Decent Days and Nights

Things slow down a little this week, but not by much. In fact, the only upswing to this week's slightly lighter musical calendar is that it doesn't force us to make as many tough decisions as last week!

Apollo Sunshine is steeped in the psych-pop of the '60s, and we admit it's beginning to feel like we've been waiting since that decade for a proper follow-up to their last album. Maybe folks checking out their show tonight will have a chance to hear some new tunes?
Empty Bottle, tonight, 9:00 p.m., $13, 21+

Man, do we hate the sound at the Aragon, so we're sorry to see that Liars and Interpol are playing there Thursday night. Liars' self-titled latest is a more conventional affair than the rhythm-heavy mountain dub unleashed on Drums Not Dead, but it's still a rather excellent offering. The primary difference is the return to more recognizable song structures, but the group does still throw in a few left turns here and there. We're not sold on Interpol's latest, but we still think that of all the groups borrowing heavily from the Joy Division sound, they're possibly the best. Maybe one of the two is the secret band playing elsewhere later that evening?
Aragon Ballroom, Thursday, 7:30 p.m., $27.50, all ages

Deadstring Brothers celebrate the release of their new album Friday with a show at Beat Kitchen. The band has a winning way with a populist sounding blend of rootsy, gritty, Southern-inflected whiskey rock. In other words, they are exactly the kind of band you'd expect to find on Bloodshot records. Take that as you will, but it means we fig it. Farewell Captain opens, but we've already raved about them.
Beat Kitchen, Friday, 9:00 p.m., $10, 18+

Photo of Deadstring Brothers by Doug Coombe from the band's MySpace page.