Thanks to the dense, dazzling lyrics of Craig Finn, the Hold Steady remain music's premier chroniclers of the adult urge for transcendence, be it through drugs or rock or God. Thanks to the brilliant shtick of Eddie Argos, Art Brut remain a band about a band making music about making music. Tonight these two wordy and theatrical bands take the stage at the UW, for what should be the smartest and funniest rock show of the year. (HUB Ballroom, UW campus, ticketmaster.com. 7 pm, $22, all ages.) DAVID SCHMADER