WEDNESDAY, MAY 7
Marc Olson Still known mostly for his role in the seminal early years of twang-friendly mid-Westerners The Jayhawks, Olson left in 1995 as the band opted for a more pop-oriented direction under Gary Louris. Olson stuck to his Americana guns, often recording DIY in his Joshua Tree haunts with wife Victoria Williams as the Creekdippers. But after the two split, the soul-searching that followed resulted in last year's acclaimed The Salvation Blues, an affecting and introspective solo work, and one that saw a welcome refrain of those angelic harmonies with Louris. Evening Muse (late show) (John Schacht)
Luciano Positive vibrations and conscious reggae abound when Luciano croons in his sweet baritone. Keeping roots reggae alive and unwavering on his positive lyrics, Luciano deserves props for not going hardcore or bootylicious for commercial gain. There's plenty of spirituality in his music and words, Rastafarian or otherwise. In fact his newest disc, loaded with several reggae subgenres, is rightly titled Jah is My Navigator. Dubconscious will open. Neighborhood Theatre (Samir Shukla)
THURSDAY, MAY 8
Jucifer If you like volume – and by volume I mean enough decibels to make your ears ring for a week – then go sell your soul to Jucifer. Equal parts a call to redemption and a call to arms, it's almost embarrassing to watch real-life couple Amber Valentine and Ed Livengood lose themselves in waves of howling feedback and bass drum and acid-blooze mojo. It seems so intimate, you wonder if you should turn away. You then decide against it, because you realize they're not just being exhibitionists for themselves, but for you as well, baring their souls along with everything else they have. With Husky and 'Bout It Boys. Tremont Music Hall (Timothy C. Davis)
Yonrico Scott Band Scott has been touring and recording with Derek Trucks for over a decade. When he's not on tour with Trucks, Scott and his bandmates jam on a funky, jazzy groove that's as otherworldly as it is original. Scott is a percussionist of the highest order and his multigenre approach gives his outfit an edge over myriad other jam bands. Scott is an in-demand percussionist who has played with a host of top-grade musicians. YSB includes fellow Atlantans Kofi Burbridge and Todd Smallie. Double Door Inn (Shukla)
FRIDAY, MAY 9
Radiohead Certainly not the next Beatles, as some used to suggest, though damn skippy in line with a Next Can or neu! or Faust. (Or first Radiohead, one supposes.) Their latest, In Rainbows, is a return to the more "Radio"-friendly part of their name, and not any further journey into the "Head," which, depending on your take on the issue, is either exhilarating news or further reason to put your faith in someone like Plants and Animals or Broken Social Scene or any number of the other, don't look-now-but-they're-everywhere above-the-border stalwarts (Seriously – WTF with Canada?) Do the 'Head have another great one in them? Perhaps. But Rainbows ain't it. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (Davis)
Dr. Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys Stanley and the boys have had an immense amount of success and have pretty much set the standard for bluegrass performers with three Grammy wins and recognition from all music genres for their contribution to the movie soundtrack O Brother Where Art Thou? Old-timer Dr. Ralph Stanley has righteously earned himself the title "King of Mountain Soul" after picking a banjo for more than 60 years and releasing more than 170 albums. Now, the Stanley-bluegrass tradition continues with his son on rhythm guitar and grandson progressing from spoons to mandolin. McGlohon Theatre. (Chey Scott)
MAY 9 - 11
Lake Eden Arts Festival It's not going on in town, but it's worth the drive if you want to get away for the weekend. Music, dance, crafts, poetry, healing arts, camping – it's all a part of the three-day festival. Bands include Arrested Development, Nanci Griffith, Bambu Station and a whole bunch more. Day and weekend tickets are still available. Black Mountain, N.C. (Jeff Hahne)
MONDAY, MAY 12
Ladyhawk Unlike many of their current Canadian counter-parts, these Vancouver rockers are not part of some greater collective, nor do they play particularly hipster-friendly avant-rock. Instead, the lodestone here is a riff-rich stoner rock filtered through a drunken Replacements bar band aesthetic (more Sorry, Ma. than Tim), with some Crazy Horse guitar workouts to flesh things out. Touring behind their latest Jagjaguwar release, the aptly titled Shots. With Coma League. Milestone (Schacht)
TUESDAY, MAY 13
Shinedown Alterna-rock quartet Shinedown, hatched in the alleys of Jacksonville, Fla., are hard-hitting, but not shy about focusing on the soft spots. Their soaring and anthem-like songs recall Alice in Chains while firmly staying contemporary. A typical song can be loud and quiet, slow and fast without screeching while coming around the bend. Their newest recording, The Sound of Madness, is slated to hit the streets in late June. Amos' Southend (Shukla)
