THURSDAY, APRIL 5: Part Captain Beefheart, part Glenn Branca, and part something else entirely, the quirky hodgepodge that is the music of Man Man is kooky yet skillfully done, not to mention tremendously creative. It wouldn’t be easy to do what they do so well, penning and playing enjoyable ditties that conjure up images of Tom Waits performing inside Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion with a bunch of homeless people playing instruments fashioned from trash can treasures—very talented homeless people, mind you. And while so many bands with good music neglect to write good lyrics, Man Man defies convention yet again, boasting words that are thoughtful, poetic, and sometimes deeply intimate, if often abstract and surrealistic. Man Man’s live shows have been making quite a splash as well—band members Honus Honus, Chang Wang, Pow Pow, Sergei Sogay and Alejandro Bjorg don’t even so much as pause between songs, building up undeniable energy and momentum. That’s pretty damn impressive, considering the guys are multi-tasking and playing sundry instruments—from accordions to horns to keyboards as well as toys, buckets, and kitchenware. Honestly, I don’t think they even need the white tennis outfits and war paint. (RC)

WITH SIMON DAWES AND THE VENTRILOQUISTS AT THE ROXY, 9009 W. SUNSET BLVD., LOS ANGELES. 9 PM / $10 / 21+. WWW.THEROXYONSUNSET.COM.