Concert Picks: Dirt Dress, The Futureheads, Evelyn Evelyn…

Every week we do our best to wrangle a batch of shows that will appeal to the rock-n-roller in all of us, wherever tastes may lie on the musical spectrum. We’d like to think every band chosen is of choicest sound, style, and swagger – but for some reason we’re feeling a little stronger about this week’s picks than others. If the following bands went head-to-head in, say, our BeatCrave Fav series, even you’d be torn as to who kicked ass the most. Yep, they’re that good, at least that’s how we’re feeling. If you can make it out this weekend, check out at least one of our picks, and expect an awesome good time. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

• Oh You Devil | Friday, June 11 | 9:00 pm | 21+ | $10 | Sycamore, New York, NY – Map | Brooklyn-based soul/rock band Oh You Devil comes off rather Evanescence-esque, if only without an ounce of overt pretension about them – a rarity, at best, when evoking a mood or theme. Of the two flavorful tracks available for streaming via their official MySpace, we must say it’s hard to not be salivating over-zealously over the both of them. Talk about first impressions. With Ivana XL – click here for more information.

• Dirt Dress | Friday, June 11 | 9:00 pm | $5 | Pehrspace, Los Angeles, CA – Map | The only thing to be briefly warned about is the slightly NSFW illustration of a naked woman showering on their MySpace (underneath a giant eyeball, no less, but whatever), but other than that their music is fair game for for the streaming. The Los Angeles-based band’s distinction is somewhat of a  minor-key, classic rock, serious but not too serious sound that will appeal to the music enthusiast in most everyone… or at the very least will get feet stomping.  With Ghostporn and Grand Lake – for more information, call (323) 483-7374‎.

• The Kris Special | Saturday, June 12 | 9:00 pm | $5 | Echo Curio, Los Angeles, CA – Map | The LA-based duo fuses rock with soul and mellow surf – changing up the tempo with each song, naturally (the better to keep us on our toes). Anne Pointer and Nick Schutz are one of the few who make the number two a well-rounded number… sadly, all to often, displays of two really need three or perhaps four for a complete sound. But Anne and Nick? They (and apparently the horses they’ll be riding on tour) are all we need. With My Flag is on Fire, Oblio’s Arrow, and Walk – tickets at the door; for more information, call (213) 977-1279‎.

• The Futureheads | Saturday, June 12 | 10:00 pm | 21+ | $15 | Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL – Map | Punk-laden pop that is not so sticky that we fear for our health, The Futureheads deliver a polished sound that is delicious in studio format. We can only begin to imagine what the raw element of the live venue will do to our senses. The English punk outfit is currently on tour in support of their most recent album, The Chaos. With The Like and The Static Jacks – Buy Tickets

• Evelyn Evelyn | Sunday, June 13 | 6:30 pm | $25 | Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York, NY – Map | The musical duo – comprised of the Dresden Dolls’ Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley – actually take on the personas of conjoined twins sisters, known as Eva and Lyn. That alone should make for an interesting time, but their witty, complex compositions are likely to stir things up as well… which should really come to no surprise, considering who we’re dealing with. Their self-titled debut album, toting along a melancholy carnival, pseudo-vaudevillian feel, is available for listening here. With Sxip Shirey – Buy Tickets
  

Those are our picks and we’re sticking to ‘em. Who’s on your “to-see list” this weekend?