Wednesday, April 23
Bombay Bicycle Club has been a UK indie mainstay since 2005. Though it hasn’t seen as much success in the U.S., its willingness to experiment with indie rock, folk-rock, and electronic production makes it hard to peg. It brings an eclectic energy that’s always looking ahead of the trends. With Royal Canoe. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 877-784-4849, stgpresents.com/neptune. 8 p.m. $22 adv./$25 DOS. All ages. DUSTY HENRY
With each subsequent album, Drive-By Truckers continue to hone their lyricism into ever-sharper focus. On the 2014 release English Oceans, the group sings about the exact same people everyone else in country music does—folks somehow left behind when everyone else moved to the big city—but they pick up on details that others miss. One of my favorite lines comes from Mike Cooley on the track “Primer Coat”: “Slinging gravel in parking lots and looking tough on the hood/A girl as plain as a primer coat leaves nothing misunderstood.” Taylor Swift, are you taking notes? With Shovels and Rope. Showbox SoDo, 1700 First Ave. S., 628-3151, showboxpresents.com. 8 p.m. $26.50 adv./$30 DOS. All ages. DANIEL PERSON
The brother of The Who’s windmilling guitarist, Simon Townshend probably knows as well as anyone that living under the shadow of a famous family member can be trying. He’s made the most of it, however, and has carved quite the solo career for himself, creating intricate pop/rock music of his own. With J Wong. The Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, thetripledoor.com. 7:30 p.m. $25–$35. CORBIN REIFF
Thursday, April 24
Kool Keith aKA Dr. Octagon It’s common in rap for MCs to adopt certain alter egos. On his website, Kool Keith offers brief biographies of all of his—53, to be exact. From his start as a break-dancer named Activity and time as a member of the Ultramagnetic MCs through Black Elvis and Lotion Man to his Twitter handle UltraMan7000, Keith claims to be the inventor of the hip-hop persona. In a recent interview with VladTV, he said: “I don’t feel like I need to be one person, because if you be gangster then you gotta be gangster all your life, if you be this guy you gotta be the lover all your life.” It seems that the one constant in Keith’s life is change, as the cliche goes; despite his threats to retire, a new double album drops in May. With SlowDance, Ricky and Mark, Mic Flont feat. OTOW Gang. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442, neumos.com. 8 p.m. $15 adv. MICHAEL F. BERRY
There’s a cinematic quality to The 1975’s self-titled debut, a release whose tracks “Sex” and “Chocolate” made it seem like the soundtrack of a modern-day John Hughes movie. Hints of ’80s pop, ’90s R&B, and the band’s indie-rock base make tales of aimless drives and the highs and lows of love relatable to millennials everywhere. With Bad Suns, Sir Sly. The Showbox, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151, showboxonline.com. 8:45 p.m. SOLD OUT. All ages. AZARIA C. PODPLESKY
When Franz Ferdinand released its game-changing LP You Could Have It So Much Better in 2005, it was heralded alongside Arctic Monkeys as the possible future of rock. That didn’t happen, but despite its inability to shoulder the hopes of an entire genre, the band’s kept busy and put out a couple of solid-rocking records, including last year’s, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action. With Cate LeBon. Showbox SoDo. 8 p.m. $31.50–$34. CR
A round of applause, please, for Jefferson Starship founders Paul Kantner and David Friedberg, both in their 70s, still on the road, and celebrating 40 years together—which is about as long as “We Built This City” has been stuck in my head. But don’t worry, that one’s not on the set list. Snoqualmie Casino, 37500 S.E. North Bend Way, Snoqualmie, 425-888-1234, snocasino.com. 7 p.m. $26–$47. 21 and over. DAVE J. LAKE
After releasing several EP’s, Seattle “doom-gaze” band He Whose Ox is Gored is putting together the final touches on its first full-length, The Camel, the Lion, the Child. Produced by Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Botch, Isis), it’s the best representation of the band Ox has become, with signature synth layers and post-hardcore riffs galore. With Haunted Horses, Diesto, Drunk Dad. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880, sunsettavern.com. 9 p.m. $8 adv. 21 and over. JAMES BALLINGER
Hot ’n’ Readies is the cover band you wish had live-scored your first makeout party. Its repertoire is as diverse—including covers of Beastie Boys, the Cranberries, and Bell Biv DeVoe—as its lineup, comprising members of TacocaT, Ex Girlfriend, Terrordactyls, and Coyotes. With Dead Hot. Waid’s, 1212 E. Jefferson St., 328-6493, waidshouseoflove.com. 9 p.m. $7. 21 and over. DIANA M. LE
Friday, April 25
Seattle nonprofit Skate Like a Girl hosts this fifth annual Wheels of Fortune benefit with headliners Childbirth, a supergroup of sorts featuring members of TacocaT, Chastity Belt, and Pony Time. Its debut album, It’s a Girl!, is 17 minutes of unpolished, raw energy recorded in five hours for $100. Childbirth makes crude cute. Get “ovaries” it. With Zach Davidson & the Irresistibles, Half-Breed, DJ Lil Armenia. Hilliard’s Brewery, 1550 N.W. 49th St., 257-4486, hilliardsbeer.com. 7:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation. All ages. DML
Jazz violinist Regina Carter’s new project continues her exploration of her roots. I’ll Be Seeing You (2006) included her mother’s favorite jazz standards; Reverse Thread (2010) returned to the storytelling traditions of West Africa. This year’s Southern Comfort investigates the music her paternal grandfather would have heard as an Alabama coal miner. Carter researched songs from the era and transcribed about 50 tunes—mostly just unaccompanied melodies—from field recordings. Such research is often left to collect dust in the halls of academia. Fortunately, Carter’s considerable talent and seemingly boundless energy have made it available to all. She was very recently named “Violinist of the Year” in the 18th annual Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards for Music and Recording; projects such as Carter’s not only broaden the jazz repertoire but also more accurately reflect an authentic communal experience: the search for where we came from. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., 441-9729, jazzalley.com. 7:30 p.m. (Also 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 7:30 p.m. Sun.) $24.50. MFB
In an effort to make its music more universal, Canadian indie-rock quartet Tokyo Police Club packed its fourth album, Forcefield, with anthemic choruses, bright synths, and toe-tapping percussion. “Hot Tonight,” for example, with its peppy, ’80s-tinged guitar riffs and “ooh, ooh, ooh”s, could pass for a Free Energy tune. Forcefield is TPC at its most accessible, both lyrically and musically. With Geographer, Said the Whale. Neumos. 8 p.m. SOLD OUT. All ages. ACP
The problem—both troubling and sublime—with Canadian thrash band Anvil is that it hasn’t aged since its 1981 debut, Hard ’n’ Heavy. Yes, the band might have influenced Metallica and enjoyed a renaissance thanks to the rock doc Anvil! The Story of Anvil, but there’s no escaping the charming mediocrity of its 15th album, Hope in Hell. But that’s why we love them, right? With Jesus Wears Armani, Above Ground, Skeletor, Arisen From Nothing. Studio Seven, 110 S. Horton St., 286-1312, studioseven.us. 7 p.m. $13 adv./$15 DOS. 21 and over. DJL
After listening to What We Do, the newest release from Portland-based indie-folk pop group THE SHOOK TWINS, it looks like the third time’s the charm. Its first two releases—2008’s You Can Have the Rest and 2011’s Window—were largely exploratory as the band’s eponymous twins, Laurie and Katelyn, dipped their toes into everything from hip-hop to folk and included beat-boxing and playing a large golden egg (you read that right) as part of the musical experience. What We Do is a whole different animal. The twins’ often-whimsical vibe (they once wrote a song about robot love) has been replaced by deeply introspective, soul-searching lyrics about life on the road, love, loss, and living in the moment. Their vocal harmonies are as siren-like as ever, and the moods are augmented richly by their Americana-, folk-, pop-, and country-tinged compositions. You will be hard-pressed not to fall in love with this album. With Steve Poltz. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. 9 p.m. $12. 21 and over. BRIAN PALMER
Brent Amaker’s 50th Birthday Party To listeners familiar with Amaker’s special brand of psychedelic country noir, it may come as a surprise that the cosmic cowboy has gone digital. His new project, Android Amaker, “is a collaborative effort between Vox Mod, P Smoov, and myself,” he says. The group just dropped its first single via iTunes—a krautrocking track called “I’m the One—and plans to release “a full-length concept album on vinyl this summer.” Amaker assures, however, that “The Rodeo will always be my primary project.” Tonight, as he celebrates “the big one” with friends, you’re sure to get a little taste of it all. With Brent Amaker and The Rodeo, the Comettes, DJ Greg Vandy. The Triple Door. 8 p.m. DJ set by Vox Mod in the Musicquarium 11 p.m. $15. GWENDOLYN ELLIOTT
Bleeding Rainbow is so ’90s that even its name pays homage to LeVar Burton’s beloved PBS children’s program. Formed in 2009, the group’s airy vocals and guitar fuzz nevertheless harken back to the Clinton era. Geordi La Forge should be proud. With Wimps, So Pitted. The Vera Project, 305 Harrison St., 956-8372, theveraproject.org. 7:30 p.m. $8. All ages. DH
Saturday, April 26
From the Jackson 5 to Menudo and Boyz II Men to ’N SYNC, every generation has a boy band: a group whose sugary-sweet tunes top the charts and whose good looks steal hearts. Today, the Wanted is that boy band. The English/Irish quintet first charmed listeners with its 2011 single “Glad You Came,” and hasn’t stopped. With Cassio Monroe, Midnight Red. Showbox SoDo. 8 p.m. $29.50 adv./$35 DOS. All ages. ACP
Sunday, April 27
VIDEO GAMES LIVE Since 2005, event creator/video-game composer Tommy Tallarico has combined live music and special guest composers with video footage, synchronized lighting, live action, and interactive segments to take audience members on a trip through the history of video games through music, which includes classics like Pong and Tetris and current favorites like Halo and BioShock. The Paramount, 911 Pine St., 682-1414, stgpresents.org/paramount. 7:30 p.m. $25.25–$65.25. All ages. ACP
Monday, April 28
Pizza Underground Pizza enjoyed a rare cultural domination in the late 1980s and early 1990s that is still haunting America’s arteries today. It was the stuff that fueled the the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Our nation stood fast in avoiding the Noid. Marketers got so bold as to suggest that by putting pizza on a bagel, you could eat pizza for breakfast (no doubt many, many people did). So it’s impossibly appropriate that that era’s precious face, Macaulay Culkin, is now a member of a novelty band that turns Velvet Underground and Lou Reed songs into tunes about pizza. “I’m beginning to see the light” becomes “I’m beginning to eat the slice”; “Take a walk on the wild side” becomes “Take a bite of the wild slice.” You get the idea. That the show is at Chop Suey, just across the street from the now-closed Piecora’s, also allows us to reflect on what we’ve lost since we turned our backs on pizza, and how we can get it back. With Toby Goodshank of the Moldy Peaches, Derek Erdman (DJ Set). Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8005, chopsuey.com. 8 p.m. $12 adv./$15 DOS. DP
Atlanta metallers Mastodon recently announced a new album, Once More Round the Sun, out later this year and featuring road-tested songs debuted during the last album cycle. “A lot of people ask us if it kicks off where The Hunter left off,” bassist and vocalist Troy Sanders told Paste. “And to a large degree, I suppose yes. It’s solid.” With Gojira, Kvelertak. Showbox SoDo. 7:30 p.m. $25 adv./$30 DOS. DJL
Tuesday, April 29
Moon Duo fits right alongside its obscure and bewildering label mates on Sacred Bones Records, bringing a little bit of darkness to its sound. The psych-rock group dabbles in reverb and wah pedals, but with a foreboding tension that lingers throughout the background. With Kikagaku Moyo, Fungal Abyss. The Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467, thebarboza.com. 8 p.m. $12 adv. 21 and over. DH
The great thing about Andy Hull’s Manchester Orchestra is that his songs are just as compelling as heavy-rock arrangements as they are stripped bare like the basement recording project it evolved from. He’s like a millennial version of Billy Corgan, with Manchester Orchestra serving as his Smashing Pumpkins. With Balance and Composure, Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band. The Neptune. 7:30 p.m. $18 adv./$22 DOS. DJL
Now in its 26th year, Pennywise continues to define the sound of Southern California punk’s second wave in the ’90s. After parting ways with front man Jim Lindburg in 2009, the band carried on for a few years with Ignite singer Zoli Teglas. However, Lindburg rejoined the band in 2012, and it’s now working on its first record with him since 2008’s Reason to Believe. With Teenage Bottlerocket, the Waywards. The Showbox. 8 p.m. $22.50 adv./$25 DOS. All ages. JB
