Weekly Music Picks: Day Without Immigrants Edition

Today we spent the day appreciating how much immigrants affect our daily lives. A sign hand-printed and posted in a local bodega's window read “Closed May 1st. A Day Without Immigrants. We are all immigrants.” Some of the best music has immigrated its way to the United States from places far and wide. Where would this week's lineup be without the rich flavor of the immigrant community? Music knows no borders. Let the decibels infuse your soul with or without a guest worker program.

Monday 5/1:
Borromeo String Quartet
The ensemble-in-residence at the New England Conservatory performs Benjamin Britten's String Quartet No.3, Op.94, one of the composer's last and most contemplative works. With pianist Warren Jones, the Borromeos will also play Edward Elgar's Piano Quintet Op.84.
Jordan Hall
8 p.m., free
Borromeo String Quartet: website
Benjamin Britten, website with MP3 of the String Quartet No.3, Op.94:

Tuesday 5/2:
Lifestyle
Started by Sean Drinkwater of Freezepop, the synth-pop super group roster now boasts crooner Ad Frank on guitar, and Alex Chen of Boy In Static on keys. Lifestyle begins a month-long residency at the Abbey.
The Abbey
9PM, 21+
Lifestyle: myspace | Secret Club.mp3 | purchase

Oteil & the Peacemakers
"The Michael Jordan of the bass," Oteil Burbridge, channels the ghost of Jaco Pastorius through the fingers of Larry Graham, Bootsy Collins and Stanley Clarke. Oteil's band the Peacemakers fuse jazz, funk and gospel grooves with infectious, melodic jams. Catch this phenom who All About Jazz called "one of the greatest electric bassists of all time."
Regattabar
$12, 7:30PM
myspace | website | purchase

Thursday 5/4:
Apollo Sunshine
Local psychadelic rockers Apollo Sunshine tussle with BLOWW, the Boston League of Women Wrestlers. Also with Bishop Allen and Caged Heat.
Middle East Downstairs.
18+ $12
Apollo Sunshine: myspace | Strange Things (demo).mp3 | purchase
BLOWW: myspace

Prefuse 73
Underground hip hop producer Guillermo Scott Herren's Prefuse moniker is a nod to early '70s, pre-fusion jazz. And his new album Security Screening is a largely instrumental affair, infused with the eclectic sound of early 70's jazz funk. Although the album is drawn from the Surrounded by Silence sessions, that album's guest rappers (e.g. Ghostface) are absent. But Keiran Hebden (Four Tet) lends a hand, so we're not complaining. Edan, aka the Humble Magnificent (Boston Represent!), brings his never ending quest to "put Syd Barrett's face on Biz Markie's body with Kool G Rap's brain" back home.
Paradise Rock Club
18+, $15, 9PM
Prefuse 73: myspace | website | Warp Records | purchase
Edan: myspace | website | purchase

Mobb Deep
Strong Island's Havoc and Prodigy bring the hardcore to Beantown. The Infamous Mobb Deep's new album, Blood Money, features appearances by former detractor 50 Cent. Cleveland's Ray Cash opens.
Avalon
18+ $27.50, 8PM
Mobb Deep: myspace | website | purchase
Ray Cash: myspace | website

Cyrus Chestnut Quartet (also Friday)
Widely considered one of the best pianists of his generation, 1985 Berklee graduate "Nut" has recorded a variety of acclaimed albums in the past 10 years, including a remake of Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas (featuring the Boys' Choir of Harlem) and 2002's Soul Food (featuring Christian McBride). No matter the project or group, Nut's bluesy, swinging sound is grounded in the gospel music of the church. With Neil Smith (drums), Michael Hawkins (bass), and Joseph Friedman (guitar).
Regattabar
$22, 7:30PM
Cyrus Chestnut Quartet: website (with clips) | purchase

Friday 5/5:
Waltham
It's not often that a band gives a city street cred instead of vice versa, but we're pretty sure Waltham's a lot cooler having a band named after it...or maybe it was ironic. Anthemic rocks Waltham appear with Hollis, Medicated Kisses, Random Acts of Violence, Hero Pattern, Love Weapon.
Paradise Rock Club, 8PM, 18+
Waltham: myspace| Cheryl.mp3 | purchase

Boston Baroque (also Saturday)
A beloved Beethoven symphony, the Eroica, and a once-favorite but now-forgotten choral work of the nineteenth century, Cherubini's Requiem.
Jordan Hall
8 p.m., $23, $35, $46, $58
Boston Baroque: website
Cherubini's Requiem: website

Saturday 5/6:
30 Seconds to Mars
If the name "Jordan Catalano" fills you with girlish wonderment, you might want to head over to Harper's Ferry this Saturday afternoon. Not so much for the music, but to catch a glimpse of Jared Leto, who's taking some time off from his day job to play with his band 30 seconds to Mars.
Harper’s Ferry
1PM
30 Seconds to Mars: myspace

Isis
Admittedly Bostonist doesn't follow the metal scene too closely, but Isis is more diverse than your average head banging music. Ambient hard core might be a better description. Isis, with Dalek, Zombi, Irepress at The Middle East.
18+ $13
Isis: myspace

Sunday 5/7:
Guillemots
Often described as Coldplay with more instruments, Brit rock Guillemots join the Belle & Sebastian named Dylan In The Movies.
TT the Bears.
9PM, 21+, $10
Guillemots: myspace | throuGH the windowpane.mp3 | purchase
Dylan in the Movies: myspace

Eef Barzelay (of Clem Snide)
Barzelay has a voice as quirky as his name, and a penchant for lyrics clever enough to make the literati swoon. With Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Chris Colbourn (fmr Buffalo Tom, most recently seen playing with Hilken Mancini)
Middle East Upstairs
18+ $10adv/$12dos
Eef Barzelay: myspace | Ballad of Bitter Honey.mp3 | purchase

Back to the Old School Party
DJ Nomadik presents an old school style evening of DJs, b-boy & b-girl dancing, and art. Featuring performances by Boston's Project Move and Crush One, with the Bronx's Division X.
Roxbury Center for the Arts, Dudley Sq.
18+, $10 / $15 dos, 7PM-12AM
event website | DJ Nomadik myspace

Boston Microtonal Society
Since the Renaissance, Western musicians have experimented with microtones, smaller intervals than those in the conventional 12-note scale. This Sunday's intimate event at the Lily Pad is a fine opportunity to settle in for a close listen to some recent experiments in this obscure, intriguing tradition.
The Lily Pad (former site of the Zeitgeist Gallery)
4 p.m., $10 suggested donation ($7 students)
Boston Microtonal Society: website
Audio of pieces by some of Sunday's composers: Clips

Lora Valente, Matt Durutti, and C. Fernsebner, and Christina Linklater contributed to this post