When drummer Dee Pop last stalked the streets of Buffalo, he was studying art at UB, poking around with the early Hallwalls crew, and performing in bands like The Good (with Bernie Kugel and Vincent Gallo) and The Secrets, one of the city’s first punk bands. After re-locating to New York, he gained fame in underground circles for his work with seminal no wave act The Bush Tetras, which, with songs like “Too Many Creeps” and “Can’t Be Funky,” pioneered the marriage of dance rhythms and dissonant rock-guitar copied by recent hipster faves like !!! and LCD Soundsystem. In addition to occasional reunions with The Bush Tetras, Pop today performs in a variety of avant-jazz and mutant rock groups and curates the “Freestyle Jazz/Avant Garde Musics/Deformed Blues” series at CBGB's Lounge. In the spirit of that undertaking, Pop’s new group Radio I-Ching plays Soundlab, with the Buffalo Suicide Prevention Unit, this Friday (Aug. 4), 9pm.

Producing a completely original sound is never an easy task, but for Lazlo Hollyfeld, a quartet spawned from Buffalo’s incredibly diverse music scene, originality is the only way. With its lightly balanced sound that is smart and satisfying yet playfully seductive, this group of pure instrumentalism has garnered quite a fan base over the years. In addition to their two albums, The Universe is Feeding (2004) and The Pacer EP (2005) Lazlo Hollyfeld is currently working on a third, in addition to getting ready to kick-off on a first national tour. On Friday (Aug. 4), Lazlo Hollyfeld will play at Nietzsche’s as a final “good bye,” and to help fund the upcoming tour. The Audience, along with members of Beamer, will open the show starting at 9pm

Michelle Buono has a secret. When not singing and striking electrified chords from her trusted Gibson SG in front of local indie rockers The Missing Planes she dons an alter ego, and creates stripped-down, atmospheric acoustic music. Michelle is otherwise know as Ellen West, and the latter is celebrating the release of an EP of songs titled Waiting To Be Forgotten. The six songs were recorded this past winter with noted Buffalo guitarist/producer Justin Guerin. The clutch of tumultuous tracks, wrought with emotion and confession, is lent further grace by Buono’s strong but tender voice. Ellen West celebrates the release of the EP this Saturday (August 5) with a show at Mohawk Place with special guests, at 10pm.

If you haven’t caught any of the unconventional exhibits and performances that make up the 11-day extravaganza that is this year’s Buffalo Infringement Festival, worry not: This weekend is packed full of infringement! At the Albright-Knox’s Gusto at the Gallery (Aug. 4) there will be at least half a dozen performances (Janet Reed Dancers, pictured, perform at 7pm), Saturday (Aug. 5) holds a full day of shows —at various galleries and out on the streets— and Sunday (Aug. 6) will bring another full day of performances, until, at 8pm at Nietzsches, the excitement and revelry comes to a head with the Infringement Festival Closing Night Party. This event should include many of the stars, movers, and shakers of the festival, out of character (or not), and up close and personal. Get the skinny at www.infringebuffalo.org

Meshing Brian Wilson-styled pop with epic, Floydian themes and soundscapes that recall David Lynch films, Finland’s Husky Rescue creates atmospheric down-tempo pop songs. Reminiscient of such UK acts as The Cardigans, Goldfrapp and Portishead, the group blends strange, hypnotic beats, keyboards, and vocals to create an ethereal sound that alternates between cute and playful to dark and moody. Though their debut release, Country Falls (Minty Fresh) is essentially a compilation of previously recorded EPs and singles, its release —along with a stint at this year’s Lollapolooza— is very likely to open this group up to the US market (finally!). Husky Rescue performs at Mohawk Place on Sunday (Aug. 6) at 9pm. Opening the show are Eleanors (Parasol Records) and Ice Cream Social.

It’s not as if we need to tell you to go to Mohawk Place after Thursday at the Square, but in case you weren’t aware of the club’s status as the premier after-party destination, we’d like to make it clear right now: Next Thursday (Aug.10) at 9pm, following the downtown concert madness, The Subjects will arrive with a collection of great songs and good times. Hailing from some small downstate town called Brooklyn, the four-man band stops by Buffalo as part of a massive east coast tour, featuring its brand of loud rock and heartbreaking lyrics. Since you’ll surely be feeling randy and ready to go after TATS, go to Mohawk, and harass Subjects guitarist Joe Smith, who is a Buffalo expat, and who will probably be surrounded by an army of younger brothers who look just like him. And be sure not miss Knife Crazy, who is also on the bill