Critical 5 concerts in NYC this week: don a sunnier musical wardrobe, Dec 10-22

This pre-Christmas week we decided to bring you some fresh music with an optimistic side. Forget drowning in that typical wintry mix of mellow and melancholy mourning your life melodies.

This week, it’s about getting out of those cyclical habits and donning a sunnier musical wardrobe.

Deer Tick, 12/19, 9pm at Brooklyn Bowl

Deer Tick, not to be confused with the chameleon-like Deer Hoof or the southern-based shoe gazers Deer Hunter, are a folk inspired indie band that features the old guitarist from Titus Andronicus and are simply perfect to wake you this winter. Always suckers for melody, these guys carry catchy tunes with a lead singer whose voice eerily resembles Kurt Cobain’s. In fact, the band has performed entire sets as Deervana, a Nirvana tribute band. They’re also known for performing diverse covers during live performance -- namely, anything by The Replacements.

King Tuff, Metz, 12/19, 7pm at Music Hall of Williamsburg

If you’re in search of some sunny tunes to get you through this chilled, pre-Christmas week, King Tuff and Metz should be your destination. King Tuff wields a playful punk rock approach to a lighthearted, surf-rocky sound. For instance, a song like “Bad Thing” immediately brings to mind the Violent Femmes “I’m Bad” with its pseudo-dangerous toughness. And don't dismiss the Canadians quite yet because they're bringing us Metz (along with that whole thing of being ahead of us in the, ahem, public health sector). Metz are slowly making a name for themselves for galantly attempting to revive the heavy rocking grunge and noise punk that so many of us fondly crave in our lives. Plus the show is free which always adds an element of brightness to our day. 

Dum Dum Girls, 12/21, 8:30pm at Glasslands

This cute and quirky band gives girl bands a good name. Think modern-era Blondie.  Although singer Dee Dee Penny (what better name could you elicit here) has cited Billie Holiday and Courtney Love as influences. They’re garage band chic, with great cinematic effect onstage, garbed in outfits that befit some Californian film stage. Their dreamy, breathy, seemingly Mazzy Star inspired song “Coming Down” will even be featured in the LA-based Bret Easton Ellis film, The Canyons.

Sufjan Stevens: The Surfjohn Stevens Christmas Sing-A-Long, 12/21 or 12/22, 8pm at Bowery Ballroom

Get in the Christmas spirit already. So maybe the world is going through some monumental weather catastrophe’s and most areas are devoid of snow, that’s no reason not to don a Santa hat and poke fun at traditional Christmas melodies while secretly relishing in spirited festivities. If it’s not Christmas as usual outside, why should you subject yourself to anything else than an unusual Christmas concert. And with songs like “Christmas Unicorn,” really who can resist?

Ice Choir, 12/22, 8pm at Cameo Gallery

Ice Choir is the new project from the talents of Kurt Felman — otherwise known as the drummer of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. The best description is 80’s pop perfection. The music created here is early 80's soft-pop to a tee and seems a great reprieve for anyone with a hankering for dancing themselves clean this weekend.