Top 10 Live is a collaborative effort between the Indy.com staff and Indianapolismusic.net.

1. Robyn Hitchcock 9 p.m. Nov. 10, $15, Music Mill, (317) 841-1850.

Quintessentially English singer/songwriter Robyn Hitchcock counts John Lennon and Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett among his main influences. Like those well-know performers, Hitchcock enjoys inserting elements of surrealism, comedy and neurosis into his songs. Hitchcock was the subject of a documentary titled "Robyn Hitchcock: Sex, Food, Death… & Insects" released earlier this year. Sean Nelson opens the show.

2. They Might Be Giants 8 p.m. Nov. 8, $22, The Vogue, (317) 259-7029.

They Might Be Giants have forged a 20-year career based on their quirky pop music that is noted for its childlike point of view. The duo took the childlike songwriting style to its extreme in 2002 by releasing their first children's record, "No." Their third kids' record arrives in 2008. This show is strictly for the group's adult fans, though, as they perform at The Vogue nightclub. Oppenheimer opens.

3. Modest Mouse 7 p.m. Nov. 12, $34-37, Murat Egyptian Room, (317) 231-0000. Modest Mouse has grown from being one among multitudes of Pixies-inspired indie rock groups to perhaps the best known act in the indie genre. The group scored another coup in 2007 as they added Johnny Marr, guitarist for legendary Brit band The Smiths, as a member. Marr's first record with the group, 2007's "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank," debuted at number one on Billboard's album chart. Love as Laughter and Man Man will also play.

4. The Queers 9 p.m. Nov. 14, $10, The Melody Inn, (317) 923-4707.

It's not often that Indy's all-ages and 21+ music fans can see the same lineup in two different venues. Punkshots.com and The Free Zone team up to bring pop punk legends The Queers along with The Heart Attacks, Up! Scumbag and Bolth to fans who can get into nightclubs as well as those who can't. This Melody Inn show is followed up on Thursday with the same lineup appearing at the all-ages Underground at the Harrison Center.

5. GWAR 9 p.m. Nov. 9, $20, The Vogue, (317) 259-7029.

Club goers arriving at The Vogue for the venue's usual Friday dance night might be shocked by what they find there this week. GWAR, the metal-meets-splatter film-meets-nightmare band, takes over the club for the night. As always, be sure to wear clothes you don't mind getting stained to this show. GWAR is legendary for its efforts to douse its audiences with as much stage gore as possible. Horse the Band and The End will also play.

6. The Coke Dares, Push Pull 9 p.m. Nov. 9, $7, Locals Only, (317) 255-4013.

A full night of Midwestern rock in a variety of styles awaits the Locals Only crowd on Friday. Bloomington's Push Pull is using the event as a release party for its CD of edgy punk rock. The band's Bloomington neighbors The Coke Dares are well known in Indy for their brief but thoroughly rocking sets. Indy group State debuts a new lineup while Mean Ohio and Le Concorde make the trip from Chicago for the show.

7. Ghostface Killah / Rakim 9 p.m. Nov.13, $28, Bluebird, (812) 336-3934.

Local fans of rapper Ghostface Killah are due to get a large dose of his work in the coming weeks. The first serving comes this week as he visits the Bluebird in Bloomington for a performance. The next helping comes on Dec. 4 as his latest record, "The Big Doe Rehab," hits stores. The final piece arrives Dec. 11 as the new record by Wu-Tang Clan, the group that made Ghostface Killah a star, arrives. Rakim and Brother Ali will also perform.

8. Cracker 7 p.m. Nov. 9, $12, Eight Seconds Saloon, (317) 486-1569.

The band Cracker is responsible for two of alt-rock radio's most familiar tunes -- 1992's "Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now)" and 1993's "Low." That launch has kept the band, fronted by Camper Van Beethoven's David Lowery, going for 15 years and eight albums. The group visits Indianapolis with Muscle Shoals rocker Jason Isbell opening.

9. Carrie Newcomer 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10, $15, First Friends Meeting, (317) 255-2485.

Hoosier-born folk singer/songwriter has often pulled from her Quaker roots in her music. This performance finds her in a local Quaker meeting house. Newcomer's most recent release, "Regulars and Refugees" came out in 2005. Profits from this show are earmarked to benefit the Friends Educational Fund, a charity that promotes educational opportunities for youth. Phil Gulley also performs.

10. Rock The Ripple 7 p.m. Nov. 10, $5, Spin Nightclub, (317) 257-0000.

"Rock The Ripple" is a name that has been recycled many times for a number of music events taking place in the Broad Ripple village. This one is sponsored by Indy.com, the Indianapolis Star's online repository of the city's entertainment options (as well as an online host of this list). Mudkids, The Last Good Year, Eleisha Eagle, Tyler Bender, The Kold War, Henry French and the Shameless and Mardelay share the stage at Spin Nightclub for the latest version of Ripple rocking.