Also this issue:

Diesel Dork
Anti-folk hero Adam Brodsky returns from touring with a new CD and an all-star cast to play the release party.
-M.J. Fine

Back Again
Singer/actor Jimi Mooney's punk-princess alter ego finds love as Helen Back.
-A.D. Amorosi

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
-Sam Adams

Brother JT
-Brian Howard

Luciana Souza
-A.D. Amorosi

Billy Joe Shaver
-Sam Adams

The Swords Project/ The Gloria Record
-A.D. Amorosi

DJ Nights
-Sean O'Neal

November 27-December 3, 2002

musicpicks

The Slats

The White Stripes, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Hives -- these bands don't sound anything like each other. Either "retro-garage-pop" doesn't mean anything or some of these guys just don't fit the bill. So what's the real common thread that makes them part of the same wave? It's charisma. For audiences tired of joyless indie bands who don't boogie and radio-ready groups with rigid choreography, these bands, especially their frontpeople, are turning heads just by showing some earnest, seemingly unprocessed enthusiasm. In that case, there's no good reason the fun-as-fuck Slats shouldn't be hanging out at the MTV Beach House next summer with Jack, Meg, Karen and Nicholaus. Amid Guided By Voices-like guitar tricks and storming rock 'n' roll beats, singer-guitarist Brian Cox spouts Pavement-ish rants and acts like he's the next big thing. Too early to tell, but he knows charisma is the key. And knowing is half the battle.

Sat., Nov. 30, 9 p.m., $6, with Rosario Focus, Collapse and One Star Hotel, The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 267-671-9298.

—Patrick Rapa