Superyob, Dead Heros, Armedalite Rifles, the Sleaze
Valentine’s, Thursday

Cockney rockers Superyob will hit the Northeast this week, rattling earplugs with their anthemic punk rock. They’re fronted by Frankie Flame of (what else) Frankie and the Flames—one of very few oi! pianists and a guy who’s manly enough to rock with a little band called the Vanilla Muffins. If you have ever wondered what the Who’s lost experimental oi! album might have sounded like, Superyob come close. Dead Heros (not to be confused with Detroit’s Dead HeroEs) rock in their own Jersey way, with gravely vocals and sing-along choruses. Warming up the 18-and-over crowd will be the peppy and political sounds of Armedalite Rifles, as well as new local outfit the Sleaze. They’ll all be downstairs making the belly dancers (performing upstairs) slither to a new beat. (March 18, 7 PM, $10, 432-6572)

Kamikaze Hearts, Gay Tastee, Small Axe
Lark Tavern, Saturday

Well, haven’t the Kamikaze Hearts have been busy bees: Their hive is abuzz in preparation for renewed activity this spring. They’ve finally gotten out of their recording-studio rocking chairs, after tweaking Foxhole Prayers, a new four-song EP set for release next month. (Look for a 7-inch soon and a full-length in fall.) On Saturday, they’ll be sharing the evening with old pal Gay Tastee, who will be joined by the boys from Lincoln Money Shot in a strange-bedfellows set—and that’s a compliment—twisting his ragged and tragic tunes to new shapes. Small Axe will open the night with an acoustic set, offering a chance to hear their songs unadorned by the usual sludge. And after that’s all done, they’ll all go back for a second set, wherein Gay Tastee will be backed by the Kamikaze Hearts and the whole evening will likely spin into a Chinese-fire-drill-style hootenanny. (March 20, 9:30 PM, $10, 463-9779)

Skinless
Saratoga Winners, Saturday

Arguably the hardest-rocking death-grind band to come out of the Capital Region, Skinless have yet to skip their hometown for the glamour and glitz (or grime and garishness) of the bigger cities and larger venues that they’ve toured worldwide. On Saturday, the still-local heroes will take the stage at Saratoga Winners. As evidenced by the phenomenal reviews for From Sacrifice to Survival, the band’s latest album, Skinless have found a way to translate their much-lauded live energy to disc, and they’ll unleash the raw stuff on Saturday, abetted by Wasteform, Dying Fetus, Burnt by the Sun, and Sulaco. (March 20, 8 PM, $15, 783-1010)

Richard Thompson
The Egg, Sunday

Richard Thompson is known for his ability to move audiences to laughter and tears during his live performances. Lately, for the laughter end, he’s been addressing a certain recent television debacle. While the FCC had a collective heart attack, and the rest of the nation either gasped or rolled their eyes, Richard Thompson’s reaction to the Janet Jackson boob scandal was to write a song about it—call it a ditty for a titty—titled “Dear Janet Jackson.” He gives Jackson some career advice in one of the verses: “There’s lots of hungry babes out there/That need something to chew/A role as a wet nurse/Might be just the thing for you.” Join the British singer-songwriter when he performs at the Egg this weekend. Julian Coryell (son of guitar legend Larry) will open the show in support of his new album Rock Star. (March 21, 7 PM, $24, 473-1845)

Bettie Serveert, Blake Hazard
Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, Mass., Tuesday

OK, one last time: Bettie Ser- veert translates as “Bettie to serve,” in reference to Dutch tennis player Bettie Stove, who lost the Wimbledon ladies’ final in 1977. Although the members have been commiserating in some form for close to two decades, they waited some time to unleash their debut, Palomine, which established them as one of the bright indie lights of the ’90s. Following the release of their last album, Private Suit, they took a few years off for “meditating, refueling, studying and writing”; now they’ve returned with Log 22, a collection of playful, loose, indie-pop (with more than a hint of melancholy) that isn’t all that removed from what they were doing 10 years ago. As the saying goes, if it ain’t broke . . . Catch Bettie Serveert this Tuesday at the Iron Horse, with opening act Blake Hazard. (March 23, 8:30 PM, $15, 413-584-0610)

Baaba Maal
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Wednesday

There’s world music, and there’s world music. You know the former when you hear it: a little of this, a little of that, all neatly packaged for Western consumption. The latter is like Baaba Maal. Senegalese superstar Maal has earned acclaim over the last two decades for his dynamic fusion of traditional West African music, Afro-pop and American-style blues. Who says so? Well, the Los Angeles Times, which noted that Maal has been “long recognized as one of Africa’s greatest singers.” And Afribeat, which described him as “chic, sexy, outspoken and explosive.” Maal has released a dozen albums since 1988; his latest, Missing You, was produced by John Leckie (Radiohead, Stone Roses). The songs touch on love, family, politics and hope, and the basic tracks were recorded outside, after dark, to capture the sounds of a Senegalese village at night. As if to echo this approach, Maal’s show at the Troy Music Hall will be all acoustic. (March 24, 7:30 PM, $26, $23, 273-0038)

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