The Art Brut hype started around June when the critics universally praised the UK rock band's debut album. Tiny Mix Tapes wrote, "I feel strange writing this review considering how big Art Brut will become over the next few months. No American dates are scheduled thus far, but they’re doing the UK festival circuit this summer and are poised to win just about everyone over." Eventually American dates were scheduled, and as usual NYC gets to be one of the first to experience the overseas sensation. This week you have FOUR chances to catch them. (@ Maxwell's, Mercury Lounge, Northsix and Tribeca Grand)
"I've listened to this album more than anything else released this year, and I still don't feel like I've fully explored its depths." [Stylus] "...I've listened to it more than any other album over the last year, but I don't know if I really have the words to describe why it's so good." [Central Village] They're both talking about rock band Okkervil River's Black Sheep Boy. Okkervil River play two shows in NYC this week. Charles Bissel of the Wrens is opening. (@ Knitting Factory & Northsix)
And now the day by day...
Monday - 7th
The Hold Steady are back with their biggest local show yet. Labelmate Thunderbirds are Now! joins them. (@ Webster Hall)
A side-project of the National teams with a side-project of the Arcade Fire. (@ Tonic).
Webster Hall - The Hold Steady, Blood on the Wall, Thunderbirds Are Now!
Club Exit - Death From Above 1979, Japanther, No Dynamics, Meneguar
Knitting Factory (Main Space) - Little Brazil (ex-Good Life/Desapapacedos), Statistics, Kristin Allen-Zito, Relay
Mo Pitkins - Space Mtn
Rothko - Vladislav Delay
Tonic - Clogs, Bell Orchestre
Radio City - Ben Folds
Living Room - Jaymay, Jesse Harris
Pianos - The Living Things, Condo
Tuesday - 8th
Bowery Ballroom - Butch Walker, Damone
Cake Shop - The End of the World, Lying In States, Knife Crazy, Seekonk
Knitting Factory - GoGoGo Airheart, Joggers, Rahim, Up the Empire (from Kilowatthours)
Rothko - Aeroplane Pageant, Summer Lawns, The Silent League, The Walkup
The Delancey - Discovery, The Close, Talibam!, Isle of Citadel, John Webster Johns
Irving Plaza - Fear Factory with Soilwork, Strapping Young Lad, Darkane
Hammerstein Ballroom - An Intimate Evening w/ KTU: Ricky Martin, Jon Secada, Frankie J
Joe's Pub - Willy Porter (early & late)
Roseland Ballroom - Trey Anastasio
Society For Ethical Culture - Cyndi Lauper
Tower Records 692 Broadway - Patti Smith (free)
Pianos (upstairs) - Cross Pollination (free)
Wednesday - 9th
New Buffalo is one of Arts & Crafts' (Broken Social Scene) latest signings. (@ Bowery Ballroom with Ben Lee)
Bowery Ballroom - Ben Lee, New Buffalo
Cake Shop - Goldstar, Test Icicles
Irving Plaza - The Black Keys, The Mighty Imperials
Maxwell's - Art Brut, The Occasion, Levy
Mercury Lounge - Lake Trout, Benzos, Shelby, Lolita Bras
Rothko - Sky Pilots, Murder Mystery, The Upwelling, The Shapes
Scenic - Apollo Heights, Proton Proton, Rob Montejo, Sparks Fly From A Kiss
The Delancey - Live Girls, Death of Fashion, Schizo Fun Addict, Landlord
Tommy's Tavern - Voltage, Psychward Love, The Hot Springs
BROADCAST

Thursday - 10th
Q and not U recently played their last show. Singer Chris Richards' new project is called Ris Paul Ric. Listen at Myspace. (@ Knitting Factory)
