DUBSTEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Bassdrop bring you more of that heavy-as-hell dubstep whomp-bam-crack that has the neighbors fearing for control of their bowels and the integrity of their domiciles. Delivering the aural pugilism tonight are Dirty Byrdz (Hexidecibel and Shiver), NoiseMaker (Joshua Hale), and Buoyant Brain. Baltic Room, 9 pm, free before 11 pm/$2 after, 21+.
OPEN MIKE EAGLE'S UNAPOLOGETIC ART RAP
When you title your album Unapologetic Art Rap, as Los Angeles's Open Mike Eagle has done, you obviously, unambiguously state where you stand on the hiphop continuum. And dude proudly waves his verbose-nerd flag, as have done some other Mush Records artists (e.g., DoseOne, Busdriver). Thankfully, for some, OME's flow goes down much easier than those brainy motormouths'. He spits conversationally but authoritatively with adroit polysyllabic cleverness: "Whoever wins this art rap battle gets a lifetime supply of hummus" and "I promise the status quo will never be my friend" are but two memorable lines among many. The production matches the lyrical heat with imaginative twists on the head-nodding funk that's been backpack rap's foundation since the mid '90s. The subtext of every track is a condemnation of stupidity and derivativeness, but not at the expense of sonic excitement. With Redd Foxx, Los Feo Faces, Julie C, Greg & Jerome, 3Ninjas, and Tangentbot. Chop Suey, 8 pm, $7, 21+.
ANALOG-SYNTH FREAK-OUT IN BELLTOWN
Three of Seattle's finest exponents of analog-synth sorcery gather for this intimate showcase at the Rendezvous. Brain Fruit have morphed from kraut-rock acolytes into expansive explorers of abstract electronic composition. It's a transition they've made smoothly and rewardingly, often evoking the pastoral, gently euphoric mid-'70s work of Cluster. Harpoon Pole Vault (aka Jason E. Anderson, boss of the Gift Tapes label, who also plays in Brother Raven) sets his controls for the heart of the stun, finding fruitful tones between the best new-age composers and maverick synthesists of the '80s. HPV has done his homework and consequently has produced some A+ material of his own. Panabrite (aka Norm Chambers) continues his prolific output of greatness with Infinite Pulsation, a cassette release on Digitalis that's already sold out, which could stand as a description of his stratospheric, mesmerizing music. Luckily, you can sample many of Panabrite's phantasmagorical creations on his Bandcamp page (www.panabrite.bandcamp.com). Rendezvous, 10 pm, $5, 21+.
