1. 1. Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra

   April 22 at Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette St., between 4th St. and Astor Pl.; 212-539-8777

   The venue-packing eighteen-piece ensemble (with horn and rhythm sections as well as vocals) performs jazzy reworkings of songs from the entire catalog of the Icelandic pop star.

2. 2. Nouvelle Vague

   April 21 at Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Pl., at 15th St.; 212-777-6800

   The name's French for new wave and Portuguese for bossa nova, which perfectly explicates this French band's mission: Its members perform favorites by New Order, Joy Division, and the like-as Brazilian bossa nova covers.

Related:

• Articles by Sara Cardace
• Table of Contents: April 24, 2006 issue of New York | Subscribe!