Falll Arts Guide | Nightclub highlights

Common Market. This hip-hop duo of the brainy/purist variety celebrates the release of its sophomore album "Tobacco Road" with an unusual set that includes the Total Experience Gospel Choir. Also playing is old-time string band The Tallboys and rock acts Thee Emergency and Feral Children. An especially diverse (all-local) bill. Sept. 11, Neumo's.

Mountain Goats. John Darnielle, lyricist, guitarist and nasal-voiced singer behind the Mountain Goats, is a genius. With brutal storytelling that rides the line between heartbreaking and hilarious, he's easily the best author of psychodramatic song-vignettes in America, a true literary master and singularly sensitive mental-illness sympathizer. Oct. 20, The Showbox.

Hip Hop Live! Tour: David Banner, Talib Kweli and Little Brother. Mississippi rapper and producer David Banner raised tons of money for Katrina victims and once told Congress, "Hip-hop is sick because America is sick." His best songs are glorious odes to sex, materialism and gut-punch bass hits. Kweli records with Cornel West, and Little Brother makes rap for grown-ups. Everybody performs with the 10-piece Rhythm Roots All-Stars band. Oct. 5, The Showbox.

Diplo. As a producer, this Philadelphian made M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes," the best song of any genre in 2007. As a DJ, he's an international ambassador — having near-single-handedly brought Brazilian "baile funk" to the USA in 2004 — and shameless crowd pleaser: At past Seattle dance parties, he's brought out everything from "Baby Got Back" to "Be My Baby." Oct. 31, Nectar.

Deerhunter. Deerhunter's music is not pop: It's alienating, and alienation is very artistic and punk. The creative and stylish Atlanta band creates distortion and static from much more than guitars and amps, and then uses it to painterly effect. Desiring more to decorate space than write "the perfect song," Deerhunter invents its own atmospheric style. Nov. 21, Neumo's.

Andrew Matson: 206-464-2153 or amatson@seattletimes.com