THE boy genius behind Scotland’s Mull Historical Society is Colin MacIntyre, a virtual one-man band.
On “Us,” the follow-up disc to last year’s pop wonder “Loss,” the artist again writes, arranges and sings all the songs, produces the album and plays most of the instruments – including guitars, vibes, keyboards and bell trees. He even adds the electronica touches and samples.
The result is yet another richly layered pop masterpiece with songs that are catchy, quirky and meaningful.
The Mull Historical Society performs tonight at Maxwell’s (1039 Washington St., Hoboken, N.J.; [201] 798-0406) and tomorrow at the Fez (380 Lafayette St.; [212] 533-2680).
MacIntyre won’t be going it alone – he’s bringing a keyboardist with him.
THURSDAY: The Oranges Band was once described by their publicist as “the love child of Paul Weller and [the Strokes’] Julian Casablancas.”
Now it’s “Squeeze meets Crowded House sung by Paul Weller.”
The Oranges, now on tour for their new album, “All Around,” appear at the Mercury Lounge (217 E. Houston St.; [212] 260-4700) along with Palomar, the Hold Steady and the Forms.
Love? All you really need is one song, and for New York’s the Stills, it’s “Still in Love.”
The post-punk rockers will play their last show in New York Thursday before heading into the studio to record their debut album.
That’s at Northsix (66 N. Sixth St., Brooklyn; [718] 599-5103) along with the Flesh and Oxford Collapse at the ‘Sup mag release party.
THURSDAY & FRIDAY: Stellastarr*, which has a Talking Heads post-punk thing going, has a lot of songs, but only a few are on its EP, “Somewhere Across Forever.”
One of its stellar efforts, “My Coco,” you can only hear live. These up-and-comers, who are about to go on tour with the luscious Raveonettes in the United Kingdom, perform at Piano’s (158 Ludlow St.; [212] 505-3733).
SATURDAY & SUNDAY: Calla frontman Aurelio Valle has haunting Jarvis Cocker/Pulp vocals, but the creeping fuzzy guitars and electronic touches give the group’s moody music a more lo-fi Velvet Underground sound.
The New York rockers perform tunes from the band’s debut disc, “Televise,” at the Mercury Lounge.
SATURDAY: The Todd Deatherage Band recorded an album in Manhattan’s Avatar Studios, where Bruce Springsteen did “Born in the U.S.A.,” while Elvis Costello was in the next room.
These rocking New York twangsters perform at the Tribeca (16 Warren St.; [212] 766-1070) along with three trios: roots rockin’ Freeloader and Navigators, and fresh young pop band Pinfield.
