Wednesday, Nov. 13

The title of Jillette Johnson’s debut EP, Whiskey & Frosting, describes her music perfectly. There’s the smooth sweetness one would expect from piano-driven pop, but it’s not without an edge thanks to Johnson’s sharp lyrics. Her debut album, Water in a Whale, full of the same mix of sweet and salty tunes, was released in June. With Camille Bloom and Jordan Lake. Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9951, thebarboza.com. 7 p.m. $10 adv. 21 and over. AZARIA C. PODPLESKY

As Tonight Alive’s Jenna McDougall told Seattle Weekly in March, Australian bands have to become successful overseas if they want to make it big Down Under. It’s not always the easiest or cheapest route for an up-and-coming group, but with a number of international tours and two albums—including September’s The Other Side—under its belt, this pop-punk quintet, it’s safe to say, is one Australia is proud to boast of. With The Downtown Fiction, For the Foxes, Echosmith, and the Matt Bacnis Band. El Corazon, 109 Eastlake Ave. E., 262-0482, elcorazonseattle.com. 6:15 p.m. $13 adv./$15 DOS. All ages/bar with ID. ACP

Thursday, Nov. 14

Cataldo Seattle pop songsmith Eric Anderson recently completed his fourth full-length album under the Cataldo moniker, a moody and moving addition to his soulful pop portfolio. But this isn’t a record release show; the album, currently bearing the title LP4, is due next year. Rather, this is a band relaunch, during which Anderson will test out some of that fresh material and trot out a new stage show—which, among other things, will debut the songwriter’s clean-shaven face. With Night Cadet, Silver Torches. Barboza. 8 p.m. $10 adv. MARK S. BAUMGARTEN

Nightlands started when Philadelphia multi-instrumentalist (and War on Drugs bassist) Dave Hartley recorded the music in his dreams on a bedside recorder and then added lush, intricate instrumentation and vocal harmonies in the studio. His second full-length, Oak Island, arrived early this year, filled with entrancing pop lullabies about space and spirituality. For this tour, Hartley is playing without a band, stripping the songs down to their most elemental state, perhaps arriving closer to the dreams whence they came. With USF. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880, sunsettavern.com. 9 p.m. $8. MSB

Friday, Nov. 15

Ladies Club 2 It’s no small task to get this many busy singers together. Lotte Kestner just finished recording an album with Seattle/Texas songwriting pair Ormonde; San Francisco’s Debbie Neigher is releasing an album November 15; and Lena Simon and Whitney Lyman of Pollens have been working on solo projects. Columbia City Theater, 4918 Rainier Ave. S., 723-0088, columbiacitytheater.com. 8 p.m. $10/$12 DOS. MICHAEL F. BERRY

During its 2012 world tour, Switchfoot captured footage of its two loves, music and surfing. Now the alt-rock quintet is premiering the result, a film called Fading West, before playing songs from the to-be-released album of that name. New fans will get an in-depth introduction to the band, while longtime fans will appreciate deeper access to the group they know and love. The Moore, 1932 Second Ave., 467-5510, stgpresents.org/moore. 7 p.m. $25–$35 adv./$30–$40 DOS. All ages. ACP

Jessie Ware separates herself from the hordes of other neo-R&B/soul vocalists with her hip taste in collaborators; she’s sung on tracks from producers like SBTRKT, Disclosure, and Sampha. Debut album Devotion has a lot of those retro-futurist Drake-style beats that R&B singers scramble to sing on nowadays, and Ware’s pop songwriting is in peak form. With The Invisible. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 784-4849, stgpresents.org. 9 p.m. $25. All ages. ANDREW GOSPE

Gramatik, the stage name of Brooklyn-by-way-of-Slovenia musician Denis Jasarevic, warns fans that as a part-time musician and full-time comedian, his music is one of “many elaborate jokes.” But if his groove-heavy jams, including those on 2013’s The Age of Reason, are made in jest, then Jasarevic is a damn fine comedian. With heRobust and Exmag. Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151, showboxonline.com. 8:30 p.m. $20. All ages/bar with ID. ACP

Saturday, Nov. 16

Lynx This Bay Area songwriter and producer amalgamates an orchestra’s worth of strings with electronic textures and acoustic drums. Fitting for this electro-acoustic polymath, she’s collaborated with EDM stars Bassnectar and Beats Antique as well as Blues Traveler harmonica virtuoso John Popper. With Natasha Kmeto, Spyn Reset, Ganjaology. Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St., 632-2020, nectarlounge.com. 9 p.m. $8. AG

Kronos Quartet No chamber ensemble in recent history has done more to advance the cause of contemporary art music than the Kronos Quartet. The group, founded in Seattle by violinist David Harrington, played its first concert here 40 years ago this month. Since then, the Kronos has collaborated not only with the most prominent contemporary composers—like Phillip Glass, Steve Reich, and John Adams—but also with a number of popular musicians, such as Amon Tobin, Sigur Ros, and most recently Bryce Dessner. The National’s guitarist supplied four compositions for the quartet’s most recent album, Aheym (“homeward” in Yiddish). Tonight’s concert will feature Dessner’s “Tenebre” as well as a performance of Predator Songstress: Warrior with the Degenerate Art Ensemble. Other works on the program highlight the group’s diverse and extensive repertoire, from Wagner to Penderecki. The Neptune. 8 p.m. $44. MFB

