Eight Gigs: Autumn Electric

For a four-piece progressive rock band from Seattle, Autumn Electric makes a whole lot of noise—with keys, synth, melodica, flute, sax, banjo and synth flutes on top of all your standard rock instrumentation. Sometimes sparse, but usually orchestral, Autumn Electric experiments with both folk and psychedelic sounds, varied rhythms and beats to create a truly unusual—but still highly listenable—storytelling experience. Check out the band's rock opera Star Being Earth Child, about an alien, a human child, friendship and environmental awareness, and prepare to be blown away by ambition alone. Local eclectic-doer Be Brave Bold Robot and Modesto's Third World Empire are also on the bill. 1400 Alhambra Boulevard, www.autumn-electric.com.