Big-deal Seattle shows that may sell out, from Ariana Grande to Social Distortion.
by Stranger Things To Do Staff
The beginning of March means it's almost the beginning of spring, and, in Seattle, it also means there's plenty of excellent live music on the horizon. We've already compiled the best classical music and opera and the best jazz shows happening this spring, but now it's time to look at all of the big rock, pop, hiphop, electronic, country, metal, and other concerts this month. Many have already sold out, but the shows below still have tickets available—including the Decibel Magazine 2017 tour, Passenger, Modern English, Social Distortion, Michael Bolton, Thao of the Get Down Stay Down, and many more. For more options (including shows that don't require tickets and ones that are happening later than March), check out our music calendar, or see our complete Things To Do calendar for events in other genres.
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MARCH 2
1. David Wilcox with Nathaniel Talbot
Prolific folk artist David Wilcox utilizes his smooth baritone and 18-plus albums of material for a night of singer-songwriter bliss, with Nathaniel Talbot.
2. MarchFourth! and Pimps of Joytime
Big band explosion MarchFourth consists of a brassy foundation of saxophones, xtrombones, trumpets, a drum and percussion corps, and a wireless electric bass. Their live musical theatrics are physically matched by an assemblage of stilt-walkers, acrobats, fire-spinners, and dancers performing original routines inspired by Bollywood, burlesque, cheerleading, hiphop, jazz, and ballroom dance traditions. They got their name from the date of their first show (March 4, 2003), when they put together a marching band for a Mardi Gras party, and they'll celebrate their 14th anniversary with a week of shows on the West Coast, including this one in Seattle where they'll be joined by the Pimps of Joytime.
3. OTEP, The Convalescence, One Day Waiting, Prey The Hunter, Whythre
If words can double as weapons, as OTEP frontwoman/human blowtorch Otep Shamaya contends on her band’s latest record, Generation Doom, Shamaya favors the kind of mushroom-cloud-laying verbal warfare that might inspire the digging of bomb shelters. One of the few openly lesbian artists in heavy metal, Shamaya confronts gender and identity politics directly and furiously, with a tongue as blue as the corpse of subtlety. Comparing herself to a cross between Mark Twain and Jesse James, Shamaya growls, pants, shrieks and sing-raps over a nü-metal backdrop. Considering how plainly, eagerly sexist much of that subgenre was in its late-’90s heyday, it’s fitting that a feminist flamethrower like Shamaya continues to mine those sounds, turning nü metal on its thick-skulled head all these years later. JASON BRACELIN
4. Rich The Kid with Guests
Up and coming MC Rich The Kid hits El Corazon with guests Jay Critch, JR LaFlame, Cartier Cash, and Conner Reynolds in promotion of his album out later this year.
MARCH 2-4
5. Ty Segall
Only five years ago, Ty Segall was playing record stores and midsize clubs. Now he’s headlining two- and three-night stands at large-capacity venues in Brooklyn and Seattle. Any other artist in his shoes might have signed to a major, but Segall has stuck it out with Drag City, the Chicago label that lets him do whatever the fuck he wants, and lately he’s been on a theatrical-rock kick. Last year, that meant creepy latex masks. This year, it’s all about the toreador cape, but everything Segall builds rests on a sturdy garage-rock foundation. After the anarchy of 2016’s Emotional Mugger, the new self-titled record represents a return to a more cohesive form with the sort of hazy ballads and glitter-thrash anthems he does so well. KATHY FENNESSY
MARCH 2-5
6. Hiromi — The Trio Project
Japanese pianist and composer Hiromi recently released her 10th album as a band leader, and spends much of her creative process focused on the many paths of inspiration.
MARCH 3
7. Cover Me: A Night of '80s Classics with Rogue Wave
Renowned Pacific Northwest indie rockers Rogue Wave will take on a whole decade of classics couched by '80s styles at this night out at the Croc.
8. Eldridge Gravy & The Court Supreme with Brass Monkeys
Dang, y’all, don’t THIS look like a killer Friday-night throwdown?! If it were just Eldridge Gravy & the Court Supreme, that’d prolly be enough, right, ’cause the Court Supreme ain’t never anything less than a total blowout. They’re a full and funky complement of honkin’ horns, tinklin’ keys, uh… lots of sweat, and a hype man, all bent on laying down high-energy, concrete-thick, late-1970s funk. By the way, don’t think you need to check your head, ’cause it’s the truth: This evening’s opening act, Brass Monkeys, are a Beastie Boys tribute group who, I’ve been assured, have a valid license to ill. MIKE NIPPER
9. Ghostface Killah with Pure Powers
Wu-Tang Clan’s members often invoked some permutation of Matthew 20:16, such as Killah Priest’s solo turn on “B.I.B.L.E.”: “The first shall be last, and the last shall be first.” This applies well to the great Ghost Deini, since he was the first of the original nine to be heard on 36 Chambers—and, artistically speaking, is pretty much the last man standing (Raekwon’s solid outings and RZA’s hacky directorial work notwithstanding). GFK is now in that rarefied 10-plus-album zone few hiphop soloists get to—and even in that small circle, he’s among the most consistent and forward moving. If you haven’t listened for a while, the Wally Champ’s 2010s output includes, among other things, a couple of ace album-length collaborations with lauded live musicians: Twelve Reasons to Die (with LA’s vintage savant Adrian Younge) and Sour Soul (with reverent Toronto jazz instrumentalists BadBadNotGood). LARRY MIZELL JR.
