Music Festivals, '90s Nostalgia, Platinum-Selling Stars, And More Options For Having The Best September Ever
by Stranger Things To Do Staff
September is officially underway, and has brought with it the last few days of summer, the first days of fall, and plenty of excellent music all around the city. Many of these concerts will sell out, so now is the perfect time to buy tickets for music festivals (starting with Bumbershoot and continuing up through Macefield), musical legends (like The Monkees and Hall & Oates), '90s nostalgia-inducing bands (like Garbage and Blink-182), and platinum-selling stars (including Sia and Drake). Find all of the options that are likely to sell out this month below, and, as always, check out our complete music calendar for absolutely everything happening in Seattle.
SEPT 2
Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa
Experience a whole evening of hiphop and pot-related puns with Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa at White River Amphitheater, along with Kevin Gates, Jhene Aiko, Casey Veggies, and DJ Drama.
SEPT 2-3
Wilco with Joan Shelley
Wilco’s critical acclaim peaked with Summerteeth and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot—albums that elevated the Chicago group from the alt-country poster children of their early years into a zeitgeist of futurist folk music. Yes, the songwriting traditions of Hank and Woody still haunted Jeff Tweedy’s forlorn ballads, but the layered recordings, deconstructed instrumentation, and visionary production techniques stimulated your brain while Tweedy broke your heart. These days, Wilco seem less fixated on using the studio as its own instrument and more focused on being a self-contained band. So while recent albums like The Whole Love and Star Wars might not have the headphone candy of Y2K Wilco, the no-frills recordings capture a band at the height of their abilities. Not surprisingly, the band has never been better on stage. BRIAN COOK
SEPT 2-4
Bumbershoot 2016
Bumbershoot, Seattle's biggest music, comedy, and arts festival, will take over Seattle Center for Labor Day weekend this year for the 46th year. The lineup includes former locals and now big-time stars Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and Death Cab for Cutie, and Stranger Music Editor Dave Segal also recommends non-local acts Kamasi Washington and Reggie Watts. There's also plenty of local talent on the bill, including Erik Blood, Chastity Belt, So Pitted, Lisa Prank, and Maiah Manser. Hot tips: wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated, and make sure to get an Elephant Ear, because when else during the year can you feel good about eating a giant, fried, cinnamon-sugar pastry? See the day-by-day lineup below, and see our complete Bumbershoot calendar for exact showtimes.
Dave Matthews Band
Birkenstock-rock legend and #1 dad bod Dave Matthews performs all three days of Labor Day Weekend at the Gorge for the 25th anniversary of his band.
SEPT 4
Black Uhuru with Onesty
“Everybody want the same thing don’t dey, don’t dey,” runs Black Uhuru’s “Solidarity,” the song that got them onto MTV and from there into living rooms across North America. And as a somewhat-sheltered middle-class teen, I found it easy enough to believe that. At a hippie college, where the DJ with the shift before mine left the song on to play for the segue, it was easy enough to believe that. Now, of course, trying to ignore the hordes swarming for Drumpf, I’m less sure. I’m glad someone still believes it in enough to sing it, though. It’s a deserving sentiment. Black Uhuru don’t have Sly & Robbie slinking through the bass and drum parts anymore, but they should invoke their classic stance. ANDREW HAMLIN
Chris Isaak
Although Chris Isaak's considered by most to be a one-hit wonder for his 1990 mega-hit "Wicked Game," his swoonworthy heartthrob legacy remains for all sexy times. His ultra-smooth rockabilly pop bridges the gap between Elvis Presley and Elvis Costello, as his passionately crooning '50s rock 'n' roll-indebted, seductive vocals are only heightened by his chiseled and muscular James Dean-a-like looks. The soft-porn timelessness of the sex-on-a-beach-filled, smoldering "Wicked Game" video (also censored for airplay) filled a void for soccer moms and grandmas in a pre-Kindle, romance-novel world. Isaak's overtly sensual, fleshly yacht-pop should spark fires in even the squarest of squares. Expect lots of older folks getting tipsy on Pinot noir and making out. BRITTNIE FULLER
Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad)
Mark Farner—the singer, songwriter, and guitar picker who once fronted the mighty Grand Funk Railroad—is due to turn in an all acoustic set at the Triple Door. Whoa! I know an acoustic set seems appropriate for the intimate sit-down scene of that venue, but looking back at Farner’s heavy back catalog of rock-and-roll mayhem—remember he’s said in that #1 single from 1973 he’s always ready to “help you party [your town] down”—I’m super curious how he will translate some of those big Grand Funk hits! He still has his voice and his chops though, so here’s reckoning he will be able to steer the evening directly into the sun. MIKE NIPPER
SEPT 5
Volbeat, Killswitch Engage, Black Wizard
Turning a mash of moshable incongruities into gold-selling records, Denmark's Volbeat have somehow bridged the yawning chasm between hepcats and headbangers. Spiking rockabilly with metal, outlaw country with punk, Volbeat have become one of the more unlikely acts to earn steady rotation on modern hard rock radio... Basically, it's the sound of your more discriminating hesher's iPod on shuffle. JASON BRACELIN
SEPT 6
Bushman’s Revenge, Trimtab, U SCO
For fiery Scandinavian jazz-rock fusion, it doesn’t get much better than Norway’s Bushman’s Revenge. Recording for the prestigious Rune Grammofon label, the trio write songs that sometimes tumultuously throb and careen at other times soar with a grandiloquent poise redolent of peak-era King Crimson. And in a world largely devoid of Sonny Sharrock covers, Bushman’s Revenge also do a righteous version of the innovative guitar hero’s “As We Used to Sing.” At their last Royal Room appearance in 2014, Bushman’s Revenge proved to be the missing link between Mahavishnu Orchestra and Earth circa Pentastar: In the Style of Demons. Can’t wait to hear what they do this time. DAVE SEGAL
SEPT 6-10
Tower of Power
'70s soul and funk icons Tower of Power have been performing for over 40 years. They bring their decades of genre-blending skill to Jazz Alley for four evenings of unparalleled groove and rhythm.
SEPT 7
Subhumans, Kicker, Raukous
If there ever were a night for Jello-ing up your mohawk and spit-shining your combat boots, this is it, ’cause English politico-punk group Subhumans are swinging by, perhaps to incite some… revolution! Subhumans have always been a go-to, entry-level hardcore band and, tho’ they were on and off after splitting in the mid-1980s, they returned in the late ’00s and have been at it ever since. I’m also stoked on openers Raukous, ’cause they play raw, riff-driven early-’80s-style punk. Even if it could be considered a retread to my jaded ears, theirs is an atypical sound relative to contemporary super-heavy and/or “metal” hardcore (or whatever it’s called now). It makes them sound fresh, exciting, and pointed. MIKE NIPPER
SWANS with Baby Dee
While most bands of their vintage long ago folded or lost their vitality, Swans have defied nature by creating some of the most riveting and powerful music of their career 30-plus years into it. Leader Michael Gira’s still in thrall to mantric repetition in epic songs that accrue an intensity that’s both punishing and cathartic. Tonight you’ll hear their maniacal, tightly coiled grandiloquence, as represented on Swans’ last two monumental albums, The Seer and To Be Kind. DAVE SEGAL
SEPT 8
Carrie Underwood, Easton Corbin, Swon Brothers
Country music golden girl Carrie Underwood has a sharpened pop sensibility with the curated style of a flag-waving backcountry woman. She'll be showcasing tracks from Storyteller, her fifth studio album, with supporting acts Easton Corbin and the Swon Brothers.
SEPT 9
Boyce Avenue, Leroy Sanchez, Nick Howard
Boyce Avenue rolls through Seattle on their perpetual world tour, just in time to entertain their millions of YouTube subscribers, along with strident internet celebs and singer-songwriters Leroy Sanchez and Nick Howard.
