Rock Picks

Tuesday

LL Cool J, Ciaraat House of Blues

Back in 1987, I would walk the streets of East L.A. with my Walkman and my LL Cool J tape, reciting the lyrics “I’m like Tyson icin’/I’m a soldier at war/I’m makin’ sure you don’t try to battle me no more,” from “I’m Bad,” off the Bigger and Deffer album. Many people forget that LL was the first artist on the Def Jam label, run by founders Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin. Two decades and nine albums later, LL Cool J is still dropping hits; his hot new single, “Control Myself,” with Jennifer Lopez, from his forthcoming 10th album, Todd Smith, proves he’s the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time). With special guest Ciara; this early show starts at 6:30 p.m. (Ben Quiñones)

Wednesday

The Mae Shiat the Troubadour

Remixing Beck’s “Que Onda Guero” wraps up Mae Shi’s 2005 — which consisted of a European tour, an EP and the less-hyper, song-based Heartbeeps (5RC). Like a Krakatoa of spermatozoa, they expel shimmering sonic fractals and melodies to create new life and chaos. The current quintet numbers Ezra Buchla (Buchla synthesizer heir and collaborator with Scarnella’s Carla Bozulich), Cartoon Network musician Brad Breeck, bassist Tim Byron, possible Boom Bip rhythm monkey Jeff Byron, and Corey Fogel, who once lived for a week in a gallery’s front window performing nothing but the music of Busta Rhymes. Expect all the Buchla modules, guitars, basses, drums, tambourines, noisemakers, computer programs, omnichords and glockenspiels inherent in their motto: “Instead of having babies, we have rock bands.” Also tonight: Abe Vigoda, Lion Fever, Silver Daggers. (David Cotner)

Thursday

The Click Five, Big City Rock at the Roxy

Six or seven years ago, the Click Five would’ve been a boy band à la ’N Sync or the Backstreet Boys: They’re handsome in a non-threatening way, they sing about finding just the girl they’re looking for, and they’ve toured with Ashlee Simpson and, well, the Backstreet Boys. Today, though, in a world of Death Cab cuties and My Chemical romantics, the Boston-based group of Berklee College of Music grads are a rock band with matching suits and designer-guitar fuzz. Don’t tell let the secret out: Greetings From Imrie House, the Click Five’s wham-bam debut, still makes for a blast of high-octane teen pop, from the freshly scrubbed vocal harmonies down to the highly processed synthesizer cheese. Six or seven years ago, local openers Big City Rock would’ve been the Wallflowers. (Mikael Wood)