Viet Cong

8:30 p.m. • 7th Street Entry • 18-plus • sold out

Calgary's experimental, darkly tinted noise-rock ensemble Viet Cong — made up of former members of the short-lived group Women — channels Joy Division and Can alike on its eponymous debut album, issued to high praise last month from Pitchfork and NPR Music. It could be a fascinating aural experience or pretentious mess in concert. Fellow Canadian Andy Shauf and local whiz kids Hollow Boys open. Chris Riemenschneider

Gang of Four

8 p.m. • Varsity Theater • 18-plus • $25-$39.50

Gang of Four is down to only one original member, but at least it's the one who had the biggest influence: Guitarist Andy Gill inspired many a modern indie-rock act with his Leeds, England-reared band's wiry, choppy post-punk stylings and went on to produce for the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers. With new singer John "Gaoler" Sterry (and the Kills' Allison Mosshart as guest vocalist on record), the remade band did an admirable job re-creating the dissonant groove of its heyday late-'70s material on the new album "What Happens Next." Public Access T.V. opens. C.R.

Swervedriver

9 p.m. • Turf Club • 18-plus • $18-$20

Swervedriver is another in a string of influential late-'80s/early-'90s British shoegazer bands that have joined the reunion fray (see also: My Bloody Valentine, Slowdrive, Ride). The Oxford-bred quartet competed with MBV with its reverberating noise levels but had an elegant side that shines through on its first album in 17 years, "I Wasn't Born to Lose You." St. Louis noisemakers Gateway Drugs open. C.R.