WEDNESDAY, Nov. 11
Matisyahu As musical and cultural boundaries bend and blend, there was bound to be a Hasidic Jew singing rasta music. Matisyahu (born Matthew Miller) weaves traditional Jewish spirituality with mighty, uplifting reggae grooves. He is touring for his third album simply called Light, where conscious lyrics, funky riddims, ragamuffin, dancehall, roots reggae and soaring rock riffs collide in this, well, a cross-cultural blend. With Moon Taxi. The Fillmore Charlotte (Samir Shukla)
The Flatlanders Like a shooting star across the Texas sky, The Flatlanders began in the early '70s and then quickly dispersed after record company hassles. But the band birthed three fab singer/songwriters – Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock. After a three-decade break, and a slew of solo recordings, the gents are recording and touring twangy country records laced with folk, Texas blues and slow-mo rockabilly. The fluid new album Hills and Valleys is a statement on the vast songcraft skills of this Lubbock trio. With Colin Gilmore. McGlohon Theatre (Shukla)
THURSDAY, NOV. 12
Lambchop The long-running Nashville ensemble defies categorization, blending classic countrypolitan, '70s soul, chamber pop, experimental synth accents and just enough rock to remain in that aisle at the record store. But everything orbits leader Kurt Wagner, arguably one of our best lyricists and chroniclers of the quotidian. With his omnipresent trucker's cap, Buddy Holly glasses and hoarse delivery, Wagner doesn't exactly exude romantic lead, but he's seen enough to know there's no end to human folly – and narrative fodder – when it comes to affairs of the heart. All that keen-eyed detail winds up ennobling our efforts, and once Lambchop gets under your skin – fuggetaboutit, they're there for good. A freakin' bargain at $10. Visulite Theatre (John Schacht)
FRIDAY, NOV. 13
Hatebreed This one isn't gonna be about puppies and kittens. Expect aggro vocals, cookie monster vocals, screaming, vocal pain, shredded vocal chords and gargled razor blades. The Grammy-nominated headliners combine the heaviest of metal with something more groove-oriented, but either way, it's mosh-pit friendly. The band's touring in support of their fifth studio album, the self-titled release hit stores in September. With Unearth, Cannibal Corpse, Hate Eternal, Born of Osiris. Amos' Southend (Jeff Hahne)
SATURDAY, NOV. 14
Sarah Borges & Broken Singles Borges has played the Muse a bunch of times, and each time is better than the last. Her high-energy music gives hints at punk as much as country. The last couple of times, she's made her way on top of the bar to encourage a sing-along ... in a purely rock 'n' roll kind of way without the cheese. The Evening Muse (Hahne)
SUNDAY, NOV. 15
Mumiy Troll These Russian rockers broke big in their native land in the mid '90s and are hailed as one of that country's biggest bands. After eight releases in Russia and Europe, the quartet are touring stateside with their first U.S. release, Comrade Ambassador. Led by an effervescent frontman, Mumiy Troll mine '90s alterna-rock with melodic harder edged experimentation and lyrics stitched with social activism. Bring your Russian dictionary. Alley Cat (Shukla)
TUESDAY, NOV. 17
Lyle Lovett and his Large Band Lovett, always a favorite of the critics, is touring on the strength of his piping-hot, new Natural Forces, which is more of the same for the tall, cool drink of water: namely, melancholic mid-tempo heart-bruisers with a thread of the existentially absurd running through them to remind us that we shouldn't take anything too seriously. He's beginning to get his just desserts as a catalog artist, which is nice. What's nicer is Forces is more than a worthy addition to his already teeming panoply of platters. Belk Theater (Timothy C. Davis)
Lucero Ramblin' Roadshow & Memphis Revue The erstwhile Memphians' newest, 1372 Overton Park, sees their already bustling countryfied sound served up with a side of sweet soul gravy with the inclusion of horns on a number of tracks. What's more, it works: The band has always tended toward the anthemic, and the muscle-bound (if not Muscle Shoals) brass allows the band to somehow sound even more stripped-down. Which is not to say slick – think early Springsteen, where you could almost smell the streets that the Bard of the Boardwalk so lovingly described. Singer Ben Nichols is a worthy successor to the Boss' poet/populist throne, and, the band's sometimes-tight-assed fans be damned, this might be his most cohesive extended narrative yet. With The Dirty Streets, Cedric Burnside and Lightnin' Malcolm. Visulite (Davis)
Adam Arcuragi Touring behind his recent countrified release, I Am Become Joy, Arcuragi's music is cousin to the sad-eyed folk and country rock of fellow travelers like Mark Kozelek and Damien Jurado. These shimmering songs feature gentle, minor key jangle with a slight twang, the occasional well-placed horn and string section, and literate narratives with a vaguely religious undertow. Arcuragi's a published poet and playwright, so this ain't the usual "I got hammered last night cuz you left me and now I can't pay the rent" fare. With Japan's Uzuhi, Self-Evident and Summer Night Shade, all part of Customer Appreciation Night, meaning ... no cover, ya cheap bastards. Milestone (Schacht)