Music Listings
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24
Mark Kozelek
Has now outlived most of the mopers who ripped off Red House Painters to greater acclaim. Touring solo, which means his brooding lacks a backbeat.
Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St. (betw. Bowery and Chrystie Sts.), 212-533-2111; 8, $17/$20.
Laurie Anderson
She could sing the phonebook and people would still-oh, wait, she does.
Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette St. (betw. Astor Place and East 4th St.), 212-254-1263; 7, $25.
The Walkmen
Last album's sole good track still promised big rock breakthrough; A Hundred Miles Off disappoints with big rock in style of Big Country-and maybe The Alarm.
Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St. (betw. 3rd & 4th Aves.), 212- 353-1600; 7:30, $20.
The sound of Lindsay Lohan giving an Oscar-worthy performance as June Carter. Sheer country fakery on a genius pop level, adding up to one of most baffling debuts ever recorded.
Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St. (betw. Bowery and Chrystie Sts.), 212-533-2111; 8, $15/$17.
Clogs/Rachel's
Lite classical used to be for Bugs Bunny cartoons; now it's a folksy mess leaking from Frank Zappa's laundry hamper.
Merkin Concert Hall, 129 W. 67th St. (betw. B'way & Amsterdam Ave.), 212-501-3330; 8, $20.
Chris Smither
Humble swamp-sulkin' '70s songwriter hits late stride as performer; skills as guitarist spans more centuries than Clogs or Rachel's.
Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, 57th St. & 7th Ave., 212-247-7800; 8:30, $29-$35.
Say Hi To Your Mom
Impeccable Blahs is Eric Elbogen's fourth fine turn as the Stephin Merritt of pre-hip B'klyn-meaning that he lacks art direction and hammers his fey pop out with a lead pipe.
Maxwell's, 1039 Washington St. (at 11th St.), Hoboken, 201-798-0406; 9, $8.
Great band name leads to shows that feature limitations of power-pop's charm; still manage to screw up modern garage-rock just enough to be likable.
Pianos, 158 Ludlow (at Stanton), 212-505-3733; 7:30, $8.
Artimus Pyle
Best offshoot to crawl from Fla. wreckage of Lynyrd Skynrd''s final flight would come from the drummer.
Snitch, 59 W. 21st St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-727-7775; 11, $20/$25.
Syd Straw's Delayed Heartbreak Show
Typically delayed greatness from underheard and artsy cracker songstress, finally catching up with a missed Valentine's Day tradition.
Tonic, 107 Norfolk St. (betw. Essex and Suffolk Sts.), 212-358-7501; 8, $20.
NYC's least appreciated Americana act has been around for almost 10 years, adding up to a nice compilation album and many fine pop-oriented folksy moments.
Rodeo Bar, 375 Third Ave. (at E. 27th St.), 212-683-6500; 10, free.
Howe Gelb/Town & Country
Having turned into the Burl Ives of college-rockin' desert rats, 'Sno Angel Like You adds a gospel element that makes Howe Gelb the Paul Simon of suburban churchgoing.
Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St. (betw. Bowery and Chrystie Sts.), 212-533-2111; 8, $16/$18.
Painfully mature teen prodigy Kyle Riabko was packaged last year as the Harry Connick, Jr. of the Aware label's roster of Sensitive Young Men.
Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette St. (betw. Astor Place and East 4th St.), 212-254-1263; 9:30, $12 + two drink minium.
Sultry as Morticia, foreboding as Lurch, and a lot more accessible than waiting for Norah Jones to add a hip-hop project to her other alter-egos.
Delancey Lounge, 168 Delancey (betw, Clinton & Attorney), 212-254-9920; 9, $5.
North American Metal Crusaders tour
Meant to serve as a United Nations of metal: Vader/Kataklysm/ Destruction/ Graveworm/Speed-Kill-Hate/The Absence. This means that they'll pass a resolution condemning Kelly Clarkson right before caving in to her demands. Still a nice brotherly show of force-especially from the Vader and Graveworm.
Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. (betw. B'way & Church St.), 212-219-3132; 6:30, $18/$22.
Savior of a genre that many wanted dead, Leela James continues to save Nu-Soul with clever covers, smart producers and over-emoting amongst plodding beats. Governor returns after long break as shamelessly soulful pop act for people offended by mad funkiness of Stevie Wonder's '80s career.
Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Pl. (at 15th St.), 212-777-1224; 8, $20/$25.
Ane Brun
Scandinavian pop superstar reminiscent of Neko Case, except Brun has Nordic heritage as excuse for utter soullessness. American debut A Perfect Dive still has moments of beauty-especially for a CD sounding like it's carved from white chocolate.
Living Room, 154 Ludlow St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington), 212-533-7235; 9, $5 suggested + 1 drink minim.
Team Dresch
Never the same after losing Kaia Wilson, and now mired alongside The Butchies while Sleater-Kinney reign as power-pop queens. Tonight's nostalgia act for former fans taking a break from marketing $100 T-shirts.
Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. (betw. B'way & Church St.), 212-219-3132; 8, $10/$12.