Tonight: Delorean at Chop Suey, Sting & the Royal Philharmonic at White River Amphitheatre

Chus Anton

Delorean, with Teengirl Fantasy, Big Spider's Back. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8000. 8 p.m. $12. Looking for 2010's Merriweather Post Pavilion? The Barcelona synthpop quartet Delorean produces the kind of modern, rapturous electronic music that's sure to merit a bit of "Spanish Animal Collective" chatter. The band's ravishing third record, Subiza, is a marvelously textured collection of the echoing, diced vocals, easy beats, and loping rhythms that define the Balearic Beat style of dance music. The record's gorgeous opening track, "Stay Close," with its soulful vocal samples and bright synths, especially evokes the summertime beach parties that fan Justin Timberlake calls "the musical equivalent of a wild euphoric night in Barcelona." And he would know. ERIN K. THOMPSON

Sting, featuring the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. White River Amphitheatre, 40601 Auburn-Enumclaw Rd., Auburn, (360) 802-1469. 8 p.m. $34.50-$157. For aging rock-stars looking for approval from their also-aging fans, a Philharmonic gig is a great way to go. Of course, Sting's entire career has been on a trajectory to plays shows just like this, full of pomp and circumstance, oozing seriousness. Through the years, Sting's work has shaded out a lot of what brought him fame with the Police, favoring mellower arrangements and a sort of sonic austerity. Still, that Sting has managed to balance his clear desire to be taken seriously with an equally clear talent for pop song-craft is likely the defining element of his career. This is a rare chance to see those forces balanced as perfectly as possible. NICHOLAS HALL