Roadtrips

A pretty, sexy frontwoman backed by three polished boy musicians who can do everything from slick muscular rock to techno-textured sample-laced-and-looped pop . . . yeah, it's yet another band who bring to mind Garbage. This time they're from Canada: they're called Joydrop, and they've got their US debut coming out on Tommy Boy on February 9. They're gearing up for the release of Metasexual with a couple of low-key US shows, a gig at Bill's Bar (617-421-9678) in Boston on January 22 and one on the 23rd at the Espresso Bar (508-770-1455) in Worcester, where they're on a bill with the Goonies, Sticker, Special 79, and Sgt. Scagnetti.

Eric Burdon, master craftsman behind and in front of the Animals (for all you young 'uns, they did "The House of the Rising Sun," which was sort of the "Walking on the Sun" of its day, not to mention it was a Dylan song about a whorehouse), comes stomping our way, reportedly still in high gear. He'll be at the Iron Horse (413-584-0610) in Northampton on the 25th before plopping down for a two-night stand on the 27th and 28th at the House of Blues (617-491-BLUE) in Cambridge.

And from the house of one-track-mind lo-fi highbrow faux roots indie rock, Marcellus Hall and Railroad Jerk saunter into the Met Café (401-861-2142) in Providence on the 28th, then pop up at the Middle East (617-864-EAST) in Cambridge the following night with Peter Prescott's Peer Group, the Good Furies, and a duo that'll smoke the Jerk on bottleneck slide, Mr. Airplane Man. And another indie-rock band who don't necessarily suck, Flydaddy's Number One Cup, are at the Century Lounge (401-751-2255) in Providence on January 24 and at the Middle East on the 26th.

-- CC