Friday

Melvins and Isis at Webster Hall
It’s the end of the road for Isis (pictured), one of the most influential metal acts of the past decade. Catch its last Manhattan show tonight or its NYC farewell tomorrow at Music Hall of Williamsburg, each also featuring the mighty Melvins.

Danzig at Nokia Theatre Times Square
Scoff if you want, but there’s no denying the power of Glenn Danzig’s potent pen and brooding pipes. Catch our Q&A with the punk-metal icon here.

Eddy Current Suppression Ring and Pissed Jeans at Cake Shop
Aussie garage-punk upstarts share a raging bill with one of our regular favorite noise-metal combos. You can also catch them Saturday night at Death by Audio.

JG Thirwell’s Steroid Maximus and Dr. Lonnie Smith at Prospect Park Bandshell
One of the summer’s oddest and coolest bills pairs up industrial-music veteran JG Thirlwell (Foetus, Wiseblood, Stinkfist, Manorexia) and his wild big band with eternally hip organ grinder Dr. Lonnie Smith.

Anthony Braxton at (Le) Poisson Rouge
An avant-jazz lion rounds up a starry constellation of friends, followers and students for a 65th-birthday fund-raiser. (Take it from us, something unforgettable is going to occur.) Round two, tomorrow night at the Issue Project Room, includes excerpts from Braxton’s new opera; see our preview here.

See all recommended shows for Friday here.

Saturday

The Morning Benders and Freelance Whales at the Beach at Governors Island
West Coast pop group the Morning Benders and fast-rising Queens combo Freelance Whales in a free outdoor show on a beach? Sounds like a shore bet to us. (We apologize.)

The New Pornographers, the Dodos and the Dutchess and the Duke at Terminal 5
Carl Newman and his much-loved Canadian cadre hit the West Side; be prompt, as both supporting acts are well worth catching.

Karen Elson at the Studio at Webster Hall
You’ll get another chance tomorrow night to hear why this flame-tressed singer amounts to much more than just Mrs. Jack White, but it won’t be as intimate as this show.

Hanne Hukkelberg at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater
This Norwegian performer has a knack for turning found sounds into compelling electronic pop.

Bitches Brew Revisited at Prospect Park Bandshell
This celebration of Miles Davis’s fusion shot heard round the world features cornetist Graham Haynes, guitarist James Blood Ulmer, drummer Cindy Blackman and other heavy hitters.

See all recommended shows for Saturday here.

Sunday

Band of Horses, Grizzly Bear and Karen Elson at the Williamsburg Waterfront
Karen Elson again, like we promised, this time opening for two of indie-rock’s biggest acts in a bill presented by our friends at 101.9 RXP. Catch our review of the latest Band of Horses record here.

Salif Keita, Tabou Combo and LoJo at Central Park SummerStage
The great Malian singer Salif Keita makes a rare local appearance atop a genuinely exciting, globe-spanning bill.

Jeffrey Lewis at Highline Ballroom
This singer-songwriter’s knack for clever, poignant tunes has made him one of New York’s semihidden treasures.

Pupy y Los Que Son Son at S.O.B.’s
Forget about reality TV: This return engagement with one of Cuba’s hottest salsa and timba groups is far more likely to make you dance your ass off.

Myra Melford’s Be Bread at (Le) Poisson Rouge
Bluesy brawn and contemplative poise mingle on jazz pianist Myra Melford’s latest CD, The Whole Tree Gone, the cause for tonight’s celebratory show.

See all recommended shows for Sunday here.