THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1 The Cynics at the Garage. Revered on the East Coast and throughout Europe and Japan as the quintessential garage-punk combo, the Cynics have only deigned to perform in L.A. twice since starting in 1985, which makes this appearance a don't-miss ritual for fans of yowling vocals, fuzzed-out guitar and trashy, revisionist grooviness. While the Steeltown quartet often indulge in distinctly personalized covers of classic garage-rock nuggets by the Sonics, the Mystic Eyes, the Chocolate Watchband, and Sonny & Cher, it's their own memorable original songs ("Baby What's Wrong," "Waste of Time," "Business as Usual") from consistently excellent albums BLUE TRAIN STATION, ROCK 'N' ROLL and SIXTEEN FLIGHTS UP that set the Cynics apart from other '60s-retro bands. Founding guitarist Gregg Kostelich (who also runs Get Hip Records) artfully segues from folkie jangle to searing psychedelic riffs, while irrepressible front man Michael Kastelic (who also stars with Cynics bassist Smith Hutchings in the underrated hard power-pop side project Honeyburst) prowls playfully through the audience, wailing on harp and snarling with a mournful desperation. If you like rock and roll . . . (Falling James)