Tonight, two titans of left-field indie rock, Calvin Johnson and Ian Svenonius, debut their new bands for Seattle. Chain and the Gang are another round of radical funk and soul power from Svenonius, the former Make Up frontman, although more musically minimal than that project—often just a loose bass line and a beat, but with just as absurdist-political lyrics. Their debut, Down with Liberty... Up with Chains!, is his finest album in years. Johnson's the Hive Dwellers feature the same players as Chain and the Gang, including former Saturday Knights guitarist/organist Brian Weber. (The Vera Project, Seattle Center, 956-8372. 7:30 pm, $9/$8 with club card, all ages.)