[MUSIC]
BLUE-COLLAR BABES
It's shirtless, burly, slamdanceable punk
The last time Allentown sludgefuckers Pissed Jeans played New York, it was a full-scale riot for control of the dance floor—some Sharks-versus-Jets shit soundtracked by hot, molten tar. In one corner: the scrawny indie-rock faithful, drawn to Pissed Jeans' burly riffs, tittering along to their purposely brain-dead prattle about ice cream and jogging, swooning to their decidedly non-metal good looks and shirtless swagger. In the other corner: hoodie-wearing hardcore dudes getting hip to a Sub Pop band because—duh—Pissed Jeans just make great slowpoke slamdance. Openers AIDS Wolf are Montreal's heirs apparent to Rhode Island art-spazz: high-treble, highly spasmodic, probably really high. With Tokyo no-wavers 2Up. At 7, the Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard Street, ticketweb.com, $10 CHRISTOPHER R. WEINGARTEN
[MUSIC]
who's the man man?
Indie band wages war on form and decorum
The Philadelphia band Man Man is known more for its onstage fashion stylings—mostly white tennis outfits and war paint—than for the (debatable) listenability of its albums, both of which have often been compared to Captain Beefheart or the late, great Frank Zappa. Taking experimental music to its lab-destroying conclusion, Man Man rode the rodent path to fame by opening for Modest Mouse in 2007. Expect this indie quartet to give you, at its most harmless, the grinding erraticisms of a dying circus, and, at its most manic, horn-fueled paranoia coupled with the vocal wanderings of a kindergarten Rain Man on a sugar high. Man Man's new album, Rabbit Habits, was just released, so concertgoers can look forward to their shiny new psychoses onstage at the Masonic. With Yeasayer and special guests. At 8, Brooklyn Masonic Temple, 317 Clermont Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-638-1256, $12 CRYSTAL NICHOLSON
[festival]
REBEL YELL
Shhh . . . don't tell the FBI about this
Housing crisis, subpar health care, 4,000-plus Americans killed in Iraq—yeah, it's probably a good time to visit the second annual New York City Anarchist Film Festival and Book Fair. The three-day event aims to provide everyone—from veteran rebels to the "anarcho-curious"—with plenty of ammo (that is, books, 'zines, films, music, and art) to start his or her own revolution. It kicks off with an all-day screening of short documentaries and experimental political videos created by radical artists and activists from around the world. Saturday is the book fair, with more than 40 tables, workshops, and an art exhibition. Also check out the two-day program of panel discussions, taking place at various locations on Saturday and Sunday. Check anarchistbookfair.net for full schedule and venue information, free ANGELA ASHMAN
