Electro-Pop: Matmos released their new record, Supreme Balloon, to acclaim back on May 6. The Baltimore-based pop/electronica duo have moved away from the conceptual electronic compositions of their earlier work and deliver a record of "cosmic pop" deliciousness. Check out the song "Rainbow Flag" [mp3] here, and check out the band down at the Triple Door tonight. 8 p.m. // 216 Union St. // $20 (+ don't forget about the Triple Door's seating policy) Guilty......

The Budos Band opened up the night in style! Photo by Seattlest's Abbey Simmons. The Saturday Knights/Budos Band show at Nectar on Friday night was sold out by 9:30 p.m., as in guest lists closed, no further entrance, and crowds of people partying outside the gates. Seattlest arrived at a normally respectable hour of 10:45 p.m. to find the Budos Band's shiny brass horns blaring, congo drums thumping, and every inch of Nectar packed with......

THAT'S SO DOPE: Dope Emporium is a free festival of all things hiphop: DJs, MCs, spoken word artists, graffiti artists, and more. It's going down as part of Artopia, an arts extravaganza in the extremely dope neighborhood of Georgetown, so hop on a bus and experience some of the best Seattle hiphop has to offer. Our picks: Candidt, Orbitron, B-Girl Bench, Waves of the Mind and Dim Mak. Hot! 2 p.m. - 10 p.m.,......

It may not feel like summer in Seattle, but tomorrow afternoon is The End's Summer Camp II at Marymoor Park. It's a mix of the good (Nada Surf, MGMT), the bad (Flogging Molly, Pennywise), and the emo-ey (Armor for Sleep). Meanwhile, all weekend long Noise for the Needy marches on, raising money for Urban Rest Stop. Come tomorrow night, it's Matt and Kim, YACHT, and local band Feral Children at Neumo's. Here's a clip of......

Tonight, if you're not already at a SIFF film or checking out "Awesome" with side projects Jose Bold and the Half Brothers at the Sunset, head to the Comet to see local Mazzy Star-on-psychedelics Half Light. They're touring off their new album Sleep More, Take More Drugs, Do Whatever We Want. Tomorrow, the Honda Civic Tour brings Panic at the Disco, Motion City Soundtrack, The Hush Sound, Phantom Planet, and a couple thousand emo kids......

REALLY GOOD DOCUMENTARY: Here's yet another reason that SIFF has won the loyalty of Seattle's filmgoers, They Killed Sister Dorothy, a terse, refreshingly un-preachy documentary that attempts to unravel the mystery behind the murder of an American nun in the Brazilian rainforest. 4:30 p.m. // Harvard Exit // $9-11 SUPPORTING LOCAL GROWERS: Sometimes you want fresh basil in the middle of the week. Unlike most of the farmers markets in Seattle, the Colombia City farmers......

If you're not spending this weekend SIFFing or Sasquatching or otherwise out of town for the three-day weekend, there's plenty of live music for those who spend the holiday in Seattle. Tonight, instrumental Chicago rockers Pelican play the Showbox SoDo. No need to stay for headliners Thrice, just these guys: Or if you like your rock with more synthesizers, head to Nectar for the Presets.......

Don't call it a comeback, but the Cherry Poppin' Daddies have a new album out (Susquehanna) after a nearly ten-year hiatus. The '90s swing revival band plays two shows tonight at the Triple Door. Seems like local quartet Lucy Bland play a show every weekend. Tonight the blip-happy electro-pop band are at the Comet, and coming up at the High Dive, they're on the bill for the one of the many Noise for the Needy......

As previously mentioned, tonight's Wig Bash at the High Dive, as well as the second, final, and sold-out performance of Nada Surf at the Showbox. Also sold out: Springsteen at Key Arena Saturday. But never fear, there's still other options out there, like Golem at Nectar tomorrow night. We don't know much about them, but we've heard that the six-piece klezmer band play "Eastern European drinking songs" and that they're "fun as hell." That's enough......

Last weekend was dead, so of course this weekend there's approximately one bajillion bands playing. We've already mentioned Kaki King, Dengue Fever, and Born Ruffians, so here's the other weekend shows of interest: Tonight, Boredoms will be at Neumo's for their first show in Seattle in thirteen years. Though Pitchfork describes them as a "beauty and noise machine," it's pretty clear that, at least live, they're heavier on the noise than the beauty. Some clips......

Nectar was packed full of hiphop fans anticipating the power line-up on Saturday night. Macklemore, back from a tour in Europe, headlined in a masterful performance with special guests XPerience (out of Olympia) and Evan Roman; The Physics glowed with bright enthusiasm through their streamlined set; JFK of Grayskul (and his shaggy-haired little brother!) rocked some of his solo work, and we finally got to hear Wizdom do his thing. Wiz's solid work was......

Friday's show at Nectar Lounge was a great showcase for both classic and fresh, emerging talents in local hiphop. Alpha P, a gratifyingly professional, unflaggingly high-spirited crew of twelve headlining the show, were working NW underground hiphop in the 90s; the other acts on the bill included Tacoma-based Jay Barz (a raucus party act, himself), pissed-off Neema of Unexpected Arrival, fast-talking Premonition and the bulging vein on his neck, and charismatic story-teller Kublakai--interviewed by......

Seattle hiphop artist Kublakai (aka Ian Waller) released The Basics in early January, and we've happily kept tracks from the record such "Oh Lord" and "Power Food" in our frequent playlist rotation ever since. This week, Kublakai talked to Seattlest in an exclusive about jazz, Snoop Dogg, his mom, a budding film career, and more! What kind of music did you listen to during your growing up years? What was the first record you......

George Porter (of The Meters) and his band, Porter Batiste Stoltz, are descending upon Fremont's Nectar Lounge tonight, providing you with the opportunity to experience legendary New Orleans dirty funk right here in Seattle. Porter was the bass player for the original Meters back in the '60s and '70s. Russell Batiste, Jr., and Brian Stoltz jumped on the funk train with Porter in The Meters' late '80s reincarnation--the Funky Meters. George Porter, Jr.'s, bass is......

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......

In terms of live music, this weekend is rather Friday-heavy. Kick things off early at a free happy hour (5pm) show at Nectar with Siberian and Pseudosix, featuring members of The Decemberists, Dolorean, and The Joggers. Just a taste of what can occur when the Portland supergroup plays: Tonight there's also Apple Jam at the Triple Door, a Beatles tribute to benefit Music Works. The first show (7:30pm) is sold out, but the late one......