Friday, May 9
Don’t Talk to the Cops invited some friends to help celebrate vocalist and producer djblesOne’s birthday with an infectious mix of highly danceable hip-hop and quirky inside jokes. Better still, they’re the ones giving the gifts: The first 250 people get a limited-edition cereal box full of cool stuff (cereal not included). With OCnotes, Konichiwaack, Them Team, Bobbi Rich, Shorthand. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8005, chopsuey.com. 9 p.m. $10. MFB
The relationship between NEEDTOBREATHE’s songwriting team, brothers Bo and Bear Rinehart, deteriorated so badly by the end of 2012 that the band’s future was in real jeopardy. But they came back from the acrimony to deliver what is easily their best album to date, Rivers in the Wasteland, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard Charts last month. With Foy Vance. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 682-1414, stgpresents.org/neptune. Through Saturday. 8:30 p.m. $29.00. CORBIN REIFF
Acoustic for Oso To help Oso rebuild, local musicians—including Duff McKagan, the Presidents of the United States of America, Mark Pickerel, Kim Virant, Gary Westlake, and Alessandra Rose, with more scheduled to perform—will donate all this show’s proceeds to the United Way of Snohomish County. The Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, thetripledoor.net. 7:30 p.m. $35 general/$40 DOS/$50 VIP. All ages. ACP
If the opportunity to shimmy while fuzzed-out indie-pop quartet Cumulus plays songs from its debut album, I Never Meant It to Be Like This, wasn’t reason enough to make it to this show, knowing that proceeds will benefit the Freedom Education Project Puget Sound, which offers a college program at the Washington Correction Center for Women, will hopefully do the trick. With Fauna Shade, the Female Fiends. Vera Project, 305 Warren Ave. N., 956-8372, theveraproject.org. 7:30 p.m. $7 adv./$8 DOS. All ages. ACP
Saturday, May 10
Tacoma Symphony Orchestra farewell to Conductor Harvey Felder The maestro has spent 20 years transforming the TSO from a community orchestra to a high-level professional ensemble. Saturday’s concert will be his last with the orchestra before passing the baton to new music director Sarah Ioannides. The program includes works by Roberto Sierra, Liszt, and Mahler. Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253-591-5890, broadwaycenter.org. 7:30 p.m. $19–$77. MFB
Siblings Georgia and Caleb Nott, aka Broods, have come a long way since winning a small talent show in their native New Zealand with an acoustic KT Tunstall cover in 2010. Since then the pair has discovered synthesizers, signed to Capitol Records, toured with fellow sibling band Haim, and released a self-titled EP, featuring the electro-pop single “Bridges.” With Meg Myers. Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9951, thebarboza.com. 7 p.m. $10. 21 and over. ACP
By now it’s tired commentary to point out that Weezer went downhill after its first two albums. Really, who cares? Though the band already played a nostalgia tour in 2011, fans set on reliving the glory years of The Blue Album can do so tonight with tribute group Weezus for the album’s 20th anniversary. Resisting change never sounded so upbeat and quirky. With Goat Reward. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-4618, thecrocodile.com. 7 p.m. $5. All ages. DUSTY HENRY
If you like your music moody and atmospheric and your vocals sexy but without unnecessary vamping, then San Francisco indie rocker Doe Eye is someone you need to get hip to. 2012’s Hotel Fire EP was a nice fusion of alternative and jazz; her first full-length, T E L E V I S I O N, came out April 29. With the Spider Ferns, Nouela, Raven Zoe. High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., 632-0212, highdiveseattle.com. 9 p.m. $8/adv./$10 DOS. 21 and over. BP
In a world where one of the most successful rappers in the game is a Canadian former teen-soap-opera star, it’s odd how dismissed Donald Glover gets under his Childish Gambino MC moniker. The former Community star hit the rap scene with 2011’s panned self-produced Camp, the biggest criticism being the rapper’s acting career. 2013’s ambitious Because the Internet surpassed that, including a multimedia screenplay and an intricate social-media campaign. Glover isn’t concerned with competing for street cred—it’s clear he has none. Instead, he’s taking on issues like self-doubt and a generation that defines self-worth through Tweets and Instagram photos drenched in Nashville filters. A few years ago it would have seemed unimaginable for a mainstream rapper to drop lines like “It was awkward as fuck/I could not get it up.” Gambino isn’t redefining the genre, he’s just voicing himself honestly—an idea that, thanks to recent tracks by Rick Ross and Lil Wayne that incited a renewed focus on rap lyrics, is really taking hold. Because the Internet represents the LiveJournal generation grown up; it’s a confessional, self-deprecating piece that has no need to front. The Paramount, 911 Pine St., 877-784-4849, stgpresents.org. $31.25. 8 p.m. All ages. DH
Most 23-year-olds are still trying to figure out what their dreams are, but unlike them, singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Sarah Jarosz is already achieving hers and actively seeking new ones. The Austin-based bluegrass artist has already released three albums, including 2013’s Build Me Up From Bones; been nominated for two Grammy Awards; received raves from national media outlets; and performed with the likes of Alison Krauss and Chris Thile of Nickel Creek. Ponder that for a minute. So what’s all the fuss about? On Bones all you need do is check out the dusky, almost ominous guitar strains of the Americana-tinged “Over the Edge” and revel in the driving bluegrass rhythms of “Fuel the Fire” and its full, soaring vocals. If you aren’t sold by those, then the echoing, otherworldly, mandolin-led title track will live up to the hype. Tractor Tavern. 9 p.m. $20. 21 and over. BP
On its latest, Too Much Information, British alt-rock quintet Maximo Park mix moody moments (“Midnight on the Hill”), guitar-heavy jams (My Bloody Mind”), and electronic features (“Brain Cells”). There’s an element of surprise to the album; listeners don’t exactly know what to expect next, but it’s that diversity that makes Information such an engaging listen. With Eternal Summers. The Crocodile. 8 p.m. $16. All ages. ACP
Otep’s front woman, Otep Shamaya, and her snarling singing style have been described as Marilyn Manson meets Kim Gordon. A feminist icon in the male-dominated genre of nu-metal, she isn’t afraid to go GRRR. In response to accusations of misandry for her song “Menocide,” Shamaya said that she’s an “equal-opportunity dispenser of rage.” With Wayne Static, Dope, Smile Empty Soul, Thira, Vanishing Affair, Darklight. Studio Seven. 6 p.m. $25 adv./$27 DOS. All ages. DIANA M. LE
Mary Lambert, La Luz, and Star Anna Invite some friends to hear the first ladies of Seattle song together under one roof, and to help the victims of the Oso landslide in the process. Lit mag The Monarch Review assembled the all-star lineup; it hopes to raise at least $10,000 through the concert, which will be donated to the Cascade Valley Hospital Association. Tractor Tavern. 8 p.m. $25. MFB
