Lovin’ and Listenin’

Thursday, June 1
Boy Least Likely To, The Bicycles, Village Green
Doug Fir, 9 p.m., $10 adv., $11 DOS, 21+

The Boy Least Likely To take their name from the Morrissey song “The Girl Least Likely To,” so you’d imagine their songs would be full of Moz-worthy wit. But you’d be wrong. The band is fey and almost infantile, writing songs with titles like “Be Gentle With Me” and “Apple Wagon.”

It’s sad that this is what indie pop has become: two adult men from Britain singing like they’re still in elementary school.

Saturday, June 3
Eels, Smoosh
Roseland Theater, 9 p.m., $17.50 adv., $20 DOS, all ages

The last time Eels came to town they played with a string orchestra, but apparently it didn’t go too well since ads bill this tour as “No Strings Attached.” I’m sure that Mark Everett will have a backing band, but his last album, Blinking Lights and Other Revelations, was so string-heavy that stripped-down arrangements just might not do the job.

Sunday, June 4
Alias and Tarsier, E*Rock, Asphalt Thieves, Tantdrum
Berbati’s Pan, 9:30 p.m., $8 adv., $9 DOS, 21+

The Anticon crew, a loose collective of MCs, musicians and DJs, is finally going pop. After years of making boring abstract rap songs and “ambient” experiments that sound like broken lawnmowers, the crew is hooking up with electronic artists like The Notwist and making kickass electronic pop songs with sing-song rapping that’s not nearly as annoying as you’d imagine it to be.

Monday, June 5
INXS, Scott Stapp
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 8 p.m., $44.25-66.25, all ages

This is a train wreck of a show. INXS is fronted by whatever guy won on that reality show that no one watched, which means you get to hear all your favorite INXS songs (do you have any favorite INXS songs?) sung way, way over the top. Scott Stapp’s been sued for being too drunk to perform and is currently embroiled in a sex scandal involving some strippers and Kid Rock, so I can’t imagine he’s touring for the fun of it.