Pezzettino made instant fans of us when we first heard her debut a few years ago and she honored us by gracing our third "OMCD" compilation of local music with a track from the then-forthcoming "Lion" disc.

She stayed on our radar by bringing baked goodies and by blogging for us from the road. And, of course, by continuing to make some of the freshest, most vibrant music to emerge from Milwaukee in recent years.

When Pezzettino -- aka Margaret Stutt -- recorded her latest, "Lub Dub," with LMNTylst, and promptly split for Brooklyn, we were eager to hear this potentially winning collaboration.

She sent a preview and we were instantly won over by the girl group shoo bops on "Replay," the Slits / Tom Tom Club-esque "Cold Chick," the spacey "Intermezzo I" and "II," the reggae of the title track and the acoustic piano- and guitar-driven slo-jam that is "For You and Your Headaches."

I even happily ponied up a very token sum via Kickstarter to help get the record made.

Now that it's ready, you should go to the release party with Mondo Lucha at Turner Hall on Saturday, Sept. 11. You, too, will be smitten by the fun, smart, sassy, musical journey that is "Lub Dub."

Oh, did I mention that OnMilwaukee.com's Jason McDowell designed the sweeeet "Lub Dub" sleeve?

Showtime is 8 p.m. and tickets are $18.

Also in town this week are Crowded House and Lawrence Arabia, who share The Pabst Theater stage on Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m.

Lawrence Arabia's debut, "Chant Darling" -- on Bella Union (the label that is home to Milwaukee's Stephanie Dosen and Heidi Spencer) -- is packed with lush harmonies, great melodies and the irreverent lyrics of New Zealand's James Milne.

Milne is a long-time friend and collaborator of Liam Finn, son of Crowded House's Neil Finn.

The Finns have a new disc out, too. "Intriguer" is as satisfying a record as fans of Crowded House have come to expect.

"'Intriguer' is exotic in parts, traditional in origin," says Neil Finn. "Through many a twist and turn we fashioned some drama and intrigue. You will find some threads that go back through all that history and some new discoveries as well that will need to be followed up. "

Tickets are $45.

The Big Mouth Bard of Barking (England), Billy Bragg, returns to Milwaukee, 25 years after making his debut here at The Landing with the city's own The Blowtorch, a band you likely don't remember, but one that had the temerity to perform a cover of a then-unreleased Bragg tune in its set that night.

Expect nothing of the kind Thursday, Sept. 9 when Bragg plays at 8 p.m. at Turner Hall.

Australia's Darren Hanlon opens the show. Hanlon releases his Yep Roc disc, "I Will Love You At All," later this month.

Although he doesn't have a new record out, Bragg has been busy with his Jail Guitar Doors program that provides musical instruments to prison inmates. He also performed a half-dozen songs in the play, "Pressure Drop," this year in Britain.

Tickets for the show are $20.