10. Noam Pikelny
Preeminent banjo player Noam Pikelny, a founding member of string ensemble Punch Brothers, will show off his wide-ranging skill in folk arts and bluegrass music.
11. Saba, Sylvan LaCue, Caleborate
Posi vibe rapper Saba takes his influences from growing up on the west side of Chicago, and collaborations with up and coming talents like Gallant, to a headlining gig at the Vera Project with Sylvan LaCue and Caleborate.
12. Six Organs of Admittance, Don McGreevy
Ben Chasny has been releasing recordings under the Six Organs of Admittance moniker since 1998. Sometimes labeled as “freak folk” (back when that was a thing, see: Devendra Banhart), Chasny’s otherworldly psych transmissions have slightly more of an edge on the latest record, Burning the Threshold. While the early/mid-’00s Dark Noontide/Compathia-era material all still sounds fresh after 10 years, Threshold moves beyond the heavy Eastern guitar and drone meditations in a more austere, dark-folk direction, recalling the blackened yet pillowy fantasy realm of when Neurosis get soft. This bill also transcends with original Master Musicians of Bukkake drummer/Earth bassist Don McGreevy, whose 2014 pastoral Appalachian fingerpicking record Aichmophobia also includes hints of no-wave/experimental legend Glenn Branca and effortlessly deployed glockenspiel. BRITTNIE FULLER
MARCH 4
13. LeRoy Bell & His Only Friends
Local singer-songwriter LeRoy Bell has risen through the ranks of the Seattle music scene with his smoky voice and command of rock, blues, and soul. Bell's band His Only Friends includes bassist Terry Morgan, drummer Davis Martin, formerly of Maktub, and keyboardist Daniel Walker.
14. Notorious Productions Presents: The Sound of Seattle with Malfunkshun and Guests
During my misspent childhood, I’d see Malfunkshun posters and figured them for some funk/Frankenstein combo. I was wrong about most of the funk, but the late Andrew Wood, who called himself “L’Andrew the Love Child,” was indeed a Bowie-esque amalgam of frontman, sage, savior, and holy fool. (Former roommate Chris Cornell recalls how they took inspiration from a local CCM station—the radio in their Ford Galaxie wouldn’t pick up anything else.) Wood joined Mother Love Bone, and then he shot up and died young. The ones left behind became Pearl Jam. The new Malfunkshun have at least one other Wood brother, and some of L’Andrew the Love Child’s left-behind lyrics. Hope springs eternal. ANDREW HAMLIN
15. Salif Keita
Afro-pop star and living legend Salif Keita will show off the reasons for his many Grammy nominations in a live performance with his full band from Bamako, Mali.
16. Shelby Earl, Silver Torches, Planes on Paper
When it comes to her music career, golden-voiced Shelby Earl has a knack for doing things a little backward. At an age when most musicians are thinking about leaving the game and getting a real job (mid-30s), Earl quit her full-time position at Amazon to devote her life to music. Then, after releasing her debut record, Burn the Boats, in 2011, rather than following up with a flawless second album that utilized all the new tricks she learned the first time around, Earl recorded Swift Arrows (released 2013) in only eight days, using a lot of first takes and live recordings as the foundation. MEGAN SELING
17. SneakGuapo, Siq Fux, ST$ Boys
West Seattle MC SneakGuapo exists in the overlap of two of the town’s most productive rap collectives, Moor Gang and Thraxxhouse. The night-crawling braggadocio woven into his verses is a thread from the Moor Gang quilt, but the most defining color on his style palette is pain. Guapo’s urgent emotional purging in the studio has driven the flow of his output to the same prolific heights as his Thraxxhouse brethren, each song a status update with cathartic resolve. His latest release (between a string of singles and guest verses), Oblivious Indigo Child, is a four-song grouping recorded near the end of 2015 with premium production from the likes of Raised Byy Wolves. Alternately guarded and oversharing, Oblivious is Guap distilled to his purest form, which is also his finest. TODD HAMM
MARCH 5
18. DevilDriver, Death Angel, The Agonist, Azreal, Ashes Of Existence, K’atun
California groove-metal rockers DevilDriver list their interests as "Loud heavy metal circle pits BBQ beer" so you know they're back in town to have a good time. Joining them on their tour are Death Angel, The Agonist, Azreal, Ashes Of Existence, and K’atun.
