Doug Fir Lounge

Monday November 23

Forro in the Dark, RedRay Frazier

[FROM BRAZIL WITH DRUGS] Forro is the heavily rhythmic, accordion-driven popular dance music of Northeastern Brazil, but this is not what the New York-based expats of Forro in the Dark play. Not exactly, anyway. Augmenting traditional percussive instrumentation—conga, triangle and a huge bass drum called a zabumba—with the sizzling fuzztone guitar of onetime Beck sideman Smokey Hormel, the band prefers to call itself “forro on acid.” The group came together in 2002 initially for a one-off birthday gig, but things quickly got more serious as the band's unique sound caught the attention of pop-ethnomusicologist David Byrne, who lent his anxious croon to two songs on 2006's Bonfires of Sao Joao. Since then, the core quartet has collaborated with everyone from Bebel Gilberto to Steve Earle, but where it truly shines is in its hot, sweltering live shows. MATTHEW SINGER. Doug Fir Lounge 9 pm. $10. 21+.

Wednesday November 25

Friendly Fires, The XX, Holly Miranda

[HOLY HYPE MACHINE] Few bands get as much out of so little as heavily buzzed-about London youngsters the XX. Their songs aren't much more than a few muted notes, the volume barely rising above a hush, and yet there's a greater heft to their melodies than those of half the dense, Beach Boys-aping pop clogging the indiesphere these days. Critics love playing up the group's '90s R&B influences—the XX covers Aaliyah on the U.K. version of its debut—but, while the band has certainly absorbed the genre's subtle sexiness, its way-less-is-more aesthetic is probably closest to college-rock legends Young Marble Giants. Headliners Friendly Fires are less interesting, falling comfortably into the indie-dance morass, but it's groovy enough. MATTHEW SINGER. Doug Fir Lounge 9 pm. $12 advance, $14 day of show. 21+.

Friday November 27

Deastro, Max Tundra

See Primer, coming soon. Doug Fir Lounge 9 pm. $10. 21+.

Saturday November 28

Explode Into Colors, May Ling, Breakfast Mountain, DJ Beyonda

Listing coming soon. Doug Fir Lounge 9 pm. $10. 21+.

Sunday November 29

Redwood Son, Sean Wagner, Violet Isle

Doug Fir Lounge 9 pm. $6.

Tuesday December 1

We're From Japan, Martin Bisi, Aristeia

[SIDEMAN] Martin Bisi has a résumé that few musicians can rival. He's had his hand in—whether recording or mixing—some of the finest experimental rock records of the past three decades: Sonic Youth's EVOL, Swan's The Burning World, Serena Maneesh's self-titled debut. Most nerds know that he helmed the famous B.C. Studio in Brooklyn with Bill Laswell and Brian Eno. Still, few people realize that Bisi is also a solo artist, and besides dropping a new full-length, Sirens of the Apocalypse on Contraphonic, he also just released a five-song digital EP, Son of a Gun. Featuring members of the Fiery Furnaces and the Dresden Dolls, it showcases Bisi as a songwriter whose talents almost match his lengthy production credits. MICHAEL MANNHEIMER. Doug Fir Lounge 9 pm. $8. 21+.