VeeShapeWednesday, August 27

VeeShape“What Is

This Heart?,” the latest from How To Dress Well, the stage name of singer Tom Krell, might be this year’s most swoon-worthy release yet. For one thing, Krell’s falsetto is impossibly gorgeous. And though he does away with a lot of the indie-R&B heard on previous releases, trading it for a ’90s pop feel with hints of synth (“Face Again”), sweeping orchestral arrangements (“Pour Cyril”), and insanely danceable hooks (“Very Best Friend”), that doesn’t mean “WITH?” lacks soul. Lyrically, the album cements Krell’s status as one of the most emotionally open songwriters around, and features a mix of personal and universally understood observations on life and relationships, 
both familial and romantic. With Maiah Manser. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442, neumos.com. 
8 p.m. $15 adv. 21 and over. AZARIA C. PODPLESKY

Slint existed for a fleeting moment in indie rock, but its second and final album, 1991’s Spiderland, went on to be the genesis of modern post-rock. Without Spiderland there may not have been cinematic, guitar-heavy acts like Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Explosions in the Sky. Magazines like NME and Melody Maker all ranked the record among the greatest of 
all time, while Spin and Pitchfork heralded it as one of the best works of its decade. The album, recorded while the band was in its teens, is a testament to the weirdness and obtuse curiosity that comes from 
youth. Now the band is jumping aboard the “reunion circuit,” but it doesn’t appear to be a blatant cash grab. Older and considerably removed from its experimental basement jam sessions, its mystique still intact, Slint has preserved its legacy not by building off of it, but 
by letting it be. With Tropical Trash. The Showbox, 
1426 First Ave., 628-3151, showboxpresents.com. 
9 p.m. $25 adv./$30 DOS. 21 and over. DUSTY HENRY

Cage the Elephant’s artistic trajectory is eerily similar to that of another alternative rock band: Silverchair. Both bands’ bread and butter was straightforward, balls-out rock on their first two records, and, just as Silverchair’s third record showed dramatic musical and lyrical growth, 2013’s Melophobia found Cage 
also embracing glam rock, Motown, funk, and jazz. What’s more, Matt Shultz’s deeply personal take on the pitfalls of celebrity (“Halo”) and fighting for creative freedom (“Teeth”) are reminiscent of Silverchair singer Daniel Johns’ vulnerability on “Open Fire (Ana’s Song),” which chronicled his bout with anorexia. CtE could have just stuck with a tried-and-true formula, 
but Melophobia—thankfully—revealed the group’s more expansive ambitions. The Showbox Sodo, 1700 First Ave. S., 628-3151, showboxpresents.com. 
8 p.m. $25 adv./$30 DOS. All ages. BRIAN PALMER

VeeShapeThursday, August 28

VeeShapeShowcases like this make it hard to give a short answer to the question “What kind of music is it?” Industrial Revelation—SW’s Best Jazz Combo for 2014—makes contemporary jazz accessible by organically blending in elements of hip-hop. Rapper/producer Spekulation often works with live instruments to create a wide palette of sounds ranging from dubstep to classical. Combine these with Julie C’s hip-hop activism, Wizdumb’s smooth lyricism, and Diogenes’ ethereal beatmaking, and this bill is a mix that defies easy answers. Columbia City Theater, 4918 Rainier Ave. S., 723-0088, columbiacitytheater.com. 8:30 p.m. $8 adv./$10 DOS. MICHAEL F. BERRY

Not since Robyn and Lykke Li burst onto the scene has a Swedish act garnered as much buzz as Gothenburg quartet Little Dragon, and rightly so. The band, which formed in 1996 but released its self-titled debut only in 2007, mixes sultry electro-jazz, the smooth attitude of club music, and shimmering pop beats into one giant ball of musical energy, most recently heard on Nabuma Rubberband. The album finds lead singer Yukimi Nagano’s seductive coo mesmerizing as usual, especially on the many Prince-inspired slow jams. The band keeps that musical energy high, even when Nagano’s voice is more subdued, with a steady pairing of groovy keys and percussion. Looks like Little Dragon is no longer Sweden’s best-kept secret. With Dam-Funk. The Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151, showbox
presents.com. 9 p.m. $25 adv./$30 DOS. All ages. ACP

VeeShapeFriday, August 29

VeeShapeThe Brooklyn-based duo of Jessica Larrabee and Andy LaPlant, collectively known as She Keeps Bees, have been described as “the White Stripes in reverse,” meaning she plays guitar and sings while he plays drums, but the idea is true in lineup only, not sound. The music they make is much more indebted to Cat Power and classic soul than to garage rock. Larrabee’s voice is sultry and strong, earning her comparisons to PJ Harvey and Amy Winehouse. The band’s fourth album, Eight Houses, is out September 16, and boasts an appearance from Sharon Van Etten, a fellow Brooklynite, who asked the pair to open several shows for her earlier this year. With Shilpa Ray, Star Meets Sea, Vin Voleur, Hooves and Beak. El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., 262-0482, elcorazon.com. 9 p.m. $8 adv./$10 DOS. 21 and over. DAVE LAKE

