Wednesday, November 23 The Clientele This London-based trio cite influences as various ...
vember 23
The Clientele
This London-based trio cite influences as various as Willie Nelson and Television, but to our ears they sound like imitators of the Beatles' Revolver and the early Moody Blues-but really, really good imitators.
Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. (betw. B'way & Church Sts.), 8, $14.
Forbidden Fruit
The North Jersey foursome calls its music "reggae-boogie-disco-rock." Actually, the tunes are much more roots reggae than everything else. But there's plenty of groovy funk here that produces genuinely melodic pop that can lift your spirits or chill you out, as you wish. With Bipolar J9.
Maxwell's, 1039 Washington Street (at 11th), Hoboken, 201-653-1703; 10, $6.
Panda Riot
This boy-girl combo from Philly is coming to be known for their layered vocals and trippy melodies that remind folks of bands as varied as the Magnetic Fields and the Beach Boys. And with five bands before them and no cover, there's no arguing the price.
Scenic, 25 Avenue B (betw. 2nd & 3rd Sts.); 8, no cover.
Baldi & Suburban Graffiti
The conscientious emcee with a stiff delivery kicks some great lyrics, and has a potent live band to boost the sound.
Lion's Den, 214 Sullivan St. (betw. Bleecker & W. 3rd St.), 212-477-2782; 8, $10.
Dujeous
Try triangulating this: Dujeous has kicked alongside Keith Murray, Mobb Deep and Nancy Sinatra. The group (three rappers, a bassist, guitar player, drummer and trumpet player) released their first full-length album last year, City Limits. The unthugish performance will fit well into Park Slope's alt-rock oriented Southpaw.
Southpaw, 125 5th Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn, 718-230-0236; 8, $12/$10 with pajamas.
Friday, November 25
Lo Faber
The former God Street Wine vocalist and guitarist teams up for a gig with Scarecrow Collection.
Knitting Factory Tap Room, 74 Leonard St. (betw. B'way & Church Sts.), 8, $10.
Dayglow
When you hear about an all-female rock band, you may smirk and assume a cleverly-packaged feat of A&R marketing. But the Bayside, Queens natives in Dayglow play genuine and rather classic rock. If they can improve upon their songs' uninspired lyrics, they may have a future.
Sin-e, 150 Attorney St. (at Stanton St.), 212-388-0077; 8, $10.
Saturday, November 26
The Mendoza Line
This interesting and off-beat quartet of three men and one woman records tracks which can be (and have been) compared to everyone from Roy Orbsion to Carole King and Elvis Costello.
Soundfix Records, Bedford Avenu at N. 11th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 718-388-8090; 4, free.
Soul Seductive Saturdays
Get your freak on, or at least try. Billed as the party for the "grown and sexy," Soul Seductive Saturdays is hosted by Power 105.1 personalities Egypt, Carl Blaze and DJ Kut.
Octagon, 555 W. 33rd St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-947-0400; call for tickets and more information.
The Spinozas
This so-called "acoustica" band combines rock with traditional middle eastern and Spanish styles and features longtime David Byrne bassist Paul Frazier.
Tonic, 107 Norfolk St. (betw. Delancey & Rivington Sts.), 212-358-7501; midnight, $5.
The Drayton Sawyer Gang
This punk-metal outfit from Brooklyn is not for the faint of heart.
Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow St., (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.), 212-253-0036; 9, $5.
My Robot Friend
This frenetic live show will center around '80s infused electroclash coming out of a six-foot tall robot. My Robot Friend is cybersleeze at its best.
Sin-e, 150 Attorney St. (at Stanton) 212-388-0077; 9, $10.
Sunday, November 27
Cave-In
The Massachusetts rockers who say that their music was a response to suburban boredom hit town the only way they know how-loudly.
Knitting Factory Tap Room, 74 Leonard St. (betw. B'way & Church Sts.), 8, $10/$8 adv.
Monday, November 28
Ray Davies
The former Kinks frontman, looking better than Mick or Dylan, turns up without his brother Dave-and thus possibly in a less peeved mood than the one he usually displays. Who but Davies could have crafted a record like Muswell Hillbillies?
Supper Club, 240 W. 47th St., 212-307-7171; 8, $65.
The Cribs
Very recently, the Cribs were one of the UK's hottest rock bands and a rival to The Libertines. But if The Cribs' guitar riffs are appealing, they sound an awful lot like a thousand ones we've heard before. We might suggest The Cribs go and find an actual singer.
Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St., 8:30, $10.
John Hammond
Hammond has spent 40 years perfecting his solo acoustic blues. This Grammy award winner is the son of John Hammond Sr., a music producer credited for discovering Count Basie, George Benson, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Hammond cut his teeth performing in the Greenwich Village club and coffee house scene in the '60s and still plays his reinterpreted classic blues.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 125 Columbus Ave. (at W. 65th St.); 7, doors at 6, free.
Ben Rudnick and Friends
Yes, Rudnick plays music for little kids. That said, it's kind of catchy, not too simplistic, and the band's light folk/bluegrass is something small boys and girls will almost certainly like, and you might just happily sit through the song about dancing with Martians.
Harmony Atrium, Broadway (betw. 62nd and 63rd St.); 7:15, free.
Tuesday, November 29
Cerberus Shoal
These Portland, Maine wayfarers must have taken to the sea and traveled far and wide. Their music shows influences from Africa to Eastern Europe.
Tonic, 107 Norfolk St. (betw. Delancey & Rivington Sts.), 212-358-7501; 8, $8.
The Dandy Warhols
Big-time record execs have never liked the Portland, Oregon-based Dandys, and not only has the band never reached the mainstream but it's commercial appeal seems now to be fading. Catchy, funky, tuneful-what more do you want?
Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St. (betw. 3rd & 4th Aves.), 212-353-1600; 8:30, $23.
Al Duvall, Curtis Eller & Singing Sadie
Curtis Eller is America's angriest yodeling banjo player. Singing Sadie is an Australian singer/tap-dancer/potty-mouth who has been dazzling New York audiences, sometimes by kicking them in the head.
Gallery at the Gershwin Hotel, 7 E. 27th St. (btwn. 5th & Madison Aves.), 212-545-8000; 8, $10.