[September 3rd, 2008]

9p.m.

The 1900s
[POP] Chicago septet the 1900s plays sensitive, minimalist pop with heartfelt, honest lyrics. Its 2007 Parasol Records release, Cold & Kind, is a clear example of the Windy City doing the Motor City: channeling Motown-tinged sax, piano, strings, and beautiful boy-girl harmonies. (CF). Berbati’s.

Griffin House
[SINGER-SONGFIGHTER] It may sound like a foundation for mythic beasts, but Griffin House—an achingly genteel troubadour with looks, guitar, and romantic sensibilities pitched between Adams both Ryan and Bryan—stores a slow, hip, distanced baritone swagger to steal away your too-young girlfriend/divorcee mom/secretly gay boyfriend with infectious tunes and uncomplicated passions. (JH). Crystal Ballroom.

Fuck Buttons
[CRAZY RUCKUS] There’s no need to imagine what the end of the world sounds like anymore, as most smart people agree we’re living through it. So leave it to a band like Fuck Buttons to capture the sound as it’s happening. The English duo throws huge melted icecaps of sound over globally heated tribal beats, skittering and screaming their way into your head like a Ragnarök that rocks. (EB). Roseland.

10 p.m.

Norfolk & Western
[FOLK ROCK] N&W frontman Adam Selzer is perhaps best known for recording scads of great records at Portland’s Type Foundry studios, and his longtime gal-friend Rachel Blumberg is perhaps best known for drumming with M. Ward, Bright Eyes and, at one time, the Decemberists (note the delicate klezmer-tinged sound common throughout). But this noise-folk outfit deserves accolades of its own, and its new four-piece rock approach shines a light on Selzer’s wicked guitar skills more than ever. (AGM). Berbati’s.

Xavier Rudd
See spotlight. Crystal.

10:30 p.m.

Mogwai
See spotlight. Roseland.

11 p.m.

Langhorne Slim
[NU-ROOTS] With his adenoidal exclamations and three-piece acousti-combo, bicoastal (NYC/L.A.) folk-bluesman Langhorne Slim comes across like a less-Violent Femmes. A favorite at the past two Pickathon fests, Slim, with his low-key but high-intensity performance mojo, updates that dusty, snake-oil, road-show vibe for the New Depression. (JR). Berbati’s.

Midnight

Old 97s
See spotlight. Berbati’s.