Nice package. -- Of Montreal: Someone was talking of this art-rock outfit the other night -- quite controversially, in fact -- and we thought that they were talking about the city in Canada. Because we're old. Of Montreal goes on tonight with Grand Buffet and MGMT at 9 p.m. at Great American Music Hall; $18. (They also perform tomorrow night and on Wednesday; the kids just love them that much, you see.) -- Donuts:......

-- Jonathan Coulton: "Code Monkey" has gained a heavy, cult-of-nerd following. Yay! Join the club tonight at 9 p.m. at Great American Music Hall, 859 O'Farrell; $18. -- The Legend of Billie Jean (1985): And with the power of conviction? There is no sacrifice. The situation? It's a do or die. No one knew that better than Billie Jean Davy. Screens at midnight at the Castro Theatre, Castro and Market Streets; $10. -- Craig......

We'll confess to having never really listened to Wolf Parade; maybe we got them confused with Mice Parade, and we've always though Wolfmother sounded pretty derivative, so they just fell through the cracks for us. But one of the two lead songwriters in Wolf Parade, Dan Boeckner, has a band with his wife Alexei Perry called Handsome Furs which we're really liking. It's a little dark and dire while still being melodic and engaging; we......

In our ongoing effort to bring music to your ears, this week we're giving away two special prize packs from a long-standing Bay area band, The Mother Hips. Formed back in 1991, it's been six years since the band last released a full album. They're back with a new studio record on April 3rd called Kiss the Crystal Flake. Said singer/guitarist Tim Bluhm: "It is very different from anything we recorded in the past.......

Tonight we're wishing a great big Happy 4th Birthday to DJ Ted and his baby BAGeL Radio. The party is at Bottom of the Hill with performances by Birdmonster, Division Day and Two Seconds, and yes there will be cupcakes! The show is 18+ and only $10, but for those of you who aren't in the city tonight you can still listen in to the party performances thanks to the fine folks at Lala.com.......

Win it before you can buy it! We've got a copy of The Long Winters' excellent new Ultimatum EP that comes out October 11th. You can download the title track here and be sure to catch them opening for The Fiery Furnaces at Cafe Du Nord on Saturday. (Contest ends Weds. 10/5.) Tonight at the Rickshaw Stop Casiotone for the Painfully Alone celebrates a CD-single release, and at 12 Galaxies there's a Quintron and......

Our concert picks for the week of 9/1-9/7. Former Bare Jr. frontman Bobby Bare Jr. is helping us start September off right by dishing up his country and blues with dark humor at Bottom of the Hill this Saturday. Enter for your chance to win a Bloodshot Records prize pack including Bobby's From the End of Your Leash CD, plus Bloodshot stickers, temporary tattoos and a convenient bottle opener/keychain. (Our contest-o-tron will pick a winner......