Nectar knows how to mix it up

Canned spaghetti for dinner, "King of Queens" reruns, classic-rock radio station, sweet stuff...If you're one of those people who just can't get enough of the same thing, again and again, the Nectar Lounge is not going to meet your stability needs. Way too much unpredictability.

Then again, if you're all about variety, this mini-club in Fremont is the spot.

One night they might have hip-hoppers passing the mic, the next local rock bands thrashing away, the next a touring act.

Tuesday night, this attractive, two-level lounge — it has a vaguely European feel, and looks like it could be a winetasting or martini bar — hosted a batch of up-and-coming rappers, a bill with the likes of Terry Radjaw, Grynch and Neema (aka Unexpected Arrival).

This had to be one of the rawest, rudest breast-cancer benefits ever put on, with several Beavis and Butt-head snickerings about the word "breast." The irreverent fundraiser drew a hearty crowd, as the word seems to be getting out about this anything-goes place.

The variegated musical stylings reflect the restless tastes of Nectar's new booker, Colin Johnson, who came here after Chop Suey let him go. Capitol Hill's loss was Fremont's gain, as his eclectic bookings are creating a sort of Chop Fremont on the north side.

This week, Johnson probably has his fellow bookers around town gnashing their teeth in envy: Michelle Shocked tonight (8 p.m., $20), Q-Burns Abstract Message and FCS North on Saturday (9 p.m., $10), Israel's electro-reggae mash-up Soulico on Sunday (9 p.m., $7), the legendary Roy Ayers on Tuesday (8 p.m., $25).

The Nectar lineup, night by night:

• If you go to the Nectar tonight, you may be shocked to get some religion.

For her new "ToHeavenURide" album, the folk rocker Shocked wrote a "womanifesto," explaining, "If you follow the trail from rock 'n' roll, it always leads you back to the blues, sweet soul music and finally to the churches and gospel music." The Texas singer-songwriter is now a member of a church choir in South Central Los Angeles. (You can e-witness her singing "God Is Real" at that church on YouTube, and read more about her in the accompanying story below.)

• The Florida DJ/producer who calls himself Q-Burns will have the Nectar dancing on Saturday, with his pumping funk-house music and showmanship. In the unlikely event no one else does, he'll be dancing himself.

Seattle's FCS North ("focus north") takes a far more intellectual approach to electronic music. There is quite a bit of energy in their sound, but it's more refined than raw. Andy Sells, Joshua Warren and Mune Yamakawa weld together an audio sculpture of jazz, rock, funk, hip-hop and electronic beats. They haven't played live much lately, as they've been busying recording an EP — featuring a horn section.

• Rocked out to any Tel Aviv DJs, lately?

The Web site Jewlicious.com calls Soulico "the first DJs in the Middle East to master the DJ trifecta of production, turntablism, and party-rocking skills."

• Johnson is most jazzed about landing Ayers, known as the "godfather of acid jazz." His 1976 song "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" has been sampled by dozens of hip-hop artists, most notably Mary J. Blige.

In addition to his albums, Ayers also did the soundtrack from Pam Grier's blaxploitation flick "Coffy."

In non-Nectar club action this week:

• The Maldives, one of Seattle's most intriguing new bands, play West Seattle's Skylark Café tonight (9, free) and at Nectar's neighbor High Dive on Monday (9 p.m., $6).

Singer Jason Dodson is backed by eight musicians, including Seth Warren (brother of Joshua, from FCS North) and Tomo Nakayama (of Grand Hallway).

"We barely managed to fit on stage for last weekend's Reverb festival," said Dodson, referring to the festival around Ballard that showcased talented local bands like the Maldives.

"Whidbey Island Blues" is one of several riveting songs from this moody band, riding one of Neil Young crazy horses.

• The Pogues slam into this dirty old town to play two nights at the Showbox Sodo, Wednesday and Thursday (8 p.m., $60).

One of the most memorable rock bands to hit the scene, the Pogues are an Irish traditional-punk collective powered by Shane MacGowan's snarly poetry.

Personally, I'm just happy MacGowan is still alive. Everything else is icing on that cake. You know what I mean, if you saw the documentary "If I Should Fall From Grace: The Shane MacGowan Story," which showed a MacGowan who seemed to be not long of this world.

MacGowan seems to be equal parts Bob Dylan and Dylan Thomas. Hopefully he'll stick around as long as the gritty songwriter, not the hard-living poet.

Tom Scanlon: tscanlon@seattletimes.com