AS has become their habit,
? and the Mysterians will likely perform their 1966 hit “96 Tears” twice when the ’60s garage act performs at Cavestomp! on Friday at Warsaw (261 Driggs Ave., Brooklyn; [718] 387-5252).
The tune, with its signature Farfisa organ riff, deserves the double time. And ? – singer Rudy Martinez, now 58 – is a true rock star, eccentricities and all. The leader of the group, which formed 41 years ago in Flint, Mich., is only photographed in dark sunglasses (how Anna Wintour of him), believes there’s some sort of love potion in peanut butter which leads to teenage pregnancy, says he’s from Mars and lived among
dinosaurs. He’ll play with the original Mysterians.
The Vagrants, Lyres, the Dexter Romweber Duo and Little Killers will also perform at “The Garage Rock Festacular,” and Todd-O-Phonic Todd will spin.
WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY: San Francisco’s Vue brings its West Coast take on the garage revival to Maxwell’s (1039 Washington St., Hoboken, N.J.; [201] 798-0406) tomorrow, Luxx (256 Grand St.; Brooklyn; [718] 599-1000) on Thursday and
Sin-é (150 Attorney St.; [212] 388-0077] on Friday.
Newcomer to watch, Ambulance LTD, which creates ’60s-styled psychedelic rock with a dose of Brit pop, opens for Vue all three nights.
THURSDAY: The Hidden Cameras finally released their folk-pop debut, “The Smell of Our Own,” to the relief of fans who go wild over the Toronto band, which has a dozen musicians and go-go dancers. Frontman Joel Gibb founded the band to create gay church folk music – ” ‘gay’ meaning happy,” he says. “Ban Marriage,” is one such happy tune.
Last year at Brownies, Toronto’s Royal City performed its folk-pop, roots-rock, banjo-imbibed, lonely low-fi to only a few dozen, very lucky audience members.
Both bands will perform at the Knitting Factory (74 Leonard St.; [212] 219-3055). Royal City then performs at Southpaw (125 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn; [718] 230-0236) on Saturday.
Denver’s DeVotchaKa, named after a “Clockwork Orange” concoction, blends punk rock and Eastern European folk music. The band will stuff its upright bass, tuba, accordion, drums, harmonica and guitars onto the stage at B.B. King Blues Club (243 W. 42nd St.; [212] 997-4144) for a 7 p.m. showcase on Thursday, then join the Times Square club’s BurlesqueFest later that night.
FRIDAY: L.A.’s Warlocks, which has ex-members of Brian Jonestown Massacre, play at the Mercury Lounge (217 E. Houston; [212] 260-4700) with Heads of Femur and the Todd Deatherage Band, then at Sin-é on Sunday. The punky fuzzy-guitar band is led by Bobby Hecksher, who has signed record contracts in blood.