19. Jens Lekman with Lisa/Liza
Up until his just-released fourth LP, Life Will See You Now, Swedish musician Jens Lekman wrote guitar-driven pop songs with heavily orchestrated arrangements of strings, horns, and backing chorales, the results cheesy yet endearing. A big part of his charm lies in his adorably accented phrasing, silky, low-toned vocals, clever yet vaguely forlorn diaristic lyrical turns and storytelling that often spells out just what he means, and the occasional misinterpreted moments (“She said that we were make believe / But I thought she said maple leaves”). Lekman told Entertainment Weekly that he was learning about drum machines and electronic instruments while making Life Will See You Now. This is not necessarily a good thing, and it only bears a passing resemblance to my favorite Lekman music. Let’s hope the live performance will be a different story. LEILANI POLK
20. LVL UP, Palm, Great Grandpa
Most of my workday (and life) is spent ignoring indie-rock bands. Rock and roll has the capacity to be the most boring and uninspired of genres, and when some deeply entitled dude is demanding you give him your time when his pet project sounds like everything that has come before it (and each that will follow), it can be difficult to get excited about certain qualities. LVL UP don’t necessarily break this barrier, but they definitely insert a spring into the genre’s step. They harness their earnestness as a sort of doom-saddled-yet-youthful surge that powers each of their tracks. This is contemplative indie rock, but it shreds, with a growing-pains energy that rings true without shrugging into sophomoric feats. KIM SELLING
MARCH 6
21. Darkest Hour, Ringworm, Tombs, Rivers Of Nihil, Blood & Thunder
Metalcore: The bastard love child of Jamey Jasta’s Headbangers Ball and Ozzfest’s post-rap metal years, this particular style of tight-jeaned and swoopy-haired mosh fuel is better left in the early ’00s. Darkest Hour, though, played the genre well—excellently, even. The Washington, DC, five-piece’s authentic love of Swedish death metal and righteous, left-wing political lyrics kept their songs from getting too bro-friendly. That is, until their dubsteppy, self-titled, cash-grab record in 2014. Gross. The capital’s most punishing band is back, though, with a new purely metallic album produced by Converge’s Kurt Ballou and it sounds oh so nasty. Consider their reputation redeemed for this, their 20th-anniversary tour. JOSEPH SCHAFER
MARCH 7
22. Keith Harkin
Irish singer-songwriter Keith Harkin takes his modern day minstrel sensibilities on a global tour named for the most Irish thing anyone knows about, St. Patrick's Day.
MARCH 7-8
23. Lydia Pense and Cold Blood with Guests
Lydia Pense and Cold Blood were a 1960s/’70s Bay Area powerhouse group of hippies who played high-energy, horn-driven, soulful blues rock and R&B. They gave no quarter in delivering earfuls of their proper “East Bay Grease” to the punters, y’all. Damn if they ain’t still at it, too—touring, recording, and releasing albums! The current Cold Blood lineup has been together since the 1990s and has evolved into something of a tight, easy-groovin’ funk group. That being said, the 1960s Cold Blood version of Barbara Lynn’s R&B classic “I’m a Good Woman” still rates on dance floors and reportedly still appears in Lydia Pense and Cold Blood’s shows. MIKE NIPPER
MARCH 8
24. Ann Wilson of Heart
Reasons to go see Ann Wilson (once and future singer of Heart): She boasted one of the purest, soaringest operatic voices in all of pop music and she might well still have it. She tried to take it when the Seattle Times’ Patrick MacDonald kept making fun of her weight, but eventually let Heart’s manager take ads out in the paper (sample counterpunch: “Get a grip, boob brain”). People called Heart “Little Zep,” as though that solved the case, never mind that Heart came on somewhat more melodic and considerably less bombastic. Then the band hit the 1980s and embraced synths and song doctors. If they were ever hip, that sealed their tomb. For hipsters, not listeners. ANDREW HAMLIN
25. Gabriel Kahane
Pioneering vocalist and composer Gabriel Kahane takes over the Triple Door with his unique fusion-heavy orchestra pop.
26. Porter Ray, Jarv Dee, Cam The Mac, Bruce Leroy, BROC
I still worry about you, Seattle—and your frustrating propensity for missing the moon, staring at the finger pointing at it. Porter Ray, as a millennial Black rapper from Seattle that’s not necessarily cast as an antidote/alternative to contemporary rap music, has a hill to climb with his new album, Watercolor. Sub Pop is a venerable label with worldwide cachet, but if its fan base only has room for the kind of rap act that’s too often invoked to prove that other kinds of rap are dumb, how are they going to relate to the well-crafted vignettes of a Central District hustler? And are real rap heads in Seattle and everywhere else even checking for hiphop bearing Sub Pop’s two-toned masthead (like they should)? It’s a windfall that he landed on the biggest game in town, yes, but don’t get it twisted—Porter’s artful shit is top-shelf, town-bred intergenerational (peep revered CD MC Infinite on “Arithmetic”) game, served neat. Newest single “Lightro” is proof and pudding. LARRY MIZELL JR.
