Coolfer's Music Picks

On Friday, the show of the evening is at Central Park's Summerstage. Devo will be joined by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and stellastar*. Tickets were sold out long ago, back when they were going for a mere $37.50. As of today, posts on Craigs List's tickets section were offering tickets at face value and a few were offered just over face value. Also on Friday, Irving Plaza hosts the Underground Garage Finals with special guests Rocket From The Crypt. Winners from regional finals will battle it out on the Irving Plaza stage. What do they win? I don't know, but the show is sponsored by Dunkin Donuts.

Vinicius Cantuaria (pictured), the incredible Brazilian-born singer-songwriter who now calls New York City his home, plays two shows tomorrow at Makor (with Marc Ribot) and has two shows at Tonic on Friday. The Makor shows are at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. At tonic, the 8pm show is with Soli and the 10pm show s with his band.

Saturday is gonna be a gem. Ted Leo and Sea Ray are playing a free show at the East River Park Amphitheater along with The Natural History and Tigers and Monkeys. Later in the day, the Bronx are playing the Knitting Factory. Tickets are $10/12 and the show. The Bronx are not a local band. They're from LA, and their self-titled album is such an incredible blast of noise and energy that it landed in Coolfer's best of 2003 list. Don't forget your earplugs.

Also on Saturday, Jay Farrar (formerly of Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt) performs at the Prospect Park Bandshell. Again, it's only $3. Farrar has been the less celebrated of the Uncle Tupelo alumni--that honor would go to Jeff Tweedy, who formed Wilco after Uncle Tupelo disbanded. But don't discount Farrar. His output with Son Volt and as a solo artist has been nothing short of outstanding.

More:

- James McMurtry at the Mercury Lounge, tonight
- Unisex Salon at Sin-e, tomorrow
- Richie Havens at Joe's Pub, tomorrow
- Vice Party at The Delancy, tomorrow
- Baby Dayliner w/The Giraffes and Scott Lucas at the Mercury Lounge, Friday
- D12 w/King Gordy and Slum Village at BB Kings, Friday
- The Weirdos at Southpaw, Friday
- Hangar 18 w/Beans, Pete Miser, SA Smash, Phoenix & The Shadow and Creature at the Mercury Lounge, Saturday
- Tangerine w/Hopewell and Early Morning Band at Pianos, Saturday
- The Dirtbombs w/The Greenhornes at the Bowery Ballroom, Saturday
- mum w/Slowblow at the Bowery Ballroom, Sunday and Monday
- Ladybug Transistor at Southpaw, Tuesday
- Edan w/Insight and The Procussions at Northsix, Tuesday

Tunes:

- The Bronx: "Heart Attack American"
- Unisex Salon: "I Hate You"
- The Natural History: "Watch This House"
- Tangerine: "Look Back"
- Ted Leo: "The High Party"
- Ladybug Transistor: "Burial At Sea"