Celebrate the 4th with a bang! Viva L’American Death Ray Music, Jessica Ann, Puddin’ Tang, Lover, Hollywood, Cake Shop (152 Ludlow), 10pm, $6: 4th of July with a loud bang. Check out this amazing bill! One of Viva l’American Death Ray Music’s first NYC shows in a couple of years! This legendary Memphis band has been making amazing records for nearly a decade now and, as all are so busy around the world with other projects never get together, rarely make it out on the road. New York is lucky to get two appearances this week by what is still one of the best bands in the world. But don’t take my word for it. The dean of American rock critics, Robert Christgau, describes them as “TIYL Velvets, Television, Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy) — that is, roots music, Lower East Side style.” Rolling Stone editor David Fricke describes them as “sexy rock chic from Memphis with a touch of Let It Bleed-era Rolling Stones and White Light White Heat Velvet Underground.” Check out their latest direction here. Jessica Ann is a new singer-songwriter rapidly distinguishing herself in our community with no lack of flair. Puddin’ Tang, who should need no introduction, is one of NYC’s favorite party bands – chock full o’swampy goodness. Memphis, TN’s Lover! is the Jeff Crook of Reatards/Lost Sounds new project. And openers Hollywood, punk-ass Baltimorons straight out of the garage, will tear it up after the fireworks.

Friday, July 4, Shakin’ All Over Under Sideways Down, Home Sweet Home (131 Chrystie, Lower East Side, Manhattan), 10:30pm, free: New York Night Train Soul Proprietor Mr. Jonathan Toubin has recently been invited to transform Home Sweet Home’s 80s/90s dance night into a rough and ready rock’n’soul get-down. The last couple of months night owls shake and shimmy to 45rpm party favors – obscurities, novelties, and classics – with a pumpin’ heartbeat from the 1950s to the present – soul, garage, girl groups, New Orleans beat, glam, punk, freakbeat, rockabilly, and lots of other supreme jams from across the board that’re played and recorded with both rawness and immediacy for your dancing pleasure. And you never know who’ll show up and pull a guest slot Ian Svenonius (Make-Up, Nation of Ulysses, Weird War), Kid Congo Powers (Gun Club, Cramps, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds), and Josh Styles (Stalkers, Smashed Blocked) have all dropped guest DJ sets in the last few weeks. Now every Friday after 3AM, there’s a happy hour everything in the house is 2-for-1. This party has been THE jam of late and what better way to spend the 4th than going nuts to the best kind of audio of explosives. Come get it while the gettin’s good…