Lent, what a time to give something up. Over here at Bostonist Headquarters we're thinking hard what we're going to drop come Wednesday. It won't be our MP3 player and it won't be live music. Maybe with this, week four of the now weekly music pick running on Monday we're going to be able to give up our lack of coverage of the local music scene. With fingers crossed we're raising a pint to forty days and forty nights with local music somewhere on the agenda.

Monday 2/27:
Avalon
Belle & Sebastian with The New Pornographers (also Tuesday 2/28)
After years of patience, Bostonian Belle & Sebastian fans will be rewarded with 2 (!) consecutive nights of dancing and Stuart Murdoch’s caustic wit as he takes his Scottish popsters on their largest tour to date. Indie fans can only hope to contain themselves, as B&S will be joined by fellow college radio royalty, The New Pornographers. The New Pornos’ Twin Cinema was a 2005 Bostonist favorite, and B&S’s The Life Pursuit is an early contender for 2006 year-end lists.

Great Scott.
Jangle Popsters The Eames Era are joined by local shoegazers The Jumblies and Providence's Drab.
18+ 9pm $7
The Eames Era: myspace | Go To Sleep.mp3 | purchase
The Jumblies: myspace
Drab: myspace

Tuesday 2/28:
Lizard Lounge.
Juliana Hatfield and special guests Mike Furvis (that's Mike Cummings of Furvis) and Friends.
21+ 9pm $6 in advance, $8 at the door.

Thursday 3/2:
Great Scott.
Protokoll, L0lita Bras*, The Teeth
The Teeth caught Bostonist’s ear when they toured with Dr. Dog a month ago. Thursday they return with NY’s L0lita Bras* and Somerville’s Protokoll.

* = the Puritan spam filter Bostonist is running won't let us correctly use L0lita with an "o" instead of "0" so bear with us - we almost busted out the 1337 but thought we'd spare you. The L0lita Bra's website URL is also incorrectly listed, so you'll have to make your own substitution.

PA's Lounge.
Dreamy rockers Verona Downs hit Somerville with Henry, 1986, Jeff Chass.
21+ 8:30PM $7
Verona Downs: myspace | after all.mp3
Henry: myspace | Factory.mp3 | purchase

Hip Hop journalist and SoleSides co-founder Jeff Chang talks about his award winning book Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A History of the Hip Hop Generation at Tufts (6:00PM). Look for more information about the event, along with Bostonist's interview with Jeff, on Wednesday.

Friday 3/03:
Paradise Lounge.
Danish chanteuse Tina Dico brings her Jem meets Beth Orton in front of a Nordic fireplace sound to the Paradise Lounge. Bostonist fondly recalls the lush, warm vocals Tina supplied for Zero 7's downtempo smash When it Falls. Soulful, introspective songstress Kristin Hoffmann opens.

Middle East Upstairs.
Harris, Faces On Film, Fires, Those Who Wait.
18+ 9PM $9
Faces on Film: myspace | Makers of Medicine.mp3 | purchase

Paradise Rock Club.
Scottish songbird KT Tunstall with Chris Glover.
18+ 8PM $12.50
KT Tunstall: myspace

Saturday 3/04:
Worcester Palladium.
Parliament-Funkadelic legend and chief funkateer George Clinton tears the roof off the suka, er, Worcester's Palladium (out of Bostonist normal range, but worth the drive).

Paradise Rock Club.
Ted Leo made news recently when he jumped ship at the troubled Lookout! Records, and joined the likes of !!! at Touch & Go. We're just glad the music will keep coming.
18+ 8PM $15
Ted Leo: myspace | Some Beginner's Mind.mp3 | purchase

Paradise Lounge.
Rob Dickinson (Catherine Wheel) with Monique Ortiz of Bourbon Princess.
18+ 9PM $15
Rob Dickinson: myspace | My Name Is Love.mp3 | purchase

Sunday 3/5:
TT the Bears.
TT's puts together a night of sad, sad music just the way we like it; with space rockers Ester Drang & Metal Hearts (named after the Cat Power song, yes). Locals On Fire open (did we mention they have a cellist?).
21+ 9PM $9
Ester Drang: myspace
Metal Hearts: myspace | Socialize.mp3 | purchase
On Fire: myspace | Night Skies.mp3 | purchase

Middle East
Of Montreal
After a rich week in indie rock, Of Montreal will start next week off on the right foot, again. Bostonist interviewed singer Kevin Barnes a month ago, and anticipation of this show has only increased. WARNING: if you have an aversion to happiness, keep a safe distance from Camrbidge Sunday night.

Lora Valente, Matt Durutti, and Michael Walker picked the picks to keep you hip