THURSDAY 5/11

RUN RUN RUN, BATUM SHRAG, HOT ROLLERS
(Crocodile) I always thought of shoegaze as cock rock for those sensitive art-school types I crushed on in high school. Something about aggro guitars mixed with dreamy melodies just devastated me. If I was still a mopey teenager with dyed black hair, I'd definitely be in love with the guys from Run Run Run, who do the droney, atmospheric, My Bloody Valentine thing pretty well, spotlighting shoegaze's fondness for psychedelia (think Sgt. Pepper's–era Beatles). That '60s influence carries over into RRR's live show, which features a bitchin', strobe-enhanced light show (frontman Xander Smith doubles as a lighting engineer at House of Blues). Cross your fingers that this show's set list includes their cover of Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You." MAYA KROTH

GOLDFRAPP
(Showbox) Glam rock and disco share more than just a fondness for glitter eye shadow; both also favor histrionic musical gestures and relentless, foot-stomping beats. Supernature, the latest Goldfrapp album, brilliantly plays up those points of intersection, whipping up electro-rock tunes like "Ride a White Horse" and "Lovely 2 C U" that marry the surging energy of the Sweet and T. Rex to icy detachment à la "I Feel Love." However, what petite vocalist Alison Goldfrapp possesses in vocal prowess, she lacks in stature—which is why the Showbox, with its higher stage, is a superior venue for them rather than someplace more intimate. KURT B. REIGHLEY

HARD MONEY SAINTS, BULLET CLUB, RAIN CITY SHWILLERS
(Funhouse) Judging by only their name, I wrongly wrote off Bullet Club as being a wanna-be Epitaph-circa-1994 punk act. A moment of curiosity, though, made me see the light, and actually listen to what they sound like, which is far from the insulting genre into which I immediately lumped them. They're really heavy and play up the dirty and low side of their garage influences, but the guitars are more innovative than just a few overdistorted chords, often running circles around the bass and giving nods to a more math-inspired sound reminiscent of acts like another underrated local group, the Ruby Doe, or even Fugazi. It's my favorite kind of punk rock—dirty and loud, but a lot less boring than that repetitive shit I listened to when I was 15. MEGAN SELING

SPOOK THE HORSE, THE HEAVY HEARTS, THE FEMURS
(High Dive) Seattle's the Femurs do nothing to hide the fact that they're blatantly ripping off, uh, no wait, I mean inspired by the Ramones when crafting their harmony-heavy punk songs. Their creative approach, however, saves them from being another ignorable copycat group. Instead of plugging in their guitars and brushing their hair into their eyes, Rob and Colin Femur take turns playing drums and acoustic guitar, and beat out their punk ditties with a charming simplicity. They're a combination of beach-party poppiness à la the Queers and goofy songwriting like They Might Be Giants, but with enough of that classic punk-rock edge to keep you from feeling like a complete sissy when you catch yourself humming their tunes on the walk to work. MEGAN SELING

FRIDAY 5/12

DEPT OF ENERGY, THE KINGDOM, WATER KILL THE SUN
(Comet) It's a lovely thing when a band knows when to stop working on a song. Too often an artist will start crafting the piece and eventually drown it to a painful death, larding it with layers of atmospheric nonsense, unnecessary melodies, and weird electro sounds that have nothing to do with anything. It's one thing to be lush and lively; it's another to be overbearing and impossible. Water Kill the Sun understand when enough is enough, and they take care to keep their slightly electronic-flavored indie rock on the gentle and clean side. It's warm and inviting, it's plush enough to have life, but nothing's dying under the weight of too much noise. It's pretty. It's sharp. MEGAN SELING

CLOUD CULT, DAYLIGHT BASEMENT
(Crocodile) Cloud Cult's fourth album, Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus, starts with "Intro," an enticing mélange of obese hiphop beats, rusty-metallic guitar textures, ominous orchestral touches, and quirky electronic embroidery. Then it segues into the next tune, which contains a sample of Average White Band's deathless "Schoolboy Crush" (see also Eric B. & Rakim's "Microphone Fiend"). Then CC leader Craig Minowa starts whining, and the spell is broken. Sadly, Minowa's intrusive voice sometimes mars CC's creative instrumentation. Luckily, he's well versed in classic funk breaks and favors healthy slatherings of distortion on his guitars and keyboards. Despite occasionally mawkish vocal melodies and inane twee-rock tics, Cloud Cult bust out enough piquant tone warpage and head-nodding beats to keep gagging at bay. DAVE SEGAL

