Still coming down from the FEVER which swept me last night at the Mercury Lounge. Expect a review soon, but until then, we've still got some good shows going down tonight around the City. Check the recommendations here and don't forget to check "My Events Calendar" in the links.

Viv, The Cush, The Strines play the Mercury Lounge (217 E. Houston at Ave. A) with Country Club and the Porn Horns beginning at 7.  $8 will get you in and chances are you won't want to leave once the three headliners take the stage. Viv have a great unabashed poppiness about them which refreshes the ear. Plus, with lyrics like, "I've got good friends/That keep me alive/When I'm feeling dead", you're getting your nightly depression-fix as well, though albeit in a cleverly disguised package. The Cush are equally talented, picking up where Beck left off on his "Sea Changes".  Their website alone is worth the look, the artwork is beautifully done (www.thecush.com). Finally we've got The Strines, a heavier-set band than the other two music-wise but nonetheless interesting; their vocalist reminds me of an early-Garbage Shirley Manson. As for Country Club and the Porn Horns...well, great name. Take a listen before you brave the cold:

Viv: "Friends" http://www.vivtheband.com/music/mp3/viv_friends.mp3

The Cush: "Hollow" http://www.thecush.com/hollow.wav

The Strines: "Liar" http://www.thestrines.com/mp3/Liar.mp3

Rock Photo O'Day:

Henry Diltz's 1968 photograph of Steppenwolf.

Money don't buy everything it's true/But what it don't buy I can't use-S.