Yo La Tengo may claim to not be afraid of you and capable of beating your ass, but without that surfboard, it's probably not true.

This week's obvious highlight is Yo La Tengo, who stop by Babylon on Sunday night to promote their recently released (not to mention awesomely-named) album I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass. And if that show isn't your obvious highlight, then you're completely uncool and know nothing about music. Or that's what I hear, anyway.

Also this week, Ladyfest Ottawa celebrates its 5th anniversary with a slate of dandy shows featuring ladies both local and abroad, pun so completely intended. The roster looks pretty great, featuring The Barmitzvah Brothers, Hexes & Ohs, and Les Allumettes, among others. And not only will there be music, but also films and their trademark Not Your Grandma's Craft Sale, which will run for a glorious 2 days this weekend. Take a look at their website for all the details.
Fun fact: The five-year run makes it North America's longest consecutively-running Ladyfest.

Other notables this week include a really really great-looking all-local bill at Zaphod's on Friday, headlined by Jetplanes Of Abraham, as well as a show at that new club Heaven with Israeli techno duo Infected Mushroom. Yes, Israeli techno; and yes, that will likely (but hopefully not?) be the first and last time dial613 writes either of those words.

What shows will you be looking forward to this week?

Mon - 09.25.06
Sarah Hallman* with Gianna Lauren, at The Manx Pub
-->Sarah Hallman - Shovel (website)

Tues - 09.26.06
Magneta Lane, at University of Ottawa

Wed - 09.27.06
Islands with Malajube, Unireverse, at Capital Music Hall
-->Islands - Rough Gem (website, myspace)
-->Malajube - Le Métronome (website, myspace)
Ladyfest, ft. Lesbians On Ecstasy with Nicky Click, Librarian's Touch, MacKenzie MacBride*, at Maverick's

Fri - 09.29.06
Big Jeezus Truck with Lefty McRight & The Boxcar Cadavers, at Barrymore's
Ladyfest, ft. Hexes And Ohs with Sarah Hallman*, Catriona Sturton & The Screaming Elks, and more at Club Saw
Jetplanes Of Abraham* with Soft Disaster*, Relief Maps*, at Zaphod's
Pocket Dwellers, at Maverick's
-->Pocket Dwellers - B-Boys (website, myspace)

Sat - 09.30.06
Ladyfest, ft. Les Allumettes* with Ennuie*, Bleeding Heart*, at End Hits (5PM)
-->Ennuie - Under Wraps (myspace)
Ladyfest, ft. The Barmitzvah Brothers with Kickers, Bad Flirt, Spacecan, Captain Foxy* at Club Saw (8:30PM)
Craig Cardiff with Natalia Zukerman*, at The Black Sheep Inn
The Fully Down* with For The Mathematics*, The Second Glance*, Bill Furious*, at Babylon
King Sunshine, at Maverick's
Memphis with The Thurston Revival, at Zaphod's

Sun - 10.01.06
Infected Mushroom, at Heaven
-->Infected Mushroom - Stretched (website)
Natalie MacMaster, at The Black Sheep Inn (2 sets: 4PM, 830PM)
Yo La Tengo with Why?, at Babylon
-->Yo La Tengo - Mr. Tough (website, myspace)
-->Yo La Tengo - Stay Away From Heaven

* denotes local act