WED Wed. 8/20 Rene Risque and the Art ...

Rene Risque and the Art Lovers

The faux-French sex symbol/singer who would be utterly punchable if he weren't able to pull his shtick off with such charming aplomb, Rene Risque is an annoyingly good-looking hipster. But he wins you over somehow, and he does it without making fun of the French. (Imagine that.) Not as cool as faux-French death metal band Debris Bouquet, but not as silly as Les Sans Culottes. He's playing at Joe's Pub, so make several stops at the ATM beforehand. 425 Lafayette St. (betw. E. 4th St. & Astor Pl.), 212-539-8778, 9:30, $15.

Thurs. 8/21

Derrick May

The DJ Connection performances at De La Guarda are spectacles to behold and experience. The acrobatic stunts of the trapeze artists together with the consummate mixing skills of the weekly guest DJs will wet your senses-literally; water and lots of aerodynamics are one of the leitmotifs of this spectacular show. Tonight godfather of techno Derrick May takes care of the sonic side. His fertile affair with technology has seen such jaw-dropping, soulful tracks as "Strings of Life" or "Nude Photo" and the label Transmat, which acts as a creative umbrella for the next generation of purveyors of soulful rhythm such as Aril Brikha or Tony Drake. Daryl Roth Theatre, 20 Union Sq. E. (15th St.), 212-239-6200, 7:30, $55.

Peter Kuper

Tonight, Peter Kuper, the outspoken cofounder of World War 3 Illustrated-and a pen-and-ink giant in the world of comic art-talks about his adaptations of Kafka and his profession in the age of the Bush administration. Barnes and Noble , 33 E. 17th St. (betw. B'way & Park Ave S.), 212-253-0810, 7, free.

Fri. 8/22

The Amber Smith

We appreciate a band that can take the sonic crunch and harmonies reminiscent of Teenage Fanclub and the Hollies and come up with something entirely new. The Amber Smith aren't self-obsessed doom merchants, nor do they sing in fake English accents (for that, see Stellastar*), which is good for a change. They serve straight-up power-pop rock, and they have a new EP coming on Version City Records. If you like getting trashed and dancing to a Brian Eno song, you're in luck, 'cause they just might play a great version of "Needles in the Camel's Eye," but don't quote us on that. Luna Lounge, 171 Ludlow St. (betw. Houston & Stanton Sts.), 212-260-2323, 9:30, free.

Cheb i Sabbah

There is the typical trance experience, and there is Cheb i Sabbah. A native of Algeria, Sabbah left for Paris in the 1960s, where he began a spectral career as an artist that involved collaborations with everyone from Yoko Ono to Ornette Coleman to The Living Theater. Sabbah later emerged as an icon in the flowering San Francisco rave scene with a sound captured on his mind-bending, panoramic Hindu-goth piece de resistance ,"Shri Durga." His new album, As Far As, is another swirling, reverential heavy water pool of Indian echo and reverb. In the hands of the most intelligent trance DJ in the world, tonight the Knitting Factory transforms into a sonic portal. 74 Leonard St. (betw. B'way & Church St.), 212-219-3006, 10, $12.

The Warriors

Mayors Bloomberg, Giuliani, Dinkins and Koch-well, maybe not Dinkins-have been working since 1978 to, um, turn this city around. Get a glimpse of New York, from the South Bronx to Coney Island, before all their "progress" interfered with our hometown's rugged, graffitied character at a midnight screening of 1979's super-duper-cult-classic The Warriors. Watch the titular heroes as they escape the wrath of bloodthirsty gangs, 100,000 strong. Between the cast of actors who never went very far, comical rival gangs-including mimes on roller skates and a slutty girl gang-this film will never grow old. Or, at least not much older than it already is. Landmark Sunshine Cinema, 143 E. Houston St. (betw. 1st & 2nd Aves.), 800-555-TELL, 12 a.m., $10, $6.50 s.c.

Sat. 8/23

Rope

Loosely based on the Leopold and Loeb murders, Alfred Hitchcock's 1948 classic features Farley Granger and John Dall as two young intellectuals who murder a classmate because they read their Nietzsche all wrong, and Jimmy Stewart as the philosophy professor who realizes it's too late to fail them. Rope is probably best known for featuring one of Hitchcock's most audacious cinematic experiments-he shot the picture in ostensibly a single take (though there were cuts so the cameraman could replace the film-try to spot them!). It's a little claustrophobic and theatrical, but that doesn't make the suspense any less taut. YWCA's Cine Club, 610 Lexington Ave. (53rd St.), 212-735-9717, 4:30, $7.

Sun. 8/24

Carrie

"They're all going to laugh at you, they're all going to laugh at you." Shove it, Momma; me and my dirty pillows, we got a movie to catch. There are few movies as note-perfect as Carrie. From the volleyball/shower opening scenes up to the guess-who's-back, back-again ending, there's almost no fat on this side of mutton. (Except for that fast-motion scene when the dudes try on tuxes.) If you've never seen it, you're in for a pig-blood-soaked treat and the explanation of a lot of jokes and references over the years. And if you have-damn, ain't that Sissy Spacek a fine little thing? Proceeds benefit Saved in Time. Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 4th Ave. (betw. Union & President Sts.), 718-857-4816, 8:30, $8.

Richard Hell

Clearly in need of the money, Richard Hell recently called in a lukewarm article to the Voice about Lester Bangs, commemorating Bangs' new book of essays, Mainlines, Blood Feasts, and Bad Taste. The corpse-like Hell damned the corpse Bangs with faint praise and limp writing, proving that old punks never go away when they're supposed to. Tonight, show up at the signing of Hell's Hot and Cold just to yell, "You sir, are no Lester Bangs." Then leave in an indignant huff. Tompkins Square Park, Ave. A (betw. 7th & 10th Sts.), 212-604-9074, 4, free.

Mon. 8/25

Goro

The mighty beast known as Goro is the kind that the Ahabs of the world destroy their lives chasing. These ridiculously heavy Japanese New York rockers display true dedication to their fans-they encourage listeners to join "TEAMGORO," which means partying with the band and providing them with food and beer. Their website says, "Don't miss the chance to have fun with GORO!" Sin-e, 150 Attorney St. (betw. Houston & Stanton Sts.), 212-388-0077, 11, $7.

Tues. 8/26

Charm School

Tina Pedersen is maybe like 5'5", 110 pounds soaking wet and one of the nicest people in New York rock. So where does the lead singer of Charm School hide that voice? When she growls and howls pop-punk gems, the effect is like watching a bizarre genetic fusing of Debbie Harry and Tina Turner. Which wouldn't be such a bad idea. With Shakuan, Ecco, Eric Colman, Jarrod Barkan, Dee Farrace. Acme Underground, 9 Great Jones St. (Lafayette St.), 212-420-1934, 7, $6.

Contributors: Adam Bulger, CXB, Jim Knipfel, Sarah Shanok, Lucia Udvardyova, Dennis Tyhacz and Alexander Zaitchik.