On a cold rainy day, nothing perks my mood like Cake. The Sacramento alt-rockers’ Motorcade of Generosity and Fashion Nugget played heavily during my angst-ridden high-school days, and they still show up with regularity in my normal iPod rotation. I also like their cover of “The Guitar Man” better than the original by Bread. Front man John McCrea’s affinity for wordplay and Knopfler-ish vocals gives the band a distinct, joyful sound that I for one draw on heavily when spring begins (if in name only). And whaddaya know, speaking of springtime, speaking of covers, speaking of terrible weather the band’s 2008 B-Sides and Rarities includes songs made famous by Sinatra, Barry White, George Jones, and even Kenny Rogers. Because “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town” never gets old. (All ages show.) JESSE FROEHLING

Thu., Dec. 31, 8 p.m., 2009