Antony

Antony (of Antony and the Johnsons) has a real one of a kind type of voice. It just so happens that it sounds like several other one of a kind voices, especially Bryan Ferry. No matter: his set at the Park West was really sweet, and his stage presence (or lackthereof) actually quite endearing. One moment his voice is soaring high in that wobbly falsetto. The next he's making small talk in his modest, just another guy speaking voice. His current songs are a little limited/limiting, but expect better things from him in the future.

CocoRosie opened up, and they may indeed be the most annoying band in history, like a half-baked Bjork with a b-boy fetish.

Tonight, amazingly, I get to see Pearl Jam and Robert Plant play a Katrina benefit. I've really come to respect the former for many reasons - as performers, as activists, as fan-centered. I don't really know the last time I put on one of their records, but I don't complain when I hear them on the radio. Plus, their decision to release every single live show is just super cool. I loved that period when the Pearl Jam section in the stores was something like 300 CDs deep. Take that, Mark E. Smith!

Robert Plant's new solo album "Mighty Rearranger" is actually quite good, and I've never seen him live. No doubt he will get the Led out, too. Interesting thing about Robert Plant is that like Bowie and Springsteen he's one of the few rock stars who really keeps his ear to the ground, seeing shows and buying new records. He's a fan, first and foremost.