There was a time in the 1970s when male artists could become famous by simply writing and singing great songs. Seemingly average joes such as Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Elton John sold millions of records without subscribing to the psychedelia of 60s rock, the angst of punk, the glam of the 80s, or the hyper-masculinity of metal and hip-hop. Today, acts such as Coldplay and James Blunt might hint at a resurgence…

I arrived to a half filled Black Cat last night, unsure what to expect from Danish superstars Mew. Their album, And The Glass Handed Kites, was one of the most interesting albums I heard last year, their fey yet bruising style of jangle prog a combination of Jeff Buckley’s tenderest falsetto moments and the whiplash of Bloc Party’s best Wedding Present imitation in one album that sequences connecting songs to great effect. However, the…

MONDAY >> The week kicks off with a smorgasbord of indie fare at Warehouse. New York singer-songwriter Peter Silberman, aka The Antlers, emotes Jeff Buckley-style, while Richmond garage rockers A Roman Holiday dabble in death metal, with a visit from their labelmates, Illinois screamo duo The Midwestern. $10, 9:30 p.m. >> This is one of their last gigs before they join TV on the Radio for a nationwide tour, so come catch San Francisco hip…

Having recovered from our Grammys-induced seizure last night, here are our picks for the week’s best shows. For your listening pleasure, we’ve provided mp3s or streaming tracks where available. And as always, please let us know what concerts you’ll be enjoying in the next seven days. TONIGHT: >> Andy Zipf, at left, is a local singer/songwriter who blends electronic loops with acoustic guitar. Local duo Brindley Brothers (who also own Jammin’ Java) play an opening…