There’s just no stopping Bon Jovi.
The 1980s stalwarts released a new album and a retrospective book and announced a 30- country world tour last year.
This year? Well, lead singer Jon Bon Jovi already popped up in a guest spot on the NBC sitcom “30 Rock.”
The group will kick off its U.S. tour dates tonight with a two-night stand at KeyArena. Except to hear at least half a dozen anthems, including “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “It’s My Life” and the group’s enduring hit, “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
7:30 tonight and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, KeyArena, 305 Harrison St., Seattle; $33 to $500; ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
Magnetic Fields: Musically speaking, theatrical pop singer Stephen Merritt is a moving target.
The frontman for the Magnetic Fields churns out songs at an obscene pace, drawing on a range of styles to sing wry, lovelorn ballads.
His bottomless pit of ideas is best typified by the 1999 release “69 Love Songs,” a three-disc set including — you guessed it — 69 songs.
Magnetic Fields is now touring behind the February release “Realism,” a 13-track, folk-inspired collection. The group’s Tuesday night show sold out, but tickets remained earlier this week for its Wednesday show.
8 p.m. Wednesday, Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle; $30; ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
Angelique Kidjo: This soulful West African singer fuses reggae, R&B, funk, jazz, samba and salsa.
The eclectic mix has made Kidjo a big name internationally and propelled her albums to the top of the world music charts in the United States.
The singer also has edged into the mainstream. Her 2007 album, “Djin Djin,” hit No. 58 on the Billboard 200.
Expect to hear music from her upcoming April release, “Oyo,” at an Edmonds show.
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds; $15 to $35; www.ec4arts.org or 425-275-9595.
James McMurty: In 2008, country rock singer James McMurty finally broke into the mainstream.
His album “Just Us Kids” was named one of the year’s best by writer Stephen King, the Washington Post and USA Today, among many others.
The singer — who is the son of novelist Larry McMurty — will play a show in Seattle.
8 p.m. Sunday, Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle; $15; ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
Suzanne Vega: A remix helped make Vega a household name.
In 1990, the electronic group DNA reworked her folk song “Tom’s Diner,” turning a spoken word story and an infectious chorus of “do-do-do-dos” into an international hit.
Vega has gone on to record several critically acclaimed discs since then, including the 2007 album, “Beauty and Crime.”
8 p.m. Thursday, Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., Seattle; $35; stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
Los Lonely Boys: This Texas trio released the greatest hits collection “Playlist” in 2009.
That disc included the group’s Grammy-winning hit, “Heaven,” a spiritually driven pop song that helped expose the band’s rootsy sound to a wider audience.
The group will play a show in Seattle next week.
7 p.m. Wednesday, Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., Seattle; $28 to $33; stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
STS9: Sound Tribe Sector 9 will play a two-night stand in Seattle this weekend.
The instrumental California rock band is touring behind its 2009 disc, “Ad Explorata.”
8 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday, Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., Seattle; $21.50; ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455; arathbun@heraldnet.com.
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