Block Party Schedule here. Printable map and schedule here.

It's that time of year again. Time to get baked (in the sun, of course), and to spend up to 24 hours on the streets of Capitol Hill experiencing the brighter months' most exciting music event. Because, really, what says summer more than a (mostly) outdoor music festival featuring a veritable petri dish of NW talent?

Per usual, the Capitol Hill Block Party spikes the punch with all sorts of tasty flavors. Pop lovers can sample from the electro, Britpop, and power-pop genres; rock fanatics can snack on everything from math rock, prog, garage, indie, hardcore, and punk to heavy metal; while hiphop heads and alt-country types can sample a bit of their respective preferences, along with a handful of acts that fit under no simple label by choice.

Most exciting for futuristic music aficionados, however, is the brand spankin' new Decibel Festival Electronic Music Stage, which previews the local fall festival with tons of talented DJs and artists. This year's Block Party allows you to take in four stages and more than 60 acts, giving you a whole new perspective on what's happening with our local music scene.

But wait, there's more! The Stranger will challenge your hand-vibrator coordination with our celebrity dildo ring toss! 107.7 the End dunks your favorite local personalities in a tank of questionable tliquid! And there are multiple vendors of the food, retail, and activist varieties! Plus: Local politicians! Multiple beer gardens! Calendar editor Megan Seling look-alike sightings!

All this and your 12 bucks will be well spent, with part of the ticket sales benefiting Home Alive and the Vera Project.

See you in the sunshine, punk. —JENNIFER MAERZ

The Capitol Hill Block Party is Sat July 30, 11:30 am–2 am, and Sun July 31, 1 pm–2 am, at the corner of Pine St. and 11th Ave. Tickets are $12 adv.

Advance Tickets available at Ticketswest Outlets at Seattle Area QFC stores and Rudy's Barbershops, or you can find an outlet near you at http://ticketswest.wchc.com

Download the Block Party Schedule and Map here.

RAZREZ
One of the most exciting bands to emerge from Seattle in recent memory, Razrez play sexy, jumpy, nervous, post-punk in a Wire-y, Killing Joke-y vein. Their performances won't allow you to stand still, as they also display a strong appreciation for the showmanship of old-school glam theatrics. (Sat 12:15–1 pm)

KUMA
Kuma's moody, melodic, electronic-based rock picks up on such past favorites as Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Sugarcubes, and Joy Division. Tight drumming, fervent guitar work, and artful samples and soundscapes nestle beside breathy-to-banshee female vocals. Plus, they are all lava hot. Jump out of bed, run a comb through your hair, and get going early for this one. (Sat 1:30–2:15 pm)

3 INCHES OF BLOOD
This crimson flood toured with the Darkness, play like rock soured after '85, and run rampant in a world populated by pirates, bikers, and skate punks. Vancouver's 3 Inches of Blood are totally solid, old-school heavy metal—sac-constricting falsettos, the ferocious growls of God's unruliest indigestion, and guitar riffs galloping their way to Armageddon. With a two-man, double-testosterone front leading the vocal charge, these monster Maiden fans are among the cream of the NW crop. (Sat 2:45–3:45 pm)

THE THERMALS
Forged in the fires of Portland indie rock, this savage young three-piece puts the power back in power trio without sacrificing one iota of the brainy tweeness that makes the NW what it is. After making two records for Sub Pop and intrepidly touring the world, the Thermals have one of the crackin'est live shows around. (Sat 4:15–5:15 pm)

SUPERSUCKERS
Like the Space Needle, three seasons of rain, and consummate beer consumption, the Supersuckers are a Seattle institution—not in a calcified way, but in a form that personifies the whiplash between mental hospital and infirmary. Eddie Spaghetti and company play punk and country with equal power, probably because the two genres aren't so dissimilar. Both deal with everyday concerns rooted in a certain defiance and sorrow (sometimes expressed as fly-the-middle-finger-flag anger). In the Supersuckers' hands it's all a fantastically fun, raved-up blur. (Sat 5:45–6:45 pm)

