Two bands with funny names that start with T, both playing at venues booked by Transmission Entertainment? Who else smells a conspiracy here? At Mohawk, the up-and-coming quintet of New Jersey hellions in Titus Andronicus bring their much-heralded set of raucous anthems to the indoor stage. Titus have drawn comparisons to both the Velvet Underground and the E Street Band, so expect art-school angst and blue-collar catharsis in generous supply. Beforehand, local heroes The Midgetmen stir up punk, indie, and psychedelia into their own slurry brand of "slop-rock." ...

Ringo Deathstarr auteur Elliott Frazier has had a banner year: having soldiered on through countless lineup changes, the band managed to release the best shoegaze record of the year (well, EP), earned a coveted slot among The Onion AV Club's Worst Band Names of the Year (scroll down a page or so), and head out for an east coast tour in February (nothing to put in parentheses here)! You can wish them well tonight at Emo's where they'll play with their pals in La Snacks, plus Haunting Oboe Music and Fever Dreams. Also, Merry Christmas!...