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Many a second or third pitcher of beer has been spilled over the question: Who is the best rock band ever? I have heard compelling arguments for The Ramones and Fugazi, and have made them for The Fall and Richard Hell and The Voidoids, but no one has quite gone to the lengths to defend their case as Joe Bonomo did in his recent exhaustive book, Sweat: The Story of the Fleshtones, America's Garage Band. In it, Bonomo follows lead Fleshtone Peter Zaremba from his first guitar purchase through 30 years of some of the finest teenage rebellion rock you've probably never heard. You will get your chance to fix that this Wednesday night when they play with the Junior League at the Spanish Moon (early show, doors open at 9 p.m.).

Also on Wednesday, the LSU School of Music and the Lab for Creative Arts and Technology will be showcasing their 27-channel ICAST system in Cinema for the Ears, a concert of cutting-edge electronic compositions at the Manship Theatre (8 p.m.), including the premier of LSU composer David Beck's "A Little Light Sabre Rattling," a piece for Wii controller and computer. These laidback concerts in the past have offered everything from the playful to the challenging, demonstrating dynamic sound at its most creative.

New Orleans jazz and funk legend Kermit Ruffins is swinging into Chelsea's this Friday for a rare Baton Rouge appearance. In 1983, Ruffins co-founded the Rebirth Brass Band, and his weekly gig with the Barbeque Swingers at Vaughn's in the Bywater has been an integral part of New Orleans' musical fabric for more than 15 years. No word on whether Kermit will bring his apron and tongs to Chelsea's -- he's famous for cooking at his shows -- but the groove will be thick and juicy regardless.

Wednesday, March 26

Cinema for the Ears at the Manship Theatre

The Fleshtones and the Junior League at Spanish Moon

Mike Foster Project at Chelsea's

Thursday, March 27

Flatbed Honeymoon and The Casuals at Chelsea's

Light Up District, RCR and Paper Plains at North Gate Tavern

Pat Green at the Varsity Theatre

Southdown and Jen's Ex at Boudreaux and Thibodeaux's

Friday, March 28

Secret Annexe, Vermillion Lies and Antenna Inn at Spanish Moon

Good Enough for Good Times at Chelsea's

The Stellaphonics, The Tellers and Among Criminals at North Gate Tavern

Withered, Amongst the Dead, Imbroglio and Further Reasoning at The Darkroom

The Molly Ringwalds at the Varsity Theatre

Bayou Hot Shots and Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys at Boudreaux and Thibodeaux's

Josh Garett & The Bottom Line at Phil Brady's

Big Al at Teddy's Juke Joint

Saturday, March 29

Kermit Ruffins at Chelsea's

Revibe at North Gate Tavern

Painting the Seconds, Clayton's Pond, From Here to Mars, Accora and the Worst That Could Happen at The Darkroom

The Fourth at The Caterie

Big Nathan & The Zydeco Big Timers at Boudreaux and Thibodeaux's

Slightly Off at Phil Brady's

Josh Garrett at Teddy's Juke Joint

Monday, March 31

Liferuiner, A Well-Thought Tragedy and Wake into the Nightmare at The Darkroom

Tuesday, April 1

Bitch at Spanish Moon