BLUE SCHOLARS
Seattle's progressive hiphop duo—MC Geologic and DJ Sabzi—have been insanely busy touring the club circuit and showcasing their self-titled debut. It's no wonder they're in such high demand: Each half of the pair is ultra-talented. Together, they're an entrancing powerhouse. Geologic's poetic, often political lyrics (most of which reflect Seattle's urban landscape) layer perfectly over Sabzi's eclectic mix of Latin guitars, vintage LP samples, and drums. (Sat 7:15–8 pm)

THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Not long ago, these guys were all over TV, selling millions of records around the globe. Now they're back to doing what they did before they all that: making classic party rock with absurd lyrics and hooks for days. If you can't enjoy the Presidents for what they are, you're at least a little dead inside. (Sat 8:30–10 pm)

POST STARDOM DEPRESSION
Like the 3:00 a.m. call you can't help but answer, Post Stardom Depression's urgently sexual music is undeniable. Jeff Angell—a raspy-throated devil who adds a roughed-up, razor's edge to songs littered with libidinous lyrics—fronts the melodically dark, texturally rich hard rock band. (Sun 2–2:45 pm)

BAND OF HORSES
Horses? Hoses? Hosings? By the sound of their mp3s, these Sub Pop signees are poised for a major breakthrough no matter what they call themselves. Fronted by former Carissa's Wierd members Ben Bridwell and Mat Brooke, Band of Horses play high, lonesome Americana dampened by reverb guitar and laced with bittersweet, road-weary lyrics, as if Will Oldham was fronting In a Priest Driven Ambulance–era Flaming Lips. (Sun 3:15–4 pm)

MOUNTAIN CON
Mountain Con are sticky like flypaper at a bug convention, absorbing influences that range from hiphop to pop to country, causing fans to tag the band with an eclectic mix of newfangled phraseology, from hick-hop to rural funk. Everything they touch, though, still ends up pop by the end, as Mountain Con use classic hooks to snare the kids into crowding the dance floor. (Sun 4:30–5:30 pm)

THESE ARMS ARE SNAKES
Every time you attempt to guess in which direction These Arms Are Snakes are heading, they switch course, leaving marks on everything from space-, prog- and math-rock to post-hardcore and back. Some of their songs take winding tangents down wonderfully sinister experiments in feedback and distorted vocals, while others maintain a tight, angular course. Their agility with styles only adds further dimension to this incredibly compelling act. (Sun 6–6:45 pm)

The GOSSIP
There are those bands who don't take well to the outdoors, but anyone who saw the Gossip set fire to the main stage a few years back will tell you that there's no better way to see this energetic act than at the Block Party. After a recent health scare, singer/force of nature Beth Ditto is back in full-throat throttle, ready to show Seattle what a little Arkansas heat really feels like. Do not, under any circumstances, miss this show. (Sun 7:15–8 pm)

BUIlT TO SPILL
Doug Martsch is one of those indie-rock mainstays whose amazingly discursive and gorgeous guitar parts are sometimes taken for granted—although they really shouldn't be. His songs are equal parts melodic glory and winding guitar excursions. The band has a new album coming out this fall, which they will be highlighting on their upcoming West Coast jaunt. (Sun 8:30–10 pm)

KINGSLEY
Something of a supergroup (if former members of Hammerbox and Sanford Arms qualify) this local band represents a return to the rock for ex-Hammerbox/Orbiter guitarist Harris Thurmond, whose skill on the instrument remains unrivaled. Slightly spacey, defiantly pop, and very pleasing, Kingsley might be a bit MOR alongside some of the more outré Block Party offerings, but don't let that stop you from taking a look. They're worth it. (Sat 4:15–5 pm)

MOC MOC
What happens after years of mama turning on the easy-listening station and then sitting you down to demand "the other kids your age have manners; now behave"? Well, Moc Moc. The sextet uses distorted wails of guitars, the jazz complaints of a solo trumpet, rambunctious drums, gritty vocals, and dual female incantations to fuse infectious anthems and witch-doctor jams that make you happy to be drunk and keep you wide awake for another round. (Sat 5:15—6 pm)

SICK BEES
Sick Bees play with a squalid/squalor quality to everything they do. A cantankerous mash-up of near-metal guitars, stumbling and thundering drums, and growly, shouted vocals have moments of transcendent, Lora Logic dissonance/brilliance. (Sat 6:30-–7:15 pm)

