In a city overrun with bland, Americana-humping beardos, the Numbs stands out like a platinum obelisk in the forest. Former U member Jeff Johnson is the Numbs; in July, he’s releasing the People cassette, whose Black Dice–like, fun-house-mirrored rock makes you feel like you’ve just gulped a magic-mushroom Slurpee. Powered by dumbfounding, oblong rhythms and saturated in toxically inorganic textures of mysterious origin, this music transports you to a sinister, tropical space where few dare to venture. (Cairo, 507 E Mercer St, 453-4077, 8 pm, $5, all ages)

Dave Segal is a journalist and DJ living in Seattle. He has been writing about music since 1983. His stuff has appeared in Gale Research’s literary criticism series of reference books, Creem (when...