FRIDAY, OCT. 3

Raphael Saadiq Saadiq's here as part of The Sol Kitchen Music Series, and his brand new album, The Way I See It, suggests the former member of the platinum R&B trio Tony, Toni, Tone member has, as that group sang, indeed "done it again." From the red-lensed, Motown-fonted cover, to the appearance from former Hitsville, USA house drummer Jack Ashford, The Way I See It is about as old soul (in the spiritual sense) as neo-soul gets. Bring yer hankies. Amos' Southend (Timothy C. Davis)

The Sea of Cortez With a week-long stint at Mitch Easter's Fidelitorium last spring, the instrumental-octet laid down basic tracks for their official debut and have been in the tweaking process on-and-off since then. Built around a four-guitar lineup (including lap and pedal steel), keys, vibes, accordion and two percussionists and bass, SoC songs surge and ebb with south-of-the-border flavors and Gypsy waltzes, occasionally igniting into maelstroms of sonic mayhem. It's dramatic and soundtrack-worthy music from some of Charlotte's best musicians. With The Old Ceremony and Lindsey Horne. Visulite. (John Schacht)