Levator (pronounced like "elevator" without the "e," not like "skeletor") is an integral member of the Northwest's hearty-but-underappreciated psych/shoegaze/experimental crowd, and their plaintive, achingly pretty songs are just one example of that scene's baffling diversity. With the incorporation of Psychedelic Fur-sy tenor sax and a healthy dose of shameless ballad grandeur, Levator has distinguished themselves admirably by weaving plush, multi-layered soundscapes to cushion Sky Lynn's airy, ethereal vocals.

This is a band inspired more by the graceful, placid promise of early shoegaze recordings (The Jesus and Mary Chain, MBV, Slowdive, etc.) than by those bands' comparatively ferocious, ear-'sploding live presence.

At the Java Jive's big coming out show for Seattleite post-rockers They Live, We Die, it's unlikely that Levator will batter your ears, but they just may break your heart.

[Bob's Java Jive, with They Rise, We Die and Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel, 8:30 p.m., $5, 2102 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]