Bo White's Black Mass Its no stretch declaring Mr. White a crucial pillar of Charlottes music scene, from his booking/hosting house show duties and running the Kinnikinnik Records empire to various production credits and his integral roles in outfits like Yardwork, Black Congo NC, Area Man with Ax, Calabi Yau, etcetera. But that impressive portfolio can obscure the fact that White crafts wonderfully idiosyncratic song-fare blending voracious eclecticism with upper management guitar chops, as he did a couple years back on his seductive collection of late-night noir, Bo White Duo Select. For this gig, hell be joined by his friends in Great Architect, making for what White calls a template of Randy Newman backed by a free-punk-soul-calypso band. With Great Architect, Procession and Balloon Animal Farm. $7. The Milestone. www.milestoneclub.com. (John Schacht)
Los Straitjackets The Mexican wrestling masks are a dead giveaway. And as soon as the twang of surf guitar rolls out of the amps, well, the Los Straitjackets are in the house. For over two decades their rollicking instrumentals have channeled the legendary Dick Dale (who incidentally is also in town this week) along with the tinny guitar sounds of the likes of the Ventures. But Los Straightjackets are wholly original in their own wackiness. Theyll open for the fabulous Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men. $18-$22, Visulite Theatre. www.visulite.com. (Samir Shukla)