Live Around Town This Week

Shabazz Palaces - photo by Brittney Bush Bollay

Not a lot going on this week because of the holidays, but that’s not to say there aren’t a few noteworthy shows worth checking out. Click here for details on the various holiday-themed benefits taking place over the course of the next few weeks.

Tuesday, December 21

4 THE LOVE OF MUSIC CD RELEASE PARTY @ Neumos

This near all-inclusive showcase of local hip hop will serve as the CD release party for 4 The Love of Music, a compilation featuring the artists performing and other local hip hop notables (Sir-Mix-A-Lot). Also of note is that proceeds of Sailor Jerry’s Rum will go to the Boys & Girls club, so…order Sailor Jerry’s Rum. You’re getting drunk anyway, what’s the difference? Support a good cause.

Oh yeah, and the artists scheduled to perform are Shabazz Palaces, Macklemore, Mad Rad, Mash Hall, THEESatisfaction, Champagne, Champagne, Draze, Cloud Nice, Meez, Run-a-Way Slaves, Stay Hi Brothers, and Young Fast.

(8 pm, $15, 21+)

Wednesday, December 22

UNNATURAL HELPERS with The Intelligence, Dancer & Prancer @ The Crocodile

No-frills indie rockers Unnatural Helpers and The Intelligence put out two of the Northwest’s best albums of this year in Cracked Love And Other Drugs and Males respectively, and they’ll be closing out the year together in what will be a great pairing at The Crocodile...and it’s free! (8 pm, FREE w/ RSVP, 21+)

JUS MONI with Brothers From Another, Big World Breaks, Rocky Rivera, WD4D @ Chop Suey

Local soulful R&B singer JusMoni will be having a CD release party for her new album Ready For Life, the cover of which parodies Biggie’s Ready To Die, Wednesday at Chop Suey. (8 pm, $8 adv/$10 dos, all ages - bar w/ ID)

SHANE TUTMARC & THE TRAVELING MERCIES with Betsy Olson, The Grandtours @ The Tractor Tavern

Soulful Seattle-born country bluesman Shane Tutmarc will be providing The Tractor’s pre-Christmas entertainment. Tutmarc has relocated to Nashville since fronting Dolour for nearly ten years, and released his solo debut Shouting at A Silent Sky in 2009. He’ll be at the Tractor with his band The Traveling Mercies. (9 pm, $7, 21+)

Shane Tutmarc - photo by Jim Bennett

THE DATING POOL with Spillway, Aztec, Smile For Diamond @ The Comet

Spillway made their way to Seattle from Dallas via New York, and after a few listens it seems like they’ve finally found their proper musical home - their primal, utterly uninhibited vocals and wandering, guitar-centered melodies bring to mind Modest Mouse. They’re far too diverse to be pigeonholed, however, and all their songs are unique and richly-textured journeys unto themselves. Quirky and synth-y, high-spirited four piece The Dating Pool will be headlining. (9 pm, 21+)

Saturday, December 25

CHRISTMAS MORNING @ Your Living Room

(8 am, FREE, all ages)

Sunday, December 26

STATE OF THE ARTIST with Bad Ass Yella Boys, Kung Foo Grip, DJ 100 Proof @ The Nectar

Spend only a fraction of that Christmas money to see local hip hop trio State of the Artist headline a full slate of hip hop at Neumos. Here’s SOTA performing for KEXP at the Caffe Vita Bean Room at this year’s Capitol Hill Block Party:

(7:30, $5, all ages - bar w/ ID)