Son Volt

(Neumos) Jay Farrar's musical career is an ongoing search for the balance between the traditional and contemporary. With Uncle Tupelo, Farrar was the old-timey counterpoint to Jeff Tweedy's punk predilection. With his solo work, he's immersed his humble songwriting in unorthodox textures and production techniques. With Son Volt, he's amplified his craft and allowed his backing band to demonstrate their familiarity with both America's musical traditions and modern guitar rock. Yet throughout his varied projects, Farrar's stoic disposition and consistent yesteryear foundations bestow a true-blooded honesty upon his work, making him one of the most crucial and consistent singer-songwriters of the last 20 years. BRIAN COOK

Martin Bisi, the Curious Mystery, Strong Killings, Bill Horist

(Comet) There's something about Strong Killings that is absolutely lovable—they just play sloppy, strident punk rock that's nothing new, but their energetic approach is full of humor, with exaggerated and cartoony vocals and upbeat riffs. They're 100 percent sincere, but ultimately they're just having fun. They're like the Monkees... but dirtier. In fact, I bet if their goofy shit-talking ever got them in trouble (say, someone didn't appreciate being called a stupid punk, per their one-minute song "Stupid Punk"), Strong Killings would first try to joke themselves out of the fight and then, in a last-ditch effort, poke the angry guy in the eye and run around in circles while the guy chased after them and The Benny Hill Show theme song played in the background. MEGAN SELING

Champagne Champagne, Fresh Espresso, Spaceman, Grynch, the Physics, THEESatisfaction, DJ Darwin

(Crocodile) Spaceman, who, with D.Black and Fatal Lucciauno, is one of the main three rappers at the local hiphop label Sportn' Life Records, is a very colorful character, indeed. He has the ability to generate raw excitement and to captivate his audiences with his elastic and seemingly boundless energy. You will not miss him in a room packed with people. If you sense a lot of physical and psychic energy emanating from a part of the party, turn in that direction and you will most likely find Spaceman standing/rapping/dancing right there, with his crazy haircut, spacey sunglasses, and bold shirt. Although initially ambivalent about his style of rap (brash, in-your-face, surreal), I have grown to like it—his appearance on J.Pinder's new Pindergarten mixtape is really something else. I had to come to terms with Spaceman, and not the other way around. CHARLES MUDEDE

Eyehategod, Samothrace, Akimbo, Lesbian

(El Corazón) Only a city as gritty and swampy as New Orleans could birth a band like Eyehategod. While the rest of the punk/metal crossover crowd of the early '90s pined for a slot on Lollapalooza, Eyehategod slowed their tempos to a snail's pace and reveled in their self-destructive tendencies. Though many of their contemporaries were able to sell their particular blend of heavy riffage and punk spirit, these Louisiana boys were too doomy and too adversarial to win over sizable audiences. Though the band frequently lapses into years of inactivity, they're back on the scene and ready to bum people out in the best possible way. Hell, you know the touring headliner deserves serious respect when they land three of Seattle's heaviest hitters as openers. BRIAN COOK

John Doe, Jason Dodson

(High Dive) For someone named after an anonymous corpse, John Doe has led an unusually remarkable life. As a member of X, he helped create some of the most emotionally complex music ever gathered under the banner of punk. As a cast member of Road House, he helped create one of the most wonderfully ridiculous spectacles ever put to celluloid. As a tall, dark, handsome adult rocker dude with his shit together, he's given countless rocker-loving females an invaluable boyfriend archetype for when they're through with the hipster kiddies. And on his own, he's carried on a love affair with American music that continues to this day. Doe's most recent release is 2009's Country Club, a collection of country classics and new originals recorded with the Sadies. Tonight at the High Dive, Doe headlines a bill featuring the Maldives' Jason Dodson. DAVID SCHMADER

The Pharmacy, bbddm, Herr Jazz, Naomi Punk.

(Healthy Times Fun Club) The Pharmacy is back! Sort of. Over a year ago, the poppy, sloppy, fun punk-rock band left their longtime Pacific Northwest home for the greener pastures (and tasty beignets) of New Orleans. The quartet has returned to begin a post-Thanksgiving West Coast tour to promote their new CD. MEGAN SELING

And there's always more in our complete music calendar listings.