WEDNESDAY
In a month loaded with tour dates by exciting new female-led rock acts (St. Vincent, Wild Flag, Those Darlins), this Los Angeles-based quartet is the most directly connected to some of the all-time great women in rock. "Only in Dreams," the group's second album for Sub Pop Records, was co-produced by Richard Gottehrer, who also helmed debuts by Blondie and the Go-Go's. You can hear a cocky Debbie Harry snarl and a cool Belinda Carlisle sweetness in Dum Dum leader Dee Dee's vocal style, along with some classic, Shirelles-like girl-group harmonies. You also get a dark, distorted guitar roar and swinging punk beats from the rest of the band. It's one of the year's best rock records, and a good fit with the Turf's old-school cool. San Diego garage-rock duo Crocodiles and quirky indie songstress Colleen Green open.
