Tonight! The Red River vs. Times New Viking vs. Monahans

Times New Viking

*The Red River @ Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center.
Why this band isn't huge yet is beyond me. The Portland-via-Long Beach, California band's album, Little Songs About the Big Picture, is full of small joys: rhythms pitter-pattering like a heartbeat, stately chamber-music arrangements, drive-by synthpop flashes, sincere harmonies. This is a fall album, suitable for playing while you huddle under a blanket for warmth. Fans of Lost in the Trees, Azure Ray and Luna will find much to like.
Time: 8 p.m.
Price: $5
Also on the bill: Dubb Nubb, Nathen Ponzar, Fragile Farm

*Times New Viking @ the Billiken Club.
Columbus, Ohio's lo-fi, font-loving rock band Times New Viking practices shambling, concise garage-pop with the distortion turned up to eleven. The group's latest full-length is 2009's Born Again Revisited.
Time: 9 p.m.
Price: Free
Also on the bill: Flaming Death Trap, Art Majors

Robert Plant, "The Only Sound That Matters":

*Monahans @ Off Broadway
Austin's Monahans evolved out of the band Milton Mapes, who recently earned a huge honor when Robert Plant covered one of its songs on his latest LP, Band of Joy. (Hear "The Only Sound That Matters" above.) Monahans, meanwhile, is releasing a new song a month in 2010; September's effort, "Diamonds," is well worth your click.
Time: 8 p.m.
Price: 21-plus: $10, Under 21: $13
Also on the bill: Magnolia Summer, Doug Burr