Michael Gira, Larkin Grimm
Michael Gira started out as a stentorian, horror-mongering frontman for his band Swans. In his Angels of Light and solo guises, he's gradually mellowed into a stark, end-times crooner somewhere between Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake. His pitiless lyrics and morose music put a death grip on your soul. Gira signed Larkin Grimm to his Young God label—her eccentric, intimate vocals; sexually frank lyrics; and weird-folk songcraft on the new Parplar prove her to be a worthy disciple. (Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave NW, 789-3599. 9 pm, $15, 21+.) DAVE SEGAL

Clues, City Center, Iji, the Camellias
(Vera Project) Clues are the new band from Alden Penner, aka that one guy from the Unicorns who didn't go on to form Islands following the former band's demise. Not much evidence of Clues exists out there so far, but one MP3, "Perfect Fit," hints that Clues will be hewing a lot closer to the Unicorns' haunted-organ-driven, cartoon psych pop than do any of ex-bandmate Nick Thorburn's many current projects. Keyboardist Bethany Or and drummer Brendan Reed (formerly of Arcade Fire) fill out Clues' lineup. Live, the trio appear to ricochet between hard-hitting, sinister ragers and sweetly odd pop ditties, and in fact, video clips of Clues performing live are making me really excited to see this band. Like, "forget about that last disappointing Islands record" excited. And then some. ERIC GRANDY

Lambchop, Anna Coogan
(Triple Door) Kurt Wagner and his revolving-door big band Lambchop have been making codeined-out alt-country music for 15 years. These Nashvillians have got their spare, moody art down pat. Lambchop will be supporting their latest album, the intimate yet lush OH (ohio), tonight. On that disc, Wagner pens a mellow, laggard paean to a pencil titled "A Hold of You." "This pencil has a nice feel to it," he begins. Genius. DAVE SEGAL

And what else is tonight? Grudge Rock at Re-bar!

Woo! See the rest of our listings here.