Rock Picks

The Veils, The Comas at Spaceland

Though it didn’t share much stylistically with the Strokes, the Hives or the Vines, the Veils’ 2004 debut got lost on these shores in the seemingly endless shuffle of similarly named neo-garage acts. Hopefully Nux Vomica, the band’s newish sophomore disc — which front man Finn Andrews made after a return from England to his native New Zealand — won’t meet the same fate: It’s a lovingly textured, richly dramatic guitar-pop disc perfect for people who find lead-singer histrionics much easier to swallow when they come equipped with killer tunes. The Comas’ 2004 album almost got lost in people’s fixation on the fact that its songs described front man Andy Herod’s breakup with actress Michelle Williams. Almost, but not quite: Enough folks dug Herod’s fuzz-pop ruminations that the band earned itself a deal with emo giant Vagrant, which just released the Comas’ new one, Spells. (Mikael Wood)

From the painted desert: Secretary Bird (Photo by Dan Monick)

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More About

• Sammy James Jr.
• Mr. T
• Paul Cantelon
• Angela McCluskey
• Music Festivals

Warped Tour at Pomona Fairplex

The mostly male, mostly macho Warped Tour has always seemed like one of those boys-only tree houses where just the repressed-homosexual frat dudes are allowed to grope one other shamelessly in the closeted privacy of the mosh pit while chuckle-headed bands serenade them in that terminally goofy, insipidly exuberant, faux-kiddie singsong style that passes for punk rock crooning these days. To their credit, the Warped promoters have historically attempted to balance the festival’s surfeit of sound-alike nouveau corporate emo-punk outfits with at least a couple iconic inspirations, such as the Germs and Joan Jett, who appeared on the tour in 2006. This year, you get old-school survivors like the Circle Jerks, Bad Religion and the current mutation of O.C. parodists the Vandals (R.I.P. original singer Stevo Jensen, who died in 2005), as well as ’80s South Bay pummelers Pennywise, to counteract the sticky-sweet faux punk of New Found Glory and the rockabilly-flavored sentimentality of Tiger Army. The lineup is actually better when the tour concludes in L.A. in late August with the addition of punk-surf sizzlers Agent Orange and funk-mad prophets Fishbone. Also at the Ventura Fairgrounds, Sat. (Falling James)

Also playing Friday:

EXPANDERS at the Bordello; ZOLAR X, SHADY LADY, DEATH PARTY at Knitting Factory; RESTAURANT, KEY PARTY at the Mint; APEX THEORY, CASKET SALESMAN at the Roxy; THE MORMONS at the Scene; AS TALL AS LIONS, ARMY OF ME, LOW VS. DIAMOND at the Troubadour; BUSDRIVER at Montmartre Lounge; PRINCE at Hollywood Roosevelt.

SATURDAY, JUNE 30Cyndi Lauper, Deborah Harry, Erasure, The Dresden Dolls, The Gossip, The Cliks at the Greek Theatre

The True Colors Tour is the femme-tastic antidote to the testosterone overload of the Warped Tour, with a potent lineup ranging from the groovy pop and jazzy explorations of Blondie singer Deborah Harry to newer bands like androgynous sensations the Cliks. There’ll be plenty of sumptuous romantic drama from the theatrical Boston duo the Dresden Dolls, when madly talented singer-pianist Amanda Palmer engages in high-wire exchanges with dynamically attentive face-painted drummer Brian Viglione. Make sure to arrive early for the soulful belting of the Gossip’s fiery Beth Ditto, who is the most technically powerful and awe-inspiring singer on this bill loaded with better-known divas. Token males Erasure will likely play their ’80s synth-pop hits (let’s hope they avoid the lesser tunes from their deadly-dull 2006 album of feeble acoustic remakes, Union Street). And please don’t underestimate tour den mother Cyndi Lauper, who’s collaborated recently with the brilliant singer Nellie McKay and whose memorable ballad “Time After Time” was recorded by Miles Davis. Even the rumors of a potential visit from professional lip-syncher Britney Spears can’t distract from tonight’s thrills. (Falling James)

Battles at the Troubadour

The Battles crew consists of ex-Helmet tub-whacker John Stanier plus such ex–Don Caballero and Konopka types as Ian Williams, Dave Konopka and Tyondai Braxton on a variety of guitars, electronics and keyboards. And what they do is a kind of techno or drum & bass, infusing and fracturing a spellbindingly convoluted post-progressive-metal or math rock and modern jazz with the latest in mutative software and digital effects. The sum oughtta not be thought of as any of the above, though; in fact, it seems dedicated to the total annihilation of genre’s limiting expectations . . . Well, call it electronic chamber music if you have to, but their latest is titled Mirrored (Warp), where the trio hash it all out with frightening power and precision, and more than a little funkadelical goofery courtesy Braxton’s digitally damaged vocal flights. Equal parts Steve Reich, Ohio Players, Mahavishnu and Stockhausen, this band encourages open ears and hearty constitutions. (John Payne)

Angela McCluskey, Paul Cantelon at the Church of Truth

When the Wild Colonials started playing around L.A. in the early ’90s, fans who live for rich, layered arrangements of literate, Celtic-inspired folk-rock songs knew the band was something special. It was only a matter of time until they got huge. While they never got Fleetwood Mac–ian in their popularity, the members have all gone on to success in other incarnations. Lead singer Angela McCluskey joined French electronic band Télépopmusik, whose hit “Breathe” was nominated for a Grammy and was in a Mitsubishi commercial. Violinist-pianist Paul Cantelon’s music can be heard in such films as Everything Is Illuminated. For this special benefit for Heart of Horsemanship, McCluskey and Cantelon headline a bill that also includes Celtic singer Aeone. McCluskey’s people hint that she’ll probably do Tom Waits’ “Soldier’s Things,” maybe Bowie’s “Lady Grinning Soul” and a Randy Newman tune TBA. From Cantelon, expect “a set of Chopin etudes, which he recently premiered to great acclaim at Miss Porter’s School in Maine!” Church of Truth, 690 E. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena; 4-9 p.m.; $25. (626) 795-6905. (Libby Molyneaux)