Wednesday, February 8
James McMurtry
The alt-country singer-songwriter plays here on the heels of his new album, Childish Things (Compadre), placing 17th in the Nashville Scene’s Country Music Critics’ Poll, with “We Can’t Make It Here” placing 11th in the singles category. Tractor Tavern, 8 p.m. $15 adv./$17
Seattle Improvised Music Festival
SEE FEATURE, P. 43. Gallery 1412, 8 p.m. $5–$15 Also Thurs., Feb. 9–Sun., Feb. 12
Stars + the Elected
Montreal’s current golden boys (and girl) team up with Blake Sennett’s Elected for an evening of pre-Valentines pop sweetness. Showbox, 8 p.m. $13 adv./$15
Thursday, February 9
69 Love Songs tribute
An awful lot of people in this town don’t wanna get over the Magnetic Fields. Masterfully crying over their vermouth tonight are members of the Dutch Elms, Kane Hodder, the Long Winters, Math & Physics Club, Sameer Shukla, Vendetta Red, Tullycraft, Slender Means, and more. Crocodile, 9 p.m. $7
Dead Meadow
Washington, D.C.’s premier psych-sludgers come around again to support 2005’s Feathers (Matador). Bright Black Moonlight and Daniel Higgs of Lungfish open. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $9
Velella Velella
The fast-rising live electro-funk band is making the rounds around town—this time, Ballard’s gonna move on up with VV, Run Chico Run, and the Sterling Loons. Sunset Tavern, 9 p.m. $6
Friday, February 10
The Black Crabs
This newish combo formed as Wanda Jackson’s backing band, but stuck together and recorded Blast Off, one of KEXP’s Leon Berman’s ’05 picks—they’ll shake the shack at this Sweethearts’ Rockabilly Review with Slim Sandy, the Hadacol Cowboys, and Glitzkrieg Burlesque Bombshells. Tractor Tavern, 9 p.m. $8 adv./$10
The Cops + the Emergency + Shotgun
SEE CD REVIEWS (the Cops), P. 45. High Dive, 9 p.m. $6
Norfolk and Western + Karl Blau + Mt. Eerie + Paleo
Portland’s finest purveyors of heartfelt indie-Americana return for a show at the newly reopened Vera with the always entertaining Blau, Mt. Eerie, and Paleo. Vera Project, 8 p.m. $6 with club card/$7
Paul Rucker + Bill Horist + Sunmay + Central Services + Sera Cahoone
This smart conglomerate of new talent and old—particularly jazz composer Rucker and avant-guitarist Horist—comes together for the opening party for Artist Trust. Consolidated Works, 7 p.m. $10 Artist Trust members/$15
Soft 2
SEE CD-R GO!, P. 48. Sunset Tavern, 9 p.m. $5
Tracy + the Plastics
Which came first, Anna Oxygen or Wynne Greenwood’s Tracy + the Plastics? Though Greenwood’s Whitney Biennial–approved musical concept now operates from Brooklyn, both women emerged from Olympia, and Greenwood’s art echoes that community’s famous spontaneity. Frye Art Museum, 8 p.m. $12 Frye members/$15
24 Bits: DBR and the Mission
Composer/performer Daniel Bernard Roumain, having worked with the likes of both Philip Glass and DJ Spooky, has been called a “Classical Urban Ambassador for the next generation.” His Beat Pieces is a rhythmic study based on hip-hop; Event Pieces shows his cross-genre deconstruction skills. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 8 p.m. $12–$15
Saturday, February 11
Akron/Family + Sir Richard Bishop + YKK
An avant quartet featuring ex-Seattleite Miles Seaton, Akron/Family’s self-titled debut is full of bushwhacking playfulness, a recent beard-rock milestone. Sir Richard Bishop is a Sun City Girl in solo mode. And YKK features members of the Blood Brothers. Tractor Tavern, 9 p.m. $10 adv./$12
DJ AM
Unlike his ex-fiancée, Nicole Richie, DJ AM isn’t just famous for being famous, or famous for being the kid of someone famous. He’s famous, or nearly, for playing the most obvious hip-hop, pop, and rock hits of the past four decades at famous people’s parties. Showbox, 10 p.m. $15 adv./$20
Duncan Sheik
