Music Listings
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21
Katharine Whalen
Another former Squirrel Nut Zipper goes solo to reveal previously hidden talent, with Whalen's Dirty Little Secret bringing her Southern chanteuse act to alluring and danceable torch songs.
Makor, 35 West 67th St. (betw. CPW & Columbus Ave.), 212-601-1000; 7:30, $15.
The Gourds
World music you can dance to-albeit preferably in a drunken stupor. Heavy Ornamentals finally adds Texas psych to the humble appeal of these Austinites' lyrical flow and bluegrass allegiance.
Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St. (at Ave. A), 212-260-4700; 9:45, $15.
Two acclaimed indie guys team up for exciting new act in the genre of electroclash. Pretty great stuff-but since they're Canadian, still hard to be sure who in the club is really the butt of the joke.
Hiro Ballroom at the Maritime Hotel, 363 W. 16th St. (at 9th Ave.), 212-242-4300; 1 a.m., $10.
Alejandro Escovedo/Marah
This year's incarnation is The Alejandro Masque of the Red Death, with The Boxing Mirror a brooding and synthy masterpiece of mortality from Americana's king of orchestral gutter-rock. Marah opens as folksy peasants who just want a decent ham sandwich.
Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Pl. (at 15th St.), 212-777-1224; 7:30, $19.50/$20.
Jaguar Wright
Neo-soul (and a clueless record company) lost its mightiest MILF to straight R&B, and she remains the finest vamper in what's now a much more crowded competition.
Canal Room, 285 West Broadway (at Canal St.), 212-941-8100; 9, $10.
The Lashes
They're posing as punkish power-pop, but Get It actually succeeds as moronic metal with the steely reserve that was always lacking in, say, Loverboy.
Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. (betw. B'way & Church St.), 212-219-3132; 10, $10.
An evening of Southern rock for the jaundiced and asthmatic.
Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St. (at Ave. A), 212-260-4700; 9:30, $10/$12.
Joel Gibb
Solo turn from frontman for The Hidden Cameras-and finally a chance to hear his clever pop tunes delivered in the cabaret setting for which they were truly destined.
Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette St. (betw. Astor Pl. & E. 4th St.), 212-254-1263; 11:30, $15.
Erase Errata
More rrretard than rrrevolution, but Nightlife shows them to still be the most entertaining art-punk experimentalists around.
Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. (betw. B'way & Church St.), 212-219-3132; 8, $10/$12.
Duncan Sheik
White Limousine is one of the best albums of the year, but ignored because it doesn't sound as good when an Ivy League grad says he's ashamed that our President is one, too.
Southpaw, 125 Fifth Ave. (betw. Sterling & St. John's Pls.), Brooklyn, 718-230-0236; 8, $15.
Interesting instrumentation can be bought at the pawnshop, but Devotchka brings in an epic rock sensibility that transcends Lit and heads to Cinemascope.
Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St. (betw. Bowery & Chrystie Sts.), 212-533-2111; 8, $14.
The Plastic Constellations
What hath the Flaming Lips wrought? In this case, a pale imitation so determined to undermine catchy rock songs that they frequently stumble upon genius.
Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St. (at Ave. A), 212-260-4700; 9, $10.
Gary Bennett
Formerly frontman for country-rocking BR549, Bennett gets all sensitive and Tom T. Hall with Human Condition-and, in the process, dodges twin death of being indie and/or Americana in favor of straight timeless songwriting.
Rodeo Bar, 375 Third Ave. (at 27th St.), 212-683-6500; 10, free.
Free bacon at today's big Canada Day! concert. Feist is mellow indie, Buck 65 is her Canadian cowboy rapper friend and Jason Collett is a mellow indie Canadian cowboy.
Central Park Summerstage, Rumsey Playfield, 72nd St. at CPW, 212-360-2756; 3, free.
The Lymbyc Systym
Improving on their influences, the instrumental Lymbyc Systym use live percussion and soulful keyboards to create beautiful soundscapes that aren't afraid to sound as funky as Michael McDonald.
Piano's, 158 Ludlow (at Stanton), 212-505-3733; 9:30, $8.
After the empty UK hype of the Subways, Australia makes amends with the stripped-down splendor of a band that's barely made it out of the hut and into a garage.
Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St. (at Ave. A), 212-260-4700; 7:30, $10.
Aberdeen City
Totally shameless and not even emo, The Freezing Atlantic gets away with being a weepy and even manly display of brooding in style. They like sweeping synth sounds, too.
Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. (betw. B'way & Church St.), 212-219-3132; 7:30, $10.
Cute Is What We Aim For
That name doesn't make it a mystery, but these Buffalo punks skip the tired earnest pose for charming displays of bubblegum mania.
CBGB's, 315 Bowery (betw. 1st & 2nd Sts.), 212-982-4052; 7, $10.
Mark Erelli
Welcome departure from the usual guy-with-guitar brings jug-eared rustic splendor as played by non-millionaire not from New Jersey.
Makor, 35 West 67th St. (betw. CPW & Columbus Ave.), 212-601-1000; 7:30, $12.
The Streets
Brit rapper creates most self-pitying masterpiece since The Wall with The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living, as Mike Skinner uses bare basics to complain about fame-including how fame doesn't make it any easier to get laid.
Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St. (betw. 3rd & 4th Aves.), 212- 353-1600; 8, $20/$23.