In 2008, lo-fi US guitar music has been a strong contender for scene of the year: heavily distorted and thrillingly primitive, it's done a great job of cornering the market in self-effacingly cool rock. Alongside stalwarts like Times New Viking and Sic Alps, comparative newcomers Vivian Girls have managed to carve a unique niche. Best heard on tracks like their great Tell The World, the band sound like a 1960s garage band forced to play hymns. Inevitably, they're from Brooklyn. Interestingly, though, they sound out of place and time.
• Captain's Rest, Glasgow, Sat 6; Cockpit, Leeds, Sun 7; Kasbah, Coventry, Mon 8; Madame Jo Jo's, W1, Tue 9; Deaf Institute, Manchester, Wed 10; The Freebutt, Brighton, Thu 11; The Macbeth, N1, Fri 12
