The Stranger

The lineup reads like Eleanor Lambert's wet dream: Dina Martina, Jackie Hell, Sylvia O'Stayformore, and more. With those Tater Tots in charge, the entire population of Seattle might wake up the next morning in a magical land where the streets are made of polyester and everyone sings show tunes. All that's certain is this: Something great will happen at Trannyshack and a sweaty dance party will follow, with DJ Baby J. (Chop Suey, 1325 E Madison St, 324-8000. 9:30 pm, $8, 21+.) by Ari Spool

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Pigeage à pied is the age-old winemaking technique whereby barefoot youths climb into a vat of ripened grapes and squish the fruit to render its juice for fermenting. For 14 years, Isaac Brock has used a similar process with Modest Mouse, cramming musical influences through the cracked filter of his imagination and stomping heavily. The band's most recent vintage, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, is best left uncorked. (Paramount, 911 Pine St, 467-5510. 8 pm, $32.50, all ages.) by Jonathan Zwickel

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Exactly two years ago in this paper, I called Chinatown the greatest film of all time. I meant to say: except for The Third Man. Vertiginous expressionism, European accents, kinky intrigue, the Ferris wheel scene, Joseph Cotten, Trevor Howard, the kitty at Orson Welles's feet, ORSON WELLES!!!—just a few highlights from the Carol Reed and Graham Greene masterpiece that yields new pleasures every time you see it. WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT? (Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935. 7 and 9 pm, $5—$8.) by Sean Nelson

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One shouldn't appreciate Ted Leo just for his badass guitar playing and knack for writing passionate and intelligent pop songs that'll make you think and dance. You've also got to admire a man who can pull off a bright-pink T-shirt with white jeans and still look completely hot and not gay in the least (not that there's anything wrong with that). See preview, page 39. (Showbox, 1426 First Ave, 628-3151. 8 pm, $15, all ages.) by Megan Seling

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Born at Seattle's Intiman Theatre, The Light in the Piazza—based on the classic novella by Elizabeth Spencer—returns for a two-week stint at the Paramount after taking Broadway by storm. Adam Guettel's lush score and Bartlett Sher's ace direction won the Tonys, but it's Craig Lucas's exquisitely crafted book that gives the show its magical traction. If you think there are no new love stories to be told, you must see The Light in the Piazza. (Paramount, 911 Pine St. 7:30 pm, $25—$72.) by David Schmader

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Part of the fun of watching Xiu Xiu is imagining that singer Jamie Stewart could break down sobbing at any moment. But the band's ill-medicated, bipolar pop swings from hesitant joy to abject grief with surprisingly little melodrama. Stewart's wounded, whispering vocals are cushioned by carefully controlled atmospheres and highlighted by unlikely song structures. His lyrics find emotional extremes in both the mundane and the surreal. Live, Stewart's energy is balanced by Caralee McElroy's cool presence on keys as well as Ches Smith's nimble drumming. (Neumo's, 925 E Pike St, 709-9467. 8 pm, $10, all ages.) by Eric Grandy

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