We’ve been on tour of sorts this week, but since it’s for our day job we regret to inform you that there’s nothing very rock about it. We are happy to say that we’re meeting some fellow –ists along the way though. Last night we met and chatted with Kyle and Nicole from DCist. We commiserated with Kyle about the burden of keeping up too many blogs (check out his excellent music blog Information Leafblower) and listened with envy about his plans to cover the Pitchfork Music Festival this weekend. Tonight we’ll be meeting some Chicagoists, which makes us think we should create some sort of dorky visualization out of which –ists we’ve met/haven’t yet met, something like those cardboard maps for collecting state quarters.

We’re not in town to see it, but tonight Pedro The Lion's David Bazan and Micah P. Hinson are at Bottom of the Hill. SOMA Magazine presents Unearthed at Rockit Room with Monsters Are Waiting, Love Like Fire, Sean Smith, Innaway and Stiletta. Singer-songwriters Duncan Sheik and Vienna Teng rock you gently at Great American. The 2nd Annual Afrofunk Music Festival starts a three night stint at the Independent with Jujuba, Albino!, DJ Cheb i Sabbah. The Buzzcocks and The Strays are at Mezzanine.

We’re hoping to be back in town on Friday in time to see X open for Rollins Band at the Warfield. Irving, Say Hi To Your Mom, Dirty on Purpose and Tartufi are at Bottom of the Hill and Grant Lee Phillips plays at Cafe Du Nord. At Mezzanine, Michael Franti and friends present a Power to the Peaceful Benefit Concert. In addition to performances, the event features a silent auction of music memorabilia. We shudder to think what kind of price that Jack Johnson autographed ukulele is going to snag. If there's a bidding war, don't tell us.

Beth Orton. We really want to like her, but we find that a little bit of her goes a long way. She’s at The Fillmore on Saturday. People sure seemed to like her video with the puppets though. The Velvet Teen, The Evening Episode and No More Stereo are at Great American. Yerba Buena Discos and Rock It Science present The Disco Science Patrol! at a private underground location you have to phone in to find out about (415-412-0406). Our favorite part of this event is that it lasts from “10pm until your afro puffs.”

On Sunday, head to Amoeba to see if Dresden Dolls can conjure that live intensity at 2pm in the afternoon. That night they open for the highly addictive Panic! at The Disco at the Warfield. Brightblack Morning Light is at Café Du Nord. The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation presents Help is on the Way XII, the annual AIDS benefit concert. The event at Masonic Auditorium not only benefits some great organizations, but it also features a fascinating array of celebrity talent including Lorenzo Lamas, Tyne Daly and Florence Henderson, as well as stars of Broadway and reality TV shows like “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” Now that’s entertainment.

We hate this band name so much that it pains us even to cut and paste it: Goblin Cock headlines Mezzanine on Monday night. This is Pinback's Rob Crow getting his Sabbath on, and fans of his more subdued music could still enjoy this stomp-footed rock. Celebrate Michelle Panache and Knewman Jeremiah's Birthday at 12 Galaxies with a free show by Black Fiction. Pete Yawn Yorn managed to sell out Great American for a solo acoustic show. On Wednesday, check out the free California HomeGrown Music Series with The Morning Benders, Bray and Jason Debo at Mezzanine.