Wednesday, Nov. 19
Just two years after releasing its well-received debut album, You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine, in 2004, Toronto dance-punk duo Death From Above 1979 broke up, which gave it and the album a cultlike status. But now, three years after their reunion, drummer/singer Sebastien Grainger and bassist Jesse Keeler are back with their highly anticipated sophomore album, The Physical World. Like its predecessor, it’s a raucously good time, a mix of synth features, thundering percussion, and aggressive bass riffs. It may have been 10 years between albums, but a reinvigorated Death From Above 1979 was worth the wait. With Biblical. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442, neumos.com. 7 p.m. SOLD OUT. All ages. AZARIA C. PODPLESKY
At this release show for Colorpunch, the Hoot Hoots’ third full-length, the power-pop quartet’s making sure fans get the complete experience. Not only will they play new tunes, they’ll have a custom laser show as accompaniment. This should pair nicely with songs like “In the Air,” which is kicked off by a series of laser-beam-like synth effects and features a pulsing beat from drummer Chris Prairie that’s perfect for a constantly shifting laser show. Group vocals add to the energy and give the song a sunny feel, which will no doubt transfer to the stage. With the Young Evils. Pacific Science Center Laser Dome, 200 Second Ave. N., 443-2001, pacificsciencecenter.org. 7:30 p.m. $10. All ages. ACP
Though three-fourths of Chicago quartet Twin Peaks left Evergreen State College to pursue music, something tells me the kids will be alright. The 20-somethings have managed to capture the essence of ’60s garage-rock—most recently on sophomore album Wild Onion—in spot-on bursts of songs often less than three minutes long. There are slightly psychedelic songs like “Mirror of Time” and “Strange World”; the uber-catchy “Telephone”; and the folk-tinged “Sweet Thing” and “Mind Frame.” Classic guitar riffs from Clay Frankel add an even more authentic feel. I guess age really is nothing but a number. With Meatbodies, Criminal Hygiene, Bod. Vera Project, 305 Warren Ave. N., 956-8372, vera project.org. 8 p.m. $10 adv./$12 DOS. All ages. ACP
Thursday, Nov. 20
TJ Grant has one of those voices that seem to work well with any genre. Whether he’s performing acoustic tunes under his own name or more upbeat songs as his solo project, If Bears Were Bees, the Ravensdale native’s rich voice fits right in. Grant’s latest as himself, the acoustic Runaway TJ, is soulful and honest, recorded in an emotional, unedited burst. His latest as If Bears Were Bees, The Black Arts, on the other hand, is brighter though no less emotional, with Grant backed by bass and percussion. But no matter which, that rich voice rings strong. With Add Ode (ft. Galen Disston), Mark Gilday Jr., Gabriel Mintz. Blue Moon, 712 N.E. 45th St., 675-9116, bluemoon seattle.wordpress.com. 9 p.m. $5. 21 and over. ACP
Haunted Horses’ latest EP, the first release for the Fainting Room Collective’s Triple-Six Series, is, in a word, bizarre. The guitar riffs drone, the percussion is furious, the vocals are erratic, and the overall vibe is dark. And yet I found myself listening to the EP over and over. The industrial-punk trio of Colin Dawson, Myke Pelly, and Troy Ayala has taken a cacophony of dark sounds and layered them in a way that adds appeal to these truly haunting tunes. If you’re missing the spirit of Halloween, then this release show should be the creepy celebration you crave. With Sayonara, Audrey Home. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8005, chopsuey.com. 8 p.m. $5. 21 and over. ACP
Pretty soon, people will be mentioning Shaprece
in the same sentence as FKA twigs and Little Dragon’s Yukimi Nagano. For her latest EP, Molting, the singer teamed with producer IG88 and string arrangers Phillip Peterson and Daniel Butman. The result is a collection of songs that falls somewhere between trip-hop and orchestral pop. Shaprece’s sultry voice, subdued at times and always intimate, pairs well with the ambient nature of IG88’s beats, and rises and falls alongside the strings. Molting, which features the previously released “Her Song” and a Blue Sky Black Death remix of “Tell Me,” finds the artist shedding musical layers to create something more minimalistic. With Budo, Theoretics. Columbia City Theater, 4918 Rainier Ave. S., 723-0088, columbiacitytheater.com. 8 p.m. $8 adv./$10 DOS. 21 and over. ACP
