Let’s imagine, for a second, that you’re not particularly excited about TV on the Radio coming to town. “Sure,” you say. “Return to Cookie Mountain was a near-perfect album, but Dear Science was only quite good, and besides, weren’t they just here a few months back?” If that is, in fact, your reaction, you’re clearly forgetting that The Dirty Projectors will be opening for their fellow Brooklynites at MacEwan Hall this Thursday, May 28. After all, if both David Byrne and Bjork have seen fit to give the Projectors their stamp of approval, collaborating with them and joining them in concert, that seems like a solid enough reason to get excited.

Calgary’s The Lions will be unleashing their second LP, Live Love Laugh, this week. One of the city’s most under-sung acts, The Lions have been stalking Calgary’s clubs for almost half a decade, and their new songs certainly reflect that experience — they’re dark and atmospheric, and a natural expansion of the band’s Brit-pop leanings. Check out the latest step in their evolution at their CD release Friday, May 29 at Tropicana.

Canadian-cum-Berliner electro sensation Peaches is bringing her over-the-top raunch to MacEwan Hall on Saturday, May 30. Her newest album has a few assists from dancefloor pros like Soulwax and Yo Majesty, so expect a bit less in-your-face sexuality and more deep-down grooves, but even still, no one puts on a show quite like Peaches.

Toronto’s Crystal Castles also have a rowdy reputation as a live band, but Calgary crowds missed out on their chance to take it in, thanks to vocalist Alice Glass’s stage-diving accident last year. Well, Tuesday, June 2 will be your chance to make up for that minor tragedy, as the two-piece will be freaking out crowds at the Warehouse. Let’s just hope they avoid the epilepsy-inducing strobe lights that plagued drummer and DJ Ethan Kath’s placeholder set last year.

Lastly, anyone itching to hear from Canada’s most melancholy rockers should head to The Grand on Tuesday, when The Dears share a stage with Black Diamond Bay and Jets Overhead. Make sure to practise your stone-faced stares first, though.