MARCH 9
27. ACLU Benefit Show with Sloucher, Bod, Moon Darling
One of the great pleasures of this massively pleasure-deprived year has been the discovery that Sloucher’s Certainty EP was more than just a promising debut. It has turned out to be one of the richest listening experiences available from any rock band this year, local or otherwise, and the band’s live performances bring the songs to an even deeper, more vivid life. Whatever they do next will merit close attention. The same is true of all the bands on this bill, in fact. The world may be a rusted-out truck hurtling down a 90-percent grade with four flat tires and its engine ablaze, but the Northwest is still good at melodic guitar bands, and I take hope where I can find it. SEAN NELSON
28. Cheryl Wheeler
Cheryl Wheeler is a well-respected folk artist who has written music later covered by artists of her peer group like Peter Paul & Mary, Kenny Loggins, Garth Brooks, Bette Midler, and more.
29. Lettuce with The Russ Liquid Test
Boston-brewed funk-jazz faves Lettuce celebrate 25 years in 2017. More impressive than their longevity, however, is the fact that the septet still features the core five of its original 1992 lineup, held down by the tight dual work of guitarists Eric Krasno and Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff, ramped up by rhythm-section monsters bassist Erick Coomes and drummer/percussionist Adam Deitch, and a horn section driven by sax-juggling extraordinaire Ryan Zoidis. Last year’s Mt. Crushmore EP might be seven songs short, but it hits hard with dark shades of psychedelic soul, stealthy, chugging grooves, and 1970s-era Tower of Power–inspired brass arrangements that add an urgent quality to the instrumental propulsion. These dudes are pros, no doubt about that. LEILANI POLK
30. Shane Diamanti & $teve Cannon, Romaro Franceswa, Guests
Young MCs from all around town gather for Shane Diamanti and $teve Cannon's record release, with a featured appearance from Romaro Franceswa, sets by No-Uh, Conner Reynolds, JAGA, and IsaacJacuzzi, and hosted by Co-Flow and Corner Boys Entertainment.
MARCH 10
31. The Cadillac Three with The Quaker City Night Hawks
Renamed country group The Cadillac Three utilize their Nashville spirit in an effort to lend a sense of cool to the genre's landscape. They'll be joined by The Quaker City Night Hawks.
32. An Evening with Okean Elzy
Widely renowned Ukrainian rock group Okean Elzy, considered to be one of the better exports from the Soviet bloc, share their impressive energy in a live show.
33. Fallen Heroes: A Sing-Along Tribute with Shenandoah Davis
Led by local songstress and Cloud Room member Shenandoah Davis, the Cloud Room Sing-Along is back for a tribute show that promises tunes from many of the music icons who died in 2016, and craft cocktails from the bar to keep your heart warm. Joining Davis will be Molly Sides of Thunderpussy, a string section, and a designated homage group of Seattle musicians.
MARCH 11
34. Black Mountain, zZz
A reductive take on Vancouver quintet Black Mountain is that they split the difference between the folk of Pentangle and the metal of Pentagram. Impossible as that may sound, it’s not that far off the mark, as Amber Webber’s mellifluous vibrato anchors their flights of prog-rock fancy. Webber trades vocals with guitarist Stephen McBean, a solid singer in the David Gilmour vein, but she’s the band’s secret weapon, much like Rabia Shaheen Qazi was for the late Rose Windows. On their fourth full-length, the Randall Dunn–produced IV, Black Mountain segue with grace from the gentle ballad “Line Them All Up” to the slow-burn freak-out “(Over and Over) The Chain,” but there are unexpected detours along the way, like “Constellations,” a surprisingly successful attempt at Romeo Void–style noir-pop. KATHY FENNESSY
35. Blue Oyster Cult
New Jersey’s Blue Oyster Cult are the kind of band someone could get lost in, even though most listeners know them best for their ubiquitous singles “Burning for You” and “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” And those are great songs, but the band’s whole discography, including deeper favorites like “Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll” and “Hot Rails to Hell,” have fostered an obsessive following. On BOC’s official site, their fans have assembled a nearly complete list of every single date and set list the band has ever played, so you can know the last time they played “Dominance and Submission” (April 17, 2016, in Beverly Hills). JOSEPH SCHAFER
36. Lucky 2017
USC Events' annual spring festival, and the biggest inexplicably shamrock-themed EDM party in Washington, comes to the Tacoma Dome with heavy-hitter headliners like NGHTMRE, Knife Party, Liquid Stranger, and Audien.
