God Made Me Funky are one of the    sure bets at this year's NXNE  NXNE 2007: SoundPicks xxx 9thUNO a.k.a. Lee Major @ Harlem Thursday, 12am If you think Toronto Hip-Hop has strayed, think again. This is the guy that gets beats given to him on the strength of artistic talent and not a budget by the likes of World Famous beat makers Moss and Marco Polo. Winner of the Just Entertainment Demo showcase, Toronto's own 9thUNO and his BSA Crew spit rhymes like professionals who are over qualified for their jobs. The Bicycles @ The Silver Dollar Thursday, 12am "Hey, hey we're the Monkees, and all we do is monkey around" — remember those guys from the '60s? The Monkees? Expect similar tasting music when rolling up to a Bicycles show. Ranging from fuzzed-up power-pop to gentle and melodic ballads, this five-piece pop-orchestra will have you dancing within the very first ditty. Handsome Furs @ Comfort Zone Friday, 12am As if the fact that they're on SubPop isn't reason enough, how about the fact that they opened for Arcade Fire? Yep, this half ex-Wolf Parade splinter band is a sure bet — their minimalist, brooding pop songs are totally the new Interpol via Montreal. God Made Me Funky @ The Revival Friday, 1am A ten-member "Nu funk" collective, Toronto's own GMMF are not only a group of fantastically talented musicians and performers, they're also one of this city's very best live acts. With a full horn section, three lead vocalists, and the soul of The Funk Brothers, this is one band you need to see this weekend. Ox @ The Dakota Tavern Saturday, 9pm Have a tear with your beer as Ox spin their melancholic alt-country amid the grunge and grime of the Dakota Tavern, yet another emerging bastion of bohemianism on the gritty Dundas-Ossington strip. Signed to Toronto's small but influential (weewerk) records, these scruffy warblers reconnect country with the heart of the city.