Kitty Pryde Thursday, March 21 Working at Claire’s isn’t the ordinary path

March 15, 2013 3:22 pm
Josh Ritter brings his breakup album to the Neptune on Saturday.
Josh Ritter brings his breakup album to the Neptune on Saturday.

Kitty Pryde

Thursday, March 21

Working at Claire’s isn’t the ordinary path to pop stardom, but suburban teenage rapper Kitty Pryde’s path has been far from ordinary. She was the unlikeliest success story of 2012, finding her collaboration with rapper Riff Raff going viral and landing “Okay Cupid” on Rolling Stone’s list of the best songs of 2012. More than that, though, her talk-flow mumble and everygirl lyrics have earned her as many fans as detractors. “You’re unable to discern if I’m the wunderkind or underdog,” she offers on “Dead Island.” “So fuck it all, I’m the wonderwall.” Come see which side of the fence you’re on. With Lisa Dank. The Crocodile, 2118 Second Ave., 441-4618. 8 p.m. $14.

DAVE LAKE

Nine50Nine

Friday, March 22

Comprising former Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen and vocalist Ty Willman of Green Apple Quick Step, Nine50Nine combines Southwest country, pop, and blues into something sharp and gritty, and their self-titled debut—engineered by Dave Catching (Eagles of Death Metal, Queens of the Stone Age) and produced by Barret Jones (Nirvana, Foo Fighters)—has the chops to back it up. “Kevin Says,” with its dreamy pedal steel and somber tone, sounds like a Calexico and Soundgarden grunge waltz; later on, guitar-propelled melodies like “Sabotage Me” and the psychedelic gypsy vibe of “Lotion” are fun and catchy. At this fundraiser for Team McCready—a nonprofit “specifically dedicated to supporting the philanthropic goals and celebrating the achievements of Pearl Jam lead guitarist Mike McCready,” who’s battling Crohn’s disease—you’ll be rocking out for a good cause. With Friel’s Comet, Strong Suit. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880. 10 p.m. $10.

GWENDOLYN ELLIOTT

Josh Ritter and the 
Royal City Band

Saturday, March 23

Josh Ritter has made six studio albums of jangly Americana that’s as appropriate a companion for your cross-country road trip as it is for the morning coffee you sip as you bask in the feeling of being in love. His seventh, The Beast in Its Tracks, is a change of pace. Specifically, it’s a breakup album, written and recorded in the 18 months following the end of Ritter’s marriage. Sure, there are bitter moments: Ritter addresses his ex in a sort of “I hope you’re happy, but not really” way on tracks like “Bonfire” and “Nightmares.” But Beast is not the work of a man scorned. Rather, it’s a reflective piece—the product of an artist who’s had time to look back on the crap he’s gone through and found the inspiration to continue living life. With Lake Street Dive. Neptune Theater. SOLD OUT.

KEEGAN PROSSER

Joey Bada$$

Sunday, March 24

Next to resurgent Odd Future standout Earl Sweatshirt and gun-waving Chicagoan Chief Keef, Joey Bada$$ is the most buzzed-about young rapper on the national scene right now, and for good reason: The kid is raw. His style not only pays tribute to old-school (young Nas) and renaissance-era (Black Star) New York rap, it’s brought some of that era’s greats out of the woodwork (you heard DJ Premier scratching up his “Unorthodox” cut?!). He’s also killed it lately on tape with new-school innovators like Ab-Soul and A$AP Rocky, and held his own. He’s bringing it tonight with his Progressive Era (aka Pro Era) team (sadly minus the recently, tragically departed Capital STEEZ). With Flatbush Zombies, the Underachievers. Neumos, 925 
E. Pike St., 709-9442. 8 p.m. $15 adv./$50 VIP. 
All ages.

TODD HAMM

Har Mar Superstar

Monday, March 25

Out next month is Bye Bye 17, the fifth LP from Portland’s Har Mar Superstar, which the BBC said is “almost impossible not to enjoy.” The man behind the Superstar, Sean Tillman, says the record was inspired by lots of Otis Redding and Sam Cooke; while lesser performers might not have the musical chops to pull off such homage, Tillman certainly does, flipping his chameleonic persona from smooth R&B crooner to ’80s synth-pop star in seconds. The record is his first for Julian Casablancas’ Cult Records, and he’ll tour it alongside fellow Cult act the Virgins. With C.O.L.O.R., Dirty Sidewalks, Shebear. El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., 262-0482. 7 p.m. $10 adv./$12 DOS.

DAVE LAKE