THURSDAY 6/3
THE BETHURUM COLLECTIVE, TRICK DECK
(Chop Suey) The Bethurum Collective combines new forms of music (ambient electronica, drum 'n' bass, hiphop) with traditional genres (jazz, classical). The local collective is composed of a turntablist (JaCedo), a jazz bassist (Evan Flory-Barnes), a vocalist (Didi), and a keyboardist (Benjamin, who heads the group and has made three solo CDs, one of which, Ubiquity, was released a year ago). Lush and baroque, Benjamin's music is best described as a score without a movie. Particularly on Ubiquity, we hear the background for an A-list Hollywood star falling in love, or discovering an important piece of evidence, or clinging from the ledge of a skyscraper. CHARLES MUDEDE

AMERICAN SHERIFF, BRIAN KENNY FRESNO, GUESTS
(Sunset) J. P. Hasson (AKA Pleaseeasaur) is so diligent about moving his work forward, I sometimes wonder if he's actually a bionic cyborg and not a flesh-and-blood Homo sapiens. In addition to Pleaseeasaur's forthcoming West Coast tour with Guns N' Roses refugee Buckethead and a Midwest run with antihero comedian Neil Hamburger, Hasson has launched a new side project called American Sheriff with Plastiq Phantom mastermind Darrin Weiner. Tonight's undoubtedly hilarious debut will reveal what exactly this self-described "country-rap" outfit involves, but with song titles like "Please Put Your Hands Up," "Farming for the Funk," and "Walker Texas Ranger Is Not a Real Cop," I have every confidence that Hasson will once again stupefy with his ability to pull off incredibly goofy, gleeful performances without a hint of self-consciousness. HANNAH LEVIN



FRIDAY 6/4
JESSE SYKES AND THE SWEET HEREAFTER, LARRY BARRETT
(Tractor) See Drunk by Noon, page 53.

MCLUSKY, OCEANSIZE, THE STANDARD
(Crocodile) See preview, page 40.

BIRDS OF PREY, SPIDeRBITeS, STRT SPRX
(2nd Avenue Pizza) See preview, page 37.

UNITED STATE OF ELECTRONICA, AQUEDUCT, DJ PANCE
(Department of Safety, Anacortes) Aqueduct, the pet project of nasal-voiced teddy bear David Terry, throws simple but disparate pop melodies together within the framework of single songs. Although Terry & Co. aren't nearly as dexterous or bookish as likeminded oddballs the Dismemberment Plan or as sappy as, say, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, they're going for the same gold. And it works, especially on herky-jerky epics like "Assignment #1: Heart Design," the unstoppable opener to last year's Power Ballads. "And it must be a sign/That my heart is my own design," Terry sings over ascending synths and rudimentary click tracks. That hit makes my heart soar every time--I put it on repeat, friends. If you're thinking about showing up fashionably late, think again. JOAN HILLER

GAS HUFFER, PLASTER, THE BUG NASTIES
(Graceland) I will avoid any "they haven't run out of gas" quips, or saying that keeping a band together with all original members for 15 years is "nothing to huff at." Such obvious gags would betray the sly smarts these punk heroes have always displayed. Oh sure, Tom Price treats his guitar like the tipsy uncle "tickling" his nephew at the family picnic; Don Blackstone bashes his bass like a ventriloquist thoroughly fed up with his puppet's wise-ass comments; drummer (and Stranger artsy fart) Joe Newton's bony knees hit the cymbals with nearly the authority of his sticks; and singer Matt Wright possesses the most awesomely goofiest knee-slap showboating ever--all of which has remained such a welcome antidote to the predominantly doomy alt rock that comes from the Northwest. No, rather I should mention that, well, surely... oh the hell with it. The only thing screwier than Gas Huffer is the fact that well into their "Maybe I'll buy a Corvette and cheat on my wife" years, they're still making monkeyshines most bands can't fathom. And with a new album near done, a track on the latest Kill Rock Stars comp, Track & Field, and this anniversary soiree, it would seem (drum roll) they haven't run out of gas! (Rim shot.) ERIC DAVIDSON

VELVET REVOLVER
(Moore) What do you get when you take three parts Guns N' Roses (Slash, Duff McKagan, and drummer Matt Sorum), one part Stone Temple Pilots (terminal rehab patient Scott Weiland), and add a guitarist from Dave Navarro's band (Dave Kushner)? If Velvet Revolver's debut CD is any indication, the result is not quite a train wreck, but rather the B-side of the hedonistic glitter-grunge days of latter STP. And by "B-side" I don't mean rarities, I mean the forgettable, press-fast-forward-between-the-hits tracks. Even with the hints of Slash's once-powerful guitar work threaded through a couple of songs, this patent-leather-slick album is the product of one of those supergroups that only does well until people actually hear what they sound like. JENNIFER MAERZ

REPLICATOR, THE BUILDING PRESS, HIJACK THE DISCO, VALOR'S MINION
(Old Fire House) In the world of math rock, the music of local trio the Building Press is infused with more beautiful melodies than most, with songs that shift like a river constantly rerouted on its course. At times that path is subject to sudden outbursts from both guitars and stream-of-consciousness vocals, jolting the listener to attention; the mostly instrumental work is a complex thread of instruments. JENNIFER MAERZ

J MASCIS, OLD GHOST, GUESTS
(Showbox) In case you haven't heard J Mascis & the Fog, fear not, because his post-Dinosaur Jr. project is damn good. (Though his last CD, Free, So, Free was less engaging than his exuberant, squalling debut, More Light, which featured guests such as Guided by Voices' Bob Pollard and My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields.) Tonight's show, however, will be an acoustic event, so you can safely leave your ear protection at home. Dang. Good for the hearing, but bad for those of us who look forward to Mascis' famous stacks of Marshall amps. KATHLEEN WILSON



SATURDAY 6/5

MISSION OF BURMA, KINSKI
(Neumo's) See preview, page 37.

THE SPITs, FUNCTIONAL BLACKOUTS, THE CLOROX GIRLS, THE DEAD VAMPIRES
(Hideaway) See Live Wire, page 47.

HOMAGE TO CATATONIA RELEASE PARTY: DAVID NICHOLS, SEX WITH GIRLS, THE RESCUE PARTY, THE WILD HAIRS, READINGS BY MCRAE FREEMAN
(Rush's, Bremerton) See Underage, page 61.

DEVENDRA BANHART, JOANNA NEWSOM, VETIVER
(Crocodile) Remember the first time you heard Victoria Williams or Björk? How you wanted to either drive ice picks into your ears, or race through the streets, telling everyone of the magical fairy you'd found living under the mulberry bush? That's Joanna Newsom. On her debut CD, The Milk-Eyed Mender, the Californian's one-of-a-kind singing voice creaks with wisdom, then squeals with delight; lyrically, her vocabulary and cadences call to mind lighter Shakespearean dialogue. Oh, and she accompanies herself on a harp. That's right: a harp. On which she composes and plays in a style that draws on Senegalese and Celtic traditions, as well as Western classic ones, filtered through a passion for bluegrass and Appalachian music. How this magical creature hid a harp under the mulberry bush so long is a mystery, but the discovery of this wondrous spirit is cause for much merry-making. See also preview, page 38. KURT B. REIGHLEY

AMY RIGBY
(Triple Door) Formerly of the Shams, Amy Rigby caught ears as a solo artist with her songs on Diary of a Mod Housewife about being a thirtysomething homemaker, and in 2003 she released another great album of storytelling titled Till the Wheels Fall Off. Both records showcase her ability to make tuneful use of regular-day events and heartfelt observations, like that on her duet with John Wesley Harding about the crappy, routine incidents of marriage, "Beer & Kisses," and on "Are We Ever Gonna Have Sex Again?" Rigby is a rare talent, always funny even when she's singing about uncomfortable, but universal, topics. She's just great. KATHLEEN WILSON

