We first heard of Nellie McKay as a folkie singer-songwriter/piano player, but her latest effort sees her doing some more ambitious big band work. It makes us think of James Bond film scores or maybe musical theater from the '70s. It's fun, that's what matters. It's also thoughtful and lyrically driven stuff that occasionally breaks into raps and chants, kind of spoken word stuff that's equal parts ranty and politically sound. Just check it for......

"HISTORY IS ABOUT TO CRACK OPEN": Angels in America may be one of the most moving plays we've ever seen, and it's being reprised in Seattle for the second weekend in a row, before ending its run next week. The performance of the play's first part, "Millenium Approaches," is being performed by Absurd Reality Theatre at the Bagley Wright, in the small theater. May we suggest you head out to the theater and catch a......

If you've still yet to hear about the Everybodyfields, the only thing you should worry about at this point is getting a ticket to see them at the Tractor on Thursday. We love them for their tight knit harmonies and their nanananas, but also for everything else, really. They're part of that Ramseur Records Carolina/Tennessee new folk scene going on (think of label mates the Avett Brothers, Carolina Chocolate Drops, and Bombadil). They'll be appearing......

Boy, we wish we'd heard about this one sooner, before we tied ourselves to the Block Party. Nicole Atkins writes lovely, singer-songwritery tunes backed exquisitely by the busy-but-purposeful accompaniment of her backup band, aptly named the Sea. She's also gorgeous and has a voice the size of Manhattan, and the smarts to know how to control it, when to back off, when to let it rip. Check it: 10 p.m. // Triple Door // $20......

HIPPIES UNITE: Innovative guitarist/singer/songwriter Keller Williams is a mainstay on the jamfolk scene and, much like Yonder Mountain Stringband (also on the bill tonight), is responsible for inspiring throngs of hippies to bounce and twirl. We've never caught him live, but we understand he puts on quite the show. He'll be at Marymoor tonight, blowing some minds. 7 p.m. // Marymoor Park // $29.50 IT TOOK A LOT OF MONEY TO START MY HEART: If......

NOT BURLESQUE: Columbia City Theater is a really great room to watch singer-songwriters do their thing. Tonight, the room will host a CD release party for the exquisitely talented Shenandoah Davis, featuring special guest Molly Rose, and others. Grab a drink and kick back in the old Vaudeville theater for a night of introspective, arty songwriting. 8 p.m. // Columbia City Theater // $10 I FEEL THE NEED, THE NEED FOR SPEED: Pacific Science Center's......

Tonight, the banjos will be taking over Benaroya Hall. We think there's a banjo joke in there somewhere, but it's too early on a Monday morning to come up with it. Instead, we'll just sell you on the legendary Earl Scruggs, who's responsible for that three-finger picking style Seattlest prefers when attacking the famously untunable instrument. We caught Scruggs at the IBMA awards last year, and we can vouch for the fact that he's still......

The Shins at last year's Bumbershoot, courtesy of Seattlest Flickr user Andrew G. Davis MSN has listed 15 of the best cities and festivals for music lovers, citing Bumbershoot as the reason they clocked Seattle in at the number two spot. We come in behind only Memphis, ahead of Chicago, Tokyo, London, Vienna, and Los Angeles. New York City was number 9, Nashville made the cut at number 12, and New Orleans—arguably the best place......

TAKE OFF YOUR SHIRT: Thursday night at R Place = Amateur Strip Show. Head out, show us what you've got, and maybe you'll walk away $200 richer. Second and third place prizes are $100 and $50, respectively. Then, once you've won, buy everyone in the room a round of drinks, and then stick around for a dance party courtesy of DJ Flo'w. After all, no work tomorrow, right? 9 p.m. // R Place // Free......

SCIENCE WITH A TWIST: We've always had fun at the Pacific Science Center's monthly events for adults. If you enjoy science and drinking, you can't get much better than this. This month's event is focused around their new exhibit, Speed, and a drink they're calling the "Turbo Charger." Win tickets to the new Batman movie, watch a speed-themed movie on the IMAX screen, and eat and drink to your heart's content. 6 p.m. Happy Hour,......

HOT! SHORTS! SUNBURN! SPRING!: Or should we say "SUMMER!"? It's going to be hot and sunny and clear today. You can do something with that, or you can sit under a tree and do nothing. Just put on some shorts and a tank top while you do whatever it is you do to revel under father sky. We wanna see some skin in Cal Anderson Park today. Also, skin will likely be visible at......

We understand May 17 is opening night for the Storm—an event that'll be drawing the attention of a majority of lady-lovin' ladies. But for the rest of us who don't care about basketball, who don't drool over Sue Bird, and for all the straight folks and gay men, there is something else going on that night: Ellis. Not only is she incredibly hot, she's also one of those artists who, 10 minutes into her......

Austin-based band Monahans do to music what poetry does to words. Tonight, they'll bring their stylin' tunes to the Tractor. Also on the bill is local songwriter J. Tillman and the very pretty Zera Marvel. We called up Monahans frontman Greg last week during their brief stint with the Cowboy Junkies to find out why he thinks people should come to tonight's show. 9 p.m. // Tractor Tavern // $7 Where are you right......

As much as Ray LaMontagne blew us away his last time through town, even more enduring is the memory of David Ford's opening performance. Ford opens again tomorrow night at the Showbox, supporting his new Songs for the Road album. We love his previous album title: I Sincerely Apologise for All the Trouble I've Caused—a clue that this British singer/songwriter's music can be melancholy and reflective, yet sometimes surprisingly uplifting, like in "Cheer Up (You......