37. Sandrider, Wild Powwers, Pink Parts
While it might not always get hyped, the Northwest has always had a strong contingent of bands blasting out high-quality heaviness. One of the more recent bands that churned out said heaviness was thinking man’s hardcore project Akimbo. It wasn’t easy for Seattle to say good-bye to this long-lasting band, but if it weren’t for their split three years back, drummer Nat Damm and guitarist/vocalist Jon Weisnewski wouldn’t have the time to focus on the awesomeness that is Sandrider. If you’re a fan of big riffs played out of loud amps atop ear-piercing screams and a punishing rhythm section, do yourself a favor and indulge in one of the city’s heaviest. KEVIN DIERS
38. Trentemøller
Long the poster boy for brooding yet accessible techno, Denmark’s Trentemøller rolls into town with his band to perform cuts from Fixion, which came out last September. Ten years after the producer debuted with the ambient-techno classic The Last Resort, he’s moved on from that album’s organic compositions to straight-up electro-pop on Fixion. This tour has seen him taking on lead-singer duties, backed by his band, save for tracks like “River in Me,” which features guest vocals courtesy of Savages’ Jehnny Beth. Having gotten his start as a musician in several indie-rock bands, Trentemøller has seemingly come full circle by returning to more song-focused productions and is hitting Seattle after two months of touring in Europe, guaranteeing a tight and bracing performance that may delight fans old and new alike. NICK ZURKO
39. The Wood Brothers with Shook Twins
Proclaimed "masters of soulful folk" The Wood Brothers have expanded their past years as a side project into a full-blown main act on the Moore stage, with support from Shook Twins.
MARCH 11-12
40. The Manhattan Transfer
Vocal Group Hall of Famers The Manhattan Transfer remains a jazz and pop cornerstone band. The first group to win Grammy Awards in both Pop and Jazz categories in the same year, they went on to receive an additional 12 Grammy nominations for their album Vocalese in 1985, which made it second only to Michael Jackson’s Thriller as most nominated album in one year, and cemented the group’s status as an essential and innovative vocal group in popular music history.
MARCH 13
41. Thao of the Get Down Stay Down with Johanna Kunin
At once both graceful and raw, the voice of Thao Nguyen draws you in with its beguiling complexity. Since 2005, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down have been gradually edging away from their alt-folk roots to a funkier, more beat-heavy sound. Their fourth album, A Man Alive, was released last March and was well received. But for this handful of tour dates, Nguyen is going solo, and Seattle is her first stop. Johanna Kunin, aka Bright Archer, who provided backing vocals for A Man Alive, will also fill the room with her airy, meditative songs and sinuous piano compositions. AMBER CORTES
MARCH 14
42. Architects, Stray From The Path, Make Them Suffer
This past August, popular British melodic metal-core band Architects took a crushing blow, as their founding guitarist and songwriter Tom Searle died as the result of a three-year battle with skin cancer. Searle and his twin brother, Dan, started the band back in 2004 and toured the world together while releasing seven albums and playing alongside some of their hardcore heroes. Their most recent album, All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, was released just four months prior to Tom’s death. Dan continues to honor the life and art of his brother by pushing on and playing the music he wrote alongside him. KEVIN DIERS
MARCH 14-15
43. Geoff Tate
For more than 30 years, Geoff Tate led Queensrÿche as a multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated vocalist and songwriter. Now he's back on a world tour highlighting songs from all 17 albums throughout his career.
MARCH 16
44. Michael Bolton
Grammy winner and lifelong lothario Michael Bolton shares the smooth radio-friendly '80s pop that made him famous over three decades ago.
45. Steve Poltz with Reed Turner
Experience the decades of off-kilter humor latent in Steve Poltz's discography at the Fremont Abbey, with Reed Turner.
MARCH 17
46. Adrian Belew Power Trio with Saul Zonana
Multi-instrumentalist and ex-frontman for King Crimson Adrian Belew will play guitar as a part of his current power trio, joined by Saul Zonana.
47. Chris Botti with Symphony Tacoma
Billboard topper Chris Botti will perform with Symphony Tacoma to create a smooth evening of live jazz and classical standards.
48. Chronixx, Kelissa, MAX GLAZER
Roots-based reggae artist Jamar Rolando McNaughton, known simply as Chronixx, uses his work to instill values of respecting culture in a new generation of reggae listeners. He'll be joined by Kelissa and MAX GLAZER.
49. Fucked Up with Guests
Toronto hardcore chameleons Fucked Up have amped up the feels, but don't worry: The guitars are still plenty loud. On recent single, "Paper the House," melodic guitar lines sound as triumphant as ever, with a lilting, uplifting sense of nostalgia, while the most recent installment in their Zodiac-themed series, Year of the Hare, traverses all sorts of genre territory, ranging from minimal experimentalism to sprawling, riff-based hardcore and back again. The release sounds as if it could be by multiple artists, but if there's one thing Fucked Up provide, it's versatility, so expect anything. BRITTNIE FULLER
50. Jesca Hoop with Ritchie Young
Sub Pop songstress Jesca Hoop has been putting forth thoughtful folk and minimalist pop music for years now, and will be celebrating the release of her latest album Memories Are Now, that came out February 10, at this show.