After 15 years in Seattle, guitarist Jeff Fielder has racked up a resume that includes work with the likes of Star Anna, Sera Cahoone, Mark Lanegan, Lindsay Fuller, and countless others, as well as projects like Jeff Fielder and the Dinosaurs. To celebrate all that, and as a “love letter” to the city and his talented collaborators, the axeman has organized Jeff Fielder Redux, a chance for him to perform original material and songs from those who have influenced him over the years. This show will feature Ian Moore, Garth Reeves, Jen Ayers, Zach Harjo, Om Johari, Eric Eagle, David Salonen, Daniel Walker, Andy Stoller, Arthur Migliazza, and others. The Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, thetripledoor.net. 7:30 p.m. $12. All ages. ACP
Friday, Nov. 21
Like the palace that inspired his stage name, Henry Saint Clair Fredericks is internationally known. The blues musician, who fronts the Taj Mahal Trio with bassist Bill Rich and Kester Smith on drums, has been performing for 50 years and recently won the Lifetime Achievement for Performance Award at this year’s Americana Honors and Awards. A look at Fredericks’ extensive discography backs up the praise: more than two dozen albums, including his latest, the aptly titled Maestro, and a variety of live albums and compilations. He has also appeared on a variety of movie soundtracks and can play as many instruments. Now with his trio, the self-taught musician is adding more acclaim to his career, returning to Jazz Alley for his annual residency. Through Sunday, Nov. 30. 2033 Sixth Ave., 441-9729, jazzalley.com. 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. $36.50. All ages. ACP
Singer/songwriter David Bazan is perhaps best known for fronting Pedro the Lion and for his two solo albums, Curse Your Branches and Strange Negotiations. With the Passenger String Quartet, led by Andrew Joslyn, the songwriter is reimagining tunes from both stages of his career on Volume 1. Longtime Bazan fans needn’t worry; the songs are not reworked beyond recognition. Instead, the orchestral arrangement elevates what Bazan created. The songs feel fresh without losing the emotion behind his lyrics. With David Dondero. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 877-STG-4TIX, stgpresents.org/neptune. 9 p.m. $22 adv./$25 DOS. All ages. ACP
“We’re gonna haunt you/Twenty-four seven,” Deerhoof’s Satomi Matsuzaki sings on “Black Pitch” off the band’s 12th full-length, La Isla Bonita. And haunt you it does—only with catchiness, not creepiness. Matsuzaki’s voice is bright and playful, clear like a bell, while the band runs through a variety of genres. There’s the more ethereal “Mirror Monster,” the groovy “Tiny Bubbles,” the Ramones-inspired “Exit Only,” and the punk “God 2.” Now in its 20th year, Deerhoof is known for being spontaneous, and La Isla Bonita follows suit. With Busdriver, Go Dark. Neumos. 8 p.m. $15. All ages. ACP
Saturday, Nov. 22
Punk-rock supergroup Childbirth—Tacocat’s Bree McKenna, Pony Time’s Stacy Peck, and Chastity Belt’s Julia Shapiro—takes the riot-grrl sound to a whole new, cruder level with their debut, It’s a Girl! Song titles like “I Only Fucked You as a Joke,” “Crossbitch,” and “How Do Girls Even Do It?” give a pretty good idea of what’s to come, but to actually hear the hospital-gown-clad trio sing about regretful hookups, sister wives, the mysteries of lesbian sex, and menopause is a whole other hilarious thing. Really, what’s more punk than childbirth? This show doubles as a birthday celebration for Highline booker Brian Foss’ wife Cyndi, so come ready to party. With the Dee Dees, the Witches Titties, Culture Shakti. The Highline, 210 Broadway Ave. E., 328-7837. 9 p.m. $7. 21 and over. ACP
Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace isn’t one to tone things down. Transgender Dysphoria Blues, the band’s first album since she came out as trans, tackled body and gender issues with ripping guitars and blaring vocals. Even with all the screaming, the singer managed to express her story relatably. Now she’s stripping back all the noise for an acoustic performance and a discussion on trans-activism, giving a rare, intimate look at one of modern punk’s most compelling figureheads. UW’s North Hub Ballroom, 4001 W. Stevens Way N.E., 543-8191, depts.washington.edu/thehub. 7 p.m. $8 students/$15 GA. All ages. DUSTY HENRY
