WEDS WEDS. 3/12 Is it more embarrassing to ...

Is it more embarrassing to be a former member of the Shirts, or to be the lame songwriter who could formerly write great albums like Imperial Bedroom? Actually, Arthur LaMonica's looking fairly cool as he struggles along under the name of Rome 56. 1999's Sacred Avenue was a beautiful collection of mature tunes that should've received the same accolades that critics wasted on the last three Elvis Costello albums. There are a lot of new Rome 56 songs that may never even get released, so don't stay home and give When I Was Cruel one more try. Appearing at C-Note, 157 Ave. C (10th St.), 212-677-8142; 8, $5.

One drummer dead. One singer beaten and left for dead. Four record labels. Countless other stories of blood-soaked fun and games. No wonder Unsane threw in the towel after more than a decade of ruling the noise-rock world. As much as we enjoyed Unsane back in the day?they were, without exaggeration, one of our favorites from the early- and mid-90s?as far as we were concerned, they'd gone as far as they could with 1993's Total Destruction. But if the Dead Kennedys can reform without Jello and tour, why be skeptical of this reunion? At least Chris Spencer is still fronting the band. At Northsix with Early Man, Blessing the Hogs and Magus. 66 N. 6th St. (betw. Kent & Wythe Aves.), Williamsburg, 718-599-5103, 8, $10.

THURS. 3/13

What's got one eye, a Star of David and Anton LaVey's home phone number? No, not a grand master of the Masonic lodge. It's Sammy Davis Jr.?the lazy comic's go-to punch line years before Michael Jackson was old enough to be desirable to himself. Starting today, the Museum of Television & Radio presents footage culled from interviews and performances from the height of Sammy's career as Sinatra's punching bag. Sammy in the Sixties runs the course from Sammy as Broadway singer to Sammy as nightclub performer to Sammy the near-has-been willing to jump through humiliating hoops to keep his name on the marquee. Highlights include BBC concert footage and the last episode of Sammy's short-lived tv show. 25 W. 52nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-6800; 2, $10, $8 st./s.c. [repeats Sat., Sun. & Tues., through 4/6].

Self-righteous guilt-complex charities draw our ire, while clever, well-meaning nonprofits get our support without reservation. City Harvest's idea to collect unwanted food from area businesses and distribute it to Manhattan soup kitchens and shelters puts this organization firmly in the latter camp. This week, Federal Express offers a helping hand by hosting drop boxes at FedEx Express sites. Your non-perishable food items will help shore up the city's humanitarian groups against the current and coming budget cuts. See cityharvest.org/food/drives.html for locations.

FRI. 3/14

If you know Scout at all, you may know them as the band on that Arena Rock compilation that sounded like Kay Hanley pretending to be Josie and the Pussycats. You might also know them as the band on that poster in Meadow Soprano's dorm room. Here's what else you should know: This threesome plays harder and faster than the previous two things would suggest, and they even sneer a little. See for yourself tonight when Scout plays Tribeca with Skywriter, Orange Park and the Inevitable Breakups. 16 Warren St. (betw. Church St. and Broadway), 212-766-1070; 8:30 p.m., $10.

The IO's are breaking in a new drummer and writing new material, but this band is still playing sweet, new-wave-tinged music that's part dance-pop and part Smashing Pumpkins. It's comforting winter in New York music, even if the song about that girl in San Diego is a little better than the song about tripping in Washington Square Park. Playing tonight at Luna Lounge, 171 Ludlow St. (betw. Houston and Stanton Sts.), 212-260-2323; 8:30 p.m, free.

We're known to argue that this 1993 comedy is Richard Linklater's best film to date?Waking Life is artsy garbage, while Slacker and SubUrbia's titles are reminiscent of far better films. In addition to several memorable characters and a jaunty little plot, this popular stoner movie contains plenty of great one-liners. Our favorite comes from Matthew McConaughey: "Say man, you got a joint? It'd be a lot cooler if you did." (Actually, that's a lie. Our real favorite is: "The great thing about high school girls is I keep getting older and they stay the same age.") See it tonight and tomorrow at Sunshine Cinema. And don't forget the tagline: "See it with a Bud." 143 E. Houston St. (betw. 1st & 2nd Aves.), 212-358-7709; 12 a.m., $10, $6.50 s.c.

