Thursday, July 13
Some of the Above, East River Snorkeling, Kipper ‘n’ Friends, MarVell Event Center
Melodic drama from some conscientious youth in Chapel Hill (SotA)? Sure. That the next two on this bill reside in Fayetteville but work in a similar voice of distrust–emotional pop pulled directly from the established template–speaks to the options available for high schoolers everywhere. Free/9 p.m. –CT
Billy Joe Shaver, The Nash Arts Center (Nashville)
If Texas could sing, it’d sound like Billy Joe Shaver. OK, kindred spirit Tom T. Hall said it much better: “If the world is God’s television set, Billy Joe Shaver is on Monday mornings at 3.” With Mr. Shaver hitting Nash County, it felt like as good a time as any to remind Triangle-ites about this gem of a venue in Nash County (www.nasharts.org). $25/8 p.m. –RC
Friday, July 14
Gigi Dover & the Big Love, Shakori Hills
The brand new Live.2.3.4.5 from Gigi Dover sports a rather cryptic title that, on further review, is both descriptive and truthful. The record collects live performances from Dover and the gang in–depending on the night–duo, trio, quartet or quintet mode. But regardless of the amount of company she has, Dover’s country-soul voice is always center stage. (Also playing the Latta House Series on July 15.) Pass the helmet/7:30 p.m. –RC
Amy Loftus, Open Eye Cafe
The ability to pull off a Clash cover is a legitimate litmus test, one that Amy Loftus aced on last year’s Straight to Amy courtesy of a folk-leaning version of “Straight to Hell.” Surrounding that cut with 12 smart originals, often stripped-down in instrumentation but always fully loaded with melody and ideas, earned a whole lot of extra credit. 8 p.m. –RC
Even Flow, Nevermind, The Pour House
Wait, what’s this? Read and believe. As the distance between nostalgia and now shrinks to as thin as Scott Weiland’s eyebrows, what was called grunge lives on in commercial radio like it never went away. STP’s Weiland even plays in a cover band himself now. These two tribute bands, to Pearl Jam and Nirvana respectively, fly the ragged flannel, in a time when Cobain never dies. $8/10 p.m. –CT
Saturday, July 15
Brown Mountain Lights, Saxapahaw River Mill
The Saxapahaw Music Series offers lovely sights in a rustic setting down by the Haw River. That makes the Brown Mountain Lights, a veteran outfit that places lovely sounds in a rustic setting, fit right in. And I bet they could do a fine version of Neil Young’s “Down by the River.” Free/6 p.m. –RC
The Dynamites, The Pour House
Recalling the heyday of the ’60s Chitlin Circuit, when deep-fried soul and greasy-fingered funk were the main items on the menu, The Nashville-based Dynamites use 10 pieces to back soul man Charles “Wigg” Walker in grand Muscle Shoals R&B tradition. Unfortunately, Walker is off for this engagement, to be replaced with Shawna P., whose soul/ funk sound has been compared to Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. It’ll still rock your world. $7/10 p.m. –GB
Chicago, Huey Lewis and the News, Alltel Pavilion
Since 1967, Chicago’s blustery horn-driven sound has made them one of the most successful bands in rock. But on this bill, Huey Lewis and the News are the better attraction. The News are a great bar band, and Lewis’ rabble-rousing shouts and harp histrionics can still get a crowd on its feet and rockin’. $24.25-$53.75/7: 30 p.m. –GB
Monday, July 17
The Sound the Hare Heard, Local 506
From indie rock bastion Kill Rock Stars comes their third major compilation, The Sound the Hare Heard, a carefully curated mix of 21 singer-songwriters that KRS owner Slim Moon has taken a liking to over the years, from Sufjan Stevens and Laura Veirs to Wooden Wand and Great Lake Swimmers. Some of those bands are uniting for various legs of a tour in support of that compact, and Chapel Hill gets Southerly and Lauren Hoffman: Southerly is Krist Kruegera, a wide-eyed pop tycoon who has somehow avoided the recognition he’s deserved as a piano-driven expert architect of melody. Charlottesville’s Lauren Hoffman plays it cool and sings it exquisitely. Local Midtown Dickens open. $8/10 p.m. –GC
Tuesday, July 18
Portugal, The Man, 305 South
Much has been made of the recovering-hardcore-kid-meta-music these transplanted Alaskans offer up on their Fearless Records debut, Waiter: You Vultures! But, featuring a former member of the Coheed-biting Anatomy of a Ghost, and Gen-MySpace’s predilection toward senseless punctuation, Portugal’s shtick wears thin when the formula begins to show halfway through the album. The breakdown is simple: Take the emo prog of Coheed and Cambria, the sensitive-vocaled heft of Thursday, the dance floor glissando of Les Savy Fav, the chaotic structures of At the Drive In, and add some keyboards. What would you like on your pop-punk sandwhich? Gimme the works. –RM
