By Joe Heim
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 20, 2002 | |  The Strokes will be at Constitution Hall Tuesday, Nov. 26. (Colin Lane) | For the past four decades, Caetano Veloso has been a fixture of the Brazilian pop music world. His contributions as a singer and songwriter have had such an impact on the culture that he has often been called the "Bob Dylan of Brazil." Veloso brings the sounds of tropicalismo -- a mixture of jazz, bossa nova, folk and rock -- to the Lisner Auditorium Wednesday, Nov. 20. Appearing on each other's albums for years, Buddy and Julie Miller put out their first album together just last year. The "first couple" of Americana play rough-edged country music that is well-suited to their gritty vocal interplay. Catch them during their two-night stand at the Birchmere Thursday and Friday, Nov. 21 and 22. Neo-soul crooner Bilal will be at D.C. Tunnel Friday, Nov. 22. There are a number of great songs on his fine debut CD, "1st Born Second," but the hip-hoperetta "Sally" might be the best of the bunch. If he plays that, you'll have gotten your money's worth. Unlike Caetano Veloso, Bob Dylan will never be introduced with the words, "he's the Bob Dylan of..." Dylan, of course, has set the standard by which all others are judged. It is not an exaggeration to say that his songs are among the most influential and important art of any kind that has been created in the past century. Almost incessantly on tour, his regular shows may not seem rare occurrences; but one never knows when he'll decide to stop touring, so go see him while you can. Dylan plays the Patriot Center Friday, Nov. 22. As far as indie-rockers go, few have been as influential as Frank Black. His band the Pixies was required listening for almost any college kid who wanted to be in a band that played more than cover songs. A prodigious songwriter who has released nine albums in 10 years, he brings his current band, the Catholics, to the Black Cat for shows Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22 and 23. Ralph Stanley is the real deal, a living bluegrass legend whose roots in southwest Virginia provide a direct link to the music's beginning. Stanley doesn't do as much playing or singing as he used to do in concert; but he leads his band through a bluegrass history lesson at the Birchmere Saturday, Nov. 23. Stanley's shows should probably be treated just like Dylan shows: not to be missed. With that shaved head and goatee thing he has going, Peter Gabriel looks more like a monk than a rocker these days. That won't stop him from bringing his big, lush rock-cum-world-music sound to the MCI Center Sunday, Nov. 24. Gabriel is on tour promoting "Up" his first new studio album since "Us" in 1992 (if you don't count this year's soundtrack to the movie "Rabbit-Proof Fence"). If you like your cellos by the threes, make sure to see Rasputina at Iota Sunday, Nov. 24. The trio combines classical music with goth rock for the oddest of musical experiments that somehow still works. Well, if you like that kind of thing. With its mesmerizing synthesized blips, old soul samples and icy clear vocals, Saint Etienne makes ethereal indie-dance music that can speak even to dance fans. The British trio is at the 9:30 Sunday, Nov. 24, for a late show. Doors open at 10:30. It's an out-of-town show, but whenever the revolutionary New York art rockers Sonic Youth play in the area, the show deserves a mention. Catch the band at the Recher Theatre in Baltimore Sunday, Nov. 24. In the minds of early '90s rock fans, Eyes Adrift is probably something close to a supergroup. Comprised of Nirvana's Krist Novoselic, Sublime's Bud Gaugh and the Meat Puppets' Curt Kirkwood, the trio released its self-titled debut in September. Eyes Adrift performs at the Black Cat Monday, Nov. 25. Ah, the Strokes. What to make of 'em? Rock's saviors? Probably not, but at least they've made old-time garage rock popular again, opening the doors for a few other, probably more deserving bands -- like the White Stripes and even the Hives -- to slip in and get some well-deserved publicity. Catch the Strokes at Constitution Hall Tuesday, Nov. 26. RECENT STORIES & REVIEWS FROM THE POST David Segal took a listen to Missy Elliott's new CD, "Under Construction," and writes, "Given her status as the saucy den mother of hip-hop's power vixens, Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott sure has some old-fashioned ideas about dealing with men. Reviewer Fernando Gonzalez says that Panamanian musician and songwriter Ruben Blades "goes for nothing less than creating a Latin-based universal pop music" on his latest album, "Mundo." And in the latest Quick Spin, read reviews of new albums from Pearl Jam and Pretenders. READER RECOMMENDATION If you have a favorite group that you want to tell readers about, e-mail a sentence or two description, as well as the date, time, location and price for an upcoming show. I'll pick one reader recommendation a week and post it here. MUSIC VENUES | 