Alejandro Escovedo For more than 40 years, Escovedo has been following, seeking, and leading the 
rock-’n’-roll spirit, from his time as a young punk in Bay Area band the Nuns to his pivotal role in the Americana movement of the ’90s. Currently he’s touring with the Sensitive Boys, continuing to play new material in a rustic but raucous style he’s termed “American Baroque,” at age 62. He might just be more rock ’n’ roll than ever. With Amy Cook. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. 9 p.m. $20 adv. MSB

Sunday, Nov. 17

Thundercat Stephen Bruner is a frighteningly talented bassist and a musical eccentric, two facts that led to him signing with Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder Records, an electronica-heavy label where he’s something of an outlier. His music—joyous, falsetto-led electro-funk—is also far more danceable than anything his labelmates put out. With Kingdom Crumbs. Barboza. 8 p.m. $15 adv. AG

Seattle’s Darkpine is like a dreamier Yeasayer, chock-full of dark synths and bouncy bass lines that sound dance-ready in an off-kilter way. Tonight the band is celebrating the release of its self-titled EP, produced by Scott Colburn, who’s also worked with Arcade Fire and Animal Collective. With Hibou, Us On Roofs, Uh Oh Eskimo. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8005, chopsuey.com. $7, 8 p.m. All ages. KELTON SEARS

Moonface Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown) writes masterfully composed indie epics full of cryptic lyricism that would stand up to academic literary analysis. Moonface, his newest project, has kept up that momentum. On his new record, Julia With Blue Jeans On, Krug strips his setup all the way down to solo piano, which will make tonight’s performance one of his most intimate yet. With Special Guest. Columbia City Theater. 8 p.m. $10 adv./$12 DOS. 21 and over. KS

2cellos Classically trained cellists Luka Šulic and Stjepan Hauser bring new life to both classic tunes and modern favorites in the most beautifully unexpected way. You may think you know Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” or Rihanna’s “We Found Love,” but these arrangements will open your ears to familiar songs in a whole new light. The Moore. 7 p.m. $32.50–$42.50. KEEGAN PROSSER

Cults has moved in an ever-so-slightly darker direction with sophomore album Static, a record informed by two solid years of touring and the dissolution of a four-year relationship between the band’s primary members Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion. The group’s classicist indie-pop is now denser and weightier, with less of a saccharine sheen. With SACCO, Mood Rings. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442, neumos.com. 8 p.m. $18 adv. All ages. AG

Monday, Nov. 18

Daley Seattle gets the whole blue-eyed-soul thing. We’ve been listening to and loving on Allen Stone for years. Which is why up-and-coming British crooner Daley is exactly what we’ve been waiting for. With his perfectly coiffed ginger mohawk and sultry R&B chops, 24-year-old Gareth Daley broke onto the UK scene in 2010 when he was featured on the Gorillaz hit, “Doncamatic.” He’s since released his own EP, 2012’s Alone Together, a six-song collection that’s positioning him to be the next big thing in R&B. It’s the smoky, earnest quality in his vocals that make tracks like “Smoking Gun” and “Love Is a Losing Game” hit you in the gut, and that romantic coo makes for the best kind of pillow talk. Having already worked with the likes of Pharrell Williams, Jessie J, and Emeli Sande, this marks Daley’s first extended run of shows in the U.S., and it’s going to be one you don’t want to miss. Barboza. 7 p.m. $14 adv. 21 and over. KP

MellowHigh The trio of Hodgy Beats, Domo Genesis, and producer Left Brain is one of several Odd Future offshoot hip-hop acts. Its music is more varied and party-ready than the grinding slo-mo beats and perma-stoned flow of Earl Sweatshirt, OF’s rapper du jour, but also less distinctive. With Slow Dance, Gift Uh Gab. Neumos. 8 p.m. $15 adv. All ages. AG

Thomas Dolby On his current tour, Thomas “She Blinded Me With Science” Dolby is presenting a show centered on his latest film, The Invisible Lighthouse. In the movie’s trailer, officials deny Dolby information about a soon-to-be closed lighthouse, which causes him to throw on a pair of night-vision goggles and figure things out on his own. A Q&A session and performance round out the evening. Showbox at the Market. 8 p.m. $20 adv./$25 DOS. 21 and over. ACP

Tuesday, Nov. 19

Surfer vibes join with the sounds of Seattle rock to create LURES, a trio of 20-somethings who will make you want to surf the rain-filled streets. The group just released Vacant, a two-track preview for its upcoming LP, to be released in January. Joining the show is Bigfoot Wallace & His Wicked Sons, a dirty gospel-rock group. Heavy guitar and organs will get you stomping your feet and joining the music-making. With Albatross, White Garden. Chop Suey. 7 p.m. $5 SU students/$8 GA. ALICIA PRICE

Big Freedia This queen diva has already stunned Seattle crowds with her bootylicious twerking twice in the past six months—first as the unconventional opening act for The Postal Service’s KeyArena show, then at this year’s Capitol Hill Block Party. To say her brand of bounce music is something all its own would be doing her a disservice. Neumos. 8 p.m. $15 adv. 21 and over. KP

Lupe Fiasco The most recent effort from this Chicago rapper is the confusingly titled Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. I. (Apparently the record that broke him, Food & Liquor, wasn’t a great American rap album.) This tour is in advance of his sixth album Tetsuo & Youth (also, it seems, not a great American rap album), set to drop early next year. With Stalley, Sadistik. Showbox SoDo, 1700 First Ave. S., 652-0444, showboxonline.com. 8 p.m. $32.50 adv./$36 DOS. All ages. AG