WEDNESDAY, OCT. 6
NATALIE GELMAN UNC Charlotte's Union Unplugged series continues with this acoustic, indie rock singer/songwriter. Gelman cut her teeth as a street performer in the N.Y.C. subway and roller-bladed 1,500 miles up the East Coast from Miami to NYC for charity to mark the release of her debut album. The disc received 4 out of 4 stars from the New York Post, and had critics making comparisons to giants of the genre like Sheryl Crow and Jewel. Free, UNCC Union Rotunda, http://cab.uncc.edu (Mike McCray)
JERRY CHAPMAN This Mount Airy, N.C.-born singer/songwriter has taken a different approach in his modern rock journey. Blending elements of folk, rock, pop and Americana, he's made well-received music without all the frills. Noted for his everyman charm and honest lyrics, he's also carved out a niche doing favorites from The Steve Miller Band and others. Free, RiRa Irish Pub, www.rira.com (McCray)
FRONTIER RUCKUS Out of the frozen climes of Michigan blooms this gutsy, roots quartet that writes, well, tingly warm music. It's clear that Frontier Ruckus doesn't need flashy lights or tricks. The group is content with writing simple, yet compelling tunes that continue to add to the catalogue of solid, in for the long haul, Americana. With Tokyo Rosenthal. $5, The Evening Muse, www.theeveningmuse.com (Samir Shukla)
THURSDAY, OCT. 7
CROOKED STILL This old-time folk and roots combo's muse ranges from rousing bluegrass and fiddle-caressed toe-tappers to somber Americana. The Boston-based quintet keeps it firmly grounded, where there's a nary showoffish pretension and vocalist Aoife O'Donovan is a treat to hear. N.C.'s own Greg Humphreys (Dillon Fence, Hobex) opens. $12-$15, Visulite Theatre, www.visulite.com (Shukla)
FRIDAY, OCT. 8
JON LINDSAY is performing two nights at a small piano bar, but he's not doing it alone. The first night he'll bring along Justin Faircloth of The Houstons and Stephen Warwick; the next night, he's got Dylan Gilbert. Whether they're collaborating or doing their own thing, it doesn't matter — here's a chance to see some of Charlotte's best songwriters in a unique setting. 8 p.m., Petra's Piano Bar, www.petraspianobar.com (Jeff Hahne)
SATURDAY, OCT. 9
MARSHALL TUCKER BAND The Marshall Tucker Band, released one year after the band formed, is, to these ears, perhaps the single best non-Allman Southern Rock record ever released. Full of country/jazz interplay between guitarists (and Spartanburg, S.C., natives) George McCorkle and Toy Caldwell (check YouTube for some of Toy's pick-less workouts), the infamous melodic doodle of flautist Jerry Eubanks, and the combined vocal talents of Tommy Caldwell and Doug Gray, the record is the aural equivalent of a brisk walk through a Carolina pine forest, with the promise of a couple cold ones and a hot homemade meal at the other end. Unfortunately, time and toil took their toll on the group over the years to come — Tommy died from a car crash, Toy of heart disease and McCorkle of cancer. Like most of the compadres in the genre, the group has soldiered on (indeed, a few members were Vietnam vets) and still play triple-digit shows a year, despite Gray's lone wolf status as the only original member. With Swamp daWamp. $25-$50, Neighborhood Theatre, www.neighborhoodtheatre.com (Timothy C. Davis)
SOUNDS OF SAI With a voice reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald, classically-trained violinist Sai Harley and her band easily blend smooth jazz with deep lyrical messages. Having played big venues like The Apollo Theatre and The Lincoln Center and more recently booking multiple gigs in Charlotte's music circuit, the band brings its unique merging of violin and soothing vocal stylings to midtown. Free-$15, Metropolitan Midtown Greenway, www.metmidtown.com (Debra Renee Seth)
MONDAY, OCT. 11
GWAR Gwar has a hell of a history, and some of it took place in Charlotte. (Check out Michael Plumides' book Kill The Music for the whole story of how one of the band's performances shut down Plumides' old 4808 club). While most of the guilty are getting on up in age (aren't we all?) a Gwar show is still the spectacle it's always been. If you're offended by entrails, or super-intricate grotesque costumery, or religious satire, or political satire, or fake ejaculate, or meat-and-potatoes-served-with-a-side-of-acid hard rock, you're probably not going to want to attend. But then again, you probably knew that already: with Gwar, perhaps more than with any rock act of the last 20 years, the reputation precedes. With The Casualties, Infernaeon, Mobile Death Camp. $20-23, Amos' Southend, www.amossouthend.com (Davis)
BUILT TO SPILL Built to Spill founder Doug Martsch has led the indie rockers through guitar dogma that's well versed in subtlety as well its potential for righteous noise. There's plenty of six-string moodiness intertwined with finely crafted words where the bombast rears its head at moments of need. The band's new album, There is No Enemy, should be out a few days before it hits town. With Revolt Revolt and Temperance League. $20, Neighborhood Theatre, www.neighborhoodtheatre.com (Shukla)