Friday, January 9
It’s been a big year for Ghosts I’ve Met front man Sam Watts. The Michigan-born singer/songwriter welcomed his second son; launched a new business (Hairstream) with his partner, Angela; toured the state extensively playing drums with Planes on Paper; celebrated a year and a half of sobriety; and finished writing and recording the moody rock quintet’s forthcoming album, The Shape of Space, which Watts is dedicating to his late grandfather, sculptor Sam Richardson. Whew! On “Redwoods,” along with Bill Patton and Ben Blankenship (of Modest Mouse), we hear of an unusual Yosemite event called the Fire Falls, delivered with gloomy gusto. With Drew Victor, James Apollo. Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9951, thebarboza.com. 7 p.m. $9 adv. 21 and over.
College parties seem like a dangerous place for any band to play, but especially so for a nine-piece like The Dip. One misstep from a tipsy coed or frat dude, and there’s a hole in the speaker and beer spilled on, well, everything. But those risks didn’t stop The Dip from taking the UW house-party scene by storm with its fusion of funk, soul, and pop-rock after forming there in 2012. The band, which shares members with Beat Connection and the Tom Eddy Band, has graduated to larger shows since then—including the Capitol Hill Block Party—and recently released the warm and groovy “Ready to Go” from its upcoming album. With Tangerine, Tomten. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442, neumos.com. 8 p.m. $10 adv. 21 and over.
On its latest album, Western Medicine, Portland’s The Builders and the Butchers channels the spirit of the Old West with impressive authenticity. The quintet’s Southern-fried folk captures the nitty-gritty of life way back when—especially notable for a group of musicians originally from the frozen frontier of Alaska. The opening to “Desert on Fire,” for instance, could soundtrack the tense moments before a duel, while “Redemption Sound” plays like a raucous Sunday service and “Take Me Home” is reminiscent of a campfire sing-along. An abundance of percussion, a bit of banjo and mandolin, and lead singer Ryan Sollee’s rough warble bring ye olde tunes to the 21st century. With Keaton Collective, the Sugar Strings. Sunset Tavern. 9 p.m. $10. 21 and over.
From Austria to Seattle to Ithaca, N.Y., country crooner Anna Coogan’s musical ambitions have stayed with her as she’s traveled around the world. Born in Boston and raised in Vermont, the singer studied opera in Austria, then lived in Seattle during most of the Aughts. Since moving to Ithaca in 2011, Coogan began collaborating with alt-country musician Johnny Dowd and producer JD Foster, the latter with whom she released The Birth of the Stars in October. At this show, Coogan, along with frequent collaborator Willie B, who drums for Dowd, will bring the album to life. The Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, thetripledoor.net. 8 p.m. $15. All ages.
Saturday, January 10
It doesn’t matter if Kultur Shock is singing in English or a mix of Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian; the Balkan-punk six-piece makes its feelings—about everything from love and substance abuse to aging and the NSA—crystal-clear on its latest album, IX. Themes of social justice and a streak of brutal honesty run through it, especially on “Home,” in which Gino Yevdjevich sings about the siege of Sarajevo in his native Bosnia: “Some of us lived/Some of us died/Some of us stayed/Some got away to the promised land/ . . . Where is home?” IX was released in November, but the band waited until this show to celebrate its release. With Bucharest Drinking Team. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8005, chopsuey.com. 9 p.m. $12 adv./$15 DOS. 21 and over.
On its latest EP, Dirt Nap, California-based alt-country quintet Dead Winter Carpenters manages to capture the energy of its live shows while still making sure things don’t completely run off the rails. Rambunctious, mid-song jams (e.g., “Easy Sleep” and “Bootleg Jack”) add a ton of energy, but compelling vocal harmonies, to which all five band members contribute, rein things in. There’s a rustic, down-home vibe to the EP, especially with the band’s string-based sound, including fiddle, upright bass, pedal steel, and banjo. With Deception Past, Left Coast Country. Nectar Lounge. 9 p.m. $10 adv./$12 DOS. 21 and over.
Every week, KEXP’s Sharlese Metcalf brings listeners some of the best music the Northwest has to offer. And every month, she and the Audioasis crew bring those artists together to benefit a worthy cause. This month it’s a Benefit for Seattle Against Slavery, a nonprofit working to end human trafficking worldwide. Taking the stage is a trio of top-notch acts: pop-rock quartet Neighbors, which politely asked people to hush on its latest, Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?; Portland’s psychedelic-rock trio Old Light, playing tunes from its latest, Ice Pharaoh; and Black Whales, a quintet that blends pop sensibilities with darker psych-rock elements on Through the Prism, Gently. Sunset Tavern. 9 p.m. $7. 21 and over.
For five years now, the Can Can has rounded up local artists for Elvis Alive, a tribute to rock & roll icon Elvis Presley. As they strut their stuff onstage, performers (this year including Fly Moon Royalty’s Adra Boo and the Witness’ Kaleb Kerr), are accompanied by photo montages highlighting various stages of The King’s career. Seattleite Vince Mira is the star of the show, discovered by the venue’s own Chris Snell while busking in Pike Place Market. Mira has played the role before and with a voice eerily similar to Johnny Cash, is well suited to it. Also with Caely Bailey, Mark Siano. The Triple Door. 7 p.m. All ages. 9:30 p.m. 21 and over.
