Music Picks Sept. 11-17 | Live: Blitzen Trapper, Drew Danburry, Slam the Vote, The Rosewood Thieves, Ra Ra Riot & Walter Meego 

Thursday 9.11
BLITZEN TRAPPER
Blitzen Trapper just keep getting better and better. The Portland sextet emerged from the underground/in-the-know hipster realm in 2007 with their self-released Wild Mountain Nation, an LP that kicked out a bunch of countrified jams with devil-may-care gusto. The album’s title track alone delivered enough oomph to establish the boys as DIY rockers to watch. Now on Sub Pop, BT has taken advantage of the label’s support and amped up production value without getting all slick or milquetoast. The new Furr is, well, delightful. While a steady undercurrent reminiscent of The Band surges throughout, its 13 tracks are chock full of variety. Upbeat rustic folk merges into a delicate harmonica/piano ballad; sloppy classic rock & roll precedes a funky DJ Shadow-worthy groove. The album evokes a bright ’70s pop sheen on the smooth as fuck “Saturday Nite,” a nice, down-home complement to Starland Vocal Band’s “Afternoon Delight,” with groovy make-out keys and knee-slapping banjo bringing it all the way home. Whew! Can you dig it? Yeah? Catch BT tonight and again in Torrey on Sunday. Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com

• Also Thursday: X96 4-Play (Avalon); Paul Thorn (Pat’s BBQ); Under the Drone (Burt’s Tiki Lounge)

Friday 9.12
DREW DANBURRY CD RELEASE
Drew Danburry wears his heart on his sleeve, and on his blog, of course—but don’t take that the wrong way. The former Utah artist comes across as genuine and sensitive in his online scribbles as he does in his lo-fi indie-folk and pop songs, most of which strike a pretty chord somewhere between Pavement and Sufjan Stevens. Danburry clearly admires the latter artist’s penchant for lengthy song titles (“I Won’t Believe in True Love Unless Micah Marries Camille,” “Red Rock Virgin’s Encounter With Winter Nights”) but crafts material that’s wholly distinct and largely unpolished. Danburry isn’t perfect—and he doesn’t pretend to be. Plus, after two or three listens to each song, one inevitably gets caught up in your head. Pick up a copy of his new Emergency Umbrella release and see for yourself. Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com

SLAM THE VOTE
Barack Obama and John McCain believe the children are our future—and their ticket to the White House. Both of the presidential hopefuls’ campaigns are largely focused on snagging that crucial youth vote, with Obama holding a significant edge over his rival thanks to his camp’s seemingly stronger command of modern communications technology (texting, social-networking sites, rotary telephones, the phonograph). But, just because politicians think the youth are going to hit the polls in droves doesn’t mean their target audience is equally engaged in the 2008 election. With that in mind, Spy Hop Productions, ACLU of Utah and Equality Utah have joined forces to organize Slam the Vote, a nonpartisan all-ages evening designed to educate and inspire first-time voters, longtime voters and apathetic naysayers. DJ Divine will host an open poetry slam, with music between sets by DJ Tri. Local hip-hop artists Blue Collar Theory featuring DJ Goobers’ nimble turntable skills close out the night—perhaps performing their inspired feminist jam “XXY” in keeping with the event’s positive, equal-opportunity vibe. Spy Hop, 511 W. 200 South, 7 p.m. All-ages. Free.

THE ROSEWOOD THIEVES
When The Rosewood Thieves make the best out of a bad situation, more often than not, they wind up with a new song. Such was the case with tracks off the 2007 release Lonesome, most of which they wrote while holed up in a family member’s home, weathering a winter storm. The new Rise & Shine was culled from restless nights, tossing and turning, fending off nightmares. But the result is surprisingly warm; comforting. In good times and otherwise, the Brooklyn quintet maintains a signature sound—jingle-jangle classic rock and pop with John Lennon rage and flair. It’s dreamy and smart and timeless. Curl up with Rise & Shine at home, sitting near a window, with the sun warming your skin. And tonight, in the setting summer sun. Burt’s Tiki Lounge, 726 S. State, 9 p.m.

• Also Friday: The Heyday, Mesa Drive, Ask For the Future (Solid Ground Café); SLUG Localized: Vile Blue Shades, Fuck The Informer (Urban Lounge); SuperSoFar CD Release (Club Vegas); Him & The Nouns (Spur Bar, Park City); BT (Harry O’s, Park City); Nick Jaina, The Black Hens (Rim Rock Patio, Torrey)

Saturday 9.13
TV on the Radio, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (In the Venue—Read Article); Drew Danburry, RuRu (Music Music, Provo); Sweatshop Union, Sinthesis, Scenic Byway (Urban Lounge); Miles Hunt (Bar Deluxe)

Sunday 9.14
Foals (Kilby Court—Read Article); Coyote Hoods (Urban Lounge); Blitzen Trapper (Rim Rock Patio, Torrey)

Monday 9.15
CSS, Tilly & the Wall (In the Venue); Tokyo Police Club (Urban Outfitters); Git Some, God’s Revolver (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); Eek-a-Mouse (Urban Lounge)

Tuesday 9.16
Rancid (In the Venue); Motif Onyx, All Time Ending, Triggers & Slips (Urban Lounge); Staci Grimm (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); Saviours (Club Vegas); Everlast (Bar Deluxe)

Wednesday 9.17
RA RA RIOT, WALTER MEEGO
It’s crazy what a little expert engineering can do for a band’s sound. Ra Ra Riot’s initial self-titled EP piqued widespread interest on the strength of solid songwriting, gorgeous cello and violin, a tragic back story and subsequent resolution to keep on keeping on. The eponymous release, however, felt a bit flat. The Syracuse, N.Y.-based indie-pop band has since produced a full-length debut that is more complete and richer sounding than their previous effort. Even the few EP tracks making an encore on The Rhumb Line hit harder with a lush, well-rounded quality absent from the originals (see: “Ghosts Under Rocks,” “Dying Is Fine”). Keep an eye on these guys. Also on the bill, electronic indie dance sensation Walter Meego. Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com

• Also Wednesday: Rancid (In the Venue); SLAJO (Urban Lounge); War on Everything Tour 2008 (Club Vegas); Subrosa, Invaders (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); Tolchock Trio (Main Library); Curtis Peoples, Tony Lucca (Why Sound, Logan)

Coming Up
Redfest: Matisyahu, Brother Ali (University of Utah, Sept. 18); Geoff Tate (The Depot, Sept. 18); Toby Keith (Usana Amphitheatre, Sept. 20); People Under the Stairs (Urban Lounge, Sept. 21); Lindsey Buckingham (Depot, Sept. 22); Throw Rag (Avalon, Sept. 23); TSOL (Burt’s Tiki Lounge, Sept. 25); Deadbolt (Bar Deluxe, Sept. 26); X96 Big Ass Show (Usana Amphitheater, Sept. 27); Silver Jews (Urban Lounge, Oct. 4); Nikka Costa (In the Venue, Oct. 6)