Can't Miss It: Thursday

PRO: Over the last ten years Los Angeles label ANTI-Records has been home to some of pop music’s rawest singers. Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Joe Strummer, Man Man, and Spoon have all released albums on Epitaph’s more-mature-sister label. Bettye LaVette and Marianne Faithful also call ANTI home, and so it makes perfect sense that rhythm and blues legend Mavis Staples has released her last two albums for the label. Staples has been identified by her soulful wails and low, smoky voice since the early 60s when The Staple Singers released album after album of remarkable early r&b and gospel music. Mavis Staples had it then, that gruffness and rawness often emulated but rarely matched, even by ANTI’s younger crooners, and she still has it in 2010. Enjoy this video of a live performance in 1971 of “When Will We Be Paid.”

7:30 p.m. // Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley // $35

NORTH BY SOUTHWEST: Turns out this South By Southwest thing is kind of a big deal. We can see why -- over a thousand bands in more than 80 music venues, a film festival and a million interactive events in only four days in Texas’ sunny March. Austinist, you lucky ducks. Seattle will represent at this year’s fest, as always, but before our dear bands go, we need to send them off with our blessings. SXSW is such a big that cities all over the country celebrate the festival with send off parties before it begins. Tractor Tavern hosts Seattle’s biggest send off with a mini-fest featuring various performers Dyme Def, Thee Emergency, Grynch, Pearly Gates Music and TheeSatisfaction.

9 p.m. // Tractor Tavern // $10

WINDY JIG: Nary a Broadway musical revival has been as successful as Chicago. The production first appeared in 1975 and ran for two years, but it saw the bulk of its success after its 1996 revival, which led to a lengthy run in London’s West End, an Oscar winning film version, and a Grammy Award winning cast recording. Pay the person who thought to bring Chicago back. They deserve it. The musical has been an international success and has made itself a household name with widely recognized songs, dance numbers, costumes, and -- you know -- all that Jazz. Sorry, we had to do it.

7:30 p.m. // Paramount Theatre // $30-$60