North Carolina horror-rock hooligans are releasing their newest batch of amps-to-the-max disc, Rock Scars, with guitars cocked and ready. Taking cues from the Misfits and White Zombie, the punk-enthused trio can make an unholy racket, albeit with an ear for melody. The band's freshly minted new recording is yet another notch, um, scar in their story. With The Independents, Legbone and Zoe Vette & the Revolvers. Milestone (Samir Shukla)
Another musical free-for-y'all put on by Shuffle, the regional music 'zine, this gig also features the locals Yardwork, Aqualads, Max Indian and 'riddims spinner DJ Billy Dread. The real draw here is perhaps Floating Action, the pseudonym of musician, songwriter and producer Seth Kauffman. After releasing both a debut EP and his first full-length on Hightone Records in 2006, Kauffman a "Southern-fried Beck," say some wags returned in the fall of 2007 with another low-fi, funked-up side, Research, this time on Park The Van, and, earlier this year, the self-titled Floating Action, which is also well worth your time. Wanna try before you buy? Check out a bounty of free downloads at Parkthevan.com from the group's recent date at the Grey Eagle. Visulite Theatre (Timothy C. Davis)
I've never known what the hell to think about Brad Paisley. He plays a fair-enough mix of hat country and pop rock, although neither style ever seems to come to the fore. As a guitarist, however, he's rather accomplished, even if his Tele skills ain't exactly Red Volkaert. His songs are chock-full of humor and pop culture references ("Cornography," "Celebrity"), but they're rarely what anyone would call high comedy (or even all that funny). He releases a song utterly clueless about the real ways of women ("Waitin' on a Woman"), but is clued in enough to get Andy Griffith in on the video shoot. Headshaking behavior and the name "Paisley" besides? Ladies and gents, I give you the corn pone Prince. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (Davis)