The Donkeys, Mostly Dimes
(Sunset) With Seattle’s resurgent love of folk rock, Cali quartet the Donkeys ought to receive a warm reception at the Sunset tonight. Their sophomore full-length, Living on the Other Side (Dead Oceans), should come with its own porch swing. Tinged with light, wistful melodies, twinkling guitars, and Richard Manuel–like organ coloration, the 11 songs here gently push those “I feel kinda bad but that’s somehow good” buttons. The music never rises above an easygoing amble and the tunes never really grab you by the collar and plant wet kisses on your ears. But the Donkeys possess a subtle charm that’ll appeal to those who think Band of Horses and Fleet Foxes bring too much drama to the table. DAVE SEGAL

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Earth
(Showbox Sodo) Nick Cave’s early outfit the Birthday Party were one of the greatest and most self-realized bands ever, and many of Cave’s records with the roster-shifting Bad Seeds, from 1984’s From Her to Eternity to 1996’s Murder Ballads, are imbued with the same kind of gonzo excellence. Their recent critically lauded “return to rawness” Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!, however, finds the crew a little less bad (in the Michael Jackson sense) and falling too frequently to self-aware rock ‘n’ roll tropes. Whether knowingly or not, the group seem to be pursuant of some of the modes that served long-careered rock stars of yore in their own latter years, to less-than-rewarding effect. SAM MICKENS

Opening for Nick Cave is Earth. The local doom-drone band is featured in this week’s music section—Dave Segal says they’re the best band to ever be named after a planet. Read it here.

And, as Eric Grandy pointed out earlier, the Pica Beats celebrate the release of their new album with a free, in-store performance at Sonic Boom in Ballard.

Looking for something else? Search through our comprehensive music listings right here.