Hall & Oates with Guests
'80s legends and eternal purveyors of the light-rock-less-talk genre, Daryl Hall and John Oates (of Hall & Oates, natch) perform a set together at the White River Amphitheater, with openers Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.
Michael Shrieve's Spellbinder CD Release Show
Santana’s phenomenal former drummer lives in Seattle and plays out often here, but we’re somehow all blasé about or ignorant of this fact. Yes, Michael Shrieve manned the kit during the Latin-rock masters’ high-flyingest years (1969–1974); respect must be paid. For good measure, he also kept time for Stomu Yamash’ta’s Go, Klaus Schulze, and Dr. Patrick Gleeson, synth guru for Herbie Hancock and Julian Priester. Shrieve is still writing new music with his Spellbinder ensemble, and they’re about to release a self-titled album that melds jazz and funk with vigor and interesting dynamics. Shrieve may be 67 now, but he’s lost none of his rhythmic nimbleness or punch, and his arranging and writing radiate inspiration. Seriously, Carlos needs to hear this… DAVE SEGAL
SEPT 9-11
Chinook Fest Central
Chinook Fest has plenty of music, food, and some of the finest roots rock, blues, Americana, country and folk artists out there. This year spotlights Naomi Wachira, Country Lips, Broken Lights, and many more.
SEPT 10
Hops & Crops
Enjoy everybody's two favorite things (music and drinking) with Hops & Crops, a fundraiser festival that raises money for education programs for the Mary Olson Farm, while showcasing the wares of many local breweries, with live sets by Eldridge Gravy & the Court Supreme, Vaudeville Etiquette, The Cottonwood Cutups, and SPG & the Vices.
Prophets of Rage
Prophets of Rage, comprised of ex-members of Rage Against the Machine, Public Enemy, and Cypress Hill, bring their specific brand of musical anarchy to White River Amphitheatre.
SEPT 13
Coheed and Cambria, Saves The Day, Polyphia
Surviving prog-emo holdouts Coheed and Cambria headline Showbox SoDo along with Saves The Day and Polyphia.
Julian Lage Trio
Despite having just released a solo guitar album, Julian Lage brings the trio back for a performance of jazz guitar-centric standards and new tracks from his latest work.
Juliette Lewis with Guests
Screaming Hollywood banshee Juliette Lewis takes her party thrash rock on the road.
SEPT 14
Bomba Estéreo
The Bogotá, Colombia, quintet Bomba Estéreo—founder/bassist Simón Mejía, singer/chanter Liliana Saumet, drummer Kike Egurrola, guitarist Julian Salazar, and percussionist Diego Cadavid—are a perfect late-model festival band. They play an aggressively catchy mélange of cumbia, reggaeton, dub, electronica, and rock, and the group's hit "Fuego" has the kind of savvy you hear in M.I.A.'s best work. Not coincidentally, "Fuego" has caught on everywhere from MTV Tr3s—the cable network's Latin-music arm—to KEXP, which has pumped the band's 2009 release, Blow Up (on the Nacional label), for over a year. MICHAELANGELO MATOS
Tedeschi Trucks Band with Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers
Twelve-piece tour-de-force Tedeschi Trucks Band joins the power of Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks with a full crew of award-winning guitarists, two belting vocalists, dual drummers, a three-piece horn section, bass, and a multi-instrumentalist keyboard player to present themselves as the vanguard of modern roots music.
SEPT 15
Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires
Known as "The Screaming Eagle of Soul," singer Charles Bradley continues to ascend the charts with his widely praised albums No Time For Dreaming, Victim of Love. and upcoming Changes, and his high-energy band, His Extraordinaires.
Engelbert Humperdinck
Witness Engelbert Humperdinck, a pop culture legend of the 20th century, perform five decades of material rife with romantic ballads, movie theme songs, disco, rock, and gospel.
SEPT 15-18
Karrin Allyson
Enjoy an intimate four-night set with Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist and pianist Karrin Allyson, who will joined by Rod Fleeman on guitar, Randy Porter on piano, and Jeff Johnson on bass.
