WEDNESDAY, JAN. 2
Elude Judging by June’s Bingo EP, this trio could make a living as a Blink-182 cover band if they ever tire of writing originals. With Jordan Biggs, Shorte, Away. Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9951, the barboza.com. 7 p.m. $5.
Pearl Django Guest vocalist Connie Evingson joins this veteran gypsy-jazz quintet coming off the 2012 release of Eleven. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., 441-9729, jazzalley.com. 6 p.m. $24.50. All ages. Through Jan. 6.
Pool Party It’s hard to tell the degree to which this San Diego collective’s shtick—jokey party-rap verses over cartoonish dubstep-inspired beats—is meant to be taken seriously, but then, given that they share a bill with similarly minded local rap crew The Unibroz, it probably isn’t. With Nmercer, Moose Portrait. Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St., 632-2020, nectarlounge.com. 8 p.m. $5.
THURSDAY, JAN. 3
Monroe&Smith Jacob Smith’s Soundcloud page describes his music as “drone blues country”—as accurate a description as any for his rambling acoustic-guitar odysseys. With Early Atoms, Discussed. JewelBox/Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., 441-5823, jewelboxtheater.com. 8 p.m. $5.
Northern Departure This bluegrass quartet is both prodigious (half its members have equipment sponsorships) and young (they played Sound Off!, the underage music competition, just two years ago), and they headline this Northwest bluegrass showcase. With Warren G. Hardings, The Student Loan. Nectar Lounge. 8 p.m. $6 adv./$8 DOS.
Pocket Panda This local six-piece plays inoffensive, fussily orchestrated folk rock. With the Ames, Kite Repair. Tractor Tavern, 5231 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. 9 p.m. $6.
FRIDAY, JAN. 4
Balkanarama This frothy local klezmer band, which often sings in foreign tongues, bears no sonic resemblance to Bananarama. In fact, if Bananarama is chocolate, Balkanarama is vanilla, even if their music is anything but. With Orkestar Zirkonium, Compassion Gorilla. Columbia City Theater, 4916 Rainier Ave. S., 722-3009, columbiacitytheater.com. 9 p.m. $8 adv./$10 DOS.
The Last Great Love Carter David and his band make bombastic guitar rock that’s ambitious both musically and thematically—Victory at Sea, the group’s debut, is a concept album informed by German romanticism. With Starry Eyed Samurai. Skylark, 3803 Delridge Way S.W., 935-2111, skylark cafe.com. 8 p.m. $5.
The Paperboys The brainchild of Tom Landa, this Canadian folk group mixes Celtic and bluegrass music with a variety of global influences. Their most recent release was 2009’s Callithump. With The Blackberry Bushes Stringband. Tractor Tavern. 9 p.m. $18.
The Wampas This local trio’s power pop takes its cues as much from ’90s slacker rock as from ’60s pop and psych. With Pomerantz, Bandolier, Sara Jackson-Holman. High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., 632-0212, highdiveseattle.com. 9:30 p.m. $8.
SATURDAY, JAN. 5
Atlantic Melody An album-release show for this Guinean group led by drummer Edward Souarez. Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave. S., 906-9920, theroyalroomseattle.com. 9 p.m. $5–$15 suggested donation.
Apex of Apathy Blending post-hardcore instrumentals with emo vocals and lyrical sensibilities, this Las Vegas group is touring in anticipation of its debut album, The Flying Machine, slated for a March release. With Tyranny Theory, Pride Fails, Two-Headed Crow, Articles of War. Studio Seven, 110 S. Horton St., 286-1312, studioseven.us. 7 p.m. $8 adv./$9 DOS.
Riffbrokers Road warriors and rock-‘n’-roll veterans (they formed in 1999), this local four-piece’s twangy alt-country is as lived-in and grizzled as their name and background suggest. With Low Land High, Carousel. Slim’s Last Chance, 5606 First Ave. S., 762-7900, slimslastchance.com. 8 p.m.
Thank Your Lucky Stars This newly formed rock band will release its debut album, the country- and folk-inflected Spinning Out of Orbit, at this show. With Rebelmart, Golden Gardens. High Dive. 9:30 p.m. Free.
SUNDAY, JAN. 6
BJ Barham This 25-year-old songwriter out of Raleigh, N.C., is already a music veteran, having fronted the country-rock outfit American Aquarium for five years. With Kate Lynne Logan, Forrest Van Tuyl. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880, sunsettavern.com. 8 p.m. $7.
Intisaar Jubran This powerful singer/guitarist is usually accompanied by several string players live, but expect her voice to take center stage nevertheless. With Lady Justice, Johndus. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-4618, thecrocodile. 8 p.m. $5. All ages.
Simon Henneman Quartet Playing original swing and hard-bop tunes by its titular bandleader, this ensemble headlines an unusual (for the Comet) night of improv and jazz. Comet Tavern, 922 E. Pike St., 322-9272, comet tavern.com. 9 p.m. $5.
Thee Samedi These Bellevue kids have only a couple of rougher-than-rough, self-recorded punk cuts on the Internet, but they’re already Seattle’s second-most-famous “thee” band (behind THEESatisfaction). Skylark. 3 p.m. $5. All ages.
MONDAY, JAN. 7
The Royal Room Collective Music Ensemble Led by conductor and Royal Room founder Wayne Horvitz, this modern-jazz ensemble played the Earshot Jazz Festival this past fall. Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave. S., 906-9920, theroyalroom seattle.com. 8 p.m. Free.
Spellbinder Michael Shrieve got his start as Carlos Santana’s original drummer, performing with the legendary guitarist through 1974, including in his Woodstock set. Since then he’s dabbled in jazz, electronic music, and film-score composition. Spellbinder, the jazz-fusion group Shrieve fronts, performs every Monday at the White Rabbit, 513 N 36th St., Suite E, 588-0155, fremontwhiterabbit.com. 8 p.m. $6.
TUESDAY, JAN. 8
Sandy Buckner A songwriter and music teacher, Buckner plays this weekly installation of Slim’s Troubadour Tuesday concert series. Slim’s Last Chance. 9 p.m.
Vicci Martinez After finishing third on NBC’s The Voice in 2011, Tacoma singer, songwriter, and guitarist Martinez released her debut record on Universal last year, which included a duet with her TV mentor Cee Lo Green. Jazz Alley. 5:30 p.m. $20.50. All ages.
Monarchies Not to be confused with the similarly named Absolute Monarchs!, this local trio plays punchy, compact psych-punk on its self-titled EP. With Hooves, Chandelles, Crazy Eyes. Comet Tavern. 9 p.m. $6.