A leisurely singer-songwriter—too leisurely, sometimes—with a wide romantic streak, Sheik tours behind the new White Limousine (Zoe/Rounder). Teddy Thompson and Jim Boggia open. Triple Door, 8 p.m. $20 adv./$23
Huun-Huur-Tu
This Tuvan throat-singing crew emit one of the coolest and most unique sounds in the world—imagine a massed army of frogs growling out indelible little tunes. This should be great. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-325-7066, 7:30 p.m. $20
Noodles + Stereo Future + Mon Frere
Japanese girl-group Noodles don’t sound like you’d expect, packing the best of grunge and hard rock in their not-so-girly arsenal. Seattle’s hardworking and seldom-seen pop band the Stereo Future, who brought Noodles here to a packed house last year, also perform, and Mon Frere opens. Crocodile Cafe, 4 p.m. $7 All ages
Voyager One + Tourist + Romance + DJ Curtis
An evening of amazingly good booking continues with the dreamy rock of Voyager One, Tourist’s CD release, newcomers Romance and great tunes in between. Crocodile Cafe, 9 p.m. $8
Sunday, February 12
The Black Angels
Since their Chop Suey appearance this weekend is sold out, catch this intriguing Texas psych band—self-described as “Native American drone”—today, and pick up their EP on Light in the Attic while you’re at it. Easy Street Records Queen Anne, 20 Mercer St., 3 p.m. NC
Chris Hillman
The former Byrd and Flying Burrito Brother is a country-rock pioneer, and Lord knows he’ll have plenty to draw on as a result. Herb Pederson opens. Triple Door, 7:30 p.m. $22 adv./$25
The Juan MacLean
On DFA’s records, instruments are often so slick and meticulous that they’re mistaken for sampled cuts, so you might expect—and hope—that their DJ set will make machine-made tweaks seem live, warm, and handmade. Easy Street Records Queen Anne, 20 Mercer St., 6 p.m. NC
Monday, February 13
Vusi Mahlasela
One of South Africa’s biggest stars, Mahlasela is a guitar whiz and supple vocalist. Triple Door, 7:30 p.m. $15 adv./$17.50
Ariel Pink
Who is this man? Aw, you know, just the latest quirky, twisted, lo-fi singer-songwriter out of L.A. Take your chances on this critical darling with Belong and Lillydale. Chop Suey, 8 p.m. $8
Tuesday, February 14
Andre Feriante
For the eighth year, the talented classical guitarist serenades friends and lovers at an appropriately fancy venue, bringing violinist Geoffrey Castle along for a romance-filled set. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 8 p.m. $30
Kenny G + Pierce Brosnan + elephants
This “Save the Elephants” Valentine’s Day benefit dinner costs $500 per person and $1,000 per couple—that ain’t peanuts. Triple Door, 6:30 p.m., $YourFirstBornChild
Eartha Kitt
Catwoman returns for her annual Valentine’s week gig, showing the rest of us what femme fatale really means. Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 7:30 p.m. $32.50–$45.50 Also Wed., Feb. 15–Sun., Feb. 19
Some Girls + Akimbo + Book of Black Earth + Iron Lung
This showcase of balls-out hardcore and metal, with Locust-associated headliners Some Girls, who “want to brutalize people and have each song punch people in the face and not let up until they choke on their own blood,” is billed as “a very special Valentine’s show, sure to warm your hearts.” Char is more like it. Neumo’s, 8 p.m. $8 adv./$10
Total Science
People sometimes claim that drum and bass has become the heavy metal of electronic music, and while these lads can go a little hard, their aggression is agreeable. V-day lonelyhearts may want to show up: drum and bass crowds in this town skew toward male, and frequently hot. With the Dowlz, Olcyrus, MC Dre, and the Specialist. War Room, 9 p.m. $10
Vermillion.Violet + Avant Bachelor Auction + IV Clown Show
The headliners for this show, a benefit for the financially beleaguered venue, is the Dead Science playing Prince covers, a draw so many ways we’ve lost count. Gallery 1412, 8 p.m. $5–$15
