OLYMPIA LIVE!

>>> Friday, Oct. 8

What an eclectic bill has been gathered together for Olympia Live! - a benefit show for young breast cancer survivors. You've got a little bit of everything here, from the country-fried rock of Rodeo Kill, to the jazz swing of the Jessica Blinn Quartet, to the warped psychedelia of Glass Elevator and the classic rock idolatry of the Hard Way - all your bases are pretty well covered. But the real treat of the event will be a special appearance from prolific songwriter, and slightly less prolific singer, Victoria Williams. Williams specializes in a sort of classicist folk with just a hint of weirdness lurking in the lyrics and in her light, wispy voice. This'll be an interesting show, and a worthy one, for those with diverse tastes. - Rev. Adam McKinney

[Capitol Theater, 8 p.m., $10 DOS, $5 advance, all ages, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia, 360.754.6670]

LOZEN

>>> Saturday, Oct. 9

I was talking to a man outside of The New Frontier recently, and he was telling me he likes alternative music and all, but can't really handle all the whining. "Like that annoying chick that sings about her feelings," he said. "Alanis Morissette?" I responded. "That's the one!" Well, drunken, bearded man, you will no doubt be happy to hear of an upcoming metal show at The New Frontier. It even features the most metal-est band name in these parts - Mahnhammer. But my money's on Lozen to be the showstopper, as always. The two-piece all-girl metal group seriously knows how to lay the shit down. I would hope that drunk dude would be smarter than to make an "annoying chick" comment around Lozen. - Rev. AM

[The New Frontier Lounge, with Mahnhammer, Hands of Toil, 9 p.m., cover TBA, 301 E. 25th St, Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

ULRICH SCHNAUSS

>>> Monday, Oct. 11

German über-producer Ulrich Schnauss is one of those artists who makes a very deliberate effort to cross-pollinate between genres and - most especially - blur the boundary lines between them. Schnauss' utopic IDM prefigures a world where shoegaze (in the tradition of chord-bending greats like the Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine and the Cocteau Twins) has settled into a comfortable life with contemporary, ambient-infused electronic ("they make such a cute couple!").  The Schnauss-ian progeny of this made-in-heaven pairing: explicitly euphoric melodies; gallons and gallons of reverb; and soundscapes so heavenly you'd swear you were having either a near-death experience or a serotonin overdose. Bottom line: even if electronic music "isn't your thing," you'll no doubt find Schnauss' tidal waves of sentimental nu-gaze awe-inspiring and profoundly soothing. - Jason Baxter

[The New Frontier Lounge, with Soundpool, special guests, 9 p.m., $15, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

MONOTONIX

>>> Wednesday, Oct. 13

The last time I saw Monotonix at The Brotherhood in Olympia it was off the hook. Hailing from Tel Aviv, Israel, this garage/jungle band puts on one hell of show. The band and their instruments first crowd surfed their way to the pool table, where singer Ami Shalev, in his Borat-style shorts, snuggled a pool ball between his butt cheeks as the crowd cheered. The band, still playing their catchy, quality songs, continued out the front door. Shalev then a climbed a tree, monkey swung over to the neon Brotherhood sign, and as he tried to make it to the roof, broke a piece of neon and crashed to the ground. Undeterred, the crowd moved out into the parking lot where Shalev had everyone lay on the concrete as they pounded out their finale.  I've never seen a happier, more alive crowd then after the Monotonix experience. - Nikki Talotta

[The Brotherhood Lounge, with Ty Segall, Zargent, Dub Narcotic Selectah, 9 p.m., $6, 119 Capitol Way N., Olympia, 360.352.4153.]