Art rock doesn’t have to be inaccessible: Ought’s latest record, More Than Any Other Day, is ambitious and experimental, but never goes too far out there. While guitars move sporadically, vocals sputter, and drums clamor, Ought manages to make experimental music that appeals to those less familiar with the genre, grounding the tracks in familiar pop and rock structures. With This Blinding Light, Deep Creep. Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467, thebarboza.com. 8 p.m. $10 adv. 21 and over.

Thanks to the likes of John Coltrane and Miles Davis, jazz has historically been a forward-thinking genre. Yet thanks to bland elevator tunes and Muzak, lately there’s been some perceived stagnancy in the art form. You’ll find Seattle duo Bad Luck are anything but that: Its avant-garde sound is more like the brutality of punk rock than, say, Kenny G. Chris Icasiano’s drum work is sporadic and sputtering; saxophonist Neil Welch makes his instrument leap and jump. The band is celebrating the release of its latest album, Three, and you’ll need a limber brain just to take it all in. With Tomo Nakayama. Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., waywardmusic.org. 8 p.m. $5–$15 suggested donation ($15 will include a copy of Three).

Alt-country’s elder statesmen are all following different paths: Ryan Adams has embraced his rock roots, while the likes of Jeff Tweedy and Wilco have moved on to more experimental pastures. But Justin Townes Earle has stayed consistent with his father Steve Earle’s legacy, reliably churning out twang-filled tunes and earnest reflections on American life. That doesn’t mean he’s complacent: Earle stretches the genre to its brink with his own story of redemption—and covers of the Replacements, too. With American Aquarium, the Maldives. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 877-784-4849, stgpresents.com/neptune. 8 p.m. $20 adv. All ages.

NYC indie-pop outfit Frankie Cosmos walks a fine line between being quirky and highly earnest. Its songs are short, but boast big melodies and a fun bedroom-pop aesthetic. Its first studio album, Zentropy, offers 10 songs in 17 minutes, but it’s not a punk scorcher like Black Flag. The band simply doesn’t outstay its welcome, stopping by to drop a little bit of dreamy goodness, leaving you wanting more. With Porches, iji. The Vera Project, 305 Harrison St., 956-8372, theveraproject.org. 7:30 p.m. $8 adv./$10 DOS. All ages.