River Giant’s new self-titled release, produced by Chris Early (Gold Leaves, Grand Hallway, Band of Horses), is one of the latest vignettes in Seattle’s ongoing folk rock opera. The band isn’t breaking the most innovative sound, but their bluesy bars, lusty riffs, and low-end bass lines—especially on tracks like “Western” and “Taylor Mountain”—work a repurposed, harder edge into the overplayed genre. Whether they’re rocking out or softly harmonizing, this solid three-piece, led by Kyle Jacobson’s wailing Neil Young-meets-Robin Pecknold vocals, will sound great in Columbia City Theater’s reverby room. With Plant Party, Parade Schedule. GWENDOLYN ELLIOTT

Sun., May 13, 8 p.m., 2012