Music Menu 

Bluegrass Showcase -- A true Charlotte showcase of working (i.e., touring) bluegrass bands, this showcase features the Moonshine Racers, Brown Liquor Pickers and the Custom Grass Snakes. Some of the groups mix in a little NewGrass more than others, and some, like the Moonshine Racers, fold in a bit more country jam, a la Garcia and Grisman. A good overview of some of the younger pickers in town for those who wondered if there is a scene for such a thing. Visulite Theatre (Davis)

Claire Holley -- The Mississippi-raised Holley's star continues to rise, with a new album on YepRoc (Claire Holley) and coverage in several high-profile outlets, including NPR. Holley's first albums (Night Air and Sanctuary) established her southern-fried songbird style, equal parts Emmylou Harris and Alison Krauss. With Chris Rosser. The Evening Muse (Davis)

Clutch -- Neil Fallon and company opt for a stoner blend of hard rock, funky overlays and itchy riffage to disown metal extremism and cliches. They can rock like mofos, create wacko Zappa-esque ditties and bring home the bacon at the same time. Clutch have the aptitude to rock out like Sabbