Friday, August 16
Hornet Leg
These Portlanders are musically nomadic; their K Records bio claims they’ve been “a solo acoustic guitar project, electro dance project, [and] a crushing two-person art-noise assault.” The current incarnation plays rough-edged garage rock, jibing nicely with the rest of this bill. With Grave Babies, Posse, Zebra Hunt. Heartland. 8 p.m. All ages. ANDREW GOSPE
Mudhoney The third of KEXP’s Concerts at the Mural is headlined by Seattle’s grunge godfathers, who will be supported by some of the town’s best young rock talent. With The Grizzled Mighty, Dude York. Mural Amphitheatre. 5:30 p.m. Free. All ages. AG
Smith Westerns After reaching near-burnout on the hype that came with 2011’s Dye It Blonde, this young Chicago band (formed in high school) rebounded with Soft Will this past June, its ’70s glam-rock sensibilities firmly intact. With Wampire, the Hoot Hoots. Crocodile. 8 p.m. $13 adv. All ages. AG
USF is the work of some of Seattle’s best purveyors of chilled-out electronic pop, so naturally this show is at the Comet. Regardless of venue, the beats will still be bumping. With Hibou, Cashpony, Frozen Folk, Bone Cave Ballet. Comet Tavern. 9 p.m. $7. AG
Friday, August 16–Saturday, August 17
The Moondoggies With Adios, I’m a Ghost, the Moondoggies have created a classic-caliber album by holding onto the good and heaping “even better” on top. The harmonies and meandering guitar parts that recall the core influences of The Band and the Grateful Dead remain, as does that roiling, humming Rhodes. But songwriter Kevin Murphy has taken his craft to the next level, minting some iconic lyrical turns set against songs that are both more intricate and relaxed—courtesy, one would guess, of the addition of multi-instrumentalist Jon Pontrello. The players possess just the right part for the moment and the knowledge of when exactly that moment is, resulting in an album that rewards patience with a big breakdown (as in the anthemic, rumbling “One More Chance”) or a cleansing meditation (as in the long jam “Stop Sign”). But patience is easy given the band’s generous tempo and undeniable groove, which in a live setting gets the willing to dance at a rate currently unmatched by any other Northwest band. With Country Lips and the Quiet Ones (Fri.) and Gold Leaves and Kevin Large (Sat.). Tractor Tavern. 9:30 p.m. $15. MARK BAUMGARTEN
The Melvins Listening to the Melvins is an important part of being a Pacific Northwest music fan. It gets your blood pumping while reminding you it’s sunny here only a few months of the year—a reality that forces you back into the basement where you belong. Starting off as prickly ruffians the industry was forced to embrace, Buzz, Dale, and co. have kept at it roughly 30 years, a longevity that flies in the face of the die-or-get-boring grunge-band archetype. Through it all, they’ve delivered truckloads of beefy sludge metal, influenced the likes of Nirvana, and toured like maniacs. Last year they released the grisly sounds of Freak Puke, which sounds like a wild hair that’s been growing on Buzz’s head since ’86. They’ve spent a healthy amount of their career in California, but still rock like they never left our little corner of the country, and they don’t want you to forget it. With Honky. Neumos. 8 p.m. $22. 21 and over. TODD HAMM
Saturday, August 17
Erik Blood, one of Seattle’s most prolific producers, is also a noteworthy musician, responsible for the kraut-rocky, pornography-themed Touch Screens, one of last year’s best local albums. Opening are folk-rock shoegazers Western Haunts. With Jason Dodson. Vera Project. 7:30 p.m. $11. All ages. AG
Truth and Salvage Co. This rootsy L.A. sextet is touring behind Pick Me Up—released, oddly, on metal label Megaforce Records. With Legendary Oaks, Wes Crawford. Sunset Tavern. 9:30 p.m. $10 adv./$12 DOS. AG
VanFest For those willing to journey to Maple Valley, this outdoor music mini-fest (a benefit for the Alliance of Eating Disorders Awareness) features a varied lineup of up-and-coming Seattle talent: Chastity Belt, Kung Foo Grip, Fly Moon Royalty. Royal Arch Park. Noon. $10 adv./$15 DOS. All ages. AG
Sunday, August 18
Royce the Choice Seattle punch-liner Royce the Choice headlines this local cast of slick talkers. Choice’s newest offering, the Talk Ain’t Cheap EP, is a spacious five-song collection with fistfuls of quips (like “I used to sell green like the produce section/Now it’s mean 16s on the Pro Tools sessions”) exhaled effortlessly in his husky tenor. More than just a pile of one-liners, his songwriting has developed a real catchiness, making his tracks prime candidates for mainstream radio rotation. The undeniable star of the bill is golden-voiced MC Porter Ray, whose debut Blk Gld LP is outstanding. His lyrics jog through pristine jazz loops, easing you into his world, telling stories with an artful flair. Hit Neumos early—this dude should not be missed. With Spac3man, Cam the Mac, Porter Ray, Ye’D. Neumos. 8 p.m. $10. 21 and over. TH
Coco Montoya Guitar-heads and novices alike can appreciate Montoya’s skill; with a practiced, seasoned approach to blues and soul, he’s the kind of technical musician who gets reviewed by guitar magazines and industry rags. Triple Door. 6:30 p.m. $20 adv./$23 DOS. All ages. AG
The Healthy Dose This Portland “groove-based experimental group” draws from jazz, funk, and psych-rock. With Quinn, Grant Sabin, Monkey Bat. Nectar Lounge. 7 p.m. $5 adv./$7 DOS. AG
