Recommended music: Invincible at Red 7, The Hex Dispensers, The Cult, Heart Beats Benefit, Charles Thibodeaux and the Austin Cajun Aces, Pompeii, Benefit for Todd V. Wolfson

THURSDAY

Invincible at Red 7. This Israeli-born, Detroit-raised M.C. blew minds at South by Southwest with her complicated rhymes, bars and verses overstuffed with images and similes and political fire. AustinSurreal.com (aka hip-hop blogger, promoter and SXSW booker Matt Sonzala) organized this killer bill with sets from Austin's new hip-hop supergroup League of Extraordinary G'z (Da COD, Dred Skott and Lowkey of Southbound), Houston rapper Perseph One and Austin acts Blacklisted Individuals, Crew 54 and DJ Crop Diggie. 9 p.m. $7. 611 E. Seventh St. 476-8100.

Also recommended: The Beach Boys at Carlos' N Charlie's Bar & Grill; Forever Changes at the Mohawk; the Box Elders at Beerland; Two Hoots & a Holler at Trophy's; Invincible Czars at Flamingo Cantina; Radney Foster at Shady Grove.

FRIDAY

The Hex Dispensers at Emo's. The best garage band in Austin? Sure, but why stop there? This crew is one of Austin's best rock bands period, a three-chord Godzilla headed up by garage punk vet Alex Cuervo. Their new album, 'Winchester Mystery House,' is an improvement over their already rock-solid debut. With Scrabble Robot, the Open Casket, Cassingles and the Extravaganza. 10 p.m. $5 for 21 and older, $8 for younger than 21 (a bargain either way, frankly). 603 Red River St. 505-8541. www.emosaustin.com.

Also recommended: The Gourds at Threadgill's World Headquarters; Cross Canadian Ragweed at Stubb's; Archie Bell at the Continental Club; Paolo Nutini at Waterloo Records (5 p.m., free), later at La Zona Rosa; Brothers and Sisters at the Scoot Inn; Maneja Beto at the Mohawk; Excited States at Club de Ville; Rebelution at Antone's; Cruiserweight at the Red Eyed Fly.

SATURDAY

The Cult at Stubb's. These Brits drifted from full-on Goth B-listers to pre-Nirvana alternative rock titans, and their 1985 album 'Love' split the difference between the Cure and arena rock pomp. They're playing the album front to back at this gig, which means you will absolutely hear 'She Sells Sanctuary,' 'Phoenix' and 'Brother Wolf, Sister Moon.' Door at 7 p.m. Show at 8 p.m. $25 to $28. 801 Red River St. 480-8341. stubbsaustin.com.

Also recommended: Bruce Robison at Broken Spoke; the Crack Pipes at Emo's; Back II School fest at Emo's (early show, 5 p.m.); Freddie Mercury's birthday with Magnifico at the Mohawk; Dale Watson and his Lone Stars, Buzz Cason at the Continental Club.

SUNDAY

Heart Beats Benefit at Mohawk. With health care at the center of a national debate, this seems a depressingly timely benefit. Featuring the weirdo pop of Pataphysics, Over The Hill's roots rock, Follow that Bird's guitar clang, the noisy chaos of Coma in Algiers and much more. 912 Red River St. 413-743-8127. 6 p.m. $7. mohawkaustin.com.

Also recommended: Black Panda at Beerland; Jesse & the Hogg Brothers at Headhunter's.

MONDAY

Charles Thibodeaux and the Austin Cajun Aces at the Evangeline Cafe. One of the most sure-fire residencies in Austin. Thibodeaux was born in Beaumont but his parents were from Church Point, La., and Thibodeaux delivers a heady mix of traditional Cajun with juiced-up Zydeco. 6:30 p.m. Free, but a classy person would tip. 8106 Brodie Lane. 282-2586. www.evangelinecafe.com.

Also recommended: Bereft of Reason at the Red Eyed Fly; Wynn Taylor at Headhunters.

TUESDAY

Pompeii at Emo's. Indie rock in the school of Death Cab for Cutie/ Built to Spill guitar-spirals-plus-earnest-singer epics, this Austin band seems but one good soundtrack placement away from being actually kind of famous. With headliners the Honorary Title, Cory Branan and Good Old War. 9 p.m. $13 advance, $15 door. 603 Red River St. 505-8541. www.emosaustin.com.

Also recommended: James Hand at Waterloo Records (5 p.m. free in-store).

WEDNESDAY

Benefit for Todd V. Wolfson at Antone's. The award-winning Austin photographer was in a nearly career-ending (heck, nearly life-ending) bicycle wreck in July. This is a benefit to help defray the staggering cost of his medical bills. This is a pretty amazing lineup: Alejandro Escovdeo, Triple Cobra, Paula Nelson, Ian McLagan and the Bump Band and Skyrocket. 6 p.m. $20. 213 W. Fifth St. 320-8424. www.antones.net.

Also recommended: The Band of Heathens at Waterloo Records; the Dandy Warhols at Emo's; O Pioneers! at Beerland; By Any Means Necessary at the Red Eyed Fly.

— Joe Gross