Oct. 16

We always wonder when a band places a city in its moniker when it has nothing to do with that city. We always thought Nashville Pussy hailed from the breadbasket of country music, until we learned the down 'n' dirty band from Georgia nicked it from what Ted Nugent said on a live album. We can't quite explain Toronto's Tokyo Police Club, except to say we like their Strokes-y zip and singer-bassist David Monks' description of the group as playing "wide-eyed post-punk with a tendency to get over excited - so much so that someone has to come and tell us to settle down." And they're just the opener at the Middle East Downstairs Oct. 16. The big hoo-ha band is Art Brut, the British headliner noted for its cheekiness and humor and makes us think of the Clash, the Fall and Pulp. We like that company. Maybe the best of Britain's latest new wave. In the middle, the Spinto Band. Tickets: $12. Starts at 9 p.m.

472 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-864-3278 mideastclub.com