My itunes randomizer at work has a tendency of playing weird,  NSFW, and mildly embarrassing songs at least three or four times an hour, so it was very nice of the folks over at Warped Reality to post some new tracks today, so I could have something new to listen to that I wouldn’t have to skip out of shame.

Although it’s been around since late 2005, I didn’t know about Warped Reality until Idolator posted about it recently.  Started by Providence-based Andrea Feldman (not the dead one), the blog posts consistently good stuff.  Although I might just be saying that because she likes the Valerie and Her Week of Wonders soundtrack, Lubos Fiser’s creepy score that surely makes my coworkers hate me.

Check out the not-super-frequently updated site for tracks by some bands that are hitting the area this weekend, like Calvin Johnson (Saturday at Brown), These Are Powers and Neptune (both at Great Scott, also on Saturday.)

To quote an article written about her in November: “Porter Singer is a Borders’ Books and Music favorite. Considering that the Wesport (CT) resident will perform more than handful of times at stores all over New England, the nationwide chain seems to understand what makes the 24-year-old performer’s songs so precocious.”

Ok, so like, it’s a massive book chain you say…, but the emerging chanteuse and pianist (and Brown grad) will make you forget that, even despite the lighting. Her songs are intricate, her lyrics are beautiful, and her voice is lovely, rich and nuanced.

People describe her with a whole bunch of comparisons (Regina Spektor, Fiona Apple…), but she has a truly unique command of the song form.

AS220. Wednesday night. Feb the 6th. Be there.

Sayeth the band:

It’s our first hometowner in a while, and it’s sort of like an informal send off for our mini-east coast tour in February.

We’ll bring the gospel of Luddite Hardcore to Baltimore, Philly and New York!

We’re playing with Beat Circus. Boo ya. We play second. It’s at AS220 at 9pm. it’s $7 and we will rock x-tra hard!

Okay, so pan-theologic stoner sludge-core isn’t your thing. Then you will be charmed, as is the rest of the world apparently, by Ms. Neko Case and her super cute alt-country twang. Probably more perfectly suited to long lonely nights on your own, not right now when I’m trying to get stuff done without being distracted by all this pesky crying, her songs are sorrowful, moonlit odes to hazy memories, strange characters and psychological desolation. Happy stuff! This show is on the verge of selling out, so if you’re a lazy fan get on it.

Lupos Neko Case w/ Eric Bachmann (Lupo’s refuses to list the showtime or ticket prices. How helpful!)

They’ve only got one track up on their homepage, but “Red Lottery” is a pretty all-encompassing and awesome statement; A few long, sludgy, deep dark forever-descending doom metal riffs and wind-tunnel vocals make for a snarlier Gluey Porch Treatments. I wish they had more tracks up here, c’mon guys I know you have real jobs, let’s get something recorded! They’re bringing some epic heaviosity to AS220 tonight as part of B Sharp’s regular monthly thing.

AS220 9pm, $6 Megasus, Dave & Steve, The Ram, more tba…

Tonight the good folks at Machines With Magnets are puttin’ on a show! Headlining it are out-of-towners Jucifer (pictured), a frantic, unhinged stoner power metal boy/girl duo who’s going to sound right at home along with Lolita Black, Suffering Bastard and Cutpurse. Check out Cutpurse’s “Ransom Remix” and get there early for them.

Machines With Magnets: Jucifer, Suffering Bastard, Lolita Black, Cutpurse. 9pm, $7, all ages

Tomorrow afternoon San Diego will be sending its famed double-douchebag offense (Tomlinson/Rivers) into Foxboro and I’m certainly looking forward to that. But the best thing ever to come out of that city has got to be the under-appreciated band, Louis XIV. In their first cd ‘The Best Little Secrets are Kept’ their glam influences are out there for all to hear “…bang a gong, let’s get it on”! A young feminist once took me to task for some of their lyrics, but I can’t help it, I’m a sucker for guys in eyeliner. Actually, Louis are playing tonight, opening for Editors at the Orpheum in Boston. But that’s a theater… with seats… this just isn’t seat-sitting music. I’ll wait till they play a club.  Their new cd comes out (I can not say ‘drops’) January 29.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr2qgFHfPXE]

Tonight, the Fashion Failures release Don’t Make me Kiss You Motherfucker with a live show at the Blackstone. Though there aren’t any tracks from this one on their myspace page, the tracks they do have up are pretty ace. Fiery, propulsive guitar rock, like Radio Birdman’s 70’s output or some of Ron Asheton’s solo stuff with a heavy dose of Doll’s-style drunken blues and big sing-a-long choruses. 75 Or Less, who are the craft beer of indie record labels, is releasing ...Motherfucker in all its hand screenprinted glory. Label Boss Mark Macdougall’s own crew, Six Star General also play the bill along with The Propellors, whose own self-titled disk is out now on 75 Or Less, and they’ll rock the “middle child” slot.
The Blackstone, 9pm, 21+ $5