STABMASTER ARSON
The band that puts the white back in tighty-whities, Stabmaster Arson make surprisingly good punky dance music, often while dressed only in underpants. As shticks go, you could do a lot worse, especially when it's goddamn summertime. That name, by the way, comes from Chris Rock's CB4. (Sat 7:45–8:30 pm)

PLEASURECRAFT
Pleasurecraft don't want you to let your late-night melancholy keep you on the couch. Backed by perfect-posture beats, the foursome crafts warm-blooded electro pop layered with indie sensibilities. My Young and Kirk Bentley work their synths into blissful spires and dark dance-scapes while guitarists Bryan Manzo and Patrick Partington keep the spaceship on the ground with melodic rock interjections and capable vocals. The result is a Brit-meets-Berlin sound that makes you wanna part your hair and your feet. (Sat 9–9:45 pm)

NO-FI SOUL REBELLION
Now that lots of young indie kids are incorporating ecstatic dance textures into their rock music, bands like NFSR are really multiplying like rabbits. This Bellingham duo (a frontman and his "soul system"–sporting wife, who "plays" a very converted MP3 player) owe just as much to Modest Mouse as Prince, however, and live they are total spazzes in an infectiously celebratory way. (Sat 10:15–11 pm)

BULLION BROTHERS
The latest noisy offshoot from the prolific Pretty Girls Make Graves camp is a highly promising funeral pyre of J Clark's propulsive, sharp drumming, Derek Fudesco's slinky, aggressive bass playing, the uniquely absorbing vocals of former Hint Hint frontman Peter Quirk, and a cool gloss of Gary Newman-esque synth lines that each member contributes. Recommended for fans of experimental indie rock that drifts, distorts, and drones without being directionless or drab. (Sat 11:30 pm–12:15 am)

CHUCK YAY-GRR!
Part musical theater, part oddball rock act, Chuck Yay-Grr! channel more than a bit of the B-52s. They ride short waves of surf punk and alt country and coo with harmonies meant to soothe the boozy excitement their frontman exudes like Tarzan hollering half hungover from the vines. (Sat 12:45–1:30 am)

HENRY HANKS
Not quite country, but not just rock, this band features the impressive dual-guitar work of Pat Kearney (Automaton) and Jason Guyer (Juno). Smart and stirring, Henry Hanks is a multilayered project that lingers longingly in the valley of the shadow of Wilco—a change up from the heavily rock-centric acts dominating this stage. (Sun 6–6:45 pm)

NEW FANGS
These awesome Seattle garage punks make good on their claim to set fire to the amplifier, tensing tracks into agitated coils that strike hot every chorus—and when we say hot, we mean as in Hot Snakes (RIP), mixed with a bit of the Fall's terse delivery (both vocally and rhythmically). When New Fangs kick in the extra chants, the songs simply blaze with energy. (Sun 7:15–8 pm)

THE RUBY DOE
The most exciting elements of math rock, metal, and punk come together in this, one of the city's best and hardest working bands. Despite bearing unmistakable traces of all these more strident forms, the Ruby Doe's music remains catchy and accessible, which is just one more testament to their excellence. They may still be largely unsung, but they're sure to play one of the best shows of the day. (Sun 8:30–9:15 pm)

THE CRUTCHES
They got tired of calling themselves New Mexicans, so these melodic math rockers changed their moniker and continued with their game, adding Colin Roper (ex–Cobra High) to the lineup. The Crutches stir up strong gales of instrumental force, breaking into that intensity with flexible vocal work that shifts between brusque, repetitive lines and haunting choruses. Although there's plenty of muscle to their songs, the Crutches conversely perfect calmer squalls of sound to lace through all that brawn. (Sun 9:45–10:30 pm)

THE VILLAGE GREEN
Brit pop in our own backyard! Portland's the Village Green make noisy rock heavy on the Blur, Kula Shaker, and (duh) Kinks influences. Songs like "Under the Covers" are delivered with a Liam Gallagher sneer, but don't let that scare you, as the quartet exude plenty of non-assholic charm on stoner-pop tracks like "Get Up, Get Out, Get High" and "Wrap My Love Around It." This rock outfit is like an early Supergrass armed with arena-ready confidence. (Sun 11–11:45 pm)

