By Ron Nurwisah, Boy Reporter

You’d have to be a curmudgeon not to like the Bicycles. It’s hard to hate a band that opens a show with painted cardboard standups of various band members, sing Archies/Monkees inspired songs about girls from Montreal and visits to Australia, and fill their shows with handclaps, tambourines and harmonies that come straight from a 1970s bubblegum pop record.
So we’re happy to report that Bicycles have not only released their debut album “The Good The Band and the Cuddly” but that they’re playing three (count ‘em, three) shows this weekend. On Saturday the Bicyles take over the Tranzac for the Last Shmaltz, a CD release party with members of Henri Faberge and the Adorables, Andre Ethier and an opening set by kalimbartist Laura Barrett. An all-ages set starts at 2pm and gets repeated at 9pm for all the old-timers. $7 or $20 with the awesome CD.
If your Saturday is all booked up (perhaps with a picnic?) you can still catch the Bicycles at Bunch Rocks, a family-oriented indie dance party at the Miles Nadal JCC, 7pm, $10.