Events This Weekend: Dead Prez, Ra Ra Riot, Left Me Bashful…

• And You Will Know Us By the Trail of the Dead | Friday, February 27 | 8:00 pm | $15 | 18+ | The Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY – Map | The elaborately experimental rock band – more than likely featuring tracks from their new album, “The Century of Self” – will be playing with The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Midnight Masses. Click here for tickets. (Just miss them? The band will also be playing the Bowery Ballroom (map) on Saturday, February 28 with Midnight Masses and So So Glo’s – click here for tickets.)
• Dead Prez | Friday, February 27 | 8:30 pm | $25 | Key Club, West Hollywood, CA – Map | Every artist’s lyrics to some extent are comprised of a deeper message, but stic.man and M-1 – who make up the political rap duo – aren’t afraid to directly say what many might feel but aren’t too prone to speak about – concerning media, government, religion, and various other subjects not considered to be “polite conversation”. Someone’s gotta do the talking; long live free expression.  Click here for tickets.

• Ra Ra Riot | Saturday, February 28 | 8:00 pm | $14 – $16 | El Rey Theater, Los Angeles, CA – Map | The indie rock band – whose most recent album, “The Rhumb Line”, channels energy from Dexy Midnight Runners,  Jimmy Eats World, and Coldplay – will be playing with Cut Off Your Hands and Telekenisis. Click here for tickets.Left Me Bashful | Saturday, February 28 | 7:00 pm | $10 | 21+ |  Arlene’s Grocery, New York, NY – Map | The folk rock band – with a slight vocal resemblance to Chris Martin and, dare I say, Eddie Vedder (and whose summer plans include recording a new EP) – will be playing with The Atomica Project, Brightmoor, Megasushi, and others. For ticket information, call (212) 358-1633. (P.S. Per their website, they will have April residency at the venue on Monday nights at 9pm. F-R-E-E.)K’Naan | Sunday, March 1 | 8:00 pm | $10 – $12 | 18+ | Harpers Ferry, Allston, MA – Map | The versatile Somalian rapper, whose new album “Troubador” was released only a few days ago, incorporates high-intensity rocksteady and reggae with unexpectedly mellow components, evoking an energy and style that will appeal to many others outside of the specified genre. Click here for tickets.

Photo by Doron Gild