Somnium Summer Camping & Music Festival 2016
Remember that one summer when you got really high on bad skunk but you thought you'd transcended space and time because you were like 15? Well, Somnium is promising to take you back to that place, or at least to "a time when worry and trouble didn't exist, when you were free to play make-believe because it didn't matter what others thought — you were only limited by your own imagination," with their latest camp-out rave in the forests of Duvall. Enjoy a stacked trance and house line-up of notables like Aaron Jackson, Kayoh, Jetpack Brigade, DJ it me, DJ Flow, Geezus, and many more, along with summer camp-themed activities like a talent show, kickball, and a pong tournament. Get young, get wild, remember to hydrate.
SEPT 16
Drake with Future and Guests
Views, this year's new album from everyone's favorite Canadian rapper/singer/songwriter/producer/actor, has already broken multiple records—including beating those previously set by both Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston for leading the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 simultaneously for the longest amount of time (eight vs. seven weeks). Don't miss this chance to see the rapper of the moment, along with Future and their equally ego'd-up MC crew.
The Legendary Pink Dots with Orbit Service
London synth rockers The Legendary Pink Dots spring back into action at Chop Suey with Orbit Service.
SEPT 17
AMDEF 2016
Bringing together art, music, dance, entertainment, and fashion (the AMDEF of the title), Neumos presents this quarterly variety show, with aerial arts, trivia, prizes, open mics, music, bellydancing, and more.
Blink-182, A Day to Remember, All-American Rejects
Relive your adolescent pop-punk dreams by attending Blink-182 with A Day to Remember and All-American Rejects.
Del Tha Funky Homosapien, Richie Cunning with DJ Bad DJ, Poe Lucero
This is from a review of The Best of Del tha Funkee Homosapien: The Elektra Years (2004): "[It] includes most of the best moments from I Wish My Brother George Was Here and 1994 follow-up No Need for Alarm, making it valuable for those who haven't been able to track them down. However, those who have followed Del all along should also take note; this set also contains a small bounty of B-sides, most of which are of some import... The package scores bonus points for its informative liner notes, not to mention the shout-out to borderline-genius writer Kodwo Eshun." If I have any claim to hiphop history, it is that I wrote the liner notes to this collection, which contains most (not all—Del's work with Gorillaz and Dan the Automator is not included) of the best work by one of the greatest West Coast rappers (Ice Cube's cousin, no less) in the history of the art. From Del to infinity. CHARLES MUDEDE
Dope with Guests
Industrial metalheads Dope have reunited to bring back the scuzzed-out spirit of 1997 for Studio Seven, with Flaw, Motograter, Mechanism, Massacre at The Opera, Bleed the Stone, and Arisen From Nothing.
Evergreen Fest
Go full PNW-style at Evergreen Fest with this day-long wild-out of reggae, hiphop, and heavy weed smoke, featuring live sets from Matisyahu, House of Pain, Devin the Dude, Afroman, Sammy J, Potluck, Collie Buddz, Anuhea, Josh Heinrichs, Layzie Bone, Madchild, and Law.
George Winston
The tinkling! Easy-on-the-ears pianist George Winston's "winter show" features music of the fall and winter, including Vince Guaraldi's classic Peanuts number and original compositions.
Lee “Scratch” Perry with Dub Lounge International and Guests
Nine years ago at Bumbershoot, Jamaican dub innovator Lee “Scratch” Perry wore a glittery silver hat adorned with burning incense sticks and cackled like a madman for most of his set (some of it was entertaining, and his call to ban cigarettes and legalize ganja was sensible and prescient). But now the 80-year-old Perry has a new backing band, the Subatomic Sound System, and they provide super-heavy bass pressure and supple rhythmic heft to his grizzled hectoring. Bet your bong that SSS will reverently bolster their legendary frontman with a buoyantly gravid foundation. DAVE SEGAL
Magnifique 2016
Enjoy the final act of summer with an A-List DJ-helmed party at the Gorge, headlined by Kaskade, Chromeo, Duke Dumont, Netsky, Mija, Branchez, Giraffage, and Justin Hartinger.