SAT. 3/15

In case you haven't noticed, we're more than just a little tired of the whole rock revival fad, which, for our money, was only good for giving elderly critics the opportunity to relate to youth of today one last time before retirement. We're not saying that old-school rock 'n' roll isn't worth listening to. Tonight, Joe Bendik plays the familiar space at Sidewalk (without the backing of his regular band, the Heathens). If you're not familiar with Bendik, one of the original figures in the antifolk scene, go to mp3.com/joebendik and download a couple songs. But we're saying you ain't gotta bother. With James Levy, Testosterone Kills and Nellie McKay. 94 Ave. A (6th St.), 212-473-7373, 9, free w/2 drink min.

Or, step into a world where rock was never revived 'cause it never died in the first place. The concept of enjoying heavy metal with a smirk never made it to Brooklyn's legendary L'amour, where they continue to rock out with their?well, you know what's hanging out of their leathers. Tonight, take a trip on the N train?shorter than you'd think?and enjoy some decidedly testicular music with Hatebreed, Bulldoze, Wasteform, Just One Chance and 36 Deadly Fists. 1545-63rd St. (betw. 15th & 16th Aves.), Brooklyn, 718-837-9506. doors 7:30, $15.

A book-release party with two keyboards, four turntables and a projector?for a graphic novel with a trailer and a soundtrack? Of course. Kid Koala's mixing multimedia and vinyl at Joe's Pub. The night is designed around his 300-page Nufonia Must Fall, about an unemployed robot who's fallen head-over-treads for an office girl. It's designed to be the "perfect first date," although we couldn't tell you what one would look like. It probably involves intimate tables, candlelight, and some downtempo backup from DJs Jester and P. It probably doesn't involve sitting in Crown Heights with a co-dependent, coke-addicted illustrator's hairless cat perched on your breasts, staring you in the face for three hours. Not that we'd know. Even if you aren't enamored with your companion, you will fall in love with the disarming marsupial scratch artist. 425 Lafayette St. (betw. 4th St. & Astor Pl.), 212-539-8778, 7:30, $15.

SUN. 3/16

The refined Eric Bachmann of Small 23, Archers of Loaf and Barry Black celebrates the recent release?and Merge debut?of Red Devil Dawn. It's his third album under the Crooked Fingers moniker and the best one to date?we think he's been listening to the Boss and Tom Waits. The vocals are on par with his previous efforts, but this time out he trades in some of the drunken gloominess for more moments of joyful bliss. There's even a brass section on "Angelina," which isn't surprising considering he's a sax major at Appalachian State University. With Wounded Knees, at Maxwell's, 1039 Washington St. (11th St.), Hoboken, 201-653-1703; 9, $8.

MON. 3/17

1986: Suburban New Jersey. Four teenage boys decide to skip school and head into the city for St. Patrick's Day. They pile into a hand-me-down Datsun and crawl their way into the West Village. Someone chats up a group of likeminded Queens girls and before long, everyone's getting drunk at Panchito's. Because they're stupid, the boys foot the bill, and within three hours, every dime they made working at their shitty part-time jobs is gone. Not a single titty is touched. That was the first and last time these young men made any plans for St. Patrick's Day in New York City. Why mess with tradition?

Most people have heard about the CBS miniseries based on the first volume of Ian Kershaw's biography of Hitler. That production is currently underway in Eastern Europe and is scheduled for broadcast later this year. What may have slipped past you, though, is Max, that other portrait-of-a-young-tyrant movie. John Cusack plays the titular Jewish art dealer who befriends a young Dolfie and encourages the angry young despot to come to terms with his rage through art and not, say, genocidal rampage. It shows tonight (and Tues-Thurs.) at Makor. 35 W. 67th St. (betw. Columbus Ave. & Central Park W.), 212-601-1000; 7:30 & 9:30, $9.

TUES. 3/18

Fans of Martin Atkins (and industrial hardcore in general) have grown five years older while waiting for the release of the new Pigface album, Easy Listening... (Underground Inc.). We aren't sure how many of those people have since moved on to light jazz or classic country, but those who stuck it out won't be disappointed. The album is full of the trademark skull-crushing, evil-tempered, beat-crazy electronic h.c. Atkins has been producing for over a decade. For each new release Atkins signs on a whole new line up?and among the 20-plus contributing artists on this new album are Penn Jillette, Chris Connelly, Chris Vrenna and Edsel Dope. We can't say for sure who'll be in the touring band, but we can guarantee it'll be nasty?especially considering that they're playing the insanely inappropriate B.B. King's. 237 W. 42nd St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-997-4144. 6, $18 adv./$23.

Contributors: Adam Bulger, Nina Ippolito, Jim Knipfel, Jeff Koyen, Lisa LeeKing, Hana Nakamura, Andy Wang.