambitious metal bands around, New Jersey’s God Forbid play in support of their acclaimed September release, IV: Constitution of Treason (Century Media). Sworn Enemy and Manntis Cannae open. El Corazon, 7 p.m. $13
Mad Professor + the Ariwa Posse ft. Aisha + Nuffsed
SEE TALK TALK, P. 53. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $12
Carolyn Mark with Amy Honey and Lily Fawn
Sardonic B.C. songstress Mark is one of the smartest and most underheralded country-not-Nashville artists around, as last year’s terrific duets disc Just Married (Mint) demonstrated. She’ll share the stage and several tunes with Honey and Fawn, who will also sing solo, accompanied by the others. Donna the Buffalo headlines. Tractor Tavern, 9 p.m. $12
Thursday, January 26
Rigor Mortis
Members of Ministry, Revolting Cocks, and GWAR make up this all-star group, so it should be easy enough to figure out the sound from those reference points. Wizards of Wor, the Kept, and Breakneck open. Showbox, 8 p.m. $8 adv./$10
String Specialists
This Wall of Sound showcase features solos from eight quite different singer-guitarists, including Tiny Vipers, performance artist Jeppa Hall, Kinski’s Chris Martin, 13-year-old koto player Brian Falconer, and black-metal guitarist Tanith Lanzilotta. Rendezvous, 7:30 p.m. $10
Friday, January 27
Cancer Rising
The local trio’s Search for the Cure is hip-hop made by people who like rock just as much, and is one of the most appealing releases in the scene right now. Stacks Getaway, Cast of Characters (CD release), and Scarlet Room also perform. High Dive, 10 p.m. $6
Dept of Energy + Half Acre Day + Spanish for 100 + the Visible Men + DJ Poindexter
Fronted by Robb Benson (formerly of Dear John Letters and Nevada Bachelors), Dept of Energy play smart keyboard-heavy pop songs with narrative lyrics. On their new EP, the song “One Last Wish for Claire Grogan” sounds like the Beatles’ “I’ve Got a Feeling” mixed with the moody Northwest. Sunset Tavern, 9 p.m. $7
Mt. Eerie + Kimya Dawson
Recent relocated to the Northwest, Dawson makes intimate, funny, feelingful records that never recall emo excess even when they flirt with mawkishness. Phil Elvrum renamed the Microphones Mt. Eerie, but kept the sly, melodic pop framework basically intact. Calvin Johnson and This Busy Monster open. Paradox Theatre, 7 p.m. $5. All ages
Sandman the Rappin’ Cowboy
Olympia-based Chris Sand’s acoustic ditties on politics, sex, and the working man aren’t schticky as his name implies, but genuinely charming—like roasting marshmallows with real sticks around the campfire. With the Jesus Chords and the Hot Plates. Blue Moon, 9 p.m. Free
Super Deluxe
“We’re in the van, and we’re listening to the Knack,” sing this local group on “Knockout,” from their December-released Surrender!, and between the album title and the lyrical reference you can figure out what they sound like pretty easily. Speaker Speaker, Tennis Pro, and Lillydale open. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $8
Saturday, January 28
The Blood Brothers + Minus the Bear + These Arms Are Snakes + Crystal Skulls
Celebrate all-ages venue the Vera Project’s five-year anniversary with this blockbuster display of local talent, including two bands that have made it pretty damn far—the Blood Brothers and These Arms Are Snakes—thanks to the nurturing of Vera and its Eastside equivalents. Showbox, 8 p.m. $15/Sold Out
Rocky Votolato (CD release)
It’s his party and he’ll play all day if he wants to: Votolato debuts his new album, Makers, along with Slender Means and J. Tillman in one set for the grown folks and one for the kids. Crocodile Cafe, 4 p.m. (all ages) and 9 p.m. $8 adv./$10
Sunday, January 29
Imogen Heap
She’s not yet an A-lister—among Americans, anyway—like her Frou Frou partner Guy Sigsworth’s other ladyfriends Madonna and Björk, but you’ll recognize her unique voice from the Garden State ballad “Let Go,” and should start recognizing it from her solo debut Details (RCA) in the near future. Zoe Keating opens. Neumo’s, 7 p.m. $13.50 adv./$15
MF Doom + One Be Lo
Having canceled a December date due to sickness, the Metal Faced MC makes it up. But his sick flow and bottomless thesaurus and endless references make him worth seeing all by themselves. Opener One Be Lo is a pretty nice rapper himself. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $18
The Tiptons
Taking their moniker from big-band saxophonist Billy Tipton—a woman who fooled everyone into thinking she was a man for 50 years until her death—this all-female sax quartet are similarly unconventional, blending everything from jazz to Afro-Cuban sounds on their eighth release, Drive. Tractor Tavern, 8 p.m. $8
Monday, January 30
The Veronicas
Identical Australian twins who ride post-Avril/”Since U Been Gone” pop-rock to a forthcoming Warner Bros. debut, they’ve already got one terrific single under their belts (“4ever”). It won’t be surprising if there are more—or if that’s that. October Fall and Jonas Brothers open. Crocodile Cafe, 7 p.m. $10.61 adv./$12
Tuesday, January 31
The Chieftains
SEE ARTSPICK. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 7:30 p.m. $50–$68
Lura
One of the few performers communicating the soulful and percussive sounds of Cape Verde to the world, Lura brings to light African musical traditions like the accordion-driven funana, considered too risqué in her homeland until only recently. Triple Door, 7:30 p.m. $20
Of Montreal + Grand Buffet
SEE FEATURE [OF MONTREAL]. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $12
Marta Topferova
A Czech who spent five years in Seattle before heading to New York, this sultry vocalist-composer tours in support of last year’s La Marea (The Tide) (World Village). Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 7:30 p.m. $20.50
