All we can say is at least it's not raining. The humidity, not so much the heat, has got everyone running on a pretty sluggish pace today. Perhaps after another TurboIce things will pick up. Or some sweet nerdy action in the way of the IT Band Bash – you know the guy sitting in the cube across from you who's a rocker at night? Oh, you don't, well he might be. If you're nice we just might update this list for you and throw a few extra in the mix – but seriously, get ready for July. Update we have - two more shows and a fleshing out of a placeholder. Enjoy the sounds of summer as they be delicious.

Monday 6/26:
IT Band Bash
ITA Software's Battle of the Bands presents eight local groups with at least one member each working an IT day job: Three Day Threshhold, Francis Kim Band, my Flash On You, Nicole Russo, Colin Green Band, Lizzie Borden Band, Hepburn, and Joe Turner & the Seven Levels.
Middle East Downstairs
18+, 8 pm, $5
ITA Battle of the Bands: web site | finalists & other technology bands

Tuesday 6/27:
Ad Frank
Fast, easy, & out of control. With Paula Kelley, Silver Lining, and Rooftop Suicide Club.
Abbey Lounge
21+, 9 pm
Ad Frank: myspace | web site | The World's Best Ex-Boyfriend .mp3

Mr. Lif CD release party with Cage
Local indie hip hop hero Lif throws a party at the Middle east to celebrate the release of his new Definitive Jux CD Mo' Mega. With a political voice as strong and urgent as Chuck D and KRS-One, Lif's shows always elevate your mind as they move your body. But this show's all about the party, and for this bash Lif is joined by Jux label mates and other friends. Like Chris Palko, aka Cage, who poured out his tortured soul on last years acclaimed Hell's Winter (featuring production by heavy weights El-P, RJD2 and DJ Shadow). Also on tap are Camu Tao, Pangea Fam, Yak Ballz, and Boston's own Elemental Zazen.
Middle East downstairs
18+ $17 / $20 dos, 8pm
Mr. Lif: website | myspace | Lif interview on NPR | wikipedia | purchase
Cage: website | myspace | purchase

Wednesday 6/28:
Jose Gonzalez, Juana Molina and Psapp
Part Joao Gilberto, part Elliott Smith, part Nick Drake, Jose Gonzalez is one of the more exciting songwriters to emerge (from Sweden no less) in the past several years. His exquisitely picked, classical Spanish guitar beautifully complements his sensual and soft but powerful vocals. Indie bossa-folk at its best. Jose is joined by Juana Molina, whose new album Son creates an intriguing universe of folktronica grounded in acoustic guitar, lilting folk melodies, and quirky electronics that sometimes gurgle and chirp, sometimes moan and buzz. What Dots & Loops era Stereolab might have sounded like had Laetitia Sadier and Tim Gane downed a couple quaaludes and spent the day listening to Boards of Canada and Calexico. British duo Psapp (Carim Clasmann and Galia Durant) accompany their charmingly crafted songs with a menagerie of toy animals, kitchen utensils, and odd noises found lurking in their laptops. If you've seen Grey's Anatomy, you've heard Psapp's "Cosy in the Rocket" (it's the TV show's theme song). Triple bill of the summer.
Museum of Fine Arts Courtyard
7pm, $25 / $20 MFA members SOLD OUT
Jose Gonzalez: website | myspace | purchase Juana Molina: website | La Verdad.mp3 | Rio Seco.mp3 | purchase
Psapp: website | myspace | purchase

Calexico with Jason Collett
Bummin' because you failed to get advance tix to see Jose Gonzalez/Juana Molina/Psapp and now it's sold out? Well, you should be. But don't despair. You can see Joey Burns, John Convertino and friends as Calexico plays the Roxy. This Tuscon-based collective crafts a distinctly sparse, desert sun-baked roots rock informed by everything from the surf guitar twang, Ennio Morricone spaghetti Western themes, mariachi madness, country corn, jazz cool, and Fado Português. Following 2005's In the Reins EP, a collaborative effort with Iron & Wine, Calexico recently released Garden Ruin, their most accessible, song-based album yet. Broken Social Scene's Jason Collett opens.
Calexico: website | myspace
Jason Collett: website | myspace

Thursday 6/29:
Society for Historically-Informed Performance
In Greek mythology, Amphion uses his lyre to bring about the city of Thebes, coaxing stones to arrange themselves into walls. At SoHIP (pronounced, truly, "so hip"), Amphion's Lyre is more interested in calm than in construction. By the time this eight-member early music ensemble brings a programme of seventeenth-century music to Emmanuel Church, it should be humid and bright enough for an evening in a dark, cool sanctuary to be a blissful relief.
Emmanuel Church, 8pm
$16 for 18 and over, $11 for students and seniors
SoHIP: website (scroll to bottom of page for Amphion's Lyre info. and audio)

Certainly, Sir
Local electro-rock trio, Certainly, Sir will be playing live this Thursday night at Enormous Room. Their newest album, Tan, is currently only sold in Japan, but you can hear it free on their site, and purchase it at Thursday's show. (note: lots of interesting collaborations on this album, including guest vocals from Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie/ The Postal Service)
Enormous Room
21+, no cover , 10pm
Certainly, Sir: website

Friday 6/30:
Baaba Maal
Senegalese master musician Baaba Maal bring his blend of traditional West African folk music, Afro-pop world beat, funk and reggae to Somerville. Maal performs with Daande Lenol, his 13-piece electric ensemble. Guaranteed to make your body move on a hot summer's night.
Somerville Theatre
$35 / $25, 8pm
website | wikipedia

Echo and the Bunnymen
Another early '80s band to reform in an effort to cash-in on the post punk revival, Echo and the Bunnymen is a legendary group whose music has aged remarkably well. Especially Heaven Up Here and (the extended 12" single version of) "The Killing Moon." And Bostonist always preferred Ian McCulloch's big-ass mop of hair to Robert Smith's droopy coif. "Do it Clean. Like a Sex Machine."
Paradise Rock Club
18+, 8pm
website

C. Fernsebner, Matt Durutti, Victoria Daskal, and Christina Linklater contributed to this list.