BOSS MARTIANS
Little Steven gave them a plug on his Underground Garage radio show. Rolling Stone's David Fricke anointed them "rising stars." Local power-pop/garage-rock boys Boss Martians definitely are in possession of some impressive lucky charms, mixing Elvis Costello/Big Star infatuations with blue-eyed soul and Sonics panache. (Sun 12:15–1:15 am)

LEVI FULLER AND THE LIBRARY
You know the dream where you walk off the edge of a cliff, fall hundreds of feet, and float safely to the desert floor? This is the soundtrack to that mental film. When Levi Fuller isn't lending his bassist's fingers to the Luna Moth, he's obsessing about crows and singing with meditative intimacy on his blues-tinged side project with friends the Library, who bring sandy percussion and atmospheric keys to the trembling lo-fi delight. (Sat 12–12:40 pm)

MIKAELA'S FIEND
Their bio claims they "rule with wailing futuristic yet broken-sounding guitar and metal drums," but Mikaela's Fiend do so much more than that. They attack that creatively cluttered sonic landscape with a youthful fervor that makes for tumultuous fun and sounds as enthusiastic as fuck. (Sat 1–1:40 pm)

MON FRERE
It's only fitting that these guys are playing at the same Block Party as the Gossip, a band that so clearly inspires them. It'll also be a great chance for people to see just how much more Mon Frere has going for them than superficial similarities to that better-known group. The latter's punky songs are dosed with pop and jazz influences, and they're bursting with raw talent and energy. (Sat 2–2:40 pm)

THE LONG RANGER
A family affair, the Long Ranger has as its core siblings Ted and Sylvia Chen. Together with guitarist Seth Thomas, they re-imagine the '00s as the '80s all over again, crafting neon-hued, lite 'n' glossy electro pop with drum-machine beats and disco desires. (Sat 3–3:40 pm)

FANKICK!
Seattle's beloved dance duo returns to the Block Party to deliver yet more of their crowd-pleasing, historically correct '80s dance performance, complete with spangled sweatshirts, warmed legs, and a glossy, glossy soundtrack. They're burning up—burning up for your love. (Sat 4–4:40 pm)

YAPHET KOTTO
Two spastic guitars and dueling throat-clenching vocals can make quite a mess, but underground screamo legends Yaphet Kotto aren't about to take their boots off at the door. This is chaotic, passionate, emotionally charged hardcore (one member takes to "crying" his vocals at times) that alternates between pile-driving, melodic thrash, and introspective, disconsolate instrumental interludes. The Santa Cruz outfit offers politically relevant, intelligent (and mostly intelligible) lyrics, but with all the shouting, you may have to watch out for flying lungs. (Sat 5–5:40 pm)

THE FALL OF TROY
The Fall of Troy inventively re-write rock's old rules with spastic vocals that have a tendency to explode into a thrashing shark attack. The insane guitar licks are more metal than math rock, but they hold the same mind-blowing "holy fuckin' shit!"quality. The Fall of Troy's new record is set for release August 16, and they'll no doubt be peppering today's set with the new material. (Sat 6–6:40 pm)

PARTMAN PARTHORSE
Inspired by equal parts A.R.E. Weapons and the Bee Gees, these electro-trash artists aim to add a low drone to their tribal percussion and stream-of-consciousness, early–Lou Reed–like punk vocals. Guitars and bass add a slightly angular edge to Partman Parthorse's overall aesthetic. (Sat 7–7:40 pm)

SATURDAY KNIGHTS
What other local act so flawlessly blends elements of girl groups, soul songs, indie rock, garage punk, and slick skits all in the name of massive party-time hiphop? Seattle's sample-happy Saturday Knights amass styles like a playa collects booty calls, displaying a dizzying sum of influences that pump your head, hips, and heart rate. (Sat 8–8:40 pm)

IQU
IQU's ebullient electro pop is perfumed with the scent of Japanese cherry blossoms and summer picnics next to American AM radios. The internationally praised duo of Michiko Swiggs and Kento Oiwa include drummer William Goldsmith (Sunny Day Real Estate) in 2005, further rounding out their electronic-to-live dynamics while maintaining the group's craving for creating dance confections. (Sat 9–9:40 pm)

