We're doing our part for the SFist Holiday Gift Guide this month as well, by bringing you some extra special music giveaways. Barsuk Records is home to a lot of amazing artists, including San Francisco's own John Vanderslice. One of their newest signings is Portland's Menomena, a trio who manage to blend post-rock and pop in a deliciously haunting manner. Download the title track of their newest EP "wet and rusting" and see them Friday when they play the Hemlock with 31 Knots. Enter to win your own copy of the wet and rusting EP, plus a fancy Barsuk Records t-shirt. (Contest ends 12/12. Winner will be notified via email.)

This week it's all about new music. Let's check out something new that we've never heard before, shall we? Here are some suggestions:

Tonight Popscene presents UK outfit New Young Pony Club along with Jim Noir at 330 Ritch. Labelmates of one of our favorite dance-rock bands Cut Copy, New Young Pony Club mix disaffected sing-speak vocals with disco beats and electro-melodies that make you want to dress up and dance. At The Hemlock, Two Sheds play with Bart Davenport and Pillows. Sacramento's Two Sheds keep it super hushed like Chan Marshall singing lullabies with M. Ward.

Listen to New Young Pony Club
Listen to Two Sheds

On Saturday at the Hotel Utah, KCRW.com presents Eric Gaffney of Sebadoh with songstress Johanna Kunin. Johanna's playful, lilting melodies are sure to uplift you.

Listen to Johanna Kunin

On Sunday Akron/Family play with Black Fiction and Meric Long at 12 Galaxies. Akron/Family are simultaneously backwoods and psychedelic, complete with oft-long beards and organic instrumentation.

Listen to the comforting strum and hum of Akron/Family. Download "Gone Beyond"

On Monday Panda & Angel perform with S and Matt & Kim at Bottom of the Hill. We're a bit mesmerized by the dark, androgynous vocals of Panda & Angel's Carrie Murphy backed by the intricate and interesting loud-quiet-loud of the band.

Download Panda & Angel's "Dangerous"

Of course, it's good to see bands you already know, too.

On Friday, Live 105 presents their annual Not So Silent Night show at Bill Graham Auditorium with local band winners Cold Hot Crash, one of our favorite bands Silversun Pickups, Modest Mouse and the following The's: Killers, Shins, Raconteurs. Listen to the announcement of Cold Hot Crash as the winner, plus check out a song of theirs (go here if that embedded player doesn't show up):

Catch the NSSN afterparty at Mighty with Lily Allen, an acoustic set by Starsailor, Shiny Toy Guns and DJ sets from the bands. Also on Friday, Calexico play the first of two nights at the Fillmore with Los Lobos. On Monday Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter crack you up at the Independent for two nights. If you're not familiar with those two, then you're not laughing enough. Read Chicagoist's interview with them, rent "Wet Hot American Summer" and then "The Baxter" this weekend and then prepare to be entertained.