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Remember how when you were in high school, every alternative kid in band class formed a ska band that used the genre name in the title? SKAGINA? Check! SKAFARI? You betcha! Strangely, it's a bunch of Germans who have come up with something that should be totally obvious to the locals: MOSKOVSKAYA (February 3, Tabula Rasa, 19:00). Just thinking about this makes me want to vomit.

In fact, if you're really looking for something to do, some way to get the aggression of Moscow's gray winter out of your system, check out UK metalcore act BRING ME THE HORIZON (February 3, Tochka, 19:00). Aggressive, loud, and demanding their fans mosh hard – nothing like beating up a couple teenagers to forget your problems.

Sadly, one of the things that Hurricane Katrina didn't wipe off the face of New Orleans was the jazz-rock fusion band GALACTIC (February 7, B1 Maximum, 20:00). Maybe someone here can sort things out for them.

Every year all of Moscow's stoners get together to celebrate Bob Marley's birthday at one of a variety of dreadlock-friendly events in town. This year the top one features British dub act VIBRONICS (February 8, Tochka, 19:00) along with lots of Russian acts. Sadly, this will probably not be a good place to score herb, although you can probably make some good contacts.

On the off chance you're looking for some nice traditional ska, Spaniards THE PEPPER POTS (February 9, Plan B, 19:00) are in the business of providing. Since forming in 2004, the band has shared a stage with such reggae and ska greats as LAUREL AITKEN, DERRICK MORGAN and the NEW YORK SKA JAZZ ENSEMBLE. Locals KINGS TOWN SOUL open.

TOP PICKS

MATT DIDEMUS (JUNIOR BOYS)

Ikra is still making a big deal about inviting Canadians to play at their club, and rumor has it that will result in BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE playing later this spring. In the meantime, we get a DJ set from MATT DIDEMUS, one-half of the hip Ontario electropop duo JUNIOR BOYS. The Boys drew influence from synth pop, minimal techno and UK garage, and are mentioned in the same breath as other hipster faves like HOT CHIP, LCD SOUNDSYSTEM and THE KNIFE. While the band isn't making an appearance, Didemus' DJ set will just have to tide over the fans for now.

BOSCH S TOBOI

I'll be celebrating Bob Marley's birthday by heading out to the middle of nowhere to catch ambient post-rockers BOSCH S TOBOI. Accompanying them will be locals VOLENS NOLENS and SVET POD VODOI, which ensures it will be a night of long, meandering songs that try to suck you in to their atmosphere. In other words, a good reason to show up stoned. Plus, this gig has the added advantage that you can probably smoke up at the show.

GARAGE DAY PARTY

Anyone hankerin' for a trashy rock'n'roll piss up would do well to check out the GARAGE DAY party. Featuring local garage and trash rockers such as THE CAVESTOMPERS, THUNDERBIRDS and GULAG TUNES, this should be hours of beer-soaked fun. Plus, you can stick around to dance from a DJ we can actually enjoy: DJ SPY FROM MOSCOW, who spins garage rock from the sixties and shit.

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