Shellac frontman Steve Albini is one of those sharp-witted curmudgeons who's always seemed older than his years. Now he's nearly 47, and it doesn't seem odd that he still cranks out Mensa-level tough-guy rock that's as tense as a Mexican standoff. Shellac—which also includes drummer Todd Trainer and bassist Bob Weston—has wrenched out five riveting albums of immaculately analog-recorded dissonance and white-knuckled dynamics. Go for the tightly executed molten rock; stay for the barbed between-song witticisms. (Vera Project, Seattle Center, 956-8372. 7:30 pm, $13/$12 with club card, all ages.)