BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE, THE SEA AND CAKE
(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) The many-tentacled Broken Social Scene is not only still alive, kicking, and making relevant music, the Canadian powerhouse also still puts on one of the most energetic and downright inspiring live shows around. Check it and rep it. NOAH DUNHAM
ENVY, LA DISPUTE, TOUCHÉ AMORÉ, AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR
(Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE 39th) Screamo is a touchy subject. The term itself was coined in the 1990s to refer to emotionally gripping hardcore bands (Heroin, Swing Kids, Saetia) that steered away from traditionally metal- or youth-crew-leaning song structures, but was later (around 1999) co-opted by MTV2 buzz bands Taking Back Sunday and the Used (and many more) to label their catchy pop songs with melodramatic screamed choruses. This tour bridges the screamo divide. These days, longtime Japanese screamo quintet Envy lean more toward beautifully crafted post-rock, but tourmates TouchÉ AmorÉ and La Dispute write driving, emotive hardcore jams reminiscent of both Rites of Spring and Thursday. Sometimes you need to step down and meet in the middle. KEVIN DIERS
THE ACORN, LEIF VOLLEBEKK
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) The Acorn have made remarkable music before, but the Canadian band's latest, No Ghost, might be their best yet. Marrying forlorn folk melodies with the twang of Americana (or should that be Canadiana?) and fiery, rusted Crazy Horse guitars, the Acorn has found an assured place for their brave songwriting. In this incarnation, the band that the Acorn most reminds me of is Calexico—possessing a shade of that band's fearless experimentalism, but more importantly sharing their ease with wresting potent songs out of obscure instrumental parts and gnarled sonics. No Ghost is a tangle of thoughtful delights, the kind of record that could push the Acorn into the ears of a much wider audience—the place, no doubt, where they deserve to be. NED LANNAMANN
Suicidal Tendencies and Film School, as well as a link to the complete show listings, after the jump!