Weekly Music Picks: Looking Past the Cold

Breaking into December and we've finally seen snow. It was brief. If you slept in this morning you likely missed it. Since the cold weather seems like it might finally be upon us we're looking for a way to stay warm. A sure fire way to keep the blood running warm through your veins is to check out a packed rock show with a couple hundred of your closest friends. The local show pick of the week comes on Saturday when the Cassavettes join a whole cadre of local friends at Middle East Upstairs for their CD release party.

Monday, 12/4
Serge Gainsbourg Revisited
The Cultural Services attaché of Boston's French Consulate and the French Library host an evening celebrating the genius of Serge Gainsbourg. DJ Christopher Muther will spin the recently released Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited album, which features Gainbourg classics reinterpreted and remixed by the likes of Chan Marshall (Cat Power), Franz Ferdinand, The Rakes, The Kills, and trip hop legends Portishead and Tricky.
Middlesex Lounge, 9pm.
event website

Tuesday, 12/5
El Vez Merry Mex-Mas Tour
El Vez, "the Mexican Elvis," returns with his holiday show. Celebrate Mex-Mas with El Vez as he sings hits from his new holiday album Sno-Way José, which includes "The Dreydal Song," and "Brown Christmas." El Vez, aka Robert Lopez, has roots in the LA punk scene of the early '80s (Catholic Discipline). Lopez' El Vez shows have been described as "the live band equivalent of sampling," with medleys crammed full of pop culture references and loaded up with bits and riffs from dozens of songs. Lysa Flores opens. It's Mex-Mas time. Get your Vez on.
Paradise Rock Club, 18+, $12, 8pm, 7pm doors
website | myspace | purchase

Thursday, 12/7
Alejandro Escovedo
Back in 2003, Austin-based alt-country legend Alejandro Escovedo collapsed on stage and nearly died from Hepatitis C. After a few years of recovery (including a tribute album to raise funds for his medical expenses), Escovedo is back with a new album and a backing string quartet. Don't miss this one.
Remis Auditorium (MFA), 7:30 pm, $16 students/members, $20 general admission
Alejandro Escovedo: website

Saturday, 12/9
Cassavettes CD release party
Texachusetts' "Best Local Band" of 2006 celebrates the release of their first full-length album with some choice nouns: mittens, hats, glasses, Christians, lions.
Middle East Upstairs, 18+, 9 pm, $9
Cassavettes: myspace | On Our Own.mp3 | The Nadir.mp3
Christians & Lions: website | Gimme Diction .mp3
Mittens: myspace | She Forgot Her Umbrella .mp3
Hats & Glasses: myspace | web site

Winter Hip Hop Fest 2006
Rock the bells and deck the decks with the Winter Hip Hop Fest featuring Insight, Termanology, Letia Larok, Elemental Zazen, AWOL, D-Tension, JDO, Brix, and DJ On and On.
Middle East Downstairs, 18+, $12 adv / $15 dos, 9pm, event info
Termanology: myspace | purchase
Letia Larok: myspace
Elemental Zazen: myspace

Brian Lynch and Bobby Sanabria
Trumpeter Brian Lynch has deep roots in the Latin/Afro-Cuban jazz world (he's played with the legendary Eddie Palmieri for the past 20 years). And as a part of Phil Woods' quartet, Lynch has strong ties to the post-bop tradition (he also spent two years with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers). Drummer/percussionist and Berklee alum Bobby Sanabria has played with Latin jazz giants Tito Puente, Paquito D'Rivera, and Dizzy Gillespie. Catch both of these modern masters performing Afro-Cuban jazz classics, including "Manteca," with Harvard's jazz band.
Lowell Hall, Harvard, 8pm
Bobby Sanabria: website | purchase
Brian Lynch: website | myspace | wikipedia | purchase | The Palmieri Effect video on YouTube

James Apollo
A "savage purveyor of roots eccentricity," James Apollo's new album Good Grief, "conjures up a set of haunted, western-rich folk with hints of Latin rhythms and Tom Waits-style cabaret," according to the Onion's AV Club. Which sounds good to Bostonist. With El Gringo and Erik Dinardo.
Bulfinch Yacht Club, 234 Friend St (North Station)
James Apollo: website | myspace | purchase | the alamo.mp3 | dead men weigh more.mp3

Sunday, 12/10
Yule Ball '06: Harry and the Potters, and special guests
If you liked the books, then you'll love the band. Local favorites Harry and the Potters (motto: "We play songs about books!") take center stage at the Middle East for their second annual Yule Ball. There are two shows scheduled, at 12:30 pm and 6 pm, and a cut of the proceeds from both shows go to support early-literacy programs. The boys will be joined by several other Potter-themed bands (lineup here) at each gig, including their arch rivals Draco and the Malfoys at the late show. Festive attire encouraged.
Middle East Downstairs, all ages, 12:30pm and 6pm, $12 (or $22 for both shows)
Harry and the Potters: website | myspace (stream their new songs)
Draco and the Malfoys: website | MyDadIsRich.mp3