Britney Spears

Christmas comes early this week for Top 40 listeners, as radio stations rally the troops and the world's biggest teen-pop sensation struts into town. Okay, Britney Spears isn't quite a teen anymore, as she pouts on her new album's "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman." Indeed, she's getting used to letting her American thighs do the talking -- it would appear, from the video for "I'm a Slave 4 U," that she's finally learned how to dance, or at least writhe orgasmically, which is just as good in our book. Watch carefully on Saturday at the Hartford Civic Center (860-241-4229) and on Sunday and Tuesday at the FleetCenter (617-931-2000) in Boston. At press time, scattered tickets were still available for the Saturday and Tuesday shows. Made-for-TV popstars O-Town open the Hartford show and the first Boston show; home-town boy band LFO open the second FleetCenter gig.

'Tis the season for radio-station jamborees. The FNX Radio Network presents a free "Holiday Fiesta" at the State Theater (207-780-8265) in Portland on Friday; just bring a non-perishable food item. On Monday, the Dunkin' Donuts Civic Center (401-331-6700) in Providence hosts WPRO's "Jingle Mingle" with Barenaked Ladies, Blu Cantrell, the Cranberries, kiddie-poppers Dream Street, and rockers American Hi-Fi. On Wednesday, American Hi-Fi hit T.T. the Bear's Place (617-492-BEAR) in Cambridge while Blu moves along to Tsongas Arena (978-848-6900) in Lowell for KISS 108's Jingle Ball, which also features sets by Enrique Iglesias, Five for Fighting, Lifehouse, Sugar Ray, and Pink, whose rock-friendly new Missundaztood (Arista) -- featuring a cameo by Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, no less -- has been tearing up our MP3 player all week. Pink is tired of being compared to Britney Spears -- says so in song -- and instead has apparently decided to become . . . the post-ska, new-wave No Doubt! Also on Wednesday, WXRV throws its own Xmas gig at Avalon (617-423-NEXT) in Boston, with Jonatha Brooke, Jeb Loy Nichols, and Cousteau.

Christmas also comes early this week for emo kids, as Weezer continue their fight for world domination on a tour featuring Tenacious D and Jimmy Eat World that makes its only New England stop on Tuesday at the Cumberland Civic Center (207-775-3458) in Portland. Indie darlings Rainer Maria hit the Met Café (401-272-5876) in Providence next Thursday, December 13, and the Middle East (617-864-EAST) in Cambridge next Friday, December 14.

With the notable exception of original singer Glenn Danzig, former members of the legendary horror-punk band the Misfits have a terrifying track record when setting out on their own. Anyone remember the ill-conceived D&D-metal group Kryst the Conqueror? Howzabout sub-Necros cadaver-core slayers the Undead? We didn't think so. So a hearty good luck to Graves, which teams the singer and drummer from the latter-day, post-reunion Misfits; the band are on a tour that brings them to Keene State College (603-352-1909) in Keene, New Hampshire, tonight (Thursday, December 6); to Chantilly's (603-225-7709) in Concord on Saturday; and to the Middle East on Monday with the Vigilantes, zombie punks the Humanoids, and NYC's PT Grimm.