CL previews upcoming concerts (July 20-25) 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20

WIZ KHALIFA Admit it, you're just now getting Wiz's incessantly catchy "Black & Yellow" out of your head. The last time Sir Smoke-A-Lot touched down in the Queen City, he produced one of the longest lines I've ever seen for a live show. And he delivered with a seemingly endless, yet compelling, set for a crowd that was hanging on his every stoner giggle. This time, he's wisely at a larger venue, and if his explosion into mainstream consciousness tells us anything, his Taylor Gang followers will be there in droves. Hopefully, Amber Rose, too. $39.60-$50. Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre. www.ticketmaster.com. (Mike McCray)

OFF THE RECORD Call it shameless self-promotion, but even if I wasn't the host of Off the Record, I'd still be encouraging people to attend these unique nights. Combining stripped down performances with on-stage interviews, the opportunity to hear insight into lyrics and songwriting is rare. This night will feature Charlotte's Matrimony along with Katherine Whalen, of Squirrel Nut Zippers. 8 p.m. $8-$10. The Evening Muse. www.theeveningmuse.com. (Jeff Hahne)

THURSDAY, JULY 21

GOMEZ When these young Brits' debut, Bring It On, dropped in '98, some were struck by the brazen joy it took in scrambling genres and eras. They noted its kissin' cousin-status to alt-country — a movement at its acme then — and the record's distinct British twist on it: Topanga Canyon filtered through Mark Hollis, the Band through Fairport Convention, the Stone Roses through Crazy Horse. Maybe the most striking aspect was the hardened Delta bluesman-voice of Ben Ottewell, who sounded 71 rather than 21 (his age at the time). It was all rather promising, but unfortunately the band's releases have never really delivered anything like greatness. Opening for the John Butler Trio. $35.25. The Fillmore Charlotte. www.fillmorecharlottenc.com. (John Schacht)

FRIDAY, JULY 22

AWOLNATION Occasionally losing their way, but most of the time Awolnation returns to the stroll of trance music, funky beats, guitar trips and spacey orchestration. With an occasional nod to Beck and plenty knob-twirling, Awolnation's quirky songcraft continues to hover in the air, no matter how many times the off switch is punched. Also on the bill are the Constellations and Redlight King. $10-$12. Tremont Music Hall. www.tremontmusichall.com. (Samir Shukla)

MISS SHEVAUGHN & YUMA WRAY The Chicago-based duo plays Southern Cali-tinged country and Americana with moaning guitars led by a female vocalist. Call it disheveled country music, with often just a guitar or banjo strumming and the vocalist crooning to the hills. Bits of brilliance do emerge, but the duo is still raw around the edges. With Gore Gore Luchadores, Southside Punx, 25 Minutes to Go, Worship This and Boo Low. $7-$9. The Milestone. www.themilestoneclub.com. (Shukla)

J. KUTCHMA What began as a slimmed-down side project to keep Durham's Red Collar alive while its' other members dealt with jobs, babies and broken bones, it's now morphed into frontman Jason Kutchma's superb solo vehicle. Steeped in workingman's troubles and redemption, and often written while rolling alone from gig to gig across the U.S., Kutchma's new songs channel Nebraska-era Springsteen through punk's DIY prism (his EP sells for whatever the going rate for a gallon of gas is). As good as they are, the songs are only half the story — Kutchma delivers them with the passion and commitment of the true believer in an era of increasingly pretentious faux art-rock bullshit. With the Temperance League, Trillions, and Jeff Rowe. $5. Snug Harbor. www.snugrock.com. (Schacht)

SATURDAY, JULY 23

BOYZ II MEN Motownphilly is back again, and this time they're on a boat! (Well, near one). Now a trio, the crooners are on the road performing cuts from their extensive catalog of hits, all for a good cause. The concert is part of the Lake, Land & Lyrics fundraiser that looks to raise $250,000 for Autism Services of Mecklenburg County with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the program. Jim Quick & Coastline are also on the bill. Packages vary. Queens Landing. www.queenslanding.com. (McCray)

RADOK FEST Sadness hit Charotte when former Creative Loafing photographer Chris Radok was murdered this year. A photographer of numerous musicians and concerts, bands are remembering him in what hopes to become an annual event. The benefit show will feature AntiSeen, Snagglepuss, Husbians, Murdercycle, Chow Tiger, Gideon Smith and K. Lloyd. 7 p.m. $10. Tremont Music Hall. www.tremontmusichall.com. (Hahne)

SUNDAY, JULY 24

BIRDS WITH TEETH Love it or hate it, the pop punk machine continues to pass along bands with high energy and smart-assed lyrics. Even though they sling out some sarcastic lyrics at higher tempos, Birds With Teeth is more than the three-chord tracks and bathroom humor that was big seven years ago. Locally disrespectful, the quartet moves between smirking songs like "Can't Even Kill Myself" to more complex structures. The group won't be talking about mooning their high school class, but it's probably best that type of music has either grown up or drifted away. With Lucky Five, Hadwynn, RioBravo $7. Tremont Music Hall. www.tremontmusichall.com. (Tommy Werner)

MONDAY, JULY 25

T-MODEL FORD T's raw, raucous, no bullshit blues comes pouring out of the amps as hard as the life he's lived. He's done time behind bars, drunk ungodly amounts of hooch, and strummed his badass, rickety guitar for most of his 70 plus years. This is real, hardtimes folk and blues. Most blues record labels won't touch him, except the famously indie imprint Fat Possum records, the compilers of real, American blues. With 2013 Wolves. $8. Snug Harbor. www.snugrock.com. (Shukla)