DC-based skate-punk, synth-pop, instrumental rock trio Trans Am is getting vocal. After the release of 2004’s Liberation (Thrill Jockey), the band surprised reviewers with the album’s political thrust (the cover photo shows them cloaked in orange robes, with hoods a la Abu Graib) and its harsh criticism of the imperialist capital they call home. A group formed in the early 1990s that has maintained its three original members (Phil Manley, Nathan Means, Sebastian Thomson) through six albums, three EPs and tracks for numerous skateboard films, Trans Am remains something of an anomaly with a style that is continually evolving. From the 1970s, classic-rock influence of their early music through comparisons to Kraftwerk, New Order and Thrill Jockey colleagues and frequent touring mates Tortoise, Trans Am has kept fans guessing and has yet to disappoint. The latest release, Sex Change, is due out on February 20 (Fat Tuesday). Sex Change is another departure from the “norm,” if such a term can even be applied here. Recorded in Auckland, NZ, prominent lyrics are featured on nearly every track and all three —Manley, Means and Thomson— are credited with vocals. The one consistent quality is the band’s spunk and originality, which is always in evidence —vocals or not. Area bands Resonator (Plattsburgh, NY) and the Stay Lows open the show

What would happen if MacGyver and a classically trained upright bass player were on acid in a Home Depot? A lot of things could, but perhaps the result would be the creation of a unique instrument capable of producing an array of different rhythms and sounds. And it would also breathe smoke. San Francisco native Mike Silverman (a.k.a. That 1 Guy) may have not been on acid when he invented the “Magic Pipe,” a seven foot tall instrument made from galvanized steel pipe, a single bass string and a snare drum, but he did succeed in mastering his instrument and subsequently has taken the world by storm as That 1 Guy, a one-man concert that you must see to believe. That 1 Guy uses the Magic Pipe to create innovative layers of sound combining everything from classical to metal and whatever’s in between in a mystifying electronic frenzy that is powerful, moving, funny and ultimately incredible. That 1 Guy is the mad scientist of bass, and he proves it each time he and his creation take the stage. He’s also a Righteous Babe recording artist. The local label released his first disc, Songs in the Key of Beotch, in 2004. This cross-country tour coincides with the release of brand new DVD, That 1 Guy, Live in the land of OZ, which will be available at the show.

Ever heard of a guitjo? How about a doumbek? For those of you currently scratching your heads, these two things are in fact musical instruments. These, along with various other familiar and somewhat foreign music makers, are what makes Simple Gifts unique: An ethnic/folk band of three women and twelve instruments who have worked together for over ten years and have produced six albums and a sound to truly call their own. Their latest record, Crossing The Borders: Music of Many Lands, features a wide variety of blended folk music and ranges from Irish jigs to down-home American reels to intense Klezmer freilachs, Gypsy melodies, and Balkan dance tunes. Simple Gifts will be performing at the Historic Riviera Theater this Saturday to help the North Tonawanda History Museum celebrate its focus on the rich ethnic heritage of North Tonawanda. The band is also hosting two workshops: After the evening performance there will be a Q&A session, and before the concert the band will be at Dwyer’s Irish Pub (adjacent to the Riviera) from 1:30-3pm, open to any musicians and music students who want to show off their skills, jam with the band, or learn to play one of several rare instruments. Advance registration is required, so call the NT History Museum at 213-0554. Tickets for the concert are available at the Museum and at the Theater.

For the uninitiated, the sci-fi convention, long the brunt of easy jokes, is a subculture as insular and mysterious as the workings of the Romulan Senate. It is also the proving ground for a distinct musical genre known as Filk. The term is a reference to an early 1950s essay by Lee Jacobs titled “The Influence of Science Fiction on Modern American Filk Music.” The typo stuck, and a movement was born, albeit a slow-moving one. Often characterized by humorous references to sci-fi as well as TV and comic book junk culture, Filk is music by nerds, for nerds. For almost 15 years Buffalo’s Ookla the Mok has been bringing a rock approach to the genre. Now, Market Street Films out of Venice, CA will be in town for five days to chronicle the band’s activities—which will include a show at Mohawk Place. Jim Hanks, brother of famous actor Tom, will also be in town to work on the project. According to band member Adam English, “You’ve never heard of us, but at any Star Trek convention in North America, we’re huge rock stars with groupies and everything.” Highly illogical, indeed.