AKRON/FAMILY, DELICATE STEVE
Akron/Family's latest, S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT, manages to meld full-stop rancor, immersive ambience, and stoner desert rock—it's one of those records that's best enjoyed in one fell swoop, preferably somewhere comfortable with A-grade headphones on. It'll be interesting to see how S/T II translates live, but I have no doubt it will impress. Neumos, 8 pm, $12.
PUGFEST 2011
While admission to this show is free, donations are strongly encouraged, with all proceeds going to Seattle Pug Rescue. As anyone who's seen those interminably sad Sarah McLachlan commercials knows, homeless domesticated animals are depressing. Lights from Space, the Freehands, and Photon Pharaoh are here to help. Faire Gallery, 9 pm, donations encouraged.
MORE MAGMA FEST ACTION WITH TIT PIG, ETC.
For the 10th show of Hollow Earth Radio's annual Magma Festival, the Ballard Mine hosts Partman Parthorse, Mountainss, Night Shirt, Man Rockwell, Pocket Panda, DJ Ingebling, and the unlikely pairing of Tit Pig with precious, irrepressible popsters Witch Gardens. Witch Gardens are hardcore insofar as they survived a brutal car wreck and played a show later that same evening; Tit Pig are hardcore in sound, philosophy, and action, as I witnessed firsthand at a winter concert of theirs where beer cans ricocheted around the room like mortar shells. Ballard Mine, 6 pm, $10–$20.
WILD ORCHID CHILDREN, ORBS, STRONG KILLINGS, GLADIATORS EAT FIRE
If Wild Orchid Children were a bio-organic machine (instead of six musically gifted, 'shroom-munching psychedelic warriors), they would have two settings: "mind-blowing" and "face-melting." El Corazón, 7 pm, $8.
