Weekend show picks -- count 'em, 3

The club: Ciao, 7111 S. Virginia St., 851-9463
Who's playing: Apollo Sunshine and Benevento/Russo. Boston's Apollo Sunshine (pictured) lands squarely between the quirk-rock of Flaming Lips and the sugary pop of Fountains of Wayne. Whatever the formula, the band has found a sweet spot, as it's gathered mountains of acclaim from the music press in the past year. They’ll play with Benevento/Russo, a New York duo consisting of just drums and keyboards. Earlier this summer, the duo rounded out Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon’s (of Phish) new band. The show is at 9 p.m. Sept. 4. Cost is $15. The two bands also play Sept. 6 at the Crystal Bay Club Casino. That show costs $10 in advance or $12 at the door.
What’s flowing: Mojitos, pomegranate martinis, more than 30 wines by the glass and tap beers like Blue Moon, Stella Artois and Fat Tire.
Also this week: Tony Cataldo Trio on Sept. 7.

Bonus picks: A coupla other free shows this weekend will be worth your time, and the money you save on the show can be spent on some lip-smacking ribs. The English Beat (with singer Dave Wakeling) plays Saturday at 7 p.m. on Victorian Square. The band played here last summer when the Golden Phoenix still had a pulse and was doing a bunch of '80s shows (I caught Flock of Seagulls). The English Beat was/is a British ska band from the early 1980s, whose best-known song is probably "Save it for Later." The band is also known for splintering into the bands General Public and Fine Young Cannibals as the '80s pushed on.

On Sunday, singer-songwriter Susan Tedeschi plays. I don't know a whole lot about her (and sorry, I don't feel like going to research her right now), but she does get a fair amount of play on radio station The X. I'll be at this one at the request of my wife, who has a decent enough taste in music for me to trust her. That show's also at 7 p.m.