DS Picks: Upcoming Live Music

This is designed as a resource primarily for my Seattle-area readers. However, for those of you in other cities but still interested in seeing these bands, I am including a link to the full tour itinerary and dates for each band as well. Each show included is hand-selected and is ranked from * to ***** depending on how talented the artist is and how good of a live show they are likely to put on (based on quality of their last album and reputation as a live act). Hope to see you all at the shows!

Thurs, 2/4/10
Haiti Relief Benefit Show Starring Common Market
Genre: Hip Hop, Breakdancing
Neumos, $10, all-ages, ALL PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
Ranking: *** This Seattle emcee has talent and energy and is breaking out nationally.
Sample Song: Common Market - Connect For
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Tour Dates

Fri, 2/5/10
Eyedea and Abilities
Genre: Hip Hop, DJ
Nectar, $10, all-ages (early show)
Ranking: ** The emcee is nice and the DJ is INSANE in his ability to mimic the flows with his turntable.
Sample Song: Eyedea and Abilities - Glass
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Tour Dates

Thurs, 2/18/10
Swollen Members
Genre: Hip Hop
Neumos, FREE, 21+
Ranking: *** British Columbia emcees have mastered fantastic wordplay.
Sample Song: Swollen Members - Black Magic
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Tour Dates

Sat, 2/20/10
Ruff Gemz - DJ Fucking In The Streets, Sam Rousso Sound System
Genre: DJ/Dance
Lo-Fi, Free before 9pm, 21+
Ranking: **** Music Editor from The Stranger and other scenesters mix, scratch and mash-up every hot indie and pop track you've been digging over earth-rattling bass in a performance space that is too hip for you. Stay tuned, usually happens 3rd Saturday of every month. Hipster quotient high.
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Tues, 2/23/10
Four Tet
Genre: Instrumental Electronica
Chop Suey, $12, 21+
Rating: * Just released a solid album, but unsure how it will translate to a live show.
Sample Song: Four Tet - Love Cry
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Tour Dates

Wed, 2/24/10
Goodie Mob (Incl. Cee-Lo of Gnarls Barkley)
Genre: Hip Hop, Funk, Soul
Neumos, $20, 21+
Ranking: *** High-energy original ATL crew are on a reunion tour. Read about them here.
Sample Song: Goodie Mob - Black Ice
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Tour Dates

Fri, 3/19/10
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists
Genre: Guitar-dominated Indie Rock
Neumos, $14, all-ages
Ranking: ** Talented guitarist, songwriter whose style is retro like Mellencamp or Springsteen
Sample Song: Ted Leo - Biomusicology
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Tour Dates

Sun, 3/21/10
Metric
Genre: Indie Rock, Riot Grrl
Showbox SoDo, $22.
Ranking: * If this is all-ages, it could get pretty young in here - they blew up big last year.
Sample Song: Metric - Help I'm Alive
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Tour Dates

Thu, 3/25/10
Electric Six
Genre: Disco-Rock
Chop Suey, $12, 21+
Rating: *** Known for hits "Danger! High Voltage" and "Gay Bar," these guys aren't a band with much nuance or variety but they are known for a hard-hitting live show.
Sample Song: Electric Six - Danger! High Voltage
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Tour Dates

Sun, 3/28/10
Bear In Heaven
Genre: Indie Rock, Shoegaze
Crocodile Cafe, $10, 21+
Ranking: * 2009 debut album was strong, but no guarantee they are a good live show yet.
Sample Song: Bear In Heaven - Lovesick Teenager
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Tour Dates

Wed, 3/31/10
Washed Out, Small Black
Genre:  Glo-Fi, Dream-Pop
Vera Project, all-ages
Ranking: ** Unsure how it will translate to a live setting.
Sample Song: Washed Out - Feel It All Around
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Tour Dates

Fri, 4/2/10
The Morning Benders
Genre: Chamber-Pop
Crocodile Cafe, $10, 21+
Ranking: **** Saw them live opening for Grizzly Bear, very pretty show.
Sample Song: The Morning Benders - Excuses
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Tour Dates

Fri and Sat, 4/9/10 and 4/10/10
Jonsi
Genre: Orchestral singer-songwriter
Showbox SoDo, $27, 21+
Ranking: ? Lead singer of Sigur Ros has only leaked one track from his forthcoming debut solo album. Good song, but still a mystery project.
Sample Song: Jonsi - Boy Lilikoi
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Tour Dates

Fri and Sat, 4/9/10 and 4/10.10
Spoon
Genre: Indie Rock
Moore Theater, $27.50, all-ages
Ranking: *** Great band, good album, tight but understated live show.
Sample Song: Spoon - I Turn My Camera On
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Tour Dates

Sat, 4/10/10
Rogue Wave
Genre: Indie Rock
Neumos, $15, 21+
Ranking: *** Quality indie songwriters reminiscent of labelmates The Shins.
Sample Song: Rogue Wave - Kicking The Heart Out
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Tour Dates

Sun, 4/11/10
RJD2, Busdriver
Genre: Instrumental Hip Hop, Electronica, Hip Hop
Neumos, $15, 21+
Ranking: *** Talented producer tours after a solid album, accompanied by lightning-tongued rapper.
Sample Song: RJD2 f/Vast Aire - Tippin Dominoes
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Tour Dates

Mon, 4/12/10
Beach House
Genre: Dream-Pop, Glo-Fi
Neumos, $13, 21+
Ranking: ***** Newest album is amazing and could be transcendent live.
Sample Song: Beach House - Norway
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Tour Dates

Thu, 4/15/10
Florence and The Machine
Genre: Indie Soul
Showbox At The Market, $19, all-ages
Ranking: **** Huge soul voice like Amy Winehouse, varied and well-written debut album nabbed the #11 song of my 2009 year-end countdown.
Sample Song: Florence and The Machine - You've Got The Love
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Tour Dates

Tues, 4/20/10
Yeasayer, Sleigh Bells
Genre: Undefinable (Tribal, Freak-Folk, Electro-Clash?)
Neumos, $15, all-ages
Ranking: ***** Yeasayer's new album is fantastic, Sleigh Bells wrote my #1 song of last year and is my most anticipated release of this year.
Sample Songs: Yeasayer - Ambling Alp, Sleigh Bells - Crown On The Ground
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Tour Dates

Sat, 5/8/10
Owen Pallett
Genre: High-Concept Neo-Classical Indie Rock
Crocodile Cafe, $13, 21+
Ranking: ** Intriguing but probably even weirder live than on record - will he go on stage in character as Lewis, the fighting farmer from an alternate universe?
Sample Song: Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes Action
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Tour Dates

Sat, 5/15/10
Shout Out Louds
Genre: Indie Pop
Neumos, $12, 21+
Ranking: ** Hook-filled indie pop, tends to blend together but they recently introduced a tropical touch.
Sample Song: Shout Out Louds - Walls
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Tour Dates