MARCH 18
51. Brazilian Mandolin Virtuoso Danilo Brito
Prolific instrumentalist and composer Danilo Brito is dedicated to upholding authentic Brazilian music, or "choro." He displays such dedication through his creative interpretation of venerated choro works on mandolin.
52. Buck Johnson with Lara Lavi
Aerosmith keyboardist and support vocalist Buck Johnson is back on tour with the appropriately named Buck Johnson Band, performing originals from his debut album Enjoying The Ride. They'll be joined by Grammy winning singer-songwriter Lara Lavi.
53. Donavon Frankenreiter with Grant-Lee Phillips
With his new album The Heart, singer-songwriter Donavon Frankenreiter has entered his second decade as a solo recording artist, and will be joined by Grant-Lee Phillips.
54. Eric Church
With no support act on his tour (aptly titled the Holdin' My Own Tour), 2016 CMA Album of the Year winner Eric Church (and the Eric Church Band) will play two full sets, with an intermission in between if you need a break from all that country-rockin'.
55. Tchami with Angelz
Parisian dance music thriller Tchami follows up his successful remix collection with The Prophecy Tour, supported by Angelz.
MARCH 19
56. The Coathangers, The Birth Defects, VHS
In matching denim jackets emblazoned with their band name, the ladies of The Coathangers are a hurricane of a band, using primitive howls, gang-style vocals, and manic energy to write gritty, menacing songs on topics like doomed love and Adderall. ROBIN EDWARDS
57. Meat Puppets, The Modern Era, StaG
During SST’s heyday, Meat Puppets defined the label as surely as Sonic Youth and Hüsker Dü. While they had roots in hardcore, the Phoenix trio took on country shadings over the years, culminating in their breakthrough, 1984’s Meat Puppets II, which made such an indelible impression on Kurt Cobain that he covered three of its songs on Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged in New York. KATHY FENNESSY
MARCH 20
58. Nikki Lane, Robert Ellis, Jonathan Tyler
Claiming the identity of a "modern-era Wanda Jackson," Nikki Lane has been busy crafting neu-country out of trademark sass. She'll be joined by Robert Ellis and Jonathan Tyler.
MARCH 21
59. Dervish
After nearly 18 years together, Dervish is still a respected name in modern world and roots music, and they've been credited for bringing traditional Irish music to a worldwide audience.
60. Little Wings, Hoop, Whitney Ballen
In the crowded genre of soft-spoken beard folk, Kyle Field’s Little Wings barely raises an eyebrow, with little more to set it apart than a tape-hissed tint to the production and Field’s croon, which finds the happy medium between a cartoon frog and pre-heroin Neil Young. As a session player with folks like M. Ward and the Microphones’ Phil Elverum, Field absorbed the hazily romantic mood of the former and the close-mic’d intimacy of Elverum’s early work without capitalizing on either, and seems content to leave it at that. KYLE FLECK
61. Old 97's with Ha Ha Tonka
Alt-country Texas rockers the Old 97's are still going strong, and they'll hit the newly remodeled Neumos stage with Ha Ha Tonka.
62. Wayne "The Train" Hancock, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys
Rootsy renaissance man Wayne Hancock mastered the art of hillbilly swing (or "juke joint swing," depending on who you ask) a few decades ago and has continued to put out authentic blues and country work with each progressing album. He'll be joined by Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys.
63. Xenia Rubinos with Guests
Xenia Rubinos wants to punch you in the face with her work. She flings power chords, slashing drums, stringent truths about race relations in America, and ruby-red high notes around your throat like a bloodied vine. Her old-world vocal charm flurries through tales of public indignation and broken promises to raise a swirling eddy representative of the stark intensity of the high feminine. If she’s even half as powerful live as she is on her latest album, Black Terry Cat, then we are in for a proper throwdown. KIM SELLING
64. Xiu Xiu, Newaxeyes, Zen Mother, Taylar Elizza Beth
If I recall correctly, Xiu Xiu frontman Jamie Stewart once claimed in an interview that Tracy Chapman’s "Fast Car" was his favorite song of all time. Explaining the reasoning behind the choice, Stewart said something along the lines of "her situation goes from bad to worse and don't get any better." Though their album, Angel Guts: Red Classroom, left me cold with its relentlessly bleak dungeon electro, Xiu Xiu remain the most thrilling miserablist band around, capable of taking life's downiest of downers and translating them into transcendent, terrifyingly well-executed pop. Their first single, "Suha," had this lovely sing-along chorus: "I hate my husband/I hate my children/I'm going to hang myself/When will I be going home?" Xiu Xiu are a goddamn treasure, a schizoid Smiths for our stimulus-overloaded manic-depressive state of affairs. KYLE FLECK
MARCH 21-22
65. Grace Kelly
Saxophonist, singer, and composer Grace Kelly, in promotion of her recently released 10th album as a band leader, will perform a two-night set at Jazz Alley.
