THE Jayhawks’ latest album, “Rainy Day Music,” takes the alt- country band back to its rock roots.
While the previous, more pop-flavored album, “Smile,” was looking for a hit, the Jayhawks returned to their early Byrds-like sound with “Rainy Day Music,” one of the best albums of 2003.
Listeners can drift lazily from one gorgeously layered song to another, each one besting the other, until it’s time to start over again. It’s good for a rainy – or snowy – day.
The 19-year-old, Minneapolis-based band, fronted by Gary Louris, will release a live album recorded in their hometown later this year. For now, catch them at Town Hall (123 W. 43rd St., at Sixth Avenue, [212] 840-2824) on Thursday and next Friday.
Nebraska-born singer/songwriter Josh Rouse opens.He grew up all over America, was obsessed with Brit pop bands, then settled in Nashville. His latest album, “1972,” reflects many things, but focuses on the pop-soul stylings of the decade he was born.
TONIGHT: Go Girls Music Fest 2004 will benefit the Rock and Roll Camp for Girls at the Fez (380 Lafayette St.; [212] 533-2680). The fourth annual festival, sponsored by Women Who Rock magazine, features New York female artists Rachael Sage, Jen Chapin, Erin Hill, Allison Cipris, and G-Spot. Comedienne Goddess Perlman hosts the evening.
Jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson headlines this month’s benefit concert series at the Housing Works Used Book Café (126 Crosby St.; [212] 334-3324).
Wilson will be joined by alt-cabaret singer Nellie McKay and Kevin Devine, an indie pop singer/songwriter and member of Miracle of ’86.
TOMORROW: Scott Walker is legendary in England – he was a heartthrob even more popular than The Beatles in the early ’60s. On this side of the ocean, however, he only has a cult following among pop music aficionados.
New York singer/songwriter David Driver is in that cult and wonderfully brings the Walker songbook to life, as he returns to Joe’s Pub (425 Lafayette St.; [212] 539-8770) for “Driver Sings Walker.”
It’s a varied songbook. Born Scott Engel in Akron, Ohio, Walker performed catchy pop tunes with the Walker Brothers before going solo and making trippy Jacques Brel-esque tunes.
This time around, Driver will focus on more of the Walker Brothers hits such as “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore.”
Clem Snide is a perfect adult, indie roots-rock band to get lost with during this cold spell.
The non-traditional acoustic group from New York, once a Boston punk band, is led by singer/songwriter Eef Barzelay. The latest album, “Soft Spot,” is full of carefully crafted tunes with expressive lyrics, moody strings, jazzy beats and a variety of organs.
Clem Snide performs at Sin-é (150 Attorney St.; [212] 388-0077], along with Elk City and Los Halos.
SUNDAY: My Favorite, which recently opened for Belle & Sebastian, are Long Islanders who play electronic pop inspired by ’80s Brit pop and new wave.
The band is endearing and the songs from their CD, “The Happiest Days of Our Lives,” such as “Homeless Club Kids,” are infectious and eclectic.
Led by art school refugees Michael Grace Jr., a school teacher, and Andrea Vaughn, a librarian, My Favorite performs at TriBeCa’s Pussycat Lounge (96 Greenwich St.; [212] 349-4800) with the Somnambulists and the Fitness.
WEDNESDAY: Devendra Banhart’s latest disc, “Oh Me Oh My . . .,” could be described as an avant-garde “O Brother.” The surreal bluesy/folk disc, recorded on various four-track cassette recorders, twists, turns, shrieks, moans and waltzes with carefully crafted guitar and Texan Banhart’s captivating, spooky croon.
Banhart performs at Northsix (66 N. Sixth St., Brooklyn; [718] 599-5103) with Edison Woods, Coco Rosie and the Gena Rowlands Band.
THURSDAY: Budding adult indie rockers Sea Ray add keyboards and cello to the rock-band formula to create an otherworldly psychedelic sound that sometimes lulls and sometimes crashes. Live, the band projects videos onto screens behind them during their show. Sea Ray performs at Sin-é.
The proceeds from Street Smarts, yet another benefit, at Arlene Grocery (95 Stanton St.; [212] 358-1633) go to Streetwise Partners, which helps low-income New Yorkers find jobs. Performers include Battlestar America (which mixes up everything from soul and hip-hop to country), Andrew Vladeck, who plays the electric banjo, Emily Zuzik and Ben Ratliff and the Gentleman Callers.
