The Best Concerts in St. Louis From November 10 to 16

Press Photo by Josh Sisk

Dope Body plays Plush this Sunday with Roomrunner and more.

Ten days into November, and I haven't seen a single mention (or picture) of "No Shave November." Wonderful -- I'm really glad we, as a culture, were able to resist ingesting the same meme year after year. Really, you could sub the word "shave" for anything else. Let's see you try "No Pants November" in this cold. I have a better idea: Let's go out, every night. Like the cheesy name of this column, I challenge you to not miss a single show on this list. You'll have to show hop on Friday and Saturday, but you'll be able to brag about your worldly, diverse tastes.

Jason Creps

New Pornographers
w/ The Pains of Being Pure At Heart
Monday, November 10
The Pageant
8 p.m. | $25
By Christian Schaeffer
Bandleader A.C. Newman has said that the New Pornographers' latest album Brill Bruisers was his group's attempt at a thoroughly upbeat record -- a seemingly odd claim for one of the modern era's more celebrated power-pop acts. But coming after two mature but occasionally ruminative LPs, the new songs bristle with life. The title track is as relentlessly melodic as any song since "Sing Me Spanish Techno," and the band's reliance on the twin engines of acoustic guitar underpinnings and analog synth set dressing give weight to the usual hooks and pitch-perfect harmonies.

Jon Gitchoff

Natural Child
w/ The Maness Brothers, Shitstorm
Tuesday, November 11
Off Broadway
9 p.m. | $8-$11
By Joseph Hess
This Nashville power trio plays straight-up rock & roll, frills be damned. The band's hometown plays a big part in its sound, which incorporates solid blues with chopped bits of country. But Natural Child rips through with red-hot guitars and a sharp rhythm section, and it doesn't drag on like many of its contemporaries. That brevity sets the band apart and will keep yours ears lusting for more.

Whitney Lee

Peelander-Z
w/ Scene of Irony
Wednesday, November 12
The Firebird
8 p.m. | $12-$14
By Jaime Lees
Peelander-Z is like Gwar on ecstasy. From Japan (via New York City), the members' bright color-block costumes make them look like after-hours Power Rangers. Described as "Japan action comic punk," the band is loved almost exclusively by those intrigued by novelty: comic-book addicts, professional wresting devotees, anime enthusiasts and Juggalos alike. Peelander-Z is a good time wrapped up in a j-punk box. With songs such as "Ninja-High Schooool," "Ice Cream!" and "Pun! Pun! Punkrock!," the band gets audiences bouncing like little kids on a sugar high. Come for the spectacle, stay for the smiles. Check out our four-panel comic about the band.

Caddywhompus
w/ Cold Rooms, Early Worm, Travel Guide
Thursday, November 13
Foam
8 p.m. | $5
By Joseph Hess
New Orleans duo Caddywhompus breaks through the sheen of modern indie rock by deconstructing what would otherwise be perfectly fine pop songs. Vocalist Chris Rehm knows how to command a chorus, belting his voice over busy fret-tapping and triumphant builds. But the band isn't all moonlight and roses -- passages range from sappy to stoner-rock, with drummer Sean Hart providing the pulse. To his credit, he lends a rough edge that would feel right at home in a hardcore band, but here he punctuates pretty riffs with class and darker parts with thrash. Expect shades of '90s emo (the kind we're not embarrassed to say we like) without the drawbacks of, well, whiny white guys.

Follow through for the rest of this week's picks.