The Scorpions bring 35 years of hard-rock and heavy-metal hits to Everett on Thursday sharing the stage with Tesla, a band named after an eccentric inventor, and keyboard master Keith Emerson.
The Scorpions’ new album, “Unbreakable,” shows that the band can, as an Associated Press reviewer said, “clearly still pack a sting.”
The German group broke through in the United States with 1982’s Top-10 album “Blackout” and the hit single “No One Like You.” “Rock You Like a Hurricane” became a rock ‘n’ roll anthem, and the emotional ballad “Wind of Change” became a symbol of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
In 2002, the Scorpions became the first Western rock band to perform a full tour of Russia and other former Soviet states.
But the surprise for many listeners may be Keith Emerson (The Nice; Emerson, Lake &Palmer). He has regularly won the Overall Best Keyboardist award in the annual Keyboard magazine readers’ poll since 1975.
Influenced by jazz artists and classical composers, Emerson started with The Nice and a fusion of jazz, blues, classical and rock, his skills and sometimes outrageous stage presence forcing the focus to the keyboards, perhaps a first in rock music.
He formed Emerson, Lake and Palmer, whose first single, “Lucky Man,” included an ear-catching sound, the first featured lead synthesizer solo.
Emerson has created several movie soundtrack compositions, and scored a Japanese full-length animated film.
Tesla’s new album, “Into the Now,” debuted in the Top-30 on the Billboard album chart, but pop-metal and hard-rock classics such as “Modern Day Cowboy” and “Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)” are still part of the quintet’s concerts.
Captain Smartypants: Humor and talent and edge in the same package are a lot to ask for, but the spin-off group from the Seattle Men’s Chorus will deliver those three qualities Saturday in Marysville. “Undercover” includes music from the group’s CD of the same title, a collection of pop songs from the 1970s through the present with, of course, a Captain Smartypants twist. The show is also a fund-raiser for the Marysville Food Bank.
Bright Eyes: The indie-rockers haven’t toured much this year, but they’re back on task (Monday in Seattle) with music from two 2004 albums. The band’s still led by Conor Oberst and his gift for storytelling. Jim James, frontman for My Morning Jacket, plays with Bright Eyes.
Good Charlotte, Sum 41: The two quartets grew a little more serious on two just-released albums. The bands start their tour Thursday in Seattle. Sum 41’s album “Chuck” is named after a U.N. worker who rescued them when they were trapped in Congo gunfire; Good Charlotte’s “The Chronicles of Life &Death” contains songs reflecting world events.
Where to hear it
Scorpions: 7 p.m. Thursday, Everett Events Center; $32.50, $42.50; 866-332-8499.
Captain Smartypants: 7:30 p.m. Satuday, Evergreen Coffeehouse, 1607 Fourth St., Marysville; $20; 360-659-6621.
Bright Eyes: 8 p.m. Monday, Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., Seattle; $21.50, $24.50; 206-628-0888.
Good Charlotte, Sum 41: 7 p.m. Thursday, Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle; $27, $30; 206-628-0888.
Where to hear it
Scorpions: 7 p.m. Thursday, Everett Events Center; $32.50, $42.50; 866-332-8499.
Captain Smartypants: 7:30 p.m. Satuday, Evergreen Coffeehouse, 1607 Fourth St., Marysville; $20; 360-659-6621.
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