As soon as Bright Eyes (and the Faint) are finished hogging Webster Hall this week, former Conor Oberst label mate Rilo Kiley take over for a two day run. Former child actress Jenny Lewis leads this band of safe OC-ready indie pop-rockers. For a taste of Rilo, download MP3s of their entire Coachella performance. Portastatic and The Brunettes open both shows on Thursday and Friday.

For something completely unsafe (slam dancing, ringing ears, and the occasional crowd surfer), this week brings some fine choices too. Lightning Bolt is playing Tuesday at North Six and Thursday at the Hook. Prefixmag says that "over the past few years, Lightning Bolt's live shows have become essential." Pitchfork said" I rank Lightning Bolt in my top ten live experiences of all time." For a taste of their madness, Tale of Two Cities links to some videos. The Blood Brothers are also playing this week at Spirit, and NYHC (New York Hardcore) legends Killing Time have reunited for two shows at Northsix with Raw Deal, Uppercut and more.

Hip-hop fans pay attention. The Star Ledger says that ""Be" is to be released Tuesday on G.O.O.D. Music. Common's sixth major label project reclaims the rapper's underground lyrical style and puts it into a new contemporary package put together by one of the hottest producers of the moment, Common's fellow Chicago native, Kanye West.
Common plays S.O.B.'s tonight and tomorrow, but you'll want to go tomorrow (Tuesday) because Gza, J Live and more are at BB King's tonight.

Tonight is also 80's night, and we don't just mean where ever Boy George happens to be DJing. Billy Idol is supporting his new album with a show at Beacon Theatre, and Cyndi Lauper is supporting a good cause at Irving Plaza. The Friends of Theresa Fund is raising money for the family of music industry veteran Theresa Brilli Wilson. She died of cancer. Big stars like Natalie Merchant, Nellie McKay and Sandra Bernhard are also on the bill.

and now the day by day...

Monday - 23rd

Go to the Lower East Side. The Delancey is advertising a surprise special guest. Jaymay continues her residency at The Living Room. Stereophonics play their first of two sold out shows at Bowery Ballroom.

S.O.B.'s - Common
Living Room - Jaymay
Irving Plaza - "Concert to Benefit the Friends of Theresa Fund with Cyndi Lauper, Chris Whitley, The Georgia Satellites, Natalie Merchant, Nellie McKay, Sandra Bernhard, & Steve Forbert
Beacon Theatre - Billy Idol
Webster Hall - Bright Eyes, The Faint, Mars Black
B.B. King's - "The Best Damn Rap Tour" with Gza (Genius), J Live, C-Rayz Walz, Vast Aire (of Cannibal Ox)
Knitting Factory (Main Space) - Jarboe of Swans, Amber Asylum, Bellmer Dolls, Unto Ashes
Rothko - Auto-Matic Vaudeville, Kerfaines, The Bon Savants, Hunchback
The Delancey - Surprise Special Guests, The Witnesses, Jonny Lives
Bowery Ballroom - Stereophonics, Augustana
Radio City Music Hall - Gipsy Kings
Continental - Haunted Pussy

THE BLOOD BROTHERS

Tuesday - 24th

It's famous women of folk-pop night, but one (Sarah McLachlan) is playing in the really, really big Madison Square Garden, and the other (Sophie B. Hawkins) is playing in the really, really small Living Room.

Before Queens of the Stone Age, there was Kyuss. Brant Bjork held drumming duties. Now he leads his own funky stoner rock band. Tonight he plays his first of three area shows at Maxwell's.

S.O.B.'s - Common
Living Room - Sophie B. Hawkins
Madison Square Garden - Sarah McLachlan
Webster Hall - Bright Eyes, The Faint, Mars Black
Rothko - K and the Boys, Elephone, Demander, Single Frame
Southpaw - Mistakes, The Comas, Hopewell, Biirdie
Barbes - Jenny Scheinman
Spirit - The Blood Brothers, Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, Big Business (ex-Murder City Devils)
The Delancey (Upstairs) - Benji Cossa, TK Webb, Ben Carroll, Nicole Atkins
Bowery Ballroom - Stereophonics, Augustana
Irving Plaza - Pinback, Aqueduct, The Dudley Corporation
Maxwell's - Brant Bjork & the Bros., Ed Mundell (of Monster Magnet)
Northsix - Lightning Bolt, Metalux, Mouthus, Bug Sized Mind
The Delancey (Downstairs) - The Fame, The High Dials, Jug Addicts, High Horse
Sin-e - Bravo Silva, The End of the World, Dynasty
Knitting Factory (Tap Bar) - Club D'Elf
Tower Records (692 Broadway) - Common
Mercury Lounge - 30 Seconds to Mars (w/ Jared Leto) (early show)
The Kitchen - Tony Conrad & Jim O'Rourke

Wednesday - 25th

Fishbone still plays! If you like ska/punk/reggae, then you should look into their two shows with Slightly Stoopid at Irving Plaza.

