This is a big weekend due to the Esurance® Capitol Hill Block Party alone. Tickets are not sold out yet; if nothing else, just by 'em at the door. But what to do if you want to avoid the Hill and the confluence of all those hipsters? Tonight, there's Ryan Adams at the Moore. He's no longer the junkie hot mess he used to be, so this time around he probably won't go nutso if......

Tuesday night at Neumos, local label Sarathan Records had a label showcase and record release party for the new Purrs album. This isn't to say that we've found other labels to be filled with assholes or anything, but Sarathan Records might have the nicest artist roster around. Everyone that took the stage seemed like the type that would help you fix a flat tire even if they were late for an appointment. We're not sure......

This week, we're tempted by David "Fathead" Newman's Tuesday and Wednesday gigs -- a tenor saxman who used to play with the Ray Charles Band, Newman is said to belong in the company of Coltrane and Getz. But Saturday night we were at the Triple Door for the Rocco DeLuca/Sierra Swan bill. It was a night like any other, until Rocco DeLuca and the Burden began playing. Sounding like the love child of Jeff Buckley......