Weekly Music Picks: The Best Week Ever... of May?

Last week, Bostonist racked up an impressive list of great music picks. This week, the Boston area continues to, er, rock you, with a great lineup of freak-folk, punk pioneers, hubris-fueled hip-hop, and maniacal metal.

Monday, May 4

Pontiak
with Ocean, The Proselyte
at the Middle East Upstairs

The Baltimore-by-way-of-Virginia stoner rockers unleash their dark, drony tunes on what should be a packed house.

Peanut Butter Wolf
with James Pants, Mayer Hawthorne, Dam-Funk
at the Paradise

The Stone's Throw 2009 Tour stops by Commonwealth Avenue, with indie hip-hoppers Peanut Butter Wolf headlining with a VJ set... Carson Daly not included.

Enter Shikari
with Fordoes Me Quite, Irepress
at Harper's Ferry

These techno-core pioneers (whatever that means) hit the big time in the U.K. two years ago and continue to sell out the biggest venues across the Atlantic. See what the big deal is as they stop by Harper's Ferry.

Tuesday, May 5

Akron/Family
with Brad Barr (The Slip), Faces On Film, We Are The Arm
at Middle East Downstairs

Those lucky enough to see the IFFBoston's closing night film might recognize Akron/Family's "Don't Be Afraid, You're Already Dead" providing the soundtrack to a particularly devastating scene in World's Greatest Dad. Catch the freak folkers as they headline the Middle East Downstairs in support of their new album, Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free.

GWAR
at House of Blues

Awful Racket? How can a carnival with buckets of fake blood and metal licks played by a guy in a gigantic alien suit be awful? Oh... hmm... well, I guess it's a required taste.

Wednesday, May 6

Galactic
at the Paradise

The New Orleans jazz-funk act drops into Boston for a night all to themselves.

Polk Records Rock N' Roll Revival
with The Bright Hours, Left Hand Does, Gypsy Cab, Mother Mary and the Disciples, The Sinbusters
at Church

Local label Polk Records host one of their Rock N' Roll Revival shows at Church; keep an eye out for Left Hand Does, who've got a sweet pop-rock sound that's guaranteed to grab you.

Mike Watt & The Missing Men
with Ketman, AM Stereo
at TT the Bear's

The Minutemen. Nuff said? Ok, toss in recent Stooges too. Whatever the case, Mike Watt is a punk rock legend, and a show with him at TT's is an absolute treat.

Loney Dear
with Lia Ices, DJ Carbo
at Great Scott

Andrew Bird tourmate and Swedish musician wunderkid Emil Svanängen (aka Loney Dear) returns to Boston in support of his newest slice of indie pop, Dear John.

Thursday, May 7

The Thermals
with Shaky Hands, Point Juncture, WA
at the Middle East Downstairs

The Portland indie-pop trio swing bring the sounds of their newest album, Now We Can See, with a solid couple of West Coast-based openers.

Horse Feathers
with Joe Pug, Barn Burning, The Acre
at TT the Bear's

Bon Iver wasn't the only act to drop a heartfelt folk album last year. Head over to TT's to check out why Horse Feathers were one of 2008's most under-appreciated acts.

Mastodon
with Kylesa, Intronaut
at House of Blues

Southern metal-heads Mastodon look to Crack The Skye with a new heaping of guitar-shredding fury at House of Blues.

Friday, May 8

Junior Boys
with Max Tundra, Certainly, Sir
at the Middle East Downstairs

The Canadian duo bring a swath of indie-electronic-pop cum funk to Boston for a night of slow grooves that will delight Postal Service fans and P-Funk listeners alike.

Etta James and The Roots Band
with Jesse Dee
at House of Blues

With their powers combined, the blues idol and hip-hop heroes should make for an unforgettable set.

Wale
at Harper's Ferry

This guy made an entire mixtape based on Seinfeld, has collaborated with The Roots and Lil' Wayne, and may be the first artist to take go-go out of D.C. Catch Wale in Allston before he hits the top of the Billboard charts and won't be able to play at any venue smaller than the Comcast Center.

The Damned
with The Bellrays, Electric Frankenstein
at the Paradise

So, they may have cancelled their gig at the Paradise back in January, but that doesn't take away the fact that The Damned are U.K. punk pioneers. Hopefully, they'll be performing all of Damned Damned Damned and nothing else.

Saturday, May 9

The Everyday Visuals CD Release
with Taxpayer, Tiny Animals
at Great Scott

Great Scott plays host to the local indie-pop quartet's album release show. Swing by for what should surely be an evening of sweet sounds and catchy tunes.

Celebration
with Neptune
at the Middle East Upstairs

See why the Baltimore trio has big fans in TV on the Radio and the rest of their hometown community when they perform a set that's sure to include a handful of the new songs the band is releasing for free on their website.

Sunday, May 10

Vivian Girls
with Stupid Party, Libyans
at Middle East Upstairs

Got a hankering for some scuzz punk with a surfer's tan? Well, the Middle East has just the band for you, as the blog-friendly Brooklyn trio Vivian Girls headline the Upstairs.