Events This Weekend: Mos Def, The Monophonics, Papa Roach…

There’s no better way to end the first full work week of 2009 than with a choice boatload of eclectic shows. Try your senses at these:

• Gram Rabbit | Friday, January 9 | 8:00 pm | $10-$12 | Troubador, Los Angeles, CA – Map | The not-quite-fledgling Joshua Tree-based band (whose frontwoman’s name is Jesika von Rabbit – cute stage name… or were her parents inspired by Who Framed Roger Rabbit?) boasted or warned listeners via their debut album with the title Music to Start a Cult to. They’ve released two albums since then, so they can’t be all that dastardly influential, right? So far they have proved themeselves as a fun listen. We’re intrigued. Click here for tickets.
• Mos Def | Friday, January 9 | 9:00 pm | $40-$45 | Highline Ballroom, New York, NY – Map | The famed rapper and actor has made some time in his busy filming schedule to put on a show in which he will be promoting his to-be-released album, The Ecstatic. For tickets, call (212) 414-5994.
• Forro in the Dark | Friday, January 9 | 11:30pm | $15 | Joe’s Pub, New York, NY – Map | The New York-based band takes the best parts of music in relation to the Brazilian dance of forró and modern themes to create their highly-charged percussion-dense sound. Click here for tickets. For more info,c all (212) 967-7555.

• The Monophonics | Saturday, January 10 | 9:00 pm | $20 | Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA – Map | The Bay Area-based group will bring themes of soul, funk, and groove with a fair and appealing balance of retro. Click here for tickets.
  
• Papa Roach | Saturday, January 10 | $15 | Henry Fonda Music Box Theater, Los Angeles, CA – Map | The breakthrough band of the new millenium will be promoting their to-be-released album, Metamorphosis. For more info, call (323) 464-0808.
• Buddy Guy | Sunday, January 11 | 7:30 pm | $40 | Buddy Guy’s Legends, Chicago, IL – Map | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and influence to the greats – namely, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan – will be making friendly with the electric blues at his Chicago-based establishment. Click here for tickets.
  
• The Mad Planet | Sunday, January 11 | 8:30 pm | Free | Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA – Map | These days, a free show is a good show, but this is to be an even better show with a hybrid trip hop-jazz duo experiment gone admirably well. For more info, call (323) 661-4380.

Photo via paparoach.com