Pop
Full reviews of recent concerts: nytimes.com/music.
DAMIAN MARLEY Bob Marley's youngest son, Damian Marley, 28, has been working at his music career for longer than a minute. His album "Halfway Tree" (Universal) won the 2002 reggae Grammy Award without causing much of a popular stir. But this year Mr. Marley, above, had a big hit with the rueful social critique "Welcome to Jamrock." Absent any trendy braggadocio or bullying electronics, the song is a throbbing throwback to the observational political style of Jamaica's pre-dancehall days. But this retro ploy isn't a sign that the hip-hop-savvy Mr. Marley is stuck in the past. Rather, he has proved to be a step ahead of a game saturated with booty beats and gruff toasters, both righteous and clownish. He saw an opening in reggae for the sort of incantatory agit-prop that would remind people of his country's continuing exploitation at the hands of drug traffickers, opportunistic government sellouts and, of course, hedonistic tourists. The radio and remix crowd ate it up. Its haunting vocal sample, taken from an Ini Kamoze song - "Out in the streets, they call it murder" - resonated not only with Jamaican poverty but also with the strife of the disenfranchised, from Iraq to the American South. That pointed, ghostly refrain became the DJ segue of the summer. The song still had traction as the Katrina tragedy unfolded, when another passage seemed to voice the collective frustration of places like the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans: "To see the sufferation sicken me/ Them suit no fit me/ To win election they trick we/ And they don't do nuttin' at all." (Mr. Marley plays on a bill with X-Clan. Tomorrow at 9 p.m., Nokia Theater Times Square, 1515 Broadway, at 44th Street. Tickets on sale at MTV Store, 1515 Broadway, www.mtv2.com; $2, sold out.) LAURA SINAGRA
AGAINST ME (Tonight) These folk-punkers from Gainesville, Fla., up the ante by including left-wing politics in their energized mix. 6, Webster Hall, 125 East 11th Street, East Village, (212) 353-1600; $15. (Laura Sinagra)
BETTY (Thursday) With increased notoriety thanks to Showtime's "L Word," the anything-goes activist cabaret pop band Betty plays holiday fare, joined by J. D. Samson of Le Tigre and Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls. 9:30 p.m., Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette Street, at Astor Place, East Village, (212) 539-8778; $20. (Sinagra)
BLOOD ON THE WALL (Tonight) This shaggy Brooklyn trio fronted by the guitarist and vocalist Brad Shanks and his sister, the bassist and vocalist Courtney Shanks, make hip-shaking rock with a touch of Midwestern-gothic twang. Psychic Ills opens. 9:30, Maxwell's, 1039 Washington Street, Hoboken, N.J., (201) 653-1703; $8. (Sinagra)
DEAD MEADOW, WITCH (Thursday) Dead Meadow plays hard rock that evokes rolling expanse the way that the blues-metal this group loves once evoked misty Gothic castles. Witch is the folk-metal project of the Dinosaur Jr. guitarist J Mascis. 8 p.m., Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey Street, near the Bowery, Lower East Side, (212) 533-2111; $14 in advance, $15 at the door. (Sinagra)
KARL DENSON'S TINY UNIVERSE (Tonight) Karl Denson, who played saxophone in Lenny Kravitz's band, is eager to push jazz back onto the dance floor. He has his heart in 1950's hard-bop and 1970's funk: music that takes liberties but never lets go of the beat. 8, B. B. King's Blues Club and Grill, 243 West 42nd Street, Manhattan, (212) 997-4144; $25. (Jon Pareles)
DEPECHE MODE, THE BRAVERY (Wednesday and Thursday) In the 1980's and 90's, Depeche Mode's danceable synthesizer darkness, fetish melodies and mall-ready maladjustment made the group the industrial electro-pop band to beat. After some solo-project detours, the band is back, in this goth-friendly time, to its reliable formula. A less downcast version of neo-new-wave, the Bravery is tougher than its contemporaries like the Killers, if not always as much fun. 8 p.m., Madison Square Garden, (212) 465-6741; $40 to $85. (Sinagra)
DINOSAUR JR. (Tonight and tomorrow night) Dinosaur Jr., the seminal band that melded the apathetic cool of American punk with the guitar blare of classic rock, reunites its contentious original lineup. Love As Laughter opens. 8, Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Place, East Village, (212) 777-6800; $30. (Sinagra)
DONOVAN (Wednesday) The singer-songwriter responsible for both "Season of the Witch" and the best scene in the Bob Dylan documentary "Don't Look Back" continues his hurdy-gurdy grooviness. 8 p.m., Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64th Street, Manhattan, www.concertstonight.com, (212) 307-7171; $40 and $45.
