I am getting out of my dreams and into my car for two shows this week on Congress Street: Nicole Atkins at Port City tonight and Girl Talk at the State Theatre on Monday.

I won’t curse having to circle for a parking spot, and I won’t complain about stepping through dirty snow piles or having to wait outside in the cold for doors to open. Let’s take back winter, people. Get out there and see some live music.

With almost as many places to see live music as Girl Talk has samples, it’s time to get out and see the local guy get up the nerve to do his first open mic or the band that just drove 437 miles in a temperamental van hoping to maybe break even with gas money.

Or go see one of the many bands that call Portland home — the ones that just released new CDs, or are saving up money for studio time, or have a song burning up the airwaves at WCYY or WCLZ.

Set your DVR to record “Criminal Minds” or whatever your fave show is, and get out there. Period.

Jersey-born singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins (mondoamore.nicoleatkins.com and www.myspace.com/nicoleatkins) just released her latest album, “Mondo Amore” (Razor & Tie Music), and she and band The Black Sea are headlining tonight at Port City.

Atkins rocks with retro flair and rolls with strong, sultry vocals. “War is Hell” is a moody torch song, and “My Baby Don’t Lie” is a roadhouse stomp-clap throwback. Love it. “Vultures” is a swampy cautionary tale: “Vultures circle in, heavy like a stone/ They take all they can, until you’re dirt and bones.” I think this could be a show that gets talked about long after the fact. I’ll be there. Will you?

Nicole Atkins and The Black Sea with special guests Cotton Jones and Jacob Augustine. 8 tonight. Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland. Ages 21 and older. $10 in advance; $12 at door; $20 VIP. portcitymusichall.com

My favorite graveyard bluesman hits the Local Buzz on Friday night. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, Meantone is back at it with his crazy, awesome blues and jazz tuneage. Tonight marks the debut of his latest persona: Al “Fat Finger Freddie” Giusto (www.myspace.com/meantone).

Meantone. 7 p.m. Friday. The Local Buzz, 327 Ocean House Road, Cape Elizabeth. All ages. Donations accepted. www.capelocalbuzz.com

Martin Bisi, the Big Apple’s super producer, musician and studio owner, holds court tonight at Empire Dine & Dance. Bisi has been in the biz for more than 30 years and has made his mark in everything from metal and punk to hip-hop and jazz.

Check out the weirdness of “Fine Line” and the sarcastic humor of “Goth Chick 98,” among others, at www.myspace.com/theendcredits.

Bisi also resides online at www.martinbisi.com.

By the way, playing with Bisi will be Dresden Dolls drummer and superhero Brian Viglione. Three other bands warm things up, so make a night out of it at Empire.

Martin Bisi with Brian Viglione, Swaggerin’ Growlers, Marie Stella and Vanityites. 9 p.m. Friday. Empire Dine & Dance, 575 Congress St., Portland. Ages 21 and older. $7 in advance; $10 at the door. Tickets at www.portlandempire.com.

If you were hoping to see Girl Talk on Monday night but don’t have tickets, you are out of luck, my friend — the show is sold out. (But who’s to say a miracle ticket or two can’t be found last minute if you’re skulking around the place before the show? Just sayin’.) Anyway, Girl Talk (Gregg Gillis) does offer a pretty serious consolation prize with a free download of his latest album, “All Day” (www.illegal-art.net/allday). And my oh my, what an album it is.

I printed out a list of all of the songs he samples on it, and the list was eight glorious pages long because nobody, and I mean nobody, samples like Girl Talk. He is the master of the mash-up and the sorcerer of digital sampling, and his followers worship him (as evidenced by the sold-out show).

“All Day” is intended to be listened to as one continuous track, so carve out some time and dive in, because it is so freaking out of this world I can hardly stand it.

Here are some of the more amusing songs sampled: “Take on Me” by A-ha, “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar, “You Make My Dreams” by Hall & Oates, “Steppin’ Out” by Joe Jackson, “Jungle Love” by The Steve Miller Band and “Jump” by Van Halen.

This is the album that lets your ADHD flag fly freely, and it will yank you out of your seat at 150 bpm.

Girl Talk with Max Tundra and Junk Culture. 8 p.m. Monday. State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland. Sold out. All ages. statetheaterportland.com

Aimsel Ponti is a Portland freelance writer. Contact her at:

aimselponti@yahoo.com