Opening Night Concert with Ludovic Morlot & Joyce DiDonato
Music Director Ludovic Morlot and the Symphony kick off this new season with an evening of music that combines the world of opera with tunes from the great American songbook, performed by the powerful mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato.
SEPT 18
Loudon Wainwright III with Eliza Rickman
There's a whole generation of folks (myself included) for whom Loudon Wainwright III is more familiar as an actor (having appeared in M*A*S*H, three Judd Apatow productions, and G-Force—2009's Jerry Bruckheimer production about guinea pig secret agents). Wainwright the actor, while delightful, is nowhere near as interesting as Wainwright the musician, who's been recording and performing sardonic folk commentaries since his beatific 1970s self-titled debut. His long and storied career is still going strong, even if his new material is no longer about growing old (like his early stuff was) so much as it just plain sounds old (now he sings about things like "Cash for Clunkers"). Still, it would be worth it to hear some of Wainwright's older gems. Maybe he'll even do some dialogue from G-Force. JASON BAXTER
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Mary Chapin Carpenter shares her decades of experience in being an iconic singer-songwriter and beloved national treasure, with new songs from her upcoming record The Things That We Are Made Of.
Narae 2016
A colorful cultural showcase of many disciplines, Narae spotlights dynamic performances soundtracked by a variety of drums, gongs, zithers, flutes and cymbals. Enjoy bright costumes, stage layouts, and decorations that intertwine with the artists’ original choreography, as well as a new project helmed by Morning Star that brings to life an old traditional folktale through dance and music.
Tears For Fears
'80s pop icons Tears For Fears were scheduled to perform as part of the Chateau Ste. Michelle summer concert series, but, due to family illness, the concert was postponed. The show will now be happening on September 18th—don't miss it.
SEPT 19
Garbage
I didn't appreciate Shirley Manson as much as I should have in my teen years. Sure, I liked Garbage's hits—"Stupid Girl" and "Only Happy When It Rains"—when they came on the radio, but it wasn't until the band went on "indefinite hiatus" that I realized what a strong frontwoman Manson is. She didn't take shit from anyone, she didn't flaunt the fact that she was a woman in a man's world—she just did what she did really well and let her talent and badassery do the talking. The band never did break up (so don't call this a comeback), but seeing as how Rolling Stone still finds it necessary to have a "Women in Rock" issue (in 2012!), it's nice to see the strong women who've been doing this for decades step back into the spotlight to remind people that a female in a rock band isn't a goddamn novelty. MEGAN SELING
Warpaint, Facial, Goldensuns
LA-based indie rockers Warpaint’s self-titled album tries to expand on their minimal guitar pop present on their buzzed-about 2010 release The Fool with new members, more keyboards and drum-machine beats, and a heavier R&B and triphop influence. All of which would be less boring if it were more adventurous. For all that jamming and noodling, the songs seem to not really go anywhere—it’s more about the ambient, lounge-cool vibes and reverb-y mid-range female vocals along the way. The band’s apparent popularity suggests that that’s more than enough for plenty. MIKE RAMOS
SEPT 20
Iron Butterfly
Best known for their marathon track "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," Iron Butterfly filled the Los Angeles music scene of the '60s and '70s with heavy sounds of classic rock that reflected the psychedelic sentiments of the times.
Local Natives with Charlotte Day Wilson
West Coast-obsessed Silver Lake indie rockers Local Natives share work from their latest album Sunlit Youth, along with Charlotte Day Wilson.
