WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23

NORMA JEAN Ozzfest and Warped Tour vets, the metalcore crew from Douglasville, Ga., have a Grammy nomination under their belt since forming in 1997. Only two of the band's original members are still with the group from the Luti-Kriss era, but the the current lineup has been together for a little over five years now. Impending Doom, Stick To Your Guns, Of Legends and Zeus are also on the bill. $15-$17. Tremont Music Hall. www.tremontmusichall.com. (Mike McCray)

EYES OF THE ELDERS If you aren't familiar with Off the Record, it's a new monthly series that combines onstage interviews with intimate performances. What's going to make this night special is Charlotte hip-hop outfit's first acoustic performance. Though there's always a band backing up the rhymes, this time things are going to get stripped down and a bit more personal. With Austin Hill. $8. 8 p.m. The Evening Muse. www.theeveningmuse.com. (Jeff Hahne)

THURSDAY, MARCH 24

THE FUNERAL PYRE A night of guttural chaos is on hand as Cali black/death metal mofos rumble through with thunderous percussion, undecipherable (of course) growling vocals, and guitars that are on a constant war footing. It's perfect if yer looking for a bruising. They're touring with Italian grindcore metal outfit The Secret. Young & In the Way is also on the bill. $9-$11. Milestone. www.themilestoneclub.com. (Samir Shukla)

THE DIRTY GUV'NAHS Five years into their voyage together, this Knoxville, Tenn., band came to be under speedy and interesting circumstances and have since went on to have a two-time Grammy winner produce their album and be voted the best band Knoxville three times in a row. Drawing comparisons to The Rolling Stones and John Mellencamp, you can't really knock these Rocky Top grads soulful blues and rock. $10. Visulite Theatre. www.visulite.com. (McCray)

PRINCE It was only announced a little more than a week ago, but word of Prince performing in the Carolinas spread quickly. The purple prophet is hitting Charlotte for one of six concert dates in the Carolinas this month as part of his Welcome 2 America Tour featuring plenty of his hits. Should be a great show — if you can get a ticket. $28.05 and up. 7:30 p.m. Time Warner Cable Arena. www.timewarnercablearena.com. (Jeff Hahne)

FRIDAY, MARCH 25

THE NEEDLES This Wilmington band's new recording In the Red is delightful for seekers of raw, garage rock done right. There's no shame in bravado of the Stooges and Ramones kind. The dual guitars have a grand time unleashing punkish rock, surely keeping the pit well-attended. They will be performing as part of Trash-O-Rama 2011. With 220 Short, Blood Red River and The Speed Kings. $10. Tremont Music Hall. www.tremontmusichall.com. (Shukla)

YES These British proggers represented the acme of rock's most pretentious era, when musicians saw "rock" as an extension of the classical music tradition and tended to let everybody know about it: Roger Dean-illustrated concept albums, "suites" instead of songs, walls of synthesizers, billions of custom-made guitars, drumkits the size of small cities ... throw in Jon Anderson's scrotum-pinched mewl and the Spinal Tap comparisons were inescapable. Alas, Anderson's not in this lineup, which is causing consternation in the Yes-heads camp. But, hey, that Steve Howe can still really wail on lute! $47.20. The Fillmore Charlotte. www.livenation.com. (John Schacht)

SATURDAY, MARCH 26

LUCKY FIVE With a sound that emulates some of the most famous rock bands ever, this is just the beginning for Lucky Five. The Charlotte quintet fuses rock, metal, pop and funk influences to produce a plethora of music that can satisfy almost any audience. With an array of musicianship out of this world that includes hard-hitting drum cadences, guitar riffs and a vocally strong lead singer, Lucky Five is destined to go places. Also on the bill will be special guest J. Timber. No Cover. The Saloon at the N.C. Music Factory. www.salooncharlotte.com. (Johnathan Cruse)

SUNDAY, MARCH 27

SPREAD YOUR WINGS MUSIC BENEFIT Returning for the sixth time, the Spread Your Wings concert is a benefit for Wind River Cancer Wellness Retreats, a non-profit organization located in the N.C. foothills. In addition to a silent auction, the bands performing at the 3p.m.-8 p.m. event include The Old Invention, Carolina Gator Gumbo, Leadville Social Club, Evelynn Rose and The Belmont Playboys. $10. Double Door Inn. www.spreadyourwings.windriverservices.org. (Jeff Hahne)

EDDIE SPAGHETTI Mr. Spaghetti (I wonder if telemarketers ask for him that way) is best known as the guiding light behind long-running punkabilly stage-wreckers The Supersuckers. Though his narratives — revolving almost exclusively around sex, drugs, drinking and Satan — are meant to be taken half-seriously, the music is delivered with heartfelt (if inebriated) passion. Spaghetti's latest solo release, Sundowner, is a mostly-covers disc that tilts honky-tonk, ala The 'suckers 1997 classic, Must've Been High. So strap on your PBRs and revel in the debauchery. With Cattle Truck and Wiggle Wagons. $10-$12. Tremont Music Hall. www.tremontmusichall.com. (Schacht)

TUESDAY, MARCH 29

ALL TIME LOW There's a ton of pop-punk and emo pop bands out there, so they've gotta have something extra to rouse this scribe. All Time Low straddles the middle line. They've got a slew of hum-along numbers to be sure, but there's not much new ground covered, either. The Baltimore combo does have just enough oomph for staying power, including an enticing fron tman Alex Gaskarth, and the band's playful songcraft is a further boost. They tour heavily, another positive checkmark. The new album Dirty Work is slated for release in the near future. With Yellowcard, Hey Monday and the Summer Set. $32.75, The Fillmore Charlotte. www.livenation.com. (Shukla)