(Sinagra)
GOLDFRAPP (Monday) Allison Goldfrapp and his partner, Will Gregory, make electronic music that harkens back to the glam side of disco. 9 p.m., Nokia Theater, 1515 Broadway, at 44th Street, ticketmaster.com or (212) 307-7171; $28 (sold out). (Sinagra)
JULIANNA HATFIELD (Wednesday) Ms. Hatfield's voice, that of a weary but urgent ingénue, added sharp charm to the music of the Blake Babies in the 1980's and her solo projects in the 90's. This singer-songwriter continues to release albums with a low-key, confessional spark. 9 p.m., Maxwell's, 1039 Washington Street, Hoboken, N.J., (201) 798-0406; $14.
(Sinagra)
IRON & WINE AND CALEXICO (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) The modern rustic Sam Beam takes a whispery, almost Chet Baker-like approach to folk vocals. Sung atop delicately plucked guitar, his lyrics speak to the sensitive male's concerns about intimacy and mortality. Calexico plays desert rock bathed in pedal-steel mystery and orchestral ambience. Their collaboration hauls the quiescent Mr. Beam out on a colorful road trip. This show is billed as a mix and match affair, with guests, patterned on Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue. 7 p.m., Webster Hall, 125 East 11th Street, East Village, (212) 353-1600; $25. (Sinagra)
* BETTYE LAVETTE (Sunday) Bettye LaVette of Detroit released her first recording when she was 16, and soldiered on through a career that carried her through 15 labels, minor rhythm-and-blues hits like "He Made a Woman Out of Me" and years in Europe. But her tough, knowing voice and sense of drama could rival Tina Turner's, and she recently released a hand-tooled set of songs by women - "I've Got My Own Hell to Raise" (Anti) - that's the soul album of the year. 8 p.m., Knitting Factory Main Space, 74 Leonard Street, TriBeCa, (212) 219-3006; $20. (Pareles)
TED LEO & THE PHARMICISTS (Tomorrow) The Irish-American indie rocker Ted Leo plays soulful punk, nearly popping a neck vein for political justice. But his melodic sensibility and falsetto also recall the 70's arena rock of bands like Thin Lizzy. Also on the bill are the Exit and the Black Hollies. 6 p.m., Webster Hall, 125 E 11th Street, East Village, (212) 353-1600; $17. (Sinagra)
YASMIN LEVY (Tomorrow) This Israeli singer draws on the Sephardic musical traditions of 15th-century Andalusia, Morocco and Turkey. She'll be accompanied by musicians on oud, qanun (zither), ney (reed flute) and percussion. 8:30 p.m., Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, (212) 247-7800; $30 to $42. (Sinagra)
THE LOSERS LOUNGE TRIBUTE TO ROXY MUSIC AND BRIAN ENO (Tonight and tomorrow night) The long-running ad-hoc homage rock troupe reprises its tribute to the glam-rock (and other sonic pursuits) of Brian Eno and Bryan Ferry, with the help of a rotating stable of vocalists. 7 and 9, Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette Street, at Astor Place, East Village, (212) 539-8778 or (212) 239-6200; $25. (Sinagra)
MENDOZA LINE (Tonight) The local band Mendoza Line writes lilting songs with cutting lyrics about betrayal, jealousy and disappointment. Its best choruses turn on phrases like "We're all in this alone." The band plays here with Meredith Bragg & The Terminals, who favor distractedly emotive pop reminiscent of the Shins. 10:30, Knitting Factory Tap Bar, 74 Leonard Street, TriBeCa, (212) 219-3006; $10. (Sinagra)
NELLIE MCKAY (Monday and Tuesday) A couple of years ago, this young cabaret-pop wiseacre had critics grinning at her perky piano bar confessionals and cutesy Eminem-style rap screeds. She's a commanding talent, if often overbearing, and she's got new songs that should keep her marketing people confused. Monday at 7 p.m., Makor, Steinhardt Building, 35 West 67th Street, Manhattan, (212) 601-1000; $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Tuesday at 6 p.m., Mercury Lounge, 217 East Houston Street, at Ludlow Street, Lower East Side, (212) 260-4700; $18 in advance, $20 at the door (sold out). (Sinagra)
BOB MOULD (Tomorrow) The barky baritone who provided the punk dissonance in Husker Dü and went on to alt pop success with the muscularly melodic Sugar has spent the last decade experimenting with more intimate forms of expression. 9 p.m., Northsix, 66 North Sixth Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, (718) 599-5103; $18 in advance, $20 at the door. (Sinagra)
