Music Listings

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31

Riverboat Gamblers

The new album puts a catheter on their cock-rock, but that only makes it more vital to catch these overblown Texas rockers live-if only because now they have to compensate for cleaning up their sound while writing songs about A&R guys who want to clean up their sound.

CBGB's, 315 Bowery (betw. 1st & 2nd Sts.), 212-982-4052; 7, $10/$12.

THURSDAY, JUNE 1 Twilight Singers/ AfterHours/Jeff Klein

Primarly a side-project for Greg Dulli's travel agent, Twilight Singers' new Powder Burns abandons sultriness for a return to big rock bashing-sadly, in the service of stultifying soberity. We lost John Hiatt this way, too.

Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Pl. (at 15th St.), 212-777-1224; 8, $20/$22.

Gruff Rhys Frontman for Super Furry Animals makes a solo turn in wake of last year's gorgeous new album; incredibly big deal for fans of fey moments in Welsh.

Tonic, 107 Norfolk St. (betw. Essex & Suffolk Sts.), 212-358-7501; 8, $12.

French Kicks Ditched their vague debt to new wave early with '04's Trial of the Century, with soulful new angle that stopped rock overkill in the name of love. Here showcasing new tunes from upcoming Two Thousand.

Sin-É, 150 Attorney St. (at Stanton St.), 212-388-0077; 8, $12.

David Mead Once a major-label adult-pop proprietor sneaking in moments from the Great American Songbook; now a master of lite-glam playfulness, with Tangerine finally showcasing personality that he seemed to keep leaving at home in his other suit.

Makor, 35 W. 67th St. (betw. CPW & Columbus Ave.), 212-601-1000; 8, $15.

FRIDAY, JUNE 2 CocoRosie

Claudine Longet only had to sing of her love for a seal; CocoRosie's new wave of Parisian pop has to be processed through modern technology to accumulate charming quirks-which, fortunately, culminates in stark beauty.

Bowery Ballroom, Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St. (betw. Bowery & Chrystie Sts.), 212-533-2111; 8, $15.

The Trews Strongest asset is that The Trews aren't Sloan, but Den of Thieves remains a modern classic in Canadian hard rock-mainly because they spare us aspirations to power-pop. Ultimately more like Nada Surf without the hinderance of deep thoughts.

CBGB's, 315 Bowery (betw. 1st & 2nd Sts.), 212-982-4052; 8, $10/$12.

Mary Timony/Tralala 15 years of Mary Timony's discordant pop-rock, and Ex Hex was her most self-indulgent crap yet-and only released on record company funds rightfully owed to Green Day. Tralala rightfully deserves all funds currently going to Green Day; instead, this summer marks a year since their electro-enhanced teenage pop tunes failed to chart.

Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St. (at Ave. A), 212-260-4700; 8:30, $10.

SATURDAY, JUNE 3 Prefuse 73/Edan

Security Screenings has beats maven Scott Herren-doing business as Prefuse 73-daring to experiment with melody and songwriting. Edan appropriately opens as a b-boy let loose in the head shop.

Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St. (betw. Bowery & Chrystie Sts.), 212-533-2111; 9, $18/$20.

Deadboy and the Elephantmen Bad enough that a Marty Stuart gospel album is currently humbling the soulful garage scene. Now an aging thrash-rocker hooks up with a female drummer, and improves on the sparse fuzz collective with added glam and subtracted chromosomes.

Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St. (betw. 3rd & 4th Aves.), 212- 353-1600; 6:30, $20.

Cactus Lamest supergroup in the history of rock sported the presence of Vanilla Fudge's rhythm section-and still almost made boogie bands relevant with guitar playing of Jim McCarty. Reformed line-up adds former Savoy Brown vocalist, invokes unfortunate Foghat comparisons.

B.B. King's Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42 St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-997-4144; 10:30, $20/$22.

SUNDAY, JUNE 4 Cold War Kids

Smart enough to know we won, Cold War Kids use new-found freedoms to deliver dour college-rock with the soulful playfulness of Cab Calloway.

Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St. (betw. Bowery & Chrystie Sts.), 212-533-2111; 7:30, $14.

Gregory Isaacs Desmond Dekker is dead, but reggae's finest synth-rocker is (improbably) still with us. Matisyahu is competition, but Isaacs also has lead as reggae's own Marvin Gaye-except more likely to shoot himself.

B.B. King's Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42 St. (betw. 7th and 8th Aves.), 212-997-4144; 8, $22.50/$25.

MONDAY, JUNE 5 James Luther Dickinson

The North Mississippi Allstars show up to back up their legendary producer father-or at least father to most of them-for an eveneing of inbred and bluesy patriotic anthems.

Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette St. (betw. Astor Place and East 4th St.), 212-254-1263; 7:30, $25 + 2 drink minimum.

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts "Rare club appearance," as opposed to those stadiums that she's usually seen playing. At least Jett's got the shallow '90s pandering out of her system, but Cherie Currie remains a lot sexier as a mom out hunting Bigfoot.

Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St. (betw. Bowery and Chrystie Sts.), 212-533-2111; 8, $20.

TUESDAY, JUNE 6 Vienna Teng

Waking Hour was a delicate orch-pop debut willing to indulge in pretension and preciousness. Now here's the plodding adulthood of Warm Strangers, where Teng attempts to sound like the bloodless gals that shouldn't even be her contemporaries.

Coda, 34 E. 34th St. (betw. 5th & Madison Aves.), 212-685-3434, 9, $15.