Sometimes sad records are one-dimensional and leave listeners feeling empty; other times they have layers that feel a bit more reflective. The melancholic self-titled album from rock quintet Modern Ruins falls in the second category. There’s a somberness to singer/guitarist Leigh Stone’s voice, especially when she sings lyrics like “You come from there/I’m over here/Why can’t you see me?” (“Theories”). But brighter instrumentation, albeit with droning guitar riffs, makes the album seem almost hopeful. There’s a beauty to Modern Ruins’ gloomy sound that adds depth. Fans will get a chance to experience both sides of the band at this album-release show. With Wishbeard, DJ Meaty Okra. Vermillion, 1508 11th Ave., 709-7979, vermillionseattle.com. 9 p.m. Free. 21 and over. ACP
Alt-rock quartet Dark Hip Falls and 3rd Shift Dance have teamed up for a jam-packed one-night-only event, something the band is calling Shift Sessions: Volume 1. Not only will audience members get to hear Seventy Four, the group’s debut album, played in full, they’ll also get to enjoy original dance pieces from 3rd Shift Dance artistic director Xaviera Vandermay and five other choreographers inspired by the album, and catch the premiere of the music video for “Lam2: Red Hands.” Seventy Four is sparse and lacks any huge choruses, but the band’s moody vibe and musical diversity will give the dancers a lot to work with. Westlake Dance Center, 10703 Eighth Ave. N.E., 621-7378, westlakedance.com. 7 p.m. $12 adv./$20 DOS. All ages. ACP
Sunday, Nov. 23
At this Tribute to The Last Waltz: A Benefit for Rain City Rock Camp for Girls, the nonprofit, which is dedicated to building self-esteem in girls and encouraging musical expression, is honoring The Band’s iconic final show. Local musicians, including Leif Dalan of Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Brown Band and Bill Nordwall and Jasen Samford of Exohxo, will fill in for The Band. And like the original star-studded event, this show will feature plenty of guest vocalists, including Star Anna, Stephanie Anne Johnson, Nouela Johnston (People Eating People), Fredd Luongo (the Swearengens), Joel Schneider (My Goodness), and many more. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. 8 p.m. $10. 21 and over. ACP
Monday, Nov. 24
G-Eazy, aka Gerald Earl Gillum, made a name for himself in 2011 with his mixtape, The Endless Summer, which includes “Runaround Sue,” a fusion of doo-wop and hip-hop that features a sample of the Dion song of that name. Now on his latest full-length, These Things Happen, the rapper is keeping that momentum going, only this time with a more modern hip-hop sound and appearances from the likes of A$AP Ferg, Devon Baldwin, E-40, and Jay Ant—the latter two opening this show. Tales of life on the road, missing home, and working toward bigger goals pepper G-Eazy’s lyrics and add a fresh voice to the scene. Showbox SoDo, 1700 First Ave. S., 652-0444, showboxpresents.com. 8 p.m. $30. All ages. ACP
Tuesday, Nov. 25
In September 2013, British alt-rock quartet Bastille made its Seattle debut with a sold-out show at Tractor Tavern. A little over a year and a sold-out Showbox SoDo show later, the band is taking over KeyArena for the night. That progression is pretty impressive, given that the band is still touring behind its debut album, Bad Blood. Multiple singles, including the title track, “Flaws” and the cinematic “Pompeii,” have helped the band’s uphill trajectory, though unexpected covers and mashups and big screen-ready music videos have also added to the buzz. With Grizfolk. KeyArena, 305 Harrison St., 684-7200, keyarena.com. 8 p.m. $31.50–$39.50. All ages. ACP
Nashville-based singer Nikki Lane is, as she says on Facebook, as country/Americana as they come. Her latest album, the Dan Auerbach–produced All or Nothin’, is a collection of nitty-gritty country tunes. From the bouncy “I Don’t Care” to the surf-rock-tinged “ Seein’ Double,” and from “Love’s on Fire,” a romantic duet with Auerbach, to the soulful title track, Lane’s vocals have a vintage feel and a lot of room to play on this album. Her lyrics run the gamut from affectionate (the deceptively titled “I Don’t Care”) to brutally honest (“Sleep With a Stranger”), but that just gives the album an even more down-home feel. With Jamestown Revival, Pete Molinari. Tractor Tavern. 8 p.m. $15. 21 and over. ACP