Pick of the Day, September 13

There is absolutely nothing in the previous-band resumes of Dave Catching (ex-Ringling Sisters), Fred Drake (House of Love) and Pete Stahl (Scream, Wool, Goatsnake) that foreshadows the creepy space-rock hums of Earthlings?, the trio’s new project. Recorded in Joshua Tree with guest-star contributions from Scott Reeder (Kyuss), Victoria Williams, Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Adam Maples (King Size Maybe) and Martina (Tricky), the group’s self-titled debut CD (a Crippled Dick Hot Wax import) is not the cutesy hodgepodge of country and indie-rock alterna-metal you might expect, given the cast of collaborators.Instead, Earthlings? evoke the similarly alien emptiness of the Mojave Desert and the Milky Way through ambient electronic washes and man-who-fell-to-earth vocals, especially on “Saving Up for My Spaceship” and “Cavalry.” For their CD-release party, the psilocybin-fried Earthlings? are joined by Joshua Tree pals Dig Your Own Cactus, ex-Master of Reality Chris Goss’ The Magic Eagle Canyon Punks, and Nillie Welson and the Desert Session Band, featuring former Kyuss dude Josh Homme. Earthlings? also perform at the Roxy on Sat. (Falling James)