THE AQUABATS, STREETLIGHT MANIFESTO, NO TRIGGER
(El Corazón) You know that camp song, the one that never ends? "This is the song that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friends!" The Aquabats are the band equivalent to that song. Annoying to many, but childishly charming to some. And, like the song, they never really end. The 'Bats have kept up their ska-playing superhero act for about a decade now, surprisingly, and through all the trends and music-biz ups and downs, they've stayed on course, fighting off villains and assaulting their enamored fans with flying vegetables at live shows. You love them or you hate them—either way, the Aquabats remain true to themselves. "Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was, but they continued singing it forever just because..." MEGAN SELING

THE STARLIGHT MINTS, DIOS MALOS
(Neumo's) For reasons that escape me, normally astute Stranger contributor Grant Brissey chose to slam Dios Malos last time they came through town. We all make mistakes (hell, I once walked out of a Drive Like Jehu show before I knew what was good for me), but damn, dude. That band's sophomore release was one of last year's hidden treasures, evoking the Beach Boys' latent gift for casting darker subject matter against a sunlit backdrop of sterling pop harmonics, but with a stoner-jam twist that made it all their own. What's more, I've never heard a band reflect the genius of George Harrison's stunning 1970 album All Things Must Pass with as much grace and guts as these California kids. Brissey: I love you, man, but you were way off base. Meet me tonight at the bar, say seven Hail Marys, and I might buy you a cocktail. HANNAH LEVIN

THE ELEPHANTS, RUSTON MIRE, STUPORHERO, MONOSTEREO
(Sunset) With its buzzing, single-line synthesizer hooks, handclaps, and the occasional xylophone flourish, the Elephants' "Oh Tina" ("Oh Tina, you've got ideas/Swimming behind your eyes") ensnared my heart upon first hearing. Ditto for the perky "Humans Extinct," a great song about how much better off earth will be once Homo sapiens finally renders the planet completely uninhabitable (i.e., in the next couple years). This Tacoma indie three-piece put out an awfully eclectic sound for such a small ensemble, but they never let the creative instrumentation upstage their catchy melodies and humbly heartfelt singing. Their self-titled 2005 debut features a slew of swell tunes, but the band is even better live, where the infusion of sweat and nervous energy imparts an extra frisson of excitement. They join their fuzzy-pop purveying peers in Stuporhero, who are celebrating the release of their new CD, It Would Be Nice to Wake Up. KURT B. REIGHLEY

SATURDAY 5/13

MUTE MATH, THE LISTENING, UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GIANTS
(Crocodile) See preview.

ROSIE THOMAS
(Triple Door) If comedians Sarah Silverman and Amy Sedaris opted to forsake their hetero ways, shacked up, had a turkey-baster baby, and sent the kid to an artsy band camp every summer, that child would probably grow up to be much like funny-girl songwriter Rosie Thomas. Sub Pop's femme and frisky counterpart to the equally talented but markedly crabbier comedians in their stable (I'm looking at you, David Cross) is touring in support of If Songs Could Be Held, her third release for the label and a lovely showcase for Thomas's softer pop-sweetened side. Whether she's pulling the wool over the eyes of Pitchfork (tricking the website into printing reports that she was carrying Sufjan Stevens's baby) or smoothing her brightly hued vocals over Ed Harcourt's smoky rasp (as she does on the duet "Let It Be Me"), Thomas wields a goofy genius that's grounded in her fearless delivery and wry wit. HANNAH LEVIN

SUNDAY 5/14

FACEDOWNINSHIT, ORDER OF THE VULTURE, DIESTO, THE KEPT
(El Corazón) Facedowninshit blend slow-rolling metal riffs with primal shrieks, like Rudimentary Peni's Nick Blinko fronting the Stoner Witch–era Melvins. Live, the trio's thick guitar tone overpowers Jason Crumer's vocals, by design. "Some people complain, but believe me, they would prefer that to the shows where I've been too loud," he says. "In the studio, I'm just screaming. I get super drunk first, so I don't feel stupid when I start going 'arrgh' in front of my friends." It takes time to decipher Crumer's lyrics through the sonic haze, but the phrase "nothing positive, only negative" (also the title of the band's latest release) appears 18 times during one song, ensuring even earplugged listeners can grasp the words in time to join the nihilistic chant-along. ANDREW MILLER

MONDAY 5/15

RIKETS, BEHOLD THE ROLLING THUNDER!, TRIUMPH OF GNOMES, ELPHABA, ROCKET ATTACK
(El Corazón) For an ostentatiously evil industrial outfit, Rikets lure members that are more nomadic than satanic. Just a four-song EP (Anything for the Devil) into their career, this sextet boast an impressive "formerly featuring former members of" roster. One-time Pro-Pain percussionist Eric Mathews and erstwhile Genitorturers drummer Angel rank among the recently departed, alongside ringers from Switched and Chimaira. Rikets no longer qualify as a pseudo-supergroup, but as long as they remain committed to an aggressive sound (hard-pulsing beats, clattering riffs) and abrasive attitude (sample T-shirt slogan: "Buy Guns, Do Drugs, Kill People, Fuck You"), fans won't mind a little personnel shuffling. Live, Rikets attract new followers—and possibly future bandmates—with smart covers (Joan Jett, Pantera), sinister black-metal costumes, and sugar fights. ANDREW MILLER

ROBBIE FULKS AND DANNY BARNES
(Tractor) See Border Radio.

TUESDAY 5/16

A-TRAK (KANYE WEST'S DJ), THE RUB (MASHUP KINGS), FOURCOLORZACK
(Chop Suey) See preview and Data Breaker.

GEORGE CLINTON AND PARLIAMENT-FUNKADELIC
(Showbox) See preview and Stranger Suggests.

WEDNESDAY 5/17

PUNGENT STENCH, BLESSING THE HOGS, BOWELS OUT
(El Corazón) Marilyn Manson remains unwelcome in Colorado, where some citizens claim his lyrics corrupted the Columbine gunmen. However, Pungent Stench's members could walk untrammeled down the streets of Denver, despite having gleefully recreated the massacre with their tasteless tune "School's Out Forever." The Geto Boys rapped vividly about mistreating money-hungry women, but only Pungent Stench had the misogynistic ingenuity to fill a gutted gold digger with coins, thus creating "My Horny Little Piggy Bank." Hailing from Vienna, Austria, Pungent Stench spin mainstream music's most taboo material into something unfathomably repugnant. Their cannibalistic, necrophiliac protagonists have engaged in every imaginable appalling act during the trio's 18-year career. By contrast, the group's musical approach is relatively subtle, with dense sludgy grooves slowing their metallic attack like tar on the gears of a death machine. ANDREW MILLER

MORE

THE (INTERNATIONAL) NOISE CONSPIRACY, THE FEVER, GUESTS: Fri May 19, El Corazón

SMOKING POPES, LOVEDRUG: Mon May 22, Crocodile

SICK OF IT ALL, STRETCH ARM STRONG, FIRST BLOOD, THE VOWS: Tues May 23, El Corazón

MOGWAI, EARTH: Tues May 23, Showbox

THE NEW AMSTERDAMS, THE LASHES, THE LOOK: Tues May 23, Neumo's

THE THERMALS, SIRENS SISTER, SIBERIAN: Thurs May 25, Crocodile

CONSTANTINES, CHAD VANGAALEN, MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND: Fri May 26, Crocodile

CHAMPION, OUTBREAK, THE ANSWER, SINKING SHIPS, ALLEGIANCE: Sat May 27, El Corazón

MINISTRY, REVOLTING COCKS, PITBULL DAYCARE: Sun May 28, Showbox

ALKALINE TRIO, THE LAWRENCE ARMS, THE DRAFT: Tues May 30, Showbox

THE BOY LEAST LIKELY TO, THE BICYCLES: Wed May 31, Chop Suey

PELICAN, MONO, TARENTEL: Sat June 3, Neumo's

HE IS LEGEND, THE FALL OF TROY, SHOWBREAD, CLASSIC CASE: Fri June 9, El Corazón

KOOL KEITH, TASH OF THA ALKAHOLIKS, PIRATE SYGNL: Sun Jun 11, Chop Suey

BUILT TO SPILL: Tues–Thurs June 13–15, Showbox