Bowery Ballroom - Longwave, +/-, Giant Drag
Webster Hall - Broadcast, Gravenhurst, Tralala
Cake Shop - Telepathe, Pterodactyl, Voltage, The Good Good, Archaeopteryx
Knitting Factory(Tap Bar) - Ris Paul Ric (of Q and not U), The Mugs, McGowan, Dave Doobinin
Knitting Factory(Main Space) - The No Neck Blues Band, Michael Chapman
Mercury Lounge - Art Brut, Psychic Ills, Mike Wexler
Mo Pitkins - The Sharp Things
NYU Kimmel Center - Magik Markers, Thurston Moore with Massachusexx, Aa, Wooden Wand and The Vanishing Voice
Pianos - Unisex Salon, Melina Mepris, The Harlem Shakes, The Roaring 20's, Billionaire Boys Club
Rothko - Marit Bergman, The Pink Spiders, The Hong Kong, Nanuchka
Southpaw - General Miggs, The Twenty-Twos, La Laque
The Delancey - Burnside Project, Brasilia, Isobella, Hartley Goldstein
Tommy's Tavern - Modey Lemon, The Apes, The Victoria Lucas
Warsaw - The Black Keys
Friday - 11th
Bowery Ballroom - Blue Rodeo, The Damnwells
Cake Shop- Modey Lemon, The Apes, Standing Nudes
Knitting Factory(Main Space) - The Dwarves, Mondo Generator, Turbo AC's, The Vacancies
Knitting Factory(Main Space) - Okkervil River, The Minus Story, Charles Bissel (of The Wrens) (late show)
Magnetic Field - The Black Lips, The King Kahn & BBQ Show
Mercury Lounge Immortal Lee County Killers, Thee Shams, Phosphorescent, Federale, Hank IV
Mo Pitkins - Laura Cantrell
Mo Pitkins - Illumina (late show)
Nokia Theatre - Bauhaus
Northsix - Art Brut, The Occasion, Test Icicles
Pianos - Spinto Band, The Teeth, Burried Beds
Rothko - Ladytron (DJ Set)
Sin-e - The Anabolics, Hail Social, The Firebird Band (ex-Braid), Jet by Day, Evil Queens
The Delancey - The Behoovers, Ways Away, Born Raised
Tonic - Japanther
Tonic - Michael Chapman, Mighty Flashlight, Zachary Cale, The Suntanama
Irving Plaza - Galactic
Beacon Theater - ZZ Top
Southpaw - Brazilian Girls, Beans, Xavier, Globesonic
Joe's Pub - Rene Risque and the Art Lovers
Saturday 12th
Arlene's Grocery - Stand Up Eight, Loaded Dreams, Dimestore Scenario, The Corduroys, June Fool
Bowery Ballroom - Bob Schneider
Cake Shop - Bellmer Dolls, Shock Cinema, Holy Hail
Knitting Factory (Tap Bar) - Mommy and Daddy, The Charms, Looker, Lying In States
Mo Pitkins - Laura Cantrell
Nokia Theatre - Bauhaus
Northsix - Okkervil River, Man Man, Charles Bissel (of The Wrens)
Pianos - Les Sans Cullottes, Moi, Nervous Cabaret, The Argument, Black Male
Pianos (upstairs) - Dfactor
Roseland Ballroom - The All-American Rejects, Rooney, The Academy Is...
Sin-e - The Plastic Constellations, Strikes Again, Die Romantik, Mancino, Bebek
Soundfix Records - Phosphorescent, The Minus Story, Will Scheff (of Okkervil River)
Space in LIC - Magik Markers, GoGoGo Airheart, Metalux, Prurient, Electric Kulintang, Jessica Rylan
Tribeca Grand Hotel - Art Brut
Irving Plaza - Galactic
Mercury Lounge - Citizen Cope (solo)
Southpaw - WILEY, Noble Society, Pacha, Benji B
ANDREW BIRD

Sunday - 13th
Bowery Ballroom - Andrew Bird, Head of Femur
Maxwell's - The Black Lips, The King Kahn & BBQ Show
Mercury Lounge - Quintron & Miss Pussycat, An Albatross, Harry Merry
Southpaw - Mommy and Daddy, Alan Astor, Man vs. Beast
Pianos - The Saints
What did we miss?