Those in New York who like to stay ahead of the curve have a few rock shows to check out this week.

First is a show tonight at the once dreaded Mercury Lounge and a requisite stop for NME-following Anglophiles. First up is Nine Black Alps. Coolfer saw them at the Siren Festival on Saturday (view pics) and was impressed by their post-Grunge racket. Then non-Brits and local boys Sam Champion play. They're the only band on the bill that hasn't won the favor of the British hype machine/press, but they're young and still relatively unknown over there. They always put on a good show. Next up is Hard-Fi, then The Cribs. Download "Baby Don't Sweat" and "Another Number" from The Cribs' website.

On Thursday it's back to the Mercury for Shade, a band from Pittsburgh who is making a bit of noise. Expect to rub elbows with many A&R reps and curious label folks. Shade get the shoegazer tag all the time but they're much more than Slowdive clones -- and much more upbeat. Coolfer caught them at Rothko in early June and thought they were solid. Definitely worth checking out. Pictures at Flickr page. Go ahead and see Shade now before they sign to a label and start playing larger venues. It's gonna happen.