I can’t believe I haven’t found the time to post re: the ceiling collapse at Black Rep, but now that we’re opening our doors again tonight for Latin Jazz & Salsa, I think it is finally appropriate to lay the cards on the table and dispel any last remaining rumors. From Artistic/Executive Director Donald W. King:

Following a two-week closure caused by the sudden collapse of 1/3 of its café ceiling on December 27th, The Providence Black Repertory Company will host a Re-Opening Celebration on Friday, January 11, 2008 at 5pm until closing.

more »

Saint Jude and Howl kick off their joint month-long tour tonight at AS220. Joining them, Sarah Johnson from Minneapolis (check out “Stoned to the Bone”) and Providence’s Spring Break! North Korea, who are now my favorite-named band in town, stealing the title from Tinsel Teeth.
AS220 9pm, $6

Zegota
been around since 98/99, from South Carolina/Sweden, on Crimethinc, last time they played Providence was 2005, their only new england show!!!

Relics
from Western MA, on Clean Plate, mem. of Wasteland

Spring Break! North Korea
providence post-hardcore heros, mem. of Hulk Out

Thieves
From CT, ex-Breed/Extinction

8pm, $8

Oh, here’s some stuff!

Friday

• The Wrong Reasons are in Northhampton tonight, not really a long trip and since the weather has cleared…10pm, Sierra Grille, Northhampton.
• More road trip action: The ‘Mericans play a free show at Toad, in Cambridge. Absolutely worth the trip. 9pm, free.
• NEW:Sharks Come Cruisin’ bring their sea shanty sing-a-longs to Patrick’s Pub on Smith st. Free

Saturday

• JR has been called back to Local 121 for a DJ set this weekend. Expect awesomeness and Bell Biv Devoe. 10pm, free
• Six Star General and Von Doom at Jake’s. 10pm, small cover.
• Mahi Mahi, Antilles and Aroma of Women at Jerky’s. MM’s last show of the year, don’t sleep! 10pm, $6

Sunday

• Wow, big-ass show at the Thunderdome this weekend. White Mice, Vvulture, Suffering Bastard, Mustang Cobra, Pink Desert and more… 7pm, donation

More coming, stay tuned…

Friday night at AS220, in celebration of the Winter Solstice (fucking Wiccans…) the United Space Rock Coalition will play for twelve fucking hours, bravely pushing the limits of what is considered listenable to even the most incredibly stoned fans of Can and Popol Vuh. The band will feature a rotating cast of players from a bewildering array of Providence noisemakers: Barnacled, Mahi Mahi, The Eyesores, Xerxes, V.Majestic, Manbeard, denimvenom, Work/Death, Holy Cow, The Body, Badman, Mahi Mahi, Glass Shivers, Butcherings, Mudboy, Urdog, Athletic Automaton, Made in Mexico, Drop Dead, Suffering Bastard, White Mice and more will all dip in and out throughout the day. Expect tons of beard stroking and epic face-meltery in the form of endless feedback solos and, literally, thousands of maracas.
Friday, 12pm to 12am, AS220 $3, which nicely frees up a little more weed money.

Presented by B Sharp, the greatest music gear shop in the universe, tonight Boston’s Major Stars release their 6th (!) album, Mirror/Messenger (Drag City). Also on the bill, Brooklyn’s Sightings, whose newest Through The Panama (Load) was produced by Andrew WK. And that’s some cred, people. Hear a stream of the awesome track “Perforated” here. The Body, who’ve been making some stellar noise for a few years now are also on this gig, along with Xerxes, who get the ass end of the set so get there early.
AS220, Major Stars, Sightings, The Body, Xerxes, 9pm $7

I don’t have a ton of info on this showcase, but its a safe bet that it’s all gonna be pretty stellar. It seems like Southern New England may have taken all the venerable Cape Verdean artists that tiny Cabo Verde has to offer the world. Lucky for us that means Notera Studios is a bustling hub for the eclectic sounds of the island. This Saturday at Tazza come catch some of the local scene’s luminaries. If you haven’t caught the adorable and mightily talented Noah Andrade live yet, this is your chance. $10 and doors at 9pm.

Tonight at the Livingroom and tomorrow at Harper’s Ferry, the Legendary Kool Keith, along with Poorly Drawn People. Is there any way Badly Drawn Boy can sue these guys?
Livingroom, 8pm, $18