Southpaw - Rasputina, Contramano
Rocks Off Boat Cruise - Lotus
Webster Hall - Bright Eyes, The Faint, Mars Black
Rothko - Captain Danger, G$, Steve Conte (of NY Dolls, The Contes), Helper, Gabrielle, Minimum Wage
Mercury Lounge - Th' Legendary Shackshakers, The Doc Marshalls, Chuch, Abba Roland
Bowery Ballroom - The Boredoms, Jim O'Rourke, Growing
The Delancey - Hello Nurse, Karwreck, Napoleon, Unsacred Hearts, Broadband
Knitting Factory (Main Space) - Team Sleep (early & late show)
Irving Plaza - Fishbone, Slightly Stoopid, Sound of Urchin

Thursday - 26th

The Decemberists are back in town to end their current tour at Warsaw in Brooklyn (though we'll see them again at Summerstage in August), and it's your last chance to catch Fischerspooner at Canal Room.

Knitting Factory (Tap Bar) - music.for-robots cd release show: El Ten Eleven, Seems so Bright, Shush Shush, Stiffed, The Bluffs, The Hysterics, The Subjects
Webster Hall - Rilo Kiley, Portastatic, The Brunettes
Knitting Factory (Main Space) - The Ponys, The Double, Psychic Ills
Rothko - NYC Smoke, White Light Motorcade, Sex Sells, Heads-Up Display
Southpaw - Brant Bjork & the Bros., Diamond Nights, zZz
Tonic - Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, Corn Mo
Warsaw - The Decemberists, Rebecca Gates
Luna Lounge - Moto:Rosa, Cockroach, Adam Lempel
The Hook - Lightning Bolt, Mutant Life Expectancy, Aaron Dilloway, Vegas Martyrs
Mercury Lounge- Aberdeen City, , Amusement Parks on Fire, Tralala (form. Tight Fit), Shelby
Bowery Ballroom - Gang Gang Dance, Bloodlines, Electroputas
Canal Room - Fischerspooner (last residency show, see photos from the 1st one)
Maxwell's - The High Dials, The Mainliners, Rainy Day Saints
Northsix - Killing Time/Raw Deal, Uppercut, Everyday Dollars
Irving Plaza - Fishbone, Slightly Stoopid, Sound of Urchin
Pussycat Lounge - the Pennyroyals

Friday - 27th

Single Frame comes from Austin Texas (home of the SXSW festival). According to SXSW's website, "Single Frame explores amalgamations of gritty analog and lucid digital, found sounds and volatile rhythms, rational grand piano and deranged fuzz guitar, resonant synthesizer and chaotic chant." (@ Pianos)

Friends of Gothamist, Snowden open the Brant Bjork show at Mercury Lounge tonight.

169 Bar - The Natural History, The Dansettes, Friendly Bears, Fat Gold Chain
Webster Hall - Rilo Kiley, Portastatic, The Brunettes
Knitting Factory (Main Space) - The Ocean Blue, The Sad Little Stars, Electric Turn to Me
Knitting Factory (old Office) - The Fold (Tooth and Nail Records), For Felix
Northsix - Impaled, Aborted, Malignancy, Leng T'che, Digested Flesh, Fecal Corpse
Pianos - Dirty Projectors, Single Frame, The Wind-Up Bird, Paul Michel, Goes Cube
Pussycat Lounge - Chase Lounge, Maquina Mono, La Otracina, Weird Owl, Isle of Citadel, Fooled By April
Sin-e - Fresh Kills, Big Bear, Kyp Malone (of TV on the Radio), Dame Fate, Kim & Matt
Mercury Lounge - Brant Bjork & the Bros., Snowden, Mixel Pixel, Koester
Bowery Ballroom - The Wrens, Morningwood, Army of Me, Say Hi To Your Mom
Irving Plaza - Dark Star Orchestra
Crash Mansion - Jason Brody, PS, My TVs, The Good North
Lit - Glass Candy, Free Blood, Get On Get On
Pete's Candy Store - Automatic Arms, Wet Confetti, The Redcoats Are Coming
Bryant Park (Good Morning America) - Rascall Flatts
Tonic - Groove Collective

JULIETTE & THE LICKS

Saturday - 28th

Cordero play really good latin influenced indie rock. (@ Mercury Lounge)

Juliette Lewis is a rock star. (@ Bowery Ballroom)

Soundfix Records - The Hold Steady
Luna Lounge - R.U.O.K., The Shapes, The Happy Ending
Mercury Lounge - Cordero, the Cuban Cowboys, Steve Shiffman & The Land Of NO, The Thieves
Bowery Ballroom - Juliette & The Licks, Jonny Lives, Soft, Johnny Panic
Irving Plaza - Dark Star Orchestra
Northsix - Apollo Sunshine
Tribeca Grand Hotel (FIXED party) - Glass Candy
Southpaw - JELLY w/ dj Melody Nelson & Kool Kear & The Cloud Room (late show)
Tonic - White Hassle

Sunday - 29th

Spend your afternoon with some of the hottest local bands @ East River Bar then get raunchy with Erocktica (Not safe for work) at Knitting Factory.

Barbes - Roy Nathanson Quartet with special guest Marc Ribot
East River Bar (Rock 'n' Roll Brunch) - Other Passengers, The Prids, The Art of Shooting, Pela
Northsix - Killing Time/Raw Deal, Uppercut, Slumlords, Ensign, Crime in Stereo, Awkward Thought, Forward to Death
Soundfix Records - Artanker Convoy
Maxwell's - Nicole Atkins, The Crash Moderns, Lunch Money, Hello Nurse
Knitting Factory - Erocktica

What did we miss?