Wednesday 6/8

Noise for the Needy: Brendan Perry, Robin Guthrie

(Neumos) England's 4AD label has inspired some of the most devout fans in the history of fandom. So the pairing on this tour of Dead Can Dance's Brendan Perry and Cocteau Twins' Robin Guthrie should make some sensitive hearts explode with glee. Blessed with a rich, deep voice of Sinatra-esque timbre, Perry guided Dead Can Dance through several elegant albums of musical archeology imbued with passionate goth romanticism of the utmost gravity. He and partner Lisa Gerrard animated ancient musics from around the world with impeccable poise and skill. Guthrie turned Cocteau Twins into one of the most glorious exemplars of the "sonic cathedral" aesthetic; they took Phil Spector to church, and many worshiped at their stained-glass wall of sound. The Twins' high-trajectory shoegaze lullabies still sound outstanding. Perry will likely play material from the recent album of dramatic, alabaster ballads, Ark, and Guthrie from his new collection, Emeralds, which renders the CT sound in quasi-new-age watercolors. DAVE SEGAL

Arpeggiator, Gazebo of Destruction, An Invitation to Love

(Funhouse) Tacoma duo Arpeggiator make more noise than some foursomes can pull off. Armed with only a guitar and drums, bandmates Ben Wheeler and Jason Cox take their name to the nth level, constructing dizzying instrumental songs out of fluttering scales and riffs. Rough mixes of their new material show a more dynamic side than their previous handful of songs (listen at www.arpeggiator.bandcamp.com)—instead of seemingly trying to play as many notes as possible in the span of a second, they take time to breathe (and let listeners catch their breath as well). Witnessing them live will leave you wondering what kind of bionic arm surgery guitarist Wheeler had or what superpower he acquired as a child. It's just not natural to play that well that fast. MEGAN SELING

Damien Jurado, the Russian Avant-Garde

(Triple Door) Every year the Triple Door hosts a SIFF screening with live musical scoring. Past years have featured Kinski, the Maldives, No Age, and the Album Leaf. This year finds Damien Jurado scoring four shorts by the Russian-born Dimitri Kirsanoff, who moved to Paris and became part of the French avant-garde film movement of the 1920s. On a somewhat related note, Jurado's latest, Saint Bartlett, is a stunning record. GRANT BRISSEY

THREAT: Jabon, Noisepoetnobody, Eric Ostrowski

(Mercury) Jabon—aka Scott Colburn—makes his living as one of the region's most respected audio engineers, producing recordings for Animal Collective, Sun City Girls, Arcade Fire, and many others. On the side, Colburn creates very strange music, what he calls "Dark Ambient Avant Garde Disco Comedy." That peculiar combination of styles comes to vividly perverse life in his performances, in which he wears a wizard's robe and dances flamboyantly amid fog-machine emissions to his warped synthesizer symphonies and demented dance tracks. Notable local drone composer Noisepoetnobody (aka Casey Jones) recently recorded an LP for Butoh dance called The River. It's an idiosyncratic, minimalist work executed on analog and modular synths that radiates enigmatic fibrillations and watery evocations, complementing the dancers' fraught, baffling moves. DAVE SEGAL

Thursday 6/9

Omar Souleyman, Kinski

(Neumos) Most Americans' knowledge of Syrian music is nil, but if you need to get your ears wet with that troubled nation's culture, you could do worse than Omar Souleyman. Thanks to the acumen of Seattle's Sublime Frequencies label, Souleyman's profile has risen substantially in the West. As heard on collections such as Jazeera Nights, Dabke 2020, and Highway to Hassake, Souleyman synthesizes myriad Arabic, Turkish, and Kurdish styles into a rough, exhilarating species of folk-dance music. He charismatically exhorts and wails overtures to (potential) lovers in Arabic over marauding up-tempo beats and febrile, melismatic bleats from keyboards and bouzouk (a long-necked lute). This is exhilarating, dynamic, deeply soulful stuff whose default setting is primarily "fever pitch." DAVE SEGAL

Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Therapies Son

(Triple Door) On The Snake, Wildbirds & Peacedrums delivered a bracing set of arty world pop, electrified by Mariam Wallentin's bravura Laura Nyro–meets–Patti Smith emoting and husband Andreas Werliin's diverse, exotic percussion. It was filled with quirkiness that didn't grate—a rare feat. The more recent Rivers refines the duo's polyglot global music while encompassing what sound like ancient Latin hymns for that solemn, very old-school beauty, thanks to the 12-person Schola Cantorum Reykjavik Chamber Choir. W&P excel live to a much greater extent than they do on record, so prepare thyself for an engrossing spectacle. DAVE SEGAL

Friday 6/10

Paul Van Dyk

(Showbox Sodo) See Data Breaker, page 59.

Dave Aju, Ctrl_Alt_Dlt, Albert, Murdoc., t.shade

(Re-bar) See Data Breaker.

Plastician, Sigma

(iMusic) See Data Breaker.

Pharoahe Monch, Scribes, TH3RD

(Crocodile) See My Philosophy.

"The Rolling Stones," Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive to Death, Brute Heart

(Comet) The sheer gall of calling your Rolling Stones tribute band "The Rolling Stones" is admirable. From all reports, "The Rolling Stones" convincingly replicate the boozy, raunchy, ramshackle glory that the Stones captured on early-'70s masterpieces like Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street. Toast your "Loving Cup" to Justin Deary, Tyler Swan, Devin Welch, Jordan Blilie, Chava Mirel, and Nat Sahlstrom before Mick & Keef's legal team starts sniffing around. DAVE SEGAL

Noise for the Needy: The Builders and the Butchers, Ravenna Woods, Yuni in Taxco

(Tractor) Noise for the Needy—the annual multidate, multishow benefit—is upon us again. This year, proceeds go to the wholly worthy Real Change. Tonight's headliners, Portland's the Builders and the Butchers, are a close but far superior cousin to the Decemberists. Strip away that band's pretense and Colin Meloy's nasal squawk, add some salt and a galvanic live show, and you're getting warm. Second up tonight are Ravenna Woods, who construct a brawny, acoustic folk-ish racket from much harder roots. GRANT BRISSEY

Grand Hallway, Campfire OK, Gold Leaves

(Neumos) Facebook is a godsend for folks who forget birthdays, but social networks also have a terrible flattening-out effect. Typing "sorry" in a comment field upon learning of a loved one's loss isn't as rich an emotional experience as writing and mailing a condolence card. So while it might seem perverse for Grand Hallway to release an album titled Winter Creatures just as summer is finally making some headway in Seattle, it makes sense in the grand scheme of things: Throughout this nine-song set, the local orchestral ensemble ruminates on big topics like birth and death. Whether pushing back against despair ("Oh Yes [Stay Alive My Dear]") or marveling at new life ("Roscoe [What a Gift]"), they illuminate the small details of monumental events with fluid piano passages, finger-picked acoustic guitar, judicious strings, and hushed vocal harmonies. Much lovelier than just clicking the "like" button. KURT B. REIGHLEY

Orange Goblin, the Gates of Slumber, Naam, Brokaw, Witchburn

(Studio Seven) Load up the bong, bro. It's time to take a trip into the fucked-up minds of a legendary, oft-overlooked stoner-rock band. Orange Goblin ain't your average feedback-drenched dirge fest, though; the UK band twists elements of blues, punk, and classic rock alongside crushing sludge metal to concoct a truly heady mix. Grown from a similar strain, the Gates of Slumber have been holding the torch of doom high by releasing one of the heaviest, sleaziest nugs of the year, The Wretch. Whoever said weed makes you lazy has obviously never met these dudes, as their total of 15 releases (since 2000) provides as strong an argument for legalization as any. KEVIN DIERS

Noise for the Needy: Kelli Schaefer, Hobosexual, Youth Rescue Mission, Lizzie Huffman