RACETRACK
If any band has the power to restore your faith in the indie-style power trio, in smart-sweet-sad pop songs that bend hell to fit all the syllables they can into a line, it's Racetrack, Bellingham's best and brightest. There was a time when this kind of music was the default setting for Northwest rock bands. Racetrack is a brilliant reminder of how hard it is to do it right. (Sun 1–1:45 pm)

31 KNOTS
31 Knots' convulsive, keenly orchestrated prog punk dives into explosive layers of pulsating guitar, jilted vocals, and moments of overwhelming noise. Walking away after their set (which you won't be lame enough to miss), you'll wonder if it's the music or the heat stroke making your head spin. (Sun 2–2:40 pm)

MARY TIMONY
The former Helium frontwoman has recently reupped her interest in urgent, rocking songcraft. Timony is one of the unsung giants of indie music, quietly plugging away year after year, never releasing anything that wasn't worth hearing. Her latest, Ex Hex, is no different, and her show today is a rare chance to see this dusky-voiced veteran outside a smoky club. (Sun 3–3:45 pm)

THE STEREO FUTURE
The Stereo Future want the fame, so they're keeping a solid foot in today's pop land, with lighthearted guitar detailing and lyrics that coyly reference passé VH1 hits. But have no fear, music snobs—this four-piece's decidedly indie brand of poptimism features smart arrangements, lively drumming, spacious electronic arpeggiators, and handclaps, when the spirit moves. Ted Chen and Seth Thomas—on bass and guitar, respectively—also serve up short stacks of crisp vocal harmonies that scale as well to the band's reflective moments as they do to their generous big-surf outbursts. (Sun 4–4:40 pm)

CRYSTAL SKULLS
A Seattle band that does everything right, Crystal Skulls merge spare, thoughtful indie rock with the pop hooks that make people remember the songs and want to hear them again. This group has grown up fast, garnering comparisons to Spoon and Minus the Bear and becoming a prominent fixture on KEXP and local club stages. (Sun 5–5:45 pm)

AQUEDUCT
Armed with self-effacing humor and wry tales of romance, Aqueduct create sparkling electro pop that has soared from the streets of Seattle to the WB channel, where the band punctuated poignant moments on some of the teen network's more popular shows. Black humor meets golden melodies in a band that meshes drum machine beats and live instrumentation with lively delivery. (Sun 6–6:40 pm)

AKIMBO
Akimbo's masterfully blistering metal-hardcore hybrid is as uncomfortable and unavoidable as staring at a car wreck. The pounding drumming will stop your heart, the raging vocals will tear through your skull, and the guitar will most likely melt your face, if the afternoon sun hasn't already. (Sun 7–7:40 pm)

DOOMSDAY 1999
Like a flock of rabid termites, Doomsday 1999 waste no time chewing up and spitting out speedy metal riffs—among the maelstrom noise clamoring around those guitars. The vocals aren't so much sung as delivered in the pained shouts of the electrocuted-and-on-their-way-to-hell. Your blood is on their hands. (Sun 8–8:40 pm)

SHOPLIFTING
Mixing up dance-punk rhythms, stuttering guitars, atonal moments, and willfully abrasive lyrics, Shoplifting are the Kill Rock Stars band most likely to remind you of the label's roots. The coed group gender swap lyrics and vocals, and play with the intensity of people trying to slip from every confinement in sight, including their own skins. They have the ability to make you want to undress and fight like hell. (Sun 9–9:45 pm)

M.O.
A native of the Virgin Islands, Maurice "m.O." Jackson moved to California and discovered electronic music through bands like Skinny Puppy and Depeche Mode, which led to him join Bay Area combos Nerve Factor and Deathline International. After moving to Seattle in 2002, m.O. hooked up with v-drum specialist Ryan Bird to form Tekgnosis; both are also part of Numeriklab. m.O. won Seattle's 2005 Laptop Battle not very long after purchasing his first machine. (Sat 11:30 am–12:15 pm)

GREG JASPAN
A weekly residency Friday nights at Triple Door and graveyard shifts at KEXP keep this busy DJ's chops honed and his selections eclectically tasteful, with an emphasis on downtempo funk and techno. Among KEXP programmers, Jaspan stands out (along with Riz) for his dedication to airing unconventional electronic musicians' tracks from the station's voluminous library, even if you're probably snoozing while he does so. (Sat 12:15–1 pm)

