The Purrs

Friday, June 28

The fact that this month the Purrs are releasing their seventh full-length album might lead one to believe that the band hails from the ’90s era of psychedelic rock that gave us the Dandy Warhols, The Verve, and Brian Jonestown Massacre, and its sound—spacey dueling guitars hugging the leader’s bratty vocals—fits in nicely with that contingent. Yet the Seattle band is simply prolific; its first six titles came in a six-year span. The Boy With Astronaut Eyes, the band’s perfectly titled latest, arrives after an unlikely three-year breather and finds the band more aggressive and powerful than in the past. That might be thanks to new mate Liz Herrin, who plays a mean rhythm guitar and adds harmonies and some back-and-forth vocals to those of guitarist Jason Milne and bassist Jima—or maybe it’s just because the band’s angst has been building over those three interminable years. With Shake Some Action! and Daydream Machine. Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9951, thebarboza.com. 7 p.m. $8 adv.

MARK BAUMGARTEN

Sole

Saturday, June 29

If you can weather the preachy, snob-drenched life-critique verses that populate Sole’s more recent albums, you’ll catch some heavy home-cooked production and snappy end-rhymes. “God don’t like ugly, God hates flags/God hates cops, and is a mass-murdering sociopath,” he spits on “I Think I’m Emma Goldman” (from his newest, No Wising Up No Settling Down)—a line that shows off his best traits, cultural referentiality and fiery leftism, with a rare smoothness of cadence. His subject matter is consistently pertinent and his perspective informed, but most of his other work is weighed down painfully by the messages he’s so eager to convey, making it flat-out tough to listen to. I think at this point I’d rather listen to him guest-lecture a poli-sci class of some sort, but hit the Comet if it’s your bag. Onry Ozzborn’s on the list of openers, which is always a night-saver. With Moodie Black, The Kelu Band, Masta X-Kid, Tre Angle. Comet Tavern, 922 E. Pike St., 322-9272, comettavern.com. 9 p.m. $10. 21 and over.

TODD HAMM

Buckcherry

Saturday, June 29

Confessions, the sixth LP from L.A.’s Buckcherry, uses the seven deadly sins as the framework for an extended romp through singer Josh Todd’s fucked-up childhood and grown-up complexes. “I got this need to be broken and I’m taking you on this ride,” he sings on “Wrath” early in the record. “I got this need to be broken and I keep all my wrath inside.” This isn’t new ground for the Los Angeles band, but it’s a nice diversion for a group best known for sleazy hard-rock anthems. Live, however, the band comes alive most—especially in a settling like El Corazon, where the Marshall stacks will be painfully loud and a shirtless Josh Todd will slither from one side of the tiny stage to the other. With Girl on Fire, Witchburn, Jaded Mary. El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., 262-0482. 8 p.m. $28 adv./$30 DOS/$100 VIP.

DAVE LAKE

The Raven & The Writing Desk

Monday, July 1

It’s not often that a rock band incorporates marimba and violin with more traditional instruments like guitar, bass, and drums. That extra something adds an artsy, theatrical vibe to Denver-based six-piece The Raven & The Writing Desk. Fronted by vocalist/pianist Julia LiBassi, TR&TWD sounds a bit like the music one might hear while riding a haunted carousel—lots of expressive guitar riffs, dramatic crescendos, and, at times, melancholy group vocals. Having recently released its latest EP, Scavenger (a mix of three new songs with three the band wrote after the release of 2011’s Bonedale—and in pretty spectacular packaging, I might add), TR&TWD is ready to set its ghostly musical carnival in motion again with a full West Coast tour. With Whitney Monge, Mts. & Tunnels. The Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave. S., 906-9920. All ages until 10 p.m. Free, donations accepted. 8 p.m.

AZARIA PODPLESKY