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This Week In Music: March 26 - April 1

Monday, March 26
Illinois
Cake Shop
$6

Possessing a similar pop sensibility that has converted so many to the sounds of Brendan Benson, Illinois aren't out to beat you over the head with their music, rather than letting its upbeat melody and story-telling wash over you. For the price of an NYC coffee, can you afford to pass this up?


Tuesday, March 27
Silversun Pickups
Theater at Madison Square Garden
$40

L.A.'s Silversun Pickups cleverly merge Smashing Pumpkins' polished rock-outs, flirtations with Emo and a dash of Imperial Teen call-and-response vocals to great effect. You've heard this before (and quite possibly when you were cramming for those dreaded mid-terms a decade ago) but when you're as good as Silversun Pickups, era-specific criticisms no longer seem a consideration.


Wednesday, March 28
Do Make Say Think
Southpaw
$15

Toronto Post-rock outfit, Do Make Say Think incorporate a jazz-rock rhythm section with fuzzy guitars and electronic sounds to produce high-impact instrumentals. Some serious and impressive jams make this a live music highlight.


Thursday, March 29
The Presets
Hiro Ballroom
$12/ $20

Destined for indie-dive-bar-dance-floor success stateside paralleling that which they've achieved in their Aussie homeland, Modular's (Wolfmother) The Presets make irresistibly dirgey electro-clash that makes you want to perform, be it in your apartment, out on the street, or in the darkness of that unsavory LES bar with the sticky carpets. Recharge the 3am partygoer in you and push on through the night…


Friday, March 30
Bloc Party
United Place Theatre
$34 (All ages)

Bloc Party were faced with quite a challenge in attempting to rise above the current mass of jerky, indie-rock outfits. A Weekend In The City has big shoes to fill in following 2005's Silent Alarm but Bloc Party have dealt out a full house of electro-twisted, spiky-guitar offerings. It's an assured, infectious collection and live, the always-on-target Bloc Party deliver with precision.


Saturday, March 31
Kristoffer Ragnstam
The Trash Bar
$10

Capable of Jagger-esque high-decibel power-soul, Ragnstam has a unique approach to his music. Being not-so-instrument-capable, he writes songs and explains the way he'd like to hear the songs to his 'musician' bandmates. Standouts on the Chris Brown (Radiohead) mixed album, Sweet Bills include Breakfast For The Matress and Lonely Lane.


Sunday, April 1
The Long Winters
Mercury Lounge
$15

With an extraordinary revolving line-up that includes the witty and charming singer/ guitarist, John Roderick, Ken Stringfellow (REM, The Posies) and non-touring member/ producer, Chris Walla (Death Cab For Cutie), The Long Winters entertain with tight musicianship, a genuine love for performing and a humor that'll provoke belly laughs between songs. The 6-track Ultimatum EP is out now on Barsuk Records.

Tags:   Bloc Party, Brendan Benson, Cake Shop, Chris Walla, Do Make Say Think, Emo, Hiro Ballroom, Illinois, Ken Stringfellow, Kristoffer Ragnstam, Mercury Lounge, REM, Silversun Pickups, Smashing Pumpkins, Southpaw, The Long Winters, The Presets, The Trash Bar, Theater at Madison Square Garden, United Palace Theatre, Wolfmother