SUNSET'S FOUR-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
(Sunset) Tonight the Sunset is planning a grand-slam anniversary party/birthday bash for Geminis. Headlining the event are the Makers, who recently pulled drummer Jim Chandler--freed from the clasp of the Cramps--back into the ranks. Also on the bill are America UK, a band I've yet to hear, with members of the Supersuckers, Shuggie, and Huge Spacebird; and Scott McCaughey. JENNIFER MAERZ

KULTUR SHOCK, QUASI NADA
(Chop Suey) In a city that's not quite heralded for its international population, Kultur Shock bring multi-culti flavor to the local hard rock scene. This show is the release for their newest album, Kultura-Dictatura, one that lets the chunky edges of Balkan folk, metal, and jazz bump against one another, remaining unmelted in a Gypsy stew that's won the band a strong following across Europe. JENNIFER MAERZ



SUNDAY 6/6
THRONES, THE REPLICATORS, DOVE
(Fun House) See preview, page 43.

NEBULA, LOCAL H, WINNEBAGO DEAL, THE JET CITY FIX, NEW AMERICAN STANDARD
(Graceland) Local H, that wild band that still believes in grunge, returns with a new album called Whatever Happened to P. J. Soles?, a tribute to the star most memorable for her roles as the Ramones-loving teenager in Rock 'n' Roll High School and the soldier who gets the spatula treatment from Bill Murray as she sits on the stove in Stripes. This new record is light on grunge and heavy on pure rock, and no matter what the sound, any Local H live show is an astounding blowout, especially given the copious amounts of booze that singer Scott Lucas downs during the set. KATHLEEN WILSON



MONDAY 6/7
Step into my office. You're fired.



TUESDAY 6/8
franz ferdinand, oxford collapse
(Showbox) See Stranger Suggest, page 23.

LAHAR, A TASTE FOR MURDER, THE ASSAILANT, STOP AT NOTHING, A REASON FOR LIVING
(Paradox) The last time I saw the Assailant there were 20 people crowded in the back of 2nd Avenue Pizza to see them play with Akimbo. But time ran short, so they played at the same time. Drum kits were set up head-to-head, guitarists crammed in around the jumble, and frontmen did their best to escape without injury (but were unsuccessful since Dick Rhee, the Assailant's frontman, busted open his eyebrow and bled all over his shirt within 15 seconds of the first song) while the crowd laughed and spazzed out and loved every hilarious and insane minute. A Reason for Living is a newish local straight-edge outfit that consists of boys who used to be in bands like 14 Days of Terror and Problem with Heroes. Ryan Murphy drums, and he alone has been in about 8,000 bands (like Undertow and Ten Yard Fight). They might be good, but I can't say because I still haven't heard them. You'd think they'd hook me up with a demo or something, right? Yeah. You'd think. MEGAN SELING



WEDNESDAY 6/9
LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES

(Neumo's) Perhaps now more than ever, we can use this Venezuelan sextet's palliative, polyrhythmic party music. Los Amigos Invisibles peddle smooth, sunshiny Latin (duh) house, kitsched-up lounge funk, and broken beat that persuade you to bust your goofiest dance moves. They're supporting the new Masters at Work-produced The Venezuelan Zinga Son, Vol. 1 (Luaka Bop), which brings more melody and rhythmic grace into their cosmopolitan dance cocktails; it's their best album yet. LAI's breezy, tropical music only makes sense during warm weather and in times when things don't feel so damned apocalyptic. But maybe these footloose South Americans can ease our troubled minds for at least one night. DAVE SEGAL

XOXOXO, SCREAM CLUB, DJ PACO, DJ FUCKING IN THE STREETS, DJ KENDRA
(Chop Suey) Olympia's lightning-tongued dance commandos Scream Club are an act that you need to see, like, now. This pair of female emcees isn't your typical basement hiphop act: They sling salacious rhymes, making the pubic public in a Riot Grrrl meets R&B manner, and their live shows permeate the invisible wall between performer and crowd as much as quick wit permeates their humor. While you wait for their debut to be released this summer, check out these ladies live--especially at a night like Revolver, which aims to turn live shows into vibrant dance parties by surrounding band performances with great DJs. JENNIFER MAERZ