THURSDAY, MAY 22
Eric-Scott Guthrie One-fourth of The New Familiars, Guthrie is well-known around the Charlotte music scene. Aside from his main focus of the Familiars, he also hosts the Monday night open mic night at the Muse. If you've been to any of those, you've probably heard him play some of his solo stuff. Guthrie appears just as comfortable on stage with an acoustic guitar as he does with a banjo and a full band. Humor and politics are sure to meet up in at least a few of the songs. Evening Muse – early show (Jeff Hahne)
FRIDAY, MAY 23
The Mighty Orq This Texas trio's workingman blues-rock is brushed with a funky groove. Thick voice, guitars, bass and drums, keep it simple and honest. There's no need for gimmicks and the writing and playing are solid. The band is touring the countryside in support of the new recording To the Bone, which is stacked with blues ballads as well as rockers. With Hot Politics. Double Door Inn (Samir Shukla)
The Heroine Sheiks Ex-cows and Hammerhead members have been pounding out an unholy beast of punk and garage rock, laden with cathartic noise and even long jams, for several years. The warped Minnesota quintet's ode to Flipper and Butthole Surfers is damn fun, but the Sheiks are quite original in their maniacal musical debauchery. Also on the bill: Planet Piss and Battle Beasts. Milestone (Shukla)
SATURDAY, MAY 24
Sonic Death Rabbit Funky synth-pop, punky electro-funk, call it what you want, but don't turn the dial thinking, "what the hell is this?" There's a method to the madness here, there's improv that's as adventurous as jazz, but played with electronic doodads full of repetition and effects. A tune that starts out sounding like an old-school Nintendo video game can burst into digital funk. Good times. Opening for Snagglepuss and the Hellblinki Sextet. Tremont Music Hall (Shukla)
Bombadil The ragtag N.C.-based musical adventurers compose an infectious, almost indefinable quilt of old-timey rock, jug band Americana, blues, jazz and more into their ever-changing muse. The band incorporates an array of exotic instrumentation and vocals, along with waltzes and piano ballads, to create a rustic Appalachian vibe. Singer/songwriter Joshua Panda will open. Sylvia Theatre (Shukla)
Soulganic Charlotte-based funk, soulsters come out of the woodwork every so often just to keep the groove alive around town. They released their debut, All Directions Forward, early last year. Singer Anthony Rodriguez has garnered praise for his vocal stylings and there's no telling what the band has been up to since they last appeared on stage. Evening Muse (Hahne)
The Young Sons The Charlotte quartet could almost be considered some kind of local supergroup – Justin Williams of The Talk, solo artist Jon Phillips, The Stone Figs' Justin Turner and Bellglide drummer John Cates. Their music has a retro-rock/pop vibe to it. They're working on their full-length debut and are putting in the miles around town. If you haven't heard of them yet, you're sure to hear a lot more. Food Lion Speed Street, Uptown (Hahne)
Chevelle The band, which still has two out of the three original brothers, plays a hard rock that definitely shows its Tool influences. They're still touring in support of last year's Vena Sera – the first recorded with new bass player Dean Bernardini. Most of their hits came off of 2002's Epic Records debut, Wonder What's Next – "The Red," "Closure" and "Send the Pain Below." Food Lion Speed Street, Uptown (Hahne)
MAY 23-25
Asheville Music Jamboree It's a short jaunt into the mountains for the AmJam festival. They've got two-day and Sunday-only tickets available, so there's plenty of options to get out and see a variety of music. Among the acts performing are Gov't Mule, Burning Spear, Keller Williams, The Lee Boys and a whole bunch more. Should be a great way to spend the holiday weekend if you want to get out of town. Neighborhood Theatre is one of the sponsors of the event. More info at www.amjam.net. Deerfields Amphitheatre, Asheville. (Hahne)