The Stranger

(MUSIC) Ethan Miller's main gig is howlin' and rainin' six-string blows for Comets on Fire, whose music conjures images of their moniker. But with Howlin' Rain, Miller eases back into more acidic and spacious country-rock jams, and mutes his vocal bombast to a gritty Gregg Allman–esque warmth. Aided by Sunburned Hand of the Man drummer John Moloney and bassist/banjoist Ian Gradek, Howlin' Rain are white boys with soul and a knack for transcendentally aching melodies. Holy shit, indeed. (Sunset, 5433 Ballard Ave, 784-0627. 9 pm, $7, 21+.) by Dave Segal

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(MUSIC) The MVPs of British hiphop join forces to storm the states. Lady Sovereign's short, pissed, and funny as shit, and her Vertically Challenged EP showcases her sizeable talent most impressively. Meanwhile, the Streets' Mike Skinner continues to evolve at lightning speed: The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living is the Streets' richest work yet, setting Skinner's celebrated lyrics among the best music of his career. (The Showbox,1426 First Ave, ticketswest.com. 8 pm, $18 adv/$20 DOS, 21+.) by David Schmader

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(SIFF FILM) For the love of God, do not attend this awesome film if you cannot afford it, unless you want to end up like several of this movie's subjects: dead. Don't let the documentary tag fool you—this is a horror film, about the rapaciousness of credit-card companies, banks, and collection agencies, and the destruction they cause in the lives of regular families made vulnerable by the simple vicissitudes of life and the complicity of senators and presidents. Be afraid. (Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, 324-9996. 6:45 pm, $10.) by Jen Graves

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(MUSIC) It's an unfortunate reality that the mere mention of Daryl and John's surnames produces snickers and recitations of the chorus from "Maneater." They've been reduced to an '80s punch line, but the reality is that their white-boy soul fusions were built with some exceptionally strong pop songwriting skills. Do yourself a favor, go listen to "Rich Girl" with fresh ears and hear it for yourself. (Paramount, 911 Pine St, 292-0888. 8 pm, $37–$67, all ages.) by Hannah Levin

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(Fourthcity LAPTOP BATTLE Search) Laptop Battles are the antithesis of the stoic starefests that define most PowerBook performances. The atmosphere is raucous (crowd noise helps determine the outcomes of the battles) and participants flaunt their most flamboyantly exciting material in three-minute blasts, using a variety of styles, surprising dynamics, and showmanship. Tonight Seattle and Portland producers KJ Sawka, Electrosect, Bird, Paul Edwards, KFO, SciFiSoul, and nine others enter the digital fray in order to wow you and advance to the national championship. (Chop Suey, 1325 E Madison St, 324-8000. 9 pm, $8, 21+.) by Dave Segal

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(SHOWCASE) NWNW is the small-plate performance festival of the year, with a little theater, a little dance, and a little video. This year's menu includes the avant-comedy duo the Cody Rivers Show, a sensitive zombie character, a fictional aging country star named Betty Crump, and dancers from Vancouver to Idaho. (On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. 5 and 8 pm, $14. See www.ontheboards.org for full schedule, through June 18.) by Brendan Kiley

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(READING) He went from being the high-powered New Yorker fiction editor to being a "slave" in a Mario Batali restaurant. His previous book, Among the Thugs, about hardcore soccer hooligans, is a nonfiction classic; this new one is called Heat, and it begins with an epigraph by George Orwell, which begins: "A human being is primarily a bag for putting food into." (Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. 7:30 pm, free.) by Christopher Frizzelle

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