Weekly Music Picks: Wicked Cold

Frigid temps all week. Hot shows all week. Put them together and you've got a warm soul. Brave the cold and make it out this week, it will totally be worth it. Looking for a little inspiration while you're sitting at your desk this week? Plug in the headphones and pop on over to tourfilter to check out the HypeMachine powered mixtape. Look in the upper right corner and click mixtape, sort it by date of show and it's like a preview for this week's shows. Looking to get your local music fix? Step one is the same (put on the headphones), then hit up Exploit Boston radio for all local bands all the time.

Tuesday, 2/6
Justin Timberlake with P!nk
Whether you love to hate him or hate to love him, keep in mind that JT has surprising cred in the hip hop world, thanks in large part to his work with producers like Timbaland and The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams/Chad Hugo). He also gets regular remix treatment by hipsters like Diplo and DFA. Plus, you know, he like brought sexy back. Just don't expect him to reenact "Dick in a Box" from SNL. Philly's P!nk gets the party started.
TD BankNorth Garden, 7:30pm, $54-$150 (a handful of tix still avail as of Sunday).
JT: website | myspace (be one of JT's 560K+ friends)
P!nk: website | myspace (be one of P!nk's 175K+ friends)

Tom Thumb and The Latter Day Saints
Perhaps a perfect pairing: the Bulfinch Yacht Club with Tom Thumb and The Latter Day Saints. Both local rooted band and venue haven't gotten the attention they deserve. This show will be a great opportunity to check out the solid indie rock style of Tom Thumb and the Later Day Saints. The Rolland High Life and Shrinking Islands also take stage for their own sets.
Bulfinch Yacht Club
Tom Thumb and The Later Day Saints: website | myspace | Preach.mp3

Wednesday, 2/7
Chris Potter Underground (also Tuesday, 2/6)
Chris Potter is often called the finest saxophonist of his generation. An "unabashedly rhythmic player," Chris notes that he's always "digesting new ideas, new influences to keep the freshness alive," being "influenced by classical, world music, funk, rock, rap, country, whatever." With Adam Rogers (guitar), Craig Taborn (bass), and Nate Smith (drums).
Regattabar, 7:30pm and 10pm, $24
website | myspace

Thursday, 2/8
Greg Osby
Bostonist first heard saxophonist Greg Osby in the early '90s when he kicked out the experimental jazz rap joints Man-Talk for Moderns, Vol. X and 3-D Lifestyles. Since then, the Berklee alum has gone on to perform with the likes of Herbie Hancock and Jack DeJohnette, made key contributions to Andrew Hill's groups, and received critical acclaim for his work as a leader. Osby is teaching at his alma mater this year and you can hear him on the cheap as he performs with a group of students. Part of Berklee's Black history Month concert series.
Berklee Performance Center, 8:15pm, $5
website | myspace | big foot.mp3 | brake.mp3 | purchase

Alexi Murdoch, w/ Midnight Movies and DJ Carbo
His song "Orange Sky" was featured in Garden State and an episode of the O.C., but don't hold it against the guy---Alexi Murdoch actually churns out some exquisite indie folk that's well worth a listen.
Great Scott (Allston), 9 pm, 18+, $12 advance/$14 day of show
Alexi Murdoch: website | myspace | OrangeSky.mp3

Friday, 2/9
Bo Diddley (also Thursday, 2/08)
If you were thinking of catching the legendary Bo Diddley but still haven't gotten around to purchasing tickets . . . you are too late.
Regattabar, 7:30pm, SOLD OUT
website

moe.
moe. is known for incessant touring and a unique sound that Bostonist would describe as "Americana-ish." They're in town to promote their first studio effort in four years, The Conch.
The Orpheum, 6:30 pm doors, all ages, $25
moe.: website | myspace

Strictly for The Birds, Fluttr Effect
With Funky Platonic. This show rocks the CD release party for Stricktly For The Birds. Friends Fluttr Effect and Funcky Platonic will be on hand to celebrate. Be nice to Fluttr Effect, they're still looking for permanent residence since PAN9's big fire.
Middle East Downstairs, 18+, $12 adv/$14 dos, 8pm
Fluttr Effect: website | myspace | awake.mp3

Sunday, 2/11
The Cat Empire
The guiding principle of genre-bending Aussie band The Cat Empire is summed up on their website: "when the hip hop community dances to Gypsy, the jazz purists jump to hip hop, the Latinos bop to reggae, [and] the rastas shake to Latin . . . everyone wakes up a little bit happier." Sounds like a damn great philosophy to Bostonist. Recorded in Havana, TCE's new album Two Shoes is rousing mélange of Latin rhythms, roof raising hip hop and grime beats, jazz swing, reggae sunshine and, as you might expect, a whole lot more.
Paradise Rock Club, 18+, $17, 8pm
website |myspace | purchase

Matt Durutti and Adrienne Aldredge contributed to this weeks picks