WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Kasabian, Mew, One Thousand Pictures
For a band that named itself after a member of the Manson family and spent its early years practicing in a farmhouse, Kasabian’s music is less unwashed schizophrenic than one might reasonably expect.
Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St. (betw. 3rd & 4th Aves.), 212- 353-1600; 7:30, $20.
Sondre Lerche
By the time he was 19, critics were singing the praises of the Norwegian songwriter’s orchestral pop songs—even if they couldn’t actually pronounce his name.
Hiro Ballroom at the Maritime Hotel, 363 W. 16th St. (at 9th Ave.), 212-242-4300; 7, $22.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Lambchop, Tosca String Quartet, Hands Off Cuba
It’s either avant-alt. country or a raspy-voiced sheep sock puppet. Some days we wish it could be both. If only more people took cues from Paula Abdul and her cartoon cat friend.
Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St. (betw. Bowery & Chrystie St.), 212-533-2111; 8, $20.
Dead Kennedys
What do you do when your lead singer’s steadfast punk rock ethics stand in the way of a reunion cash-in? Give the boys in central casting a ring, of course.
CBGB’s, 315 Bowery (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.), 212-253-0036; 8, $35.
The Zombies, The Mooney Suzuki, The Fleshtones, The Woggles, The Anderson Council, The Garage Girls A Go-Go
The Zombies have created some of the most beautiful melodies in pop with all of the unstoppable tenacity of the undead.
Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Pl. (at 15th St.), 212-777-1224; 8, $20.
Hip-Hop Karaoke
Ever wondered exactly how white you really are? Ever wanted a crowd full of drunken hecklers to know? Tonight’s your time to shine.
Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. (betw. B’way & Church St.), 212-219-3132; 8, free.
Queensryche
Leave your Wall Street cubicle, loosen your tie and relive the days when irony was solely the stuff of an English class syllabus.
Nokia Theatre Times Square, 1515 B’way (at W. 44th St.), 212-930-1950; 8, $50.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Adam Green, Jeffrey Lewis Band
Somewhere along the line, the ex-Moldy Peaches member traded in his anti-folk way of life for a style that’s borderline lounge. Fortunately, like all good artists, he’s never let a little thing like maturity get in the way of a good dick joke.
Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St. (betw. Bowery & Chrystie St.) 212-533-2111; 8, $15.
Vietnam, My Best Fiend, Asteroid.4 Huh. Before it was a Vice Records noise rock band, Vietnam was the name of a country. You learn something new every day. Thanks, Wikipedia!
Union Pool, 484 Union Ave. (at Meeker), B’klyn, 718-609-0484; 8, $6.
Redd Kross
The legendary power-pop band Redd Kross had to change its name after being threatened with legal action by the humanitarian organization. It’s a good thing, too, with all of those wounded soldiers that kept showing up to the band’s early gigs.
Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Pl. (at 15th St.), 212-777-1224; 8, $18.50.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Hem
The Brooklyn band’s third studio album, Funnel Cloud, confirms that they have a handle on the dreamy warble thing.
Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Pl. (at 15th St.), 212-777-1224; 8, $23.50/$25.
The Vibration, Robert Inevitable & The Static, Dan Deacon, Dufus
Man, I sure need someone to fill the void in my life left by the breakup of Sleater-Kinney. Hey, all-female nouveau riotgrrrl band The Vibration, do you have any recommendations?
Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.), 212-253-0036; 8, $6.
Harry & The Potters, Uncle Monsterface,
The Scurvy Pirates
Is it wrong to love a band based on name alone? If it is, lord, this calendar section don’t want to be right.
Europa Night Club, 98-104 Meserole Ave. (at Manhattan Ave.), B’klyn, 718-383-5723; 7, $8.
Buckethead
In the world of rock ’n’ roll, there are gimmicks, and then there are gimmicks. Shred guitar virtuoso Buckethead wears a Michael Myers-esque mask and an empty tub of KFC on his noggin, so you know, he pretty much wins.
B.B. King Blues Club, 237 W. 42 St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-997-4144; 11, $20.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Sunset Rubdown
Cut and paste Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade’s keyboardist) as frontman and you get the synth sounds of Sunset Rubdown—no apologies.
Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St. (betw. Bowery & Chrystie St.), 212-533-2111; 7:30, $15.
Gibby Haynes Presents Fashion Weak!
No idea what the Butthole Surfers frontman has in store, but free seems a small price to pay to have your brain sufficiently melted.
Piano’s, Ludlow St. (at Stanton St.),
212-505-3733; 9, free.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
The Flaming Lips
Ever wondered what it would have been like to attend your senior prom on acid? Yep, just like this.
Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 W. 34th St. (at 8th Ave.), 212-307-7171; 6:30, $40.
Thievery Corporation
Gone are the days of glow sticks and pacifiers. Thievery Corporation makes the kind of suit-wearing electronic music you can bring home to the parents.
Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St. (betw. 3rd & 4th Aves.), 212- 353-1600; 8, $40.
The English Beat
Now, where the hell did I put that pork pie hat?
B.B. King’s Blues Club, 237 W. 42 St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-997-4144; 7, $20.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Jamie Lidell, Of Montreal
What do you get when you let Beck curate a Wired festival? An IDM artist, a reformed electro-pop group and a hall full of kids in Buddy Holly glasses.
Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Pl. (at 15th St.), 212-777-1224; 8, $20.