(Conor Byrne) There's a reason Hobosexual are a current favorite among Seattle music fans and bloggers. Utilizing a little from all the loudest, most energetic columns—punk, garage, good ol' snotty rock and roll—their music is fun, a little messy (in a good "who gives a shit about being perfect" way, not in a "we don't know how to play the guitar, but fuck all" way) and loud. To boost their coolness even more, Hobosexual announced their latest venture a couple months ago—Hobosexual action figures—complete with changeable accessories. Because who wants to buy one more ill-fitting band T-shirt? MEGAN SELING

Saturday 6/11

Aesop Rock, Kimya Dawson

(Neumos) See Stranger Suggests.

Lazy Susan, Kasey Anderson and the Honkies, Star Anna

(Tractor) I first learned about Kasey Anderson through Twitter (@KaseyAnderson), where he dispenses acrid wit like medicine to hardened souls who desperately need strong dosages of sardonicism to get through the day—and night. Yeah, yeah, but how's his music? Well, it's not going to dazzle you with innovation, but Kasey Anderson and the Honkies' Heart of a Dog contains solid, Rolling Stones–y blues rock—think louche Exile on Main Street–era looseness—executed with utter conviction and, as you'd expect, cutting, jaundice-toned lyrics about love and life. Even if you don't dig the man's songs (you coldhearted bastard), you should follow his astute observations on the Twittersphere, where he malevolently rules. DAVE SEGAL

Noise for the Needy: Akimbo, Wildildlife, Black Queen, Princess, Vultures 2012, Smooth Sailing, Whiskey Tango, What What Now, DJs Blazon Stone and Nik C

(Underground Events Center) Experiencing music in the Underground Events Center is like seeing a show in the greatest basement in the world. In the intimate, windowless space, there's a bar (should you need some liquid encouragement to get in the mosh pit), there are murals and graffiti, refurbished old booths, mirrors lining the walls—it looks like the type of space that would be put together as a "punk bar" for a teen movie. You'll feel like a movie star while you're there! But with tonight's lineup, the music is guaranteed to be way better than anything Hollywood could come up with. Seattle Rock Guy copresents this Noise for the Needy lineup of local rock veterans Akimbo and intense newbies Princess, so you know it'll be fast, noisy, and heavy. MEGAN SELING

Sleepy Eyes of Death, Metal Chocolates, Nightmare Fortress

(Chop Suey) Why Seattle hasn't built a giant Metal Chocolates bandwagon and piled onto it is just shit-ball crazy. Even hiphop dilettantes can see/hear that fans of MF Doom oddness or Kool Keith eccentricity could latch on to OC Notes' superbly backward-constructed beats and loops, and Rik Rude's hazy, fluent vocal work—if only through an appreciation of the uncommon. To these ears, the jazz-conscious material is a pleasant complement to the more commercial output of Rude's other, more-oft-discussed outfit, Fresh Espresso. GRANT BRISSEY

Sunday 6/12

Grand Hallway

(Sonic Boom Capitol Hill, 4 pm) See Friday and Underage.

Monday 6/13

Forbidden, Revocation, White Wizard, Havok, Sword of Judgement, Fallen Angels

(Studio Seven) The recent thrash-metal revival has its pros and cons. On the one hand, who doesn't like Slayer? On the other hand, there's the lackluster nostalgia of bands like Trivium and the less-than-crucial reunions, like tonight's comeback tour for Bay Area technical speed-metal demons Forbidden. And occupying the gray area between respecting one's longhaired elders and reanimating a denim-jacketed corpse is Revocation. The Boston band's hyperkinetic deluges make multiple nods to classic thrash-metal bands like Exodus, but also incorporate some of the more technically warped aspects of jazz-metal kings Cynic. Their blend of by-the-throat aggression and music-theory studiousness yields uneven results. Sometimes the old-school elements keep the group grounded; sometimes it feels like they keep the band from reaching dizzying new heights. BRIAN COOK

Tuesday 6/14

Meet me at the club.