66. Social Distortion with Jade Jackson
You can say whatever you like about Social Distortion, but after nearly 40 years, a couple of dalliances with mainstream success, and several more with oblivion, Mike Ness and company are a walking, rocking history book of American punk rock. As rock’n’roll continues to decline in influence and cultural currency, it’s always worth checking in with veteran bands who’ll be playing loud guitars till their arms fall off. SEAN NELSON
MARCH 22
67. Rickie Lee Jones with Madeleine Peyroux
Two-time Grammy winner and lifelong troubadour Rickie Lee Jones returns to the scene with The Other Side of Desire, her first album in over a decade, and will perform the new material with support from soulful songstress Madeleine Peyroux.
MARCH 23
68. Ariana Grande with Little Mix and Victoria Monet
Multi-platinum pop singer Ariana Grande will take over KeyArena this spring on her Dangerous Woman tour in support of her latest album of the same name, with opening sets from Little Mix and Victoria Monet.
69. Seiho, Community Corporation, Matt Tecson, T.Wan
Beatmaker and producer Seiho journeys to Seattle from Japan for a night of complex electronic work, with talented local support acts like Community Corporation, Matt Tecson, and T.Wan.
70. Yonder Mountain String Band with The Li'l Smokies
The bluegrass (yet genre-bending) Yonder Mountain String Band will headline this STG-presented concert at the Showbox, with The Li'l Smokies providing Montana-style folk music as the opener.
MARCH 23-24
71. Jackie Evancho
Jackie Evancho is a teenager with the lung capacity of an adult opera singer. She started out as a child on America's Got Talent, has sung at any manner of galas and benefits, including Trump's inauguration, and recently released a new album in which she takes on the pop world.
MARCH 24
72. 16th Annual More Music at the Moore
More Music features young musicians collaborating and playing in a variety of styles, after mentorships from music industry folk, production and promotional support, and local musicians. This year's Music Director of the program is acclaimed musician Robert Glasper.
73. Dan & Shay with Jackie Lee
Singer-songwriter duo Dan & Shay have been hard at work prepping their latest album Obsessed, and will play hits from their last two releases while on tour.
74. Strand of Oaks with Heather McEntire of Mount Moriah
The lyrics of HEAL read like a mantra for anyone stuck in the mire of these dark, clammy days. There’s plenty of regret lacing the contemporary folk rock (i.e., there are some unobtrusive electronic-ish elements) of Strand of Oaks' fourth full-length, but there’s also plenty of defiance and restitution. HEAL is recommended if you like climbing out of whatever kind of rut you’re currently stuck in. This one was a lifesaver for the highly depressed citizens of Seattle in December 2014—that and for people who just like plain old quality song craftsmanship. GRANT BRISSEY
75. Teenage Fanclub with Britta Phillips
Every time Teenage Fanclub put out a record, it feels like a declaration to the ever-diminishing, underserved community of devotees of not just their music but the whole school of melodic, crafty, record-collector, nerd-before-it-was-optional, moony romantic pop-rock of which TFc has always been the valedictorian: We're still here. So are you. Let's celebrate with something small and perfect. SEAN NELSON
MARCH 24-25
76. G. Love & Special Sauce with City of the Sun
Philly-based alt-funk blues crew G. Love & Special Sauce take over the Crocodile for the entire weekend, and will be joined by City of the Sun.
MARCH 26
77. Deafheaven, This Will Destroy You, Emma Ruth Rundle
San Francisco-based experimental black-metal act Deafheaven are now heavy on Slayer riffs, less reliant on shoegaze gestures. Their last record, New Bermuda, possesses more cross-genre influence, losing much of the immense, spaced-out splendor of 2013's Sunbather. While that record pummeled nonstop stratospheric blackgaze, New Bermuda loses some of the grandiose fuzz and blissed-out feedback added by Nick Bassett, who's also a pretty distortion producer in one of the best modern shoegaze acts, Whirr. New Bermuda's songs move far beyond black metal/shoegaze fusion: there are over-the-top arena-metal guitar solos, homages to slowcore/post-rock, and even noodly and emo-infused reprieve on lost twinkle-daddy metal anthem "Baby Blue," complete with, as guitarist Kerry McCoy calls it, a "Wilco slide guitar-y thing." Although they may be less MBV-indebted, Deafheaven may just be the indie-rock fan's gateway to black metal. BRITTNIE FULLER
78. Passenger with The Paper Kites
Brighton-born singer-songwriter Mike Rosenberg performs as Passenger and is on tour promoting his sixth studio album Whispers. He'll most likely play more than just "Let Her Go," with The Paper Kites acting as show support.
