Music Listings
Wednesday, November 30
Mobius Band
These Massachusetts natives are gaining notice for artfully combining funky rock guitars and drums with ambient electronic sounds.
Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.), 212-260-4700; 7:30, $8.
Bonnie Raitt
The ultra-P.C. Harvard dropout and daughter of Oklahoma star John Raitt hits town to belt the blues.
Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway (betw. W. 74th & W. 75th Sts.), 212-496-7070; 8, $20?$80. Also playing Thurs., Dec. 1.
Thursday, December 1
The Howl
This art-rock foursome includes superb drummer Adam Amram (son of jazzman David Amram) and avant-garde sax player Stefan Zeniuk. Their songs will remind you of everything from "St. James Infirmary" to They Might Be Giants. These guys can really play.
Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery St. (betw. Bleecker & Houston Sts.), 212-614-0505; 10, $6.
Donovan
The '60s singer, who fathered both "Mellow Yellow" and actress Ione Skye, arrives from the Emerald Isle.
Nokia Theater, 1515 Broadway (at 7th Ave.) 212-307-7171; 8, $40.
Kiss Me Deadly
The Montreal-based pop quartet crosses the border to promote their funky new album, Misty Medley. Catch them if you like catchy.
Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St. (at Ave. A), 212-260-4700; 7:30, $8.
The Ark
These Swedish glam rockers play pop with clever hooks and sly titles. If they ripoff Queen, they also put on a good stage show. They open for Kiss Me Deadly (see above).
Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St. (at Ave. A), 212-260-4700 7:30, $8.
TV on the Radio
After co-headlining a tour with funk legend George Clinton and opening for Franz Ferdinand, these Brooklyn boys are back.
Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St. (betw. 3rd & 4th Aves.), 212-269-4700; 7, $25.
Anna Christie and The Sisters Three
Though her lyrics don't deviate much from the singer/songwriter norm, Anna Christie is the owner of a beautiful, crisp voice that's a throwback to the days of charismatic lounge acts.
The Living Room, 154 Ludlow St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.), 212-533-7235; 8, one-drink minimum.
Looker
Looker has performed before with the Ravonettes and, like them, they look back fondly to older R&B sounds.
Pianos, 158 Ludlow St. (at Stanton St.), 212-505-3703; 8, $8.
Mark Gardener
The former member of British band Ride plays from his solo album These Beautiful Ghosts.
Knitting Factory Main Space, 74 Leonard St. (betw. Church & Broadway) 212-219-3132; 9, $12.
Friday, December 2
The Mendoza Line
Arguably the city's most fun pop quartet. They'll remind you of everyone from Elvis Costello to Lesley Gore to Fleetwood Mac.
Knitting Factory Tap Bar, 74 Leonard St. (betw. Church & Broadway) 212-219-31328; 10:30, $10.
Clay Aiken
Aren't you excited to know that you can catch Clay belting out holiday tunes THREE DAYS in a row? This six-tour veteran has hosted the "Insider" and once had a bit part on "Scrubs." That alone makes it worth $350, right?
Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway (betw. W. 74th & W. 75th Sts.), 212-496-7070; Fri. & Sat. 8, Sun. 7:30, $110?$350.
Saturday, December 3
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
The beloved Ted Leo returns to the city with his special brand of socially conscious punk.
Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St. (betw. 3rd & 4th Aves.), 212-269-4700; 5:30, $17.
Alysson Light
What can we say? We think this 19-year-old songstress has a really swell voice, and her music sounds a little bit like Stevie Nicks'. A bit.
Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. (betw. Church & Broadway), 212-219-3132; 8, $10.
Bob Mould
Remember how awesome Husker Du was? That was Bob Mould. Now he's come out of the closet, and he's performing solo.
Northsix, 66 N. 6th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 718-599-5013; 8, $20/$18 adv.
Frances
This miniature rock-pop orchestra has been described as the East Coast's answer to Calexico.
Scenic 25 Ave. B (betw. E. 2nd & E. 3rd Sts.), 212-253-2595; 8, $8.
Sunday, December 4
Margot and the Nuclear So & So's
What would a pop-rock band influenced dually by Paul Simon and Pavement sound like if they included guitar, bass, drums-and cello and trumpet? Here's one answer.
Northsix, 66 N. 6th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 718-599-5013; 8, $10.
Team Robespierre
Their motto is "GunsFireMayhem." For those into ultra-fast rhythms, loud playing and loud screaming.
Sin-e, 150 Attorney St. (at Stanton St.), 212-388-0077; 9, $8.
Monday, December 5
Pretty Girls Make Graves
With a third album dropping in the near future, this quintet of Seattle rockers brings explosive punk back to New York (with a requisite Williamsburg stop), replete with the band's trademark complex song structures, obstinate bass lines and tension-building guitar riffs.
Warsaw, 261 Driggs Ave. (betw. Eckford & Leonard Sts.), Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 212-387-5252; 9, $12.50.
Tuesday, December 6
Islands
First they played as the Unicorns. Now we have Islands. A debut album is due sometime in January.
Knitting Factory Main Space, 74 Leonard St. (betw. Church & B'way), 212-219-3132; 8, $12/$10 adv.
Wednesday, December 7
Juliana Hatfield
The much-admired '90s folkie who once tried smoking so that she might sound more like a rock diva is back.
Maxwell's, 1039 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ, 201-653-1703; 9. $14.
Cynthia Hopkins with her band Gloria Deluxe
A one night preview of Music Don't Whip 'Um. This is part performance art, part adventure story and part rock show, all based on the artist's personal bout with psychogenic amnesia.
Art at St. Ann's, 38 Water St., Brooklyn, 718-254-8779; 8, $15.
Depeche Mode
The Brit electro-pop ensemble returns to New York to get their fans dancing. Their fans' adoration isn't such a strange love-after all, the band's booty-shaking music can sometimes make them a veritable joy division.
Madison Square Garden, 4 Penn Plaza, (7th Ave. and 31st St.) 212-224-7045; 8, $50?$135.