Pride of place goes to Justin Townes Earle at Webster Hall on Thursday , not on the strength of the admittedly excellent show he put on at Joe's Pub some 4 years part, or even his dad's uproarious story about Justin as a teenager hiding a gun, but  purely because Earle's new album is the best album of the year.

Monday – Loudness – BB Kings – Japan's # 1 Heavy Metal band, it says here

Tuesday – Regina Spektor – United Palace – We won't know the new album but still… it's been a couple of years now

Wednesday – Littie – Hramercy – Coming off one of the best albums of 2011, the all girl hard rock band should be awesome.

Friday – Loudon Wainwrigh III – Town Hall – And all the little Wainwrights

Saturday – Paul Weller – Best Buy – I've seen Paul once with the Jam and once solo and wasn't thrilled either time, but hey he's been playing "English Rose" so let's do it again

Sunday – Leann Rimes – Theater At Westbury – Time to give it up for the progenitor of everyone one from lambert to Underwood