By Daniel Jumpertz
Special to DNAinfo
Wednesday January 11
The wild beats of Angolan Kuduro music have been big in Lisbon clubs since the late '90s, but Buraka Som Sistema has fused them with 21st century electronics to create a whole new sound. At The Bowery Ballroom.
Also tonight: The Lemonheads revisit their 1992 classic "It's A Shame About Ray" at the Knitting Factory, Brooklyn.
Thursday January 12
The New York Guitar Festival 2012 features amazing young female guitarist Kaki King and Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo playing scores to silent films by Buster Keaton at the Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center. Kaki's virtuosity (watch this video for evidence) recalls fingerpicking giants such as Leo Kotke. Kaki's most recent, and fifth, studio album, 2010's "Junior," is based around the concept of espionage and living a double life.
Also tonight, Sweden's contemporary Zepplin clones Graveyard rock The Bowery Ballroom.
Friday January 13
Nineties stoner-metal funklords Monster Magnet have persisted and evolved since their formation in 1989. They first hit with 1993's "Negasonic Teenage Warhead" and got even bigger with the saucy (and censored) 1998 single "Space Lord". Their profile has always been more durable in northern Europe, however. Their most recent album is 2010's "Mastermind," which singer Dave Wyndorf describes as "a big, beefy ball of demented anthems and power rock." At the Music Hall of Williamsburg.
Saturday January 14
A great triple bill — with Girls, Real Estate and King Krule at Terminal 5. Girls (with "Father, Son, Holy Ghost") and Real Estate (with "Days") released two of the best indie pop records of 2011, and young ambient crooner King Krule is a star on the rise also.
Also tonight: Scratch that late-'80s-early-'90s itch with Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven at The Highline Ballroom. Remember Cracker's 1992 hit "Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now)"? The common thread between these two bands is singer/guitarist David Lowery. He formed the more straight-ahead rockers Cracker after spending the '80s leading the self-styled "surrealist absurdist folk" band Camper Van Beethoven.
Sunday January 15
Classically trained electronicist Daedelus fuses mellow harmonies with dark bass hits, jazz instrumentals, sped up vocals, and electronic glitches. His latest album, "Bespoke," is out on the Ninja Tune label. Also playing is Braille (also known as one half of Sepalcure) at Drom 85 Avenue A, (between 5th and 6th streets) in the East Village.
Monday January 16
New Zealand indie-pop singer/songwriter Liam Finn (son of Split Enz / Crowded House frontman Neil Finn) continues his Monday night residency at The Rock Shop, in Brooklyn.
Tuesday January 17
Santigold is back! Philly native Santi White burst onto the scene in 2008 with her stunning self-titled album and has since collaborated with artists as diverse as RZA, Mark Ronson, The Beastie Boys, M.I.A and Basement Jaxx. Her new album, reportedly titled "Master of My Make Believe" is due this year. At the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Also tonight: Biohazard at Gramercy Theater.
