CL previews upcoming concerts (Oct. 8-13) 

THURSDAY, OCT. 8

Robin Trower In the annals of Stratocaster-wielding Hendrix acolytes, the former member of Procol Harum, who must be like, I don't know, 187 years old, produced one of the few records – 1974's Bridge of Sighs – that wasn't a blatant coattails ride or wank-fest. All dark shades and wah-wah pedal, the Brit's recording high-point reached Billboard's Top 10 and actually stayed there for a while. He's periodically recorded with ex-Cream bassist Jack Bruce and former Roxy Music front man Brian Ferry in the years following, and though his star has waned to a speck in the music Milky Way, that '70s output earned him diehard fans who eagerly await each fretboard-friendly release – like this year's What Lies Beneath – with air guitars at the ready. Amos' Southend (John Schacht)

Titus Andronicus Like Shane MacGown fronting Neutral Milk Hotel or Andrew WK singing Arcade Fire songs (they get this kind of thing a lot), this New Jersey quartet named after a Shakespeare tragedy make a beautiful holy racket that ping pongs between anthemic grandeur and drunken derailment. It's beautiful-loser bar rock writ large by the book-smart, and their stellar debut from last year, The Airing Of Grievances (pulled from a Seinfeld episode), is full of the literate nihilism that only gigantic hooks could redeem. And that's precisely what they do. With the So So Glos and Ultimate Optimist. Milestone (Schacht)

Serena Ryder Canadian singer-songwriter Ryder won over a respectable-sized crowd at Bonnaroo last year though her U.S. debut only hit store shelves a few months ago. Odd that someone from the great white North has something resembling a Southern accent at times, but her soulful, bluesy style veers close to the pop border without feeling too commercial or cheesy. Opening for Needtobreathe. Visulite Theatre (Jeff Hahne)

FRIDAY, OCT. 9

The Belleville Outfit The young, yet well-traveled sextet plies American roads, rural and urban, gathering twangy and fiddle-caressed songs of roots, swing, country and jazz. The Austin-based band has Carolina roots, and the members are so cohesive in their writing and playing that it seems unlikely they've been together only a couple of years. The band's new album, Time to Stand, has charm oozing out of the grooves that's further accented with snug female vocals. With Seth Walker. The Evening Muse (Shukla)

SATURDAY, OCT. 10

Silversun Pickups Darlings of the L.A. (insert finger-quotes) modern rock scene upon the release of their 2006 full-length debut, Carnavas, the Silver Lake quartet have been hanging out on the road with the likes of Foo Fighters, Sno Patrol, Kaiser Chiefs and Wolfmother – which gives you an audio compass point to set out (running) from. The band downplays the ubiquitous Siamese Dream-era Smashing Pumpkins references that dog them by dropping My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth into every conversation, but, hey, if it walks and talks like a bald-headed douchebag-duck ... Now touring behind this year's unswoon-worthy Swoon. With the slightly more intriguing duo An Horse. The Fillmore Charlotte (Schacht)

Julian Marley Julian "JuJu" Marley writes stout roots reggae that's sprinkled with R&B, hip-hop, dancehall and dub. He is touring in support of his third album Awake, produced by half-brother Stephen Marley. The Marley sons have a heavy load to carry, as constant comparisons to pappa Bob will trail them no matter how much original music they produce. But the Marley brood is etching out its own signature sound as time passes. Stephen Marley is also on the bill. Amos' Southend (Shukla)

Bassnectar Spawned in gin joints of San Francisco, Bassnectar, known during the day as Lorin Ashton, is an electronic dance DJ mixing frenzied beats that could range from breakbeat to Rage Against the Machine bits and parts. During live gigs the one-man knob twirler adds a stage full of dancers, DJs, rappers, graffiti artists, stage divers, multimedia mishmash and then some. Collaborative experimentation is the operational phrase here. Bassnectar is touring on the front end of the new disc Cozza Frenzy, slated to hit the streets later this month. With DJ Vadim and Mindelixir. Neighborhood Theatre (Shukla)

SUNDAY, OCT. 11

Electric Tickle Machine These N.Y. blokes sound like a '60s garage band tossed into the new century. Channeling the Troggs, the Zombies and the like, ETM spew just the right amount of ooooh and aaaaah harmonies and then shout, "go" while kicking the guitars into high gear. The psych-pop is laced with organ and trippy percussion while the guitars get the folks dancing. Somebody turn on the bubble machine. With Seventh Epic and Self Made Monsters. Milestone (Shukla)

TUESDAY, OCT. 13

Insane Clown Posse This is one of those bands where you either get it, or you don't. The rabid fans, known as Juggalos, get behind these clowns (no pun intended ... or is it?) and everything they do – in music or during wrestling appearances. The hardcore hip-hop duo continues to put out new music – though I'm not sure if it's any less violent than it used to be. Yeah ... I don't get it. Amos' Southend (Hahne)