79. WHY? with Open Mike Eagle
Apex purveyor of mid-late '00s indie experimentation Yoni Wolf is back as WHY? with a night of dangled lyricism over contemplative plinking and weird-out visuals, and support from Open Mike Eagle.
MARCH 27
80. Kate Tempest
Rapper, spoken word artist, and now novelist Kate Tempest originally was supposed to play at Neumos, but extreme demand for her quick wit and even quicker delivery earned her an upgrade to the Neptune.
MARCH 28
81. Chris Stapleton with Maren Morris
Chris Stapleton stepped out into the public consciousness two years ago with the release of his debut album, Traveller. Since then, he's continued to blend country, blues, rock, and R&B into his distinct journeyman style. He'll be joined by local talent Maren Morris.
82. The Decibel Magazine 2017 Tour
German thrashers Kreator headline this tour stacked by Decibel Magazine, featuring additional sets by Obituary, Midnight, Horrendous, and The Drip.
83. Jain
Parisian globe-trotting song-maker Jain takes over the Croc for an evening of complex sun-soaked and rhythm-driven Franco-pop.
84. Modern English with Guests
While they may be best known for their new-wave pop hit “I Melt with You,” 1980s UK post-punk legends Modern English weren’t always so radio-ready. In 1981, only a year before their brief commercial success, the considerably darker and more experimental Mesh & Lace LP was released alongside other classics from Bauhaus and the Birthday Party in the 4AD label’s early days. With delay-ridden spoken-word vocals, buzzing synths, and samples of birds chirping, Modern English created one of the most cohesively creepy post-punk albums ever. From the anthemic synth takeover of “Gathering Dust,” to the spooky danceability of “Swans on Glass,” and the icy, slow-burning punk of “Home,” Mesh & Lace remains one of the greatest artifacts of an era of wildly inventive post punk, and this rare chance to see it performed live should not be missed. BRITTNIE FULLER
85. Raiatea Helm
In 2006, Raiatea Helm made history as Hawai‘i’s first solo female vocalist ever to become a Grammy nominee for her second album Sweet and Lovely. She's now back stateside with new material and a full live show at the Triple Door.
MARCH 29
86. Locash with Ryan Follese
Nashville songwriting duo Locash journey up from the south for a night of hard-rocking country and a support set from Ryan Follese.
87. NAILS, Toxic Holocaust, Gatecreeper, Bone Sickness
Southern California trio NAILS stay out of the limelight to maintain their tortured vibes, and have been dubbed "extreme sonic terrorists." Their almighty thrash will hit the Neumos stage with support from Toxic Holocaust, Gatecreeper, and Bone Sickness.
MARCH 30
88. Biffy Clyro with O'Brother
Ten years into their career, UK rockers Biffy Clyro are back on tour to promote their trilogy of albums, and will headline the Neptune with opening support from O'Brother.
89. Laith Al-Saadi and Guests
Last year on The Voice, Laith Al-Saadi emerged triumphant as the victor, and now he's back in the public consciousness for a night of blues, rock and soul.
MARCH 30-31
90. The Blind Boys of Alabama
Over the last decade, the Blind Boys have made albums that blur the distinctions between blues and gospel, covering Ben Harper's "Give a Man a Home" and two of Tom Waits' rough gems, "Jesus Gonna Be Here" and "Way Down in the Hole." The traditional spirituals like "No More" and "Motherless Child" sound fresh and energized, and their version of "Amazing Grace," sung to the tune of "House of the Rising Sun," is haunted and transcendent. NATE LIPPENS
MARCH 30-APRIL 2
91. Ruben Studdard
Ruben Studdard, winner of the second season of American Idol who received a 2003 Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, visits Seattle in support of his latest release, Unconditional Love.
MARCH 31
92. Clean Bandit with Starley
Fresh four-piece Clean Bandit meld classical styles with heavy bass music for a new take on club trends. They'll be joined by indie popper Starley.
93. Undertones Featuring Erin Jorgensen
Musicians will perform a "surreal radio transmission from outer space" in a work organized by James Holt, combining Erin Jorgensen's marimba skills with Petra Zanki's visual art and dreamy alien vibes and whispers.
94. Zveri with Guests
Internationally acclaimed Russian pop-rock band Zveri will play its biggest and best hits from their seven studio albums with surprise special guests.
*These shows are sold out, but resale tickets may be available: Hippie Sabotage (March 4), Ben Gibbard with Sherman Alexie and Naomi Wachira (March 5), Lake Street Dive with Joey Dosik (March 15), Red Hot Chili Peppers (March 17), Japandroids, Craig Finn & The Uptown Controllers (March 18), Panic! At the Disco with MisterWives and Saint Motel (March 21), STRFKR with Psychic Twin (March 24), The Growlers (March 25), Diamanda Galás (March 31). Get all this and more on the free Stranger Things To Do mobile app—available now on the App Store and Google Play.