PAUL EDWARDS
Besides being the Decibel fest's technology director and booking outstanding international talent (with Greg Skidmore) for his PG Series, this brainy mensch is involved with two brilliant nights in town: Oscillate (Tuesdays at Baltic Room) and Krakt (second Saturday of every month at Re-bar). Edwards can smoothly segue from dubby IDM to minimal tech-house to sternum-caving tekno before you've even finished your first cocktail. And you'll love it all, if you have any sense. (Sat 1–2 pm)

GREG SKIDMORE
Along with Paul Edwards, Skidmore brings in world-class producers and DJs through the auspices of their PG Series. Behind the Technics, Skidmore has earned a rep as the city's foremost authority on esoteric electro and as a connoisseur of quality IDM. In fact, heads have started calling these styles "Skidmore music" due to his absolute mastery of them. All this and the dude just started shaving last year... (Sat 2–3 pm)

KJ SAWKA
For live drum 'n' bass, you can't beat KJ Sawka (rimshot). Seriously, Sawka—who's also drummed for improvisational dance band Siamese—has wowed veteran music-biz types like Santana's Michael Shrieve, jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, and Amon Tobin with his hyperkinetic jungle rhythms that have made many a Roland drum machine envious. You're gonna want to get close to the stage for this set, as Sawka's as much fun to watch as he is to hear. (Sat 3–4 pm)

DJ EDDIE
At almost any crucial electronic-music event in town, you'll find the ageless DJ Eddie either enthusiastically dancing up front or inspiring such gyrating from behind the tables. He's the closest thing Seattle has to a perpetual-motion machine. Eddie's been inducing good vibes in clubs since the Reagan era, bestowing some of the most daring techno and house sets in the 206—proof that inspiration doesn't have to wane after one passes 40. (Sat 4–5 pm)

MORI
Portland duo Brandon Fessler and Taylor Gehrts explore the headier realms of IDM sound design. Minimalists whose work favors acute attention to detail, Mori forge sublime melodies that can please the neo-classical crowd while mapping out intricate beats that'll make you want to grow extra limbs to dance properly to them. Mori's music is chilled to perfection. (Sat 5–6 pm)

KRISTINA CHILDS
A dazzling dynamo in Seattle's underground scene, Childs combines organizational zeal (see her involvement with Decibel, Plasmodium internet radio, and the fab Krakt monthly) with phenomenal mixing skills and excellent selections as a popular tech-house/downtempo DJ. You could say she's the queen of Seattle's electronic-music infrastructure, though you might get slapped for it. (Sat 6–7 pm)

NORDIC SOUL
The busiest man in Seattle techno, Nordic Soul (AKA Sean Horton) is the tireless force behind Decibel and booker of many memorable shows. Fortuitously, Horton's DJing and production skills match his organizational prowess. The Detroit native's nuanced takes on all styles of techno, dubby IDM, hiphop, electro pop, and ambient has enabled him to open for luminaries like Funkstörung, Four Tet, and Derrick May. Horton also provides rhythms for the rising improv quartet Synth Club. (Sat 7–8 pm)

JACOB LONDON
House music's reigning court jesters, Jacob London (Dave Pezzner and Bob Hansen) want to make you piss your pants laughing while you dance. Releasing 12s on world-renowned labels like Classic and U-Freqs, the Seattle duo bring a crazy-angled funk to house's time-honored 4/4 rhythms. Jacob London's tracks are always the jokers in any DJ's set, and that levity is nothing to sneeze at (though if you do, Jacob London will probably sample it). (Sat 8–9 pm)

LUSINE
Lusine (Jeff McIlwain) has been augmenting headspaces worldwide since the late '90s with releases on IDM standard bearers such as Isophlux, U-Cover, and Hymen. His profile has ascended the last couple of years with immaculately sculpted IDM, electro, and techno releases for Ann Arbor's red-hot Ghostly International label (check Serial Hodgepodge for proof). As his much-stamped passport attests, Lusine's a sought-after performer. His performances sparkle with bracingly original slants on whichever genre captures his fancy. (Sat 9–10 pm)