MYSTIC VOICE OF CROATIA (Tonight) Croatia's Dalmatian coast is home to the polyphonic vocal tradition known as klapa, an all-male style influenced by Italian harmonics. The group Klapa Sinj performs a cappella and with accompanists. 8, Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64th Street, Manhattan, (212) 545-7536; $25. (Sinagra)
LEONA NAESS (Thursday) This English-born singer-songwriter has a voice that can slide from sharp to smoky during songs parsing both love's loll and its sting. She has cast about for a reliable style, opting most recently for an elemental approach. 9 p.m., The Living Room, 154 Ludlow Street, Lower East Side, (212) 533-7235; $10. (Sinagra)
BRAD PAISLEY (Wednesday) Taking another lap through town after the recent Country Music Awards, this regular-guy superstar singer-guitarist brings his well-modulated lovin', drinkin' and fishin' songs back to the big city. Sara Evans opens. 7:30 p.m., Nokia Theater, 1515 Broadway, at 44th Street, ticketmaster.com or (212) 307-7171;$39.50 (sold out). (Sinagra)
PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES, THE DOUBLE (Monday and Tuesday) The Seattle group Pretty Girls Make Graves recalls that mid-90's moment when punk holler met modern rock sheen, and lots of bands with girl singers got airtime. The Double uses all the tools at its lo-fi disposal in service of arty pop undercut with burbles, dark surges and twinges. Tangiers opens. Monday at 8 p.m., Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard Street, TriBeCa, (212) 219-3006; $12. Tuesday at 9 p.m., Warsaw, 261 Driggs Avenue, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, (718) 387-0505; $13. (Sinagra)
ROGUE WAVE (Tonight) Yet another meditative band to be rolled in with the Shins, Rogue Wave plays that kind of wishing-well rock that, when done right, washes over you while adding gravitas to your flakiest concerns. Mazarin and Shelby open. 8:30, Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey Street, near the Bowery, Lower East Side, (212) 533-2111; $15. (Sinagra)
JENNY SCHEINMAN (Tuesday) The violinist and composer Jenny Scheinman has made a name as a sidewoman for the likes of Norah Jones, but has cultivated a fan base with her own energetic improvisational show. 7 p.m., Barbes, 376 Ninth Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn, (718) 965-9177; $8. (Sinagra)
SONGS OF THE SPIRIT, FEATURING ODETTA (Tuesday) This festival features performances by the culture-blending vocalist Sussan Deyhim; the trombonist Craig Harris, who recasts "God's Trombones" in the style of brass "shout" bands; the Klezmatics, playing here with the gospel singer Joshua Nelson; DJ Spooky; the Harlem-born poet Sekou Sundiata; the multiphonic Tibetan monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery; Meshell Ndegeocello, and the folk icon Odetta. 7:30 p.m., The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, at 112th Street, Morningside Heights; $16, $30 and $45 (reserved seats); www.ticketweb.com, (866) 468-7619 or (212) 545-7536 (Sinagra)
SWAYZAK (Wednesday) The duo of James and Broon have incorporated into their chilly version of house music some flecks of pop, while still excelling at the moody stuff. 11 p.m., Canal Room, 285 West Broadway, at Canal Street, Chinatown, (212) 941-8100; $15. (Sinagra)
TOSCA (Wednesday) Richard Dorfmeister, of the late 90's electronic music duo Kruder & Dorfmeister, here teams up with the pianist and composer Rupert Huber for a still-mellow, but funk-informed pastiche , sometimes involving vocalists. 8 p.m., Irving Plaza,17 Irving Place, at 15th Street, Manhattan, (212) 777-1224; $30 in advance, $35 at the door. (Sinagra)
YOUNG JEEZY AND T. I. (Tonight) Two of the hottest current exponents of Atlanta's hip-hop sound unite for the Georgia Power Tour. "Snowman" Young Jeezy raps "I'm a product of my environment/ so I move products of my environment" with a pushy swagger that distinguishes his brand of Southern style from Houston's slow-mo. He joins here with T. I., whose "Bring Em Out," turned a chorus-line piano vamp into a beatdown threat. 8, Nassau Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale, N.Y., (631) 888-9000; $19.75 to $37.50. (Sinagra)
DAN ZANES & FRIENDS (Tomorrow and Sunday) Once he made music for college kids in the indie band the Del Fuegos. Now Dane Zanes makes music for tykes. Tomorrow at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, at 95th Street, (212) 864-5400,; $20 adults, $12 children. (Sinagra)