Few bands can fully command an audience’s attention while playing an awe-inspiring venue like the Gorge, but Dave Matthews Band has been doing just that for more than 15 years. This summer, the seven-piece will add another element to its visit: multiple sets each night. After a day of music from various artists and a performance from singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile, DMB will play an acoustic set. Then it’ll be time to don your dancing shoes as the band kicks up its blend of 
rock, jazz, and funk during an electric set. With the amount of material the band has, each night should be a collection of DMB deep cuts and radio hits. Through Sunday. With Moon Taxi, JD McPherson, Shovels and Rope, Betsy Olson, Bombino, Ana Tijoux, David Ryan Harris, Dumpstaphunk. The Gorge Amphitheatre, 
754 Silica Rd., Quincy, Wash., 509-785-6262, gorge
amphitheatre.net. 7:30 p.m. $61.50 and up. All ages. ACP

So many blissed-out rays of sunshine are packed into every song from Low Hums, it’s almost blinding. The eerie-pop coming from this ensemble is something to behold, and you can almost see bright color fields emitting from every ripping guitar solo. Waves of lush, fuzzed-out guitar textures cascade over you with ominous vocals embedded within walls of noises. Such music is the perfect soundtrack to a late-day beach trip: Fun and foreboding, something lurks in the shadows, yet there’s a comfort that everything will be OK when the sun finally rises again. With The Entrance Band, Cabana. The Vera Project, 305 Harrison St., 956-8372, theveraproject.org. 7:30 p.m. $10 adv./$12 DOS. All ages. STIRLING MYLES

VeeShapeSaturday, August 30

VeeShapeIt’s difficult to imagine that anything in the U.S. is ready to disappear, given the Internet’s interminable memory. But Horses Cut Shop’s provenance is collecting the logos of small-time businesses and emblazoning them on T-shirts, simultaneously helping mom-and-pop shops (like Smith Brothers Farms) continue while serving as an interesting bit of design. Taking a similar tack with music and the legacy of Grays Harbor, the Cut Shop-organized Northwest Timber Revival aims to enlist Seattle-area roots acts to showcase a bit of Northwest life that may well become endangered. Reasonably traditional country acts like the Swearengens are contrasted with the Maldives, a more rock-inflected ensemble. But there’ll be more than enough pedal steel and honky-tonk to go around. With Ole Tinder, Evening Bell, the Ganges River Band. Polson Museum, 1611 Riverside Ave., Hoquiam, Wash., 360-533-5862, horsescutshop.com. Noon. Free. DAVE CANTOR

NIN and Soundgarden Talk about a one-two punch of intense alt-rock awesomeness. In one corner you have Trent Reznor assuming the guise of his industrial, synth-heavy powerhouse bringing a catalog of songs as deep as it is eclectic. And in the other you have the hometown boys making their triumphant return to the land of their first success while marking the 20th anniversary of their biggest hit, Superunknown. Sure, the two acts aren’t exactly the most logical pairing given their sonic palettes, but with ’90s nostalgia at an all-time high, what the hell, right? Fingers crossed for a Temple of the Dog reunion either way. White River Amphitheater, 40601 Auburn Enumclaw Rd. S.E., Auburn, Wash., 360-825-6200, livenation.com/venues/14577/white-river-amphitheatre. 7 p.m. $39 and up. CORBIN REIFF

VeeShapeSunday, August 31

VeeShapeBrand New was releasing emo records when it wasn’t cool to be emo anymore. Sure, it could be called post-hardcore or “alternative,” but its stirring songs of death and horror fit the label all too well. Still, it’s difficult to align the group precisely with the moody pop-punk of the mid-2000s. Brand New wasn’t writing odes to ex-girlfriends and rants about high-school jocks; they were tapping into the bleak thoughts that most are afraid to consider. Time will tell if the band’s disillusioned disposition will mark it as the Jawbreaker or Sunny Day Real Estate of the aughts, but either way, records like The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me have found a cult following, and for a lot of people hit those emotional lows perfectly. With Joyce Manor, Broncho. The Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151, showboxpresents.com. 7 p.m. $31 adv./$35 DOS. 21 and over. DH

VeeShapeTuesday, Sept. 2

VeeShapeSummer is ending, and there’s no better way to bid adieu to the season than with the bittersweet, timeless country ballads of The Annie Ford Band. Leading the talented ensemble with a powerful voice a la Gillian Welch, Ford fully embraces the world of loneliness, heartbreak, revelry, and everything else that comes with relationships. It’s the perfect music to slow-dance alone to, spilling beer, with an indelible grin. With Euro Dance Party USA, Huck Notari. Cafe Racer, 5828 Roosevelt Way N.E., 523-5282, caferacerseattle.com. 9 p.m. No cover. SM

Seattle isn’t necessarily considered a bastion of countrified sounds, but it’s getting there. With the acclaim showered on Sub Pop’s more bucolic-sounding efforts, Zoe Muth’s recognition can’t be too far behind. Despite her decamping to Austin about a year and a half ago, the Seattle native is returning in the wake of her third long-player, World of Strangers. The roughshod country color persists—“Too Shiny” is ostensibly musically cribbed from the Stones’ “Dead Flowers”—but is now augmented by softer, more refined moments, as on “Somebody I Know” and “Annabelle,” the latter replete with a bit of strings. With Joy Mills Band. Slim’s Last Chance, 5606 First Ave. S., 762-7900, slimslastchance.com. 8 p.m. $12. DC