What Made Milwaukee Famous just want to make your day a little better with their bouncing rhythms, pop melodies and plinking pianos. What, are you in a mood again? They've got something for that too. Just give them a listen and come as you are on Tuesday night when they play Cafe Du Nord. We're giving away a pair of tickets to one lucky winner.

Tonight, the UK invades Popscene with Klaxons and Amy Winehouse. We've only seen Winehouse on Letterman (watch) and Leno (watch), and she's that kind of riveting performer who seems on the brink of collapse at any moment and would look right at home in a Tim Burton movie. Her voice, her style and her songs are strong, so let's hope her rumored hard-partying ways don't get the best of her this evening. Also tonight, Cornelius and Honeycut are at Bimbo's and The Decemberists continue their stay in San Francisco with a show at The Warfield.

Anyone who says there are no good bands out there just isn't looking hard enough. Every week when we compile this column we check out a bunch of new music, and this week's discovery is Oakland's own DESA (no, we're not yelling at you, it's just that they write their name in all caps). Their grinding guitars, soaring vocal melodies, and interwoven rhythms aim to grab you by the collar and lift you off the ground. Catch them on Friday night at Bottom of the Hill when they play with Facing New York, who describe themselves as a "psychedelic rhythm & blues band from the year 2020." Download DESA's latest internet-only three-song Sirens and Safety Glass EP and watch this video for "Marvelous Mess":

On Saturday, KUSF presents something real different at Great American with Konono No. 1, a virtuoso of the likembé (thumb piano) backed by rhythms of pots, pans and car parts plus dancers and megaphones. Nickel Creek may have started as a trio dedicated to bringing a fresh voice to bluegrass, but they've modernized their sound into something altogether unique. See them at the Warfield. Over at Hemlock, The Finches play with Chinatown Bakeries and French Quarter.

Listen to:
Konono No. 1
Nickel Creek

On Monday the young blokes from Brighton in The Kooks play Slim's with Illinois, and Regina Spektor delights at the Warfield. On Tuesday, the strange sisters of CocoRosie play Bimbo's, and don't forget What Made Milwaukee Famous is at Cafe Du Nord with Post Ventura and Seventeen Evergreen. Catch the song stylings of Andrew Bird with Apostle of Hustle at the Fillmore Tuesday night, or just wait until Wednesday when Apostle of Hustle play a free in-store at Amoeba. On Wednesday night our dear friends in Cursive take the Warfield stage to play with Mastodon, Against Me! and Planes Mistaken for Stars.

Watch Cursive's brilliant video for "Big Bang":