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