Wednesday, May 22

• Flying Lotus Steve Ellison works at the intersection of hip-hop, electronica, and jazz, and his futuristic productions demonstrate both scientific precision and organic expressiveness. With Thundercat, Teebs. Showbox SoDo, 1700 First Ave. S., 652-0444, showboxonline.com. $26.50 adv./$28 DOS. All ages.

Michael Mayer A veteran of the Cologne, Germany, club scene, Mayer helps run tastemaking electronic label Kompakt when he’s not DJing, producing, and remixing. With Chloe Harris. Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9951, thebarboza.com. 9 p.m. $10 adv.

Week of Wonders Featuring members of the Intelligence, the Torn ACLs, and Health Problems, this local trio plays shimmery, calypso-tinged pop. With Hats Off, Charms. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880, sunsettavern.com. 8 p.m. $6.

Thursday, May 23

Don’t Talk to the Cops This show marks the release of Champions of Breakfast, the latest full-length from the local party-rap crew. With Katie Kate, Ononos, DJ Riz. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442, neumos.com. 8 p.m. Free.

The Piano Guys A YouTube account–turned–touring act, the Piano Guys are known for their inventive performance style. The five members cover pop songs on a grand piano, using all of it—plucking the strings, slapping the paneling, slamming the key guard. It’s gimmicky, sure, but also surprisingly dynamic. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 784-4849, stgpresents.org. 7 p.m. $41.50. All ages.

• Truckasauras The boundary-pushing local electronic collective headlines the first installment of Tough Cuts, a monthly show curated by Seattle Weekly’s own Todd Hamm. With Stres, DJAO, Miniature Airlines. Sunset Tavern. 8 p.m. $8.

Friday, May 24

The Kids This Belgian four-piece came on the scene during the first wave of punk in the late ’70s, releasing a cult-classic self-titled debut in 1977 and touring constantly since reuniting in 1996. With the Cute Lepers, the Chemicals, Sex Crime, Big Eyes, DJ Brian Foss. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8005, chopsuey.com. 8 p.m. $12.

• Rain Fest Memorial Day weekend means music-festival season has begun in the Northwest, and this three-day celebration of “aggressive music,” appropriately housed in the dark confines of Neumos instead of outdoors, is a lesser-known part of that tradition. Headliners this year include Bouncing Souls and Comeback Kid. 6 p.m. $30 single day/$75 three-day pass. All ages. Through Sunday, May 26.

The West On In Low Light, The West’s most recent EP, the primary musical referent is clear: the early synth-pop of dance legends New Order. It’s a sound that’s probably more fun in person than through headphones. Get there early to catch a diverse local lineup. With Tomten, Prism Tats, Ozarks. Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-7416, thecrocodile.com. 8 p.m. $10 adv.

Saturday, May 25

Avi Buffalo Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg’s scrappy guitar-pop project has been on tour with Akron/Family, and is currently at work on a follow-up to its much-hyped 2010 self-titled debut. Barboza. 7 p.m. $10 adv.

Polecat This jam-happy Bellingham group is putting together a mini-tour around its new record Fathoms, which showcases the quintet’s melange of bluegrass, reggae, and folk. With Sugarcane, Pickled Okra. Tractor Tavern, 5231 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. 9:30 p.m. $8 adv./$10 DOS.

The Raging Maggots This band has been around a long time—since 1984—and it claims to be the first electric act to play the Blue Moon, a venue known for hard-rocking bar bands. Tonight it returns to its U District stomping grounds. With the Bluebird Specials. Blue Moon, 712 N.E. 45th St., 675-9116, bluemoon
seattle.wordpress.com. 9:30 p.m. $6.

Sunday, May 26

• Ozomatli Known for being both musically omnivorous and stridently political, this genre-spanning Los Angeles band took an uncharacteristic stylistic detour last year to release a children’s album, OzoKidz. Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151, showboxonline.com. 7:30 p.m. $19.99 adv./$25 DOS.

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars Many musicians work to support humanitarian causes, but few have been directly subjected to the oppression they hope to stamp out—as were the members of this reggae/Afrobeat group, literal refugees (from Sierra Leone to Guinea) who are now champions of improving their home country. With Snug Harbor. Tractor Tavern. 9 p.m. $17 adv./$20 DOS.

Stunna Kid This Tacoma swag-rap MC spits raunchy, club-ready verses over minimal, Pro Tools–lite beats. With Cam the Mac, Steezie Nasa, Chief N’ Jones, Nottus Tre, D-Pro, Cla$$ick. Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St., 632-2020, nectarlounge.com. 8 p.m. $10 adv. All ages.

Monday, May 27

Billy Martin & Wil Blades Duo San Francisco organist Blades and New York percussionist Martin join forces for freewheeling, virtuosic jazz and funk. The Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave. S., 906-9920, theroyalroomseattle.com. 8 p.m. $15 adv./$18 DOS.

On The Make This local trio deals in the fuzzed-out psychedelia of ’60s garage rock. With The Dad, Sir Coyler and his Asthmatic Band, Swords for Arrows. Comet Tavern, 922 E. Pike St., 322-9272, comettavern.com. 9 p.m. $6.

Tuesday, May 28

Funky 2 Death The musical component of the Croc’s “A Film, a Band, and a Drink” night, this local funk band will be paired with a preview of The Glamour & the Squalor, a forthcoming documentary about radio host Marco Collins. Crocodile. 7 p.m. $15 adv.

• Kylesa Sludge metal isn’t a genre known for accessibility, but this Savannah, Ga., band packs its songs—especially the singles from Ultraviolet, out May 28—with enough melodic interest to (almost) counteract its cerebrum-shaking heaviness. With Blood Ceremony, White Hills, Lazer/Wulf. Chop Suey. 8 p.m. $15 adv.

Seasons Guitar Quartet Led by accomplished session musician and composer Anthony Wilson, these four guitarists perform in a variety of styles (bluegrass, jazz, Brazilian choro) that pay homage to their imstrument’s rich heritage. With Julian Lage, Chico Pinheiro, Larry Koonse. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., 441-9729, jazzalley.com. 5:30 p.m. $20.50.