ELECTROSECT
Head of one of Seattle's most adventurous promotion/multimedia companies, Sensory Effect, Electrosect is also a resident performer at the excellent Oscillate weekly. There and elsewhere, Electrosect (Portland transplant Patrick Haenelt) busts out gritty dub, hiphop, and electro compositions on distinctive-looking outboard gear. He may not win any laptop battles, but Electrosect definitely brings a rawer element to live performance. Portland's loss is Seattle's gain. (Sun 1–2 pm)

MISHA
A member of the Hit Girl collective, Misha is involved in production, laptop battling, and DJing at various discerning venues around Seattle. Her superb taste in electro, minimal techno, and tech-house gained her residencies at Aristocrats and Contour (with Jeff Samuel), the latter of which was one of this city's finest techno weeklies while it lasted. Misha has spent most of this decade moving crowds to her sophisticated selections. On the decks, she's Ms. Reliable. (Sun 2–3 pm)

KRIS MOON
Moon blew minds earlier this year with his storming, advanced set of techno while opening for Octave One. The Seattle resident held his own with those Detroit legends and promptly elevated himself to the upper echelon of our city's burgeoning techno empire. A PowerBook–wielding jack of all trades and master of many, Moon has won two Laptop Battles and has organized competitions nationwide as a key member of the Fourthcity collective. (Sun 3–4 pm)

BRANDY WESTMORE
Westmore has spun at more Seattle clubs than you've had lukewarm beers. Her desirability is understandable once you hear Westmore's euphonious, euphoric brand of techno and house. Like a Northwest version of Ellen Allien, she can blend melodic, song-based house with more cutting-edge techno cuts from the Perlon, Poker Flat, and Playhouse stables, and make them flow like a dream conversation between you and that hottie you've had your eye on. (Sun 4–5 pm)

TERSO
Chicago native Terso (Ephraim Alexander) moved to Seattle in 1998 and has been flying the intelligent-jungle flag ever since. Signed to Oakland's Thermal Recordings, Terso produces dark, intriguing strains of drum 'n' bass, techno, and abstract breakbeat. Intricately programmed, Terso's music captures a cinematic expansiveness that should have Hollywood directors ringing his celly in due time. Terso's been spending most of this year working on a drum 'n' bass album for Thermal. (Sun 5–6 pm)

JERRY ABSTRACT
Seattle-via-Detroit DJ/producer Jerry Abstract has come into his own this year with a DJ set in Portland that overshadowed Ellen Allien's, appearances at Detroit's Fuse-In fest, and releases for Germany's Shitkatapult Records. For that company, Abstract generates brilliant slabs of knarz-techno, which sounds like a motorboat speeding through molasses—very rigorously. When he DJs as a resident at Krakt or elsewhere, Abstract delivers radical techno and electro bangers that know no other mode than peak. (Sun 6–7 pm)

CARO
An entertainer extraordinaire and a master technician, Caro (Randy Jones) combines the best traits of freak and geek. While co-running the internationally acclaimed Orac label, Jones spends much time creating idiosyncratic tracks that subvert notions of techno, acid house, disco, and soul. He also sings like a Caucasian Prince, but is much less neurotic. When he's not busy helping make Seattle a world-class electronic-music center, Jones likes to ride little ponies. (Sun 7–8 pm)

CODEBASE
Codebase (producer Tom Butcher) dropped the broad-shouldered techno document Style Encoding in 2003 for Germany's esteemed Force Inc. label. But before he could build any momentum, the company folded. Nevertheless, Codebase continues to hone his sleek, functional dance tracks with the kind of refined talent that landed him releases on Swayzak's 240 Volts imprint. His music hints at the same promising, glittering futurescapes that marked the best of New Order electro and Detroit techno. (Sun 8–9 pm)

OBELUS
The versatile Obelus (Jason Goessl and Adam Pessl) use guitar and drums to trigger an encyclopedic range of electronic sounds for your dancing and pondering pleasure. Seeking to bridge the gap between laptop/DJ aficionados and live-band audiences, Obelus range all over the map—and sometimes shred it. But no matter which mode they employ—ambient, techno, electro, funk, abstract IDM, or experimental soundscaping—Obelus prove themselves to be creators of acutely nuanced textures and rhythms. (Sun 9–10 pm)