The Seattle Men's Chorus has announced its 2008-09 season and it includes (gay gasp!) Debbie Reynolds. As a girlfriend of ours (the platonic kind) noted, "I bet those men about had a heart attack." Also in the 08-09 season: a Christmas concert called Fruitcake which, according to the press release, will be "soaked in spirits; with a bit of spice, nuts, and fruit tossed in for fun." The release also said the show will......

The Starlings—a band that started with Joy Mills and her husband Tomm but has since grown into a solid foursome—have spent the last couple of years forging their way through the local music scene, touring now and then. This Saturday, they'll celebrate the release of their second independent release, Marvelling the While—a wonderful collection of country-pop-and-blues-infused Americana that further solidifies their rootsy sound. The party's at the Tractor, where all rootsy CD releases tend......

This is going to be a damn good weekend, snow or no. And, it all starts tonight with Jack Wilson and the Wifestealers at the Sunset. Tomorrow, we've got Sera Cahoone's CD release party at the Tractor, celebrating the release of her awesome new disc Only As the Day is Long (SubPop). And then, the whole weekend will round off with Bob Schneider at Chop Suey. We're happy about all this because we love all......

Take a break from harrowing five-year Iraq war retrospectives and political sex scandals to see the lovely Johanna Kunin and DC's These United States at the Sunset tonight! The first time we went to see Johanna Kunin, we left practically purring with satisfaction. We expect tonight to be no different. Kunin uses dreamy, hypnotic loops and mind-buzzingly beautiful harmonies to lull you into your happy place. These United States' songs are layered and intricate, with......

No, Seattle, you didn't read that headline or poster wrong. There are plans in the works to turn Seattle's venerable dive bar, the Blue Moon, into a warm and welcoming womb tomorrow night. The Blue Moon has been described as many many things--but warm, welcoming, and womb-like have probably never been used in its 70+ years of business. However, considering the guys behind this great band picture are designing the womb, we have the......

A red-bereted, beaming man with diamond-encrusted glasses stepped onto Chop Suey's stage last night around 11pm and shouted, "ChhhhyeLOWWW!" "ChhhyeLOWWW," the delighted crowd screamed back at Mistah F.A.B. It's no mystery why F.A.B.'s so popular. His swooping, playful, sharp music reminds us of nothing more than driving down a busy California six-lane boulevard on one of those stunningly hot summer days, though our sense of heat and motion might have been coming from the writhing,......

Things are pretty dead, what with all the local music folk in Austin. Here's your limited options: Saturday night, everybody's favorite Portland country-blues-punkabilly duo Hillstomp brings their buckets and slide guitar to the Tractor for what's sure to be a rambunctious rainy night in Ballard. Sunday night, Manchester Orchestra (neither from Manchester, nor an orchestra) plays Neumo's. We could not give a good goddamn about the other three bands on the bill (including headliners Say......

We usually stay pretty hog-tied to the folk and roots music world, but a year or so ago, we found ourselves volunteering to cover a show at Neumo's featuring Common Market and The Coup. Hot damn! That was a good show. The Coup is back in town tonight for a set at Nectar in Fremont. Think of a mix between Public Enemy and Prince. Check it: 9 PM // Nectar Lounge // $12......

We've already mentioned this weekend's Pyramid Alehouse Snowed In Party, featuring the Presidents of the USA (tonight) and the Dandy Warhols (tomorrow). Tonight, there's also Black Dice bringing their wall o' noise to the Vera Project. A lot of shows tomorrow night, starting with MTV-buzzworthy Minus the Bear, along with Helio Sequence and Grand Archives, at the Showbox. There's also Seattlest's favorite kick-ass female foursome the Trucks at the High Dive, and the lush pop-folk......

"We know you're not assholes," said Carl Newman at the Showbox on Saturday night, "so don't do asshole things." Seattlest doesn't go to a lot of concerts -- we never did, and once parenthood embraced us we tend to invest in babysitters for stuff like movies and restaurants. There's less thrill in staying up until 1:30 when you know, no matter what, that 7:00 would be sleeping in. But the New Pornographers? Frankly, Seattlest......

Has the EMP ever looked better? If so, we missed it, but kenyee snagged the view, then tagged his photo "seattlest" on Flickr. Thanks for sharing, kenyee. We've noticed more and more gorgeous photos showing up in the lefthand column under the Latest photo: header. And we want more. More! MORE! So we started a Seattlest Flickr group. Join up, share your photos, and we'll use as many of the great ones as we......

What's Seattlest doing this weekend? What isn't Seattlest doing this weekend? Disconsolate about Rainier Beach losing in the state tournament last night, Seth doesn't know if he can even face the world. If he does, it will be to see star Husky gymnast Kelly McDonald in her final college meet. Sunday he thanks God for being seemingly invisible to the opposite sex, because he has no girlfriend to drag him to an Oscar party. Matt......

Seattlest drives by 2200 Denny Way every day and is anxiously anticipating the grand new structure with a Whole Foods and other retail shops that the neighborhood desperately needs. We have noticed the little modern structure across the street that seemed to have sprung up overnight. It’s large windows glow mysteriously at night. Turns out it is Paul Allen’s Vulcan Discovery Center where you can both purchase a condo or view the models of plans......