What do football and electronic music have in common?

Quite a bit, it turns out: energetic, drunken crowds crammed together in close quarters, elusive tight ends, the occasional ass-grabbing and a greater-than-average chance of scoring. This weekend, one more variable can be added to the equation: Qwest Field, where the United State of Consciousness (USC) will be holding its 10-year anniversary festival.

From 8 p.m.-4 a.m. Saturday, July 21, the Qwest Field Plaza will be overflowing with flow, spread out over three stages. The Consciousness Main Stage features Paul van Dyk, the self-proclaimed “No. 1 DJ in the world” from Berlin, Germany, Rabbit in the Moon and local trance veteran Johnny Monsoon.

There will also be two jam-packed fringe stages, Broken Bliss and Drum and Bass Massive, with live performances by Jackal & Hyde, Bassnectar, Pendulum, Seattle’s own DJ Dig-Dug, Jimni Cricket, and many more.

USC Events has dedicated its 10th anniversary celebration to Luis Bernal, a.k.a. Taco, who began working for the company as a graphics and Web designer in 2003 and was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds in his Tacoma apartment last December.

For more info on this event, visit www.uscevents.com (United States of Consciousness 10 Year Anniversary Festival, Qwest Field Plaza, Saturday, July 21, 8 p.m.-4 a.m., 16+, 21+ for bar w/ID, $30-$40).

Also in the business of expanding consciousness, as well as consciences, is Tom Morello, the earsplittingly innovative guitarist for Audioslave and Rage Against the Machine, who appears in the form of The Nightwatchman at the Crocodile Café tonight. Armed only with an acoustic guitar, he’ll attempt to channel the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Woody Guthrie to combat the forces of ignorance and promote his first solo album, One Man Revolution.

A life-long musician and activist at heart, Morello was inspired to step out of his arena-sized comfort zone by a talent show held at a Los Angeles homeless shelter Thanksgiving Day 2003. Motivated further by the Iraq War and Hurricane Katrina, Morello decided to try his hand at singing and songwriting, performing anonymously at open mics between Audioslave gigs.

Last November, Morello began honing his routine at the Hotel Café, a hip Hollywood hangout for singer-songwriters such as Pete Yorn, Cary Brothers, Chris Pierce, Rocco DeLuca and many others. He also co-founded the non-profit Axis of Justice with System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian and recently started up The Nightwatchman Brigade, which his Web site describes as “an elite cadre of dedicated subversives” with a mission that is “neither easy nor safe.” Nor, apparently, is it well defined, at least for the time being. The accompanying message board is currently a virtual ghost town, with a few posts from excited fans anxious to see Morello live and pining for an extended Rage Against the Machine reunion.

Be that as it may, Morello certainly seems to be doing his part to develop his talents and put them to good use (The Nightwatchman, Crocodile Café, Wednesday, July 18, 8 p.m., 21+, $16).