CL previews upcoming shows 

Thursday 5.10

Lipbone Redding Jazzy folk singer/songwriter from NYC is a troubadour with a heart clearly attached to hearth and home. Redding's bluesy, soulful voice and guitar strumming lie somewhere between Jack Johnson and a New Orleans jazz band. Redding uses his voice, something he calls a voicestrumentalist, and throat to make jazzy sounds. The Evening Muse (Shukla)

The Duhks The amalgam of North American music from Canadian quintet the Duhks strolls along creating ballads or bounces up to hit the dance floor. There's folk and old-time string music, gospel, zydeco and Celtic rhythms. It's only appropriate they named their most recent recording Migrations. Founded by banjoist Leonard Podolak, the band currently records for North Carolina-based Sugar Hill Records. Rex Moroux will open. Visulite (Shukla)

Cowboy Junkies Twenty-two years later, these Junkies still haven't kicked, and fans addicted to their cinematic, low-key take on Canuck country everywhere rejoice. The family Timmins still gets trans-continental mileage out of their modern classic The Trinity Session, recorded live over the course of one day at a church in Toronto (take that, Arcade Fire!), and their best-known song (at least to the masses), "Sweet Jane," (appropriately, a Velvet Underground cover) is still a lock for encores. Since leaving Geffen almost 10 years ago, they've shifted units on their own Latent Recordings. It's a credit to their gauzy/gripping live shows that -- despite minuscule sales stateside -- they continue to pack houses. McGlohon Theatre (Davis)

Parallel The Rock Hill quintet has a sound that's similar to 3 Doors Down and Matchbox 20, but the vocals are in a tone of their own -- I wouldn't pair them with Nickleback or Creed. The band's Studio Z album, Black Dress, was released in March. There are some screaming moments on the title track, but average, everyday fans of rock would be happy to check them out. Their album is balanced as most rock acts are these days -- slower ballad-like tracks mixed with upbeat and steady rockers. Previously, they've opened for 7 Mary 3 and Dishwalla. This time, they'll be opening for Atlanta's Five Star Iris. Amos' (Hahne)

Album Leaf You can't really call it a residency, but this is the third appearance in as many years for Jimmy LaValle's band, and the audience has grown exponentially each time. No wonder, either. The big room and comfy chairs are the right setting for the Album Leaf's ambient chill-out textures and trance-inducing rock crescendos ­-- not to mention the evocative imagery projected on the big screen throughout. The songs flow together like suites; Erik Satie meets Eno and Fennesz, with a pinch of moody Black Heart Procession (where LaValle and violinist Matt Resovich also play). It's all built on LaValle's intimidating bank of keys and synths, pulsing rhythms and processed beats, and layers of guitar and violin loops deep enough to get lost in. Thanks also to their touring soundman, this is one of the richest-sounding gigs around. With New Orleans' instrumental outfit Belong (this ain't Zydeco), and locals the Fence Lions. Neighborhood Theatre (Schacht)

Friday 5.11

Relient K Ohio pop-punk posse Relient K leads the charge with harmonized vocals and plenty of guitar crunches. The lyrics hint at their Christian roots, but the quintet is not interested in overt preaching, so don't let that scare you off. There's plenty of secular fun in their freshly released new album Five Score & Seven Years Ago. Also on the bill: Mae and Sherwood. Amos' Southend (Shukla)

Willowz These critical darlings hail from the suburban wastelands of Anaheim, which are even more disturbing than the city's most famous plastic landmark: Disneyland. So it‚s no surprise they play brash and sludgy stoner punk & roll -- think MC5 attitude, Stones-y riffs, and down-and-dirty White Stripes blues. But Willowz distinguishes itself by remembering that melody has its place, and the contrasts are richer for it. Their latest, Chautauqua, is out now on Dim Mak and easily their most accomplished and varied disc; a fitting response to the soulless surroundings of their youth. With Lambhandler and Timbre Tambour. Milestone (Schacht)

Saturday 5.12

American Head Charge Minneapolis-based hardcore and hard industrial combo can swing the axe with sung vocals one moment to screamo the next. The barrage is pretty much run-of-the-mill, though moments of creativity and brash musicianship rise above the din. With like-minded noisemakers Bleed the Dream and Oblige. Amos' Southend (Shukla)

Monday 5.14

Cool Hand Luke This Nashville trio concoct a sprightly mix of spiritual acoustic emo. The new album, Balancing Act, sounds like the work of veteran musicians, but there‚s a definitive youthful bounce where the added sway of piano paints the feel of a classical work that also rocks. Also playing this evening: As Cities Burn, Olympia, and Friday Never Counts. Tremont Music Hall (Shukla)