Slog

Gessen is a founder of the journal n+1, which originated with a lovely, scathing essay chastising McSweeney’s naiveness and defending negativity. n+1 quickly established itself as a thoughtful publication about life and literature and other great things. Tonight, Gessen reads from his debut novel, All the Sad Young Literary Men, a poignant book about success and failure that could create a movement around n+1 in the same way that A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius did for McSweeney’s. (Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. 8 pm, free.)

Cut Copy’s new album, In Ghost Colours, is discotheque perfection—dizzy, delirious dance rock, alternately euphoric and melancholy, with more than a hint of New Order at their ecstatic electronic peak. Lead singer Dan Whitford’s soft crooning floats on thick, pulsing bass that occasionally wanders up the frets, live and programmed drumming, washed-out guitars, and glittering synth arpeggios. Live, they are mission control, orchestrating audience liftoff with nary a problem. With last year’s great blog hope Black Kids and the dependably bittersweet Mobius Band. (Neumo’s, 925 E Pike St, 709-9467. 8 pm, $15, 21+.)