Hammer’s pix

In any other week, the news of the new local-music MP3 CD would dominate our music coverage. The media blitz for it starts this week, with stories in other newspapers, on the radio and on local TV. We’ll spotlight a few of the 170 local artists from the CD next week. But other commitments made months ago prevent us from doing a big blowout on it this week.

We’re not hatin’ on the CD or the release show this week; we just have no space in which to feature it this week.

That should not diminish from the fact that the show on Friday at Birdy’s to celebrate the MP3 CD is one of the biggest and best all-star shows ever scheduled in this city. Most of my all-time favorite bands will be playing the show, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Here’s the complete lineup:

6:30-6:45 p.m., Sean and Kent (acoustic); 7-7:25, Archer Avenue (indie rock); 7:40-8:05, F-6 (rock); 8:20-8:45, Rev. Peyton (blues); 9-9:25, Wonderdrug (rock); 9:40-10:05, Otis Gibbs Band (folk); 10:20-10:45, Hip-Hop All Star Jam; 11-11:25, Rich Hardesty (rock); 11:40-12:05, The Slurs (punk rock ’n’ roll); 12:20-12:45, Perfect Nothing (hardcore); 1-1:25, About the Fire (punk/hardcore); and 1:40-2:05, Pizzle (punk).

The hip-hop jam will feature Indyviduals and many other acts. This will mark one of Perfect Nothing’s only bar shows in its long career. Pizzle is one of the greatest punk bands ever. This whole show looks to be a wonderful event, one of the greatest shows of the past decade. Be there.

Another show to celebrate the MP3 CD will be held at the Emerson Theater next weekend.

By any measure, it’s an amazing week for live shows. Over at Radio Radio, the British legends New Model Army will perform on Friday. Formed in England in 1980, NMA served as icons and inspirations for an entire generation of punk/folk music. Relentlessly political and full of integrity, they were one of the first British groups to bring Gothic elements into punk.

And that is just the tip of the iceberg as far as shows go. This is the week in which mystery rapper Innate, party monsters Hum-V and the Cleptoz, metalsmiths Opiate and four others compete in the Wednesday Battle of the Bands showcase at the Patio.

Also at the Patio: shows Friday and Saturday from Robert Bradley’s Blackwater Surprise and the Graham Parker & The Twang 3 show Tuesday, April 27. (Greg Foresman will open for Parker.)

Over at Birdy’s, it’s another action-packed week: Mad Poet’s Society, Downfall and Tone Def Systems (Wednesday); Solving For X and The Weedz (Thursday); and a Shotgun Reviews showcase on Saturday featuring Xero Sum, Lunar Event, Dystalis, Chris Haskett, Inkahoots and Stephanie Dosen. It will be hosted by Fox 59’s Catt Sadler.

On Monday, it’ll be British Night at Niswander’s Mystery Monday show at Birdy’s. Tuesday brings the Pat McGee Band to Birdy’s.

Over at the beautiful Melody Inn, Thursday brings The Retreads, Mary Prankster and Pete Cassani. On Friday, it’s The Fuglees, EXO and Phistine Verona. (They’ll play after the 7:30 p.m. Hellbilly Happy Hour show, which is hosted this week by The Tecumseh Flyers.)

And, last but not least, a show at United States of Mind on Thursday is guaranteed to please. The headliner will be internationally renowned cellist Erik Friedlander with special guests Smaze and Sarah Graub. It’s the kind of highbrow-yet-hip show that could be held at Clowes Hall but instead will be in the friendly confines of USOM, 291 W. 40th St.

Thanks.