Last year's Seattle Regional Laptop Battle started off in seemingly innocuous fashion. Local producer/drummer extraordinaire KJ Sawka was pitted against Portland's relatively unknown SciFiSol in the night's first heat, and it was a foregone conclusion that Sawka would be one of the last battlers standing. He surprised no one with his drum-centric set, dipping quickly into the frenetic drum programming that tends to win favor at these events. SciFiSol, on the other hand, went with a rarity, relying on melody and more-traditional song progression with her time slot. The judges defied expectation (and a crowd filled with Sawka supporters) by choosing SciFiSol to progress into the next round. With the first battle of the night, the judges lost the crowd, and a barrage of boos and glares let them know.

While the rest of the evening found more agreement, that decision remains a point of contention—I know since I was one of the judges. This year's regional will no doubt have its own share of drama—thankfully—as a new crop of contenders duke it out for both the night's prizes and a chance to compete in the national finals.

The laptop battles started in 2003, placing pairs of producers against one another, with three-minute time slots to impress both the audience and a panel of judges. While there are no rules prohibiting them from playing a prerecorded set, most contestants use a program like Ableton Live to layer sounds and loops, giving them the flexibility to adjust their performances on the fly. Yes, it's all pretty geeky, but it's managed to expand nationwide from its Seattle roots. And what makes the laptop battles so interesting isn't the music as much as the entire spectacle of the event, a playful attitude that lightens up the often-too-serious world of electronic music. The visual eye candy is always top-notch, and some of the performers get plenty animated. (Ever seen someone headbang to their own mouse clicking?) Stand by the judges' booth and you'll notice them getting obliterated from free booze sent their way as "bribes." Watch the competitors and you'll see them playfully tossing around predictions of their adversaries' imminent demise. KFO, last year's regional runner-up, has already gotten things started in that regard. "I am back to destroy you all, again and again," he boasts. "My sound will jack your face."

The Seattle Regional Laptop Battle takes place Thurs May 3 at Chop Suey, 9 pm, $10, 21+. For more info, visit laptopbattle.com.

Get Out!

FRIDAY MAY 4

DJ Assault
It's been a decade since the release of DJ Assault's ghettotech classic "Ass-N-Titties," and while booty-centric music has come in and out of favor multiple times since then, the track continues to gain fans. It's all but guaranteed that Assault will drop it with this visit to Seattle, and once again the crowd will go wild. CHAC Lower Level, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0521, 10 pm, $5, 21+.

Naha & M'Château
Naha has been infamous for years for her acceptably abrasive sets, while M'Château is usually known for his taste in more jazzed-up fare. Somehow the two of them are playing together, and it'll be interesting to see whether M'Château's smooth grooves take on a more glass-chewing edge or Naha's hardcore settles into a softer direction. There's also the potential that neither will happen, and the music will progress in completely schizophrenic fashion, which would be entertaining in its own right. ToST, 513 N 36th St, 547-0240, 9 pm, free.

George Acosta
The copy for this show mentions that trance is here to stay, which is true whether it makes you want to break out the glow sticks or pound your head into a wall. For followers of trance, there are few names that warrant a bigger reaction than George Acosta's, who's worked his way up from the Miami underground to international stardom, a respectable feat regardless of your thoughts on his genre of choice. Club Heaven, 172 S Washington St, 622-1863, 9 pm—2 am, $10 before 11 pm/$15 after, 21+.

SATURDAY MAY 5

DJ Menami, Recess
DJs in restaurants are usually hit or miss, with the energy level too high to enjoy a relaxed meal but too low to consider the place a true destination. Regardless, Nijo gets closer to a true party vibe than other spots that make similar attempts, with a readily accessible bar and space to accommodate a small number of dancers. If you're looking to avoid much of the Cinco de Mayo insanity and still get out, Nijo might be just what you're looking for, with sake replacing the occasion's usual margaritas. Nijo Sushi, 83 Spring St, 340-8880, 10 pm—2 am, free.

TUESDAY MAY 8

Bizzart
Los Angeles's Bizzart marks a departure for Fourthcity's weekly Stop Biting. While Bizzart still uses sampled instrumentation, the beepy electronic tones and a wordy, Kool Keith—ish nasal flow of tracks like "Stumbling Blocks" and "Liquid Beast" are on the more experimental side of hiphop than the jazzier fare usually on showcase. Lo_Fi Performance Gallery, 429 Eastlake Ave E, 254-2824, 10 pm—2 am, $4, 21+.

FoscilFoscil have polished their live act significantly since their 2005 eponymous debut. While the group has always been able to translate their brand of instrumental downtempo/hiphop live, recent years have seen their performances reach their current point, effectively riding the line between analog and digital. Baltic Room, 1207 Pine St, 625-4444, 10 pm—2 am, $6, 21+.