The Specials with The Far East
I don't want to get into the whole ska history thing, the dreary business of determining this and that wave, and pointing out which band in which country belongs to which wave (for example, the Specials—an English band—are in the second wave, which runs between the late-'70s to mid-'80s). Nor do I want to explain why I think the Specials are the best ska band that England ever produced (and please don't get me started about the iconic face of their lead singer, Terry Hall). No, no—none of that. All I want to say are just two words and leave the rest to you: "Ghost Town." CHARLES MUDEDE
The Temper Trap with Coast Modern
Soundtrack-friendly rock aims for U2-level soar, lands as stadium-sized bore. DAVE SEGAL & ERIC GRANDY
SEPT 20-21
Richard Bona with Mandekan Cubano
Known as "The African Sting," renowned bassist Richard Bona performs a two-night stint with his band Mandekan Cubano, touring in support of their latest release, Heritage.
SEPT 21
O.A.R.
Maryland rockers O.A.R. create marathon stints with their earnest jam sessions, especially in their eighth and latest album, The Rockville LP.
Saint Motel with Guests
Los Angeles indie rockers Saint Motel hit the road on their Saintmotelevision tour with JR, JR and Weathers.
SEPT 21-22
An Intimate Evening with Storm Large and Le Bonheur
Enjoy the smooth power of singer Storm Large with her loyal band, Le Bonheur, as she takes her high-energy show of American classics, Broadway ballads, and rock goddess anthems to the Triple Door.
SEPT 22-25
Brian Culbertson Funk! Tour
Brian Culbertson is a Renaissance man (producer, player, performer) and multi-instrumentalist who combines jazz, R&B, and funk influences.
Morlot Conducts Beethoven & Prokofiev
Enter the second season of Seattle Symphony's monumental Beethoven cycle, this time beginning with Symphony No. 1 and Symphony No. 8, with selections by Sergey Prokofiev and his grandson Gabriel Prokofiev, conducted by Music Director Ludovic Morlot.
SEPT 23
Destructo, iLoveMakonnen, Ganz, Sita Abellan
Trap house producer Destructo headlines with a crew of hiphop and electronica buds like iLoveMakonnen, Ganz, and Sita Abellan to raise the volume (and hypothetically, the roof).
Echo & The Bunnymen
Legendary muddling gaze-rock Liverpudlians Echo & the Bunnymen bring back their legacy to Seattle.
Foals with Guests
Oxford, England, five-piece Foals make a self-sharpening indie calculus of rock music. As a singular image, Foals' sound is an aircraft-carrier-sized flying machine made out of razors that produces snowflakes. It's piloted by painter Chuck Close, and each snowflake jettisoned is different from the next. Inside this floating fortress of cold steel is a clockwork maze of automated razors, ice shavers, and blades. Gears of cutlery spin in logarithmic rotations, forming snowflakes by the million. TRENT MOORMAN
SEPT 24
Art Garfunkel: In Close Up
American songbook legend and general beloved weirdo Art Garfunkel brings his decades of folk-pop experience, myriad of chart-topping hits, and literal thousands of miles walked and the memories therein to Seattle.
St. Paul and the Broken Bones
St. Paul and the Broken Bones bring their lively eight-piece soul-based rock unit to town to promote their latest work, Sea of Noise.
SEPT 25
The Monkees
It may not sound like the highest praise to say that Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and the Postal Service has written the best Monkees song since "As We Go Along" (Head soundtrack, 1968), but friends, it absolutely is. The recent Good Times LP is a mixed bag—some strong tunes by pop masters alongside a bit of double-reverse slumming (it's hard to imagine Rivers Cuomo listening to the Monkees for pleasure)—until this song comes out of nowhere, blinding you with drowsy melancholy, Gibbard's inexhaustible gift for melody, and the particular beauty of Mike Nesmith and Micky Dolenz, their tenor voices weathered but still vital, harmonizing. It's the only song on the record that sounds like it might have been a candidate for inclusion on Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd. (maybe a "The Door into Summer" B-side?), the only one that actually brushes up against the thing that made the whole project of the Monkees into art. SEAN NELSON
Year of the Monkey: Chinese Music in the Great Northwest
As the 32nd Annual Concert in the "East Meets West" series, Year of the Monkey: Chinese Music in the Great Northwest is a diverse showcase of Chinese acoustic selections with a twist. This production combines favored orchestrations from China with beloved Western pieces, all of which are played on traditional instruments hailing from both cultures.
SEPT 27
Machine Gun Kelly
Speed rap phenomenon Machine Gun Kelly headlines in his first Seattle performance in three years, promoting his newest album Lace Up.
Megadeth with Guests
Rather than going on to manage a Guitar Center, Dave Mustaine made Megadeth and Megadeth made it huge! As one of the “Big Four” pioneers of thrash metal (Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer), Megadeth sold millions of records, made millions of dollars, and comes in only second to Metallica of the “Big Four” in commercial metal success. EMILY NOKES
Ta-ku with Guests
Australian hiphop producer Regan Matthews, better known by his stage name Ta-ku, takes on the Showbox with future beats and a variety of featured vocals.
SEPT 27-28
Jason Marsalis Quintet with Etienne Charles
The drummer and vibraphonist Jason Marsalis is the youngest prince of jazz’s royal family, the Marsalises. His father, the king, is Ellis Louis Marsalis Jr., and his most famous brothers are Branford Marsalis and Wynton Marsalis. Like the other princes in this family, Jason is a technically brilliant musician. Some vibraphonists are all about transforming a club into the planet of Venus (hazy, beautiful, voluptuous vibes). This is not Jason. He instead strikes the bars of his instrument in much the same way John Lewis of the Modern Jazz Quartet struck the keys of a piano—with great accuracy. This is not about mists but precision. Jason is a serious man, indeed. CHARLES MUDEDE
SEPT 29
Drive-By Truckers with Lydia Loveless
Since the dawn of the ’00s, Drive-By Truckers have been one of America's best and hardest-working bands, releasing a slew of stellar albums and always delivering in full live. With their album English Oceans, the great band is distinguished by a duo—singer/songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Mike Cooley and singer/songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Patterson Hood, who between them wrote and sang all of the record's songs. The result is a uniquely focused DBT record, packed with eloquent lyrics and music that doesn't give a shit about eloquent lyrics (see the final two minutes of the single, "Pauline Hawkins.”) DAVID SCHMADER
Sia with Miguel and AlunaGeorge
Platinum-selling Australian chanteuse Sia brings her high energy production values to KeyArena with sultry singer Miguel and pop-electronica duo AlunaGeorge.
SEPT 29-OCT 1
Elgar Cello Concerto
English composer Sir Edward Elgar’s well-known Cello Concerto is brought to life by Xavier Phillips, along with the Fifth Symphony of Dvořák, an experience of the young Czech composer embracing his Slavic roots within his own music.
SEPT 29-OCT 2
Marcus Miller
Two-time Grammy-winning bassist and multi-instrumentalist Marcus Miller plays six shows over four nights with a full backing band of Alex Bailey on drums, Caleb McCambell on keys, Alex Han on sax, and Marquis Hill on trumpet.
SEPT 30
Clint Black
Mega-millionaire country artist Clint Black brings his old world feel to Snoqualmie for an evening of personal classics, genre standards, and new tracks from his latest effort, On Purpose.
Peaches
Peaches cuts an iconic figure. Her look flirts with the medieval, David Bowie, heavy doses of hair metal and just plain hair. Peaches can command an entire room just by standing still. Most of all though, Peaches is a role model. Her vocals might be rap-influenced and her lyrics may be pornographic, but she's a riot grrrl's wet dream of strength and attitude. GINA YOUNG
Pennywise, Strung Out, Unwritten Law
Twisted metal stalwarts Pennywise celebrate their 28th birthday alive and playing together this year with a headlining set at the Showbox, joined by Strung Out and Unwritten Law.
SEPT 30-OCT 2
Macefield Music Festival
The legacy of Edith Macefield lives on for the fourth year of Macefield Music Festival, a typically rowdy weekend of live music and going buck in Ballard. The line-up features locally and internationally renowned heavy-hitters like Zola Jesus, Psychic TV, Industrial Revelation, Fly Moon Royalty, and many more, at several supportive venues across the neighborhood.