Monday
>> Not every band can pull off the feat of traveling with and playing a turn of the century Vittrolio Grammaphone, playing the saw, or convincing you that the theramin is a real instrument. But Portland band Norfolk and Western seem to be bear this burden with ease and a bit of quirk. This band plays a mix of folksy, whimsical and occassionaly dark rock music, using an eclectic array of instruments and revolving band-mates (including some ex-Decemberists). They play DC9 tonight with enveloping and bluesy local vocalist Laura Burhenn, who DCist interviewed last year, and another fellow Portlander and female soloist Corinna Repp. 9 p.m., $8.

>> The voice of some of Zero 7's coolest songs, Sia Furler brings her unmistakable sound to the 9:30 club. Mixing downtempo and electronic styles, Sia's music has provided the perfect atmospheric backgounds for numerous TV shows, including Six Feet Under and Grey's Anatomy. Pop newcomer Greg Lawler, who sounds eerily like Coldplay's Chris Martin, opens. Late show - 10 p.m., $20.

>> Those in need of a dance fix will want to catch Mixel Pixel at the Red and the Black, and with the amount of science fiction inspired psychedelia going on with this group, you may get your hallucination fix as well. They open for the experimental and perennially weird Dirty Projectors. The Holy Attack opens. 9:30 p.m., $8.

>> "Imagine Prince producing Otis Redding at an early '90s warehouse rave." We couldn't have said it better ourselves. Indie-electronic-soul crooner Jamie Lidell plays the Black Cat tonight with opener Snax. 8pm, $15 mainstage.

>> Meanwhile, come to the 9:30 Club and see if the newly sober Cat Power is as engaging live as she is in that hilarious Pitchfork interview with Fred Armisen. Early show -- 6 p.m., $27.50.

TUESDAY
>> Celebrating his 40th anniversary of his first #1 single "Sunshine Superman," legendary folk singer Donavan plays a seated early show at the 9:30 club. Donovan's 2005 release of a deluxe boxed retrospective, Try for the Sun: The Journey of Donovan has made him a household name again. He brings his guitar prowess to the stage with an upright bass player and a percussionist. 6 p.m., $40.

>> And to round out this evening at the 9:30 club, we have a similarly mellow and low-key group of musicians playing the late show. And by low-key, we mean raucous, and by mellow, we mean off the chain. Rock the Bells World Tour 2006, a traveling rap festival of sorts, brings us the notorious rappers Redman and Raekwon. Keith Murray (the rapper, not the rocker from We are Scientists,), Supernatural and DC-native and Go-Go pioneer DJ Kool also perform. We really hope he plays "Let Me Clear My Throat." 10 p.m., $35.

WEDNESDAY
>> Holy electronic-music-Wednesday! We have not one, not two, but three massive dance events going on in D.C. this Wednesday, bringing in some of the top DJs in the world for House (think David Morales), Breaks (think Krafty Kuts) and Drum and Bass (think DJ Dara). We can be thankful for such renowned DJ's at the three events tonight: Omnipresent's The Gathering at club Love, Buzzlife's Cool Whip at Avenue, and Upfront Industries' Thanksgiving Sessions at Club Five, respectively. Consider yourself warned. Check event pages for prices and times.

>>Bring your Advil, because a nasty case of headbanging-induced whiplash is a distinct possibility. The Arlington Cinema and Draft House is screening what is arguably one of the greatest rock documentaries of all time, the cult-classic Heavy Metal Parking Lot. This film documents the wild tailgate before a Judas Priest concert at the local Capital Centre in 1986. Local band Vollmer will play live sets throughout the night. 7:30 p.m., $10 in advance, $12 at the door.

>> We think our hips are really going to appreciate this new recurring African-influenced dance music night, which begins tonight at DC9. The brainchild of the Afro-Funk Forum, this event will bring together live big-band Afrobeat style with global electronic music, starting with the funky Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band and the hypnotic and strong percussions of DJ Thick. They say that the vibe will be "laid-back, hot, and funky." Word. $10.

THURSDAY
>> Happy TAINTSgiving boys and girls. The queerish Indie Rock dance party at DC9 will be doing its' thing on this most thankful of days. Two DJs will play, but the crowd-drawer is headliner Leslie Hall who is best known for her avant-garde hip hop and atrocious gem sweaters. 9 p.m., $5.

>> Its a multilingual extravaganza at the 9:30 Club as the pop-electro-punk-dance fusion of the Brazillian Girls bring us lyrics in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish, Oh my! Despite the name, none are Brazilian and only one is a girl, but damn, that girl has got enough style and charisma for all four members. Downtempo DJ Christina Moritz opens. 9 p.m., $25.

FRIDAY

>>You've fed your stomaches, now here's some funky soul food for your ears and feet, which should also help begin the process of shedding those pumpkin pie pounds. Robert Randolph and the Family Band will most likely bring down the house at the 9:30 Club on both Friday and Saturday, as they are one of the most amazing and kinetic live acts out there. 9 p.m., $35.

SATURDAY

>> Writing 365 songs in 365 days? Sounds like a masochist's dream. Low-fi indie singer/songwriter Paleo is doing just that as he completes his Song Diary while continuing to tour (150 shows this year so far). His rules include: one song a day, rewriting his first song every Sunday, and failure to complete a song automatically ends said diary. Check out the full rules here, and check out his music at Iota. These United States headline. 9:30 p.m., $10.

>> Sweden's The Sounds, Virginia's Soft Complex and D.C.'s own Washington Social Club form a trifecta of punchy dance-rock. The perfect antidote to the stuffing-induced coma you've been in since Thursday. 9 p.m. at the Rock and Roll Hotel. $15 in advance, $17 at the
door.

>>Minneapolis-via-Brooklyn rockers The Hold Steady return to DC for the second time in 2006, armed with a new and terrific album but more of that oddly perfect combination of heavy riffs and suburban Beat poetry. They may not look much like the rock stars they clearly love (AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, et al), but their live show is every-bit as arena-worthy. At the Black Cat, with the Big Sleep and local boys Statehood. Jack Daniel’s not included. 9 p.m., $13 in advance, $15 at the door.

SUNDAY
>> The last time we saw the New York Dolls, there was a collective gasp at how, well, aged they look (particularly Buster Poindexter). Regardless, they thoroughly rocked, left us wondering if rock bands have a special on multiple lives and reminded us that makeup does not always help. They play Little Steven's Underground Garage Rolling Rock and Roll show at the Black Cat with Supersuckers, The Chesterfield Kings, the Charms and the Hall Monitors. 8 p.m., $20.

>> Tonight the 9:30 Club provides a great place to, um, fornicate the pain away, as the sexually-charged, somewhat androgynous Peaches performs with her electroclash backup band, The Herms. For a dash of further eccentricity, look to opening act Quintron and Miss Pussycat. They're married (evidently, she stuck with her maiden name). He plays the organ. She plays the maracas and is a puppeteer. Mayhem ensues. 10pm. $18.

Photographs of Norfolk and Western and Robert Randolph and the Family Band from their websites. Abby Lavin and Graham Hough-Cornwell contributed to this week's agenda.