Yura Yura Teikoku and Excepter
Though Yura Yura Teikoku have been around since 1989, the band remains largely unknown outside their native Japan; just a few of the group’s albums are available here, and only as expensive imports. That’s a shame: This trio makes swanky pop music that’s straight ahead in all the right places, with psychedelic undertones. Appearing with them is the spaced-out Brooklyn band Excepter, part of Brooklyn’s art-folk scene (think Black Dice and Animal Collective). Headed by former No-Neck Blues Band member John Fell Ryan, Excepter produces noise that can go from understated to grating in minutes – which is to say there’s no telling what they’ll do. Tonight at Northsix (66 N. 6th Street, Brooklyn, 718-599-5103).

Early Man Death metal is a subtle genre, but I’m pretty sure that Early Man is being ironic. The band does a great job of the metal staples on its debut album, “Closing In” (Matador), but the fey vocals are a giveaway. No real death-metal band would ever have a front man whose voice sounded any less frightening than Lucifer himself. Tonight at Webster Hall (125 E. 11th Street, 212-353-1600).

Dungen Look out, ladies, Swedish psych-rock squeeze Gustav Ejstes is coming to town. The multi-instrumentalist has enjoyed substantial critical acclaim under the name of Dungen. Last year’s “Ta Det Lugnt” (Subliminal Sounds), his third album, did 1970s American psychedelic sound quite well, and its success recently prompted Alstralwerks to make his 2002 album, “Stadsvandringar,” available in America. Saturday and Sunday at Bowery Ballroom (6 Delancey Street, 212-533-2111).

Also recommended: New Pornographers Wednesday and Thursday at Webster Hall (125 E. 11th Street, 212-353-1600); CocoRosie Wednesday at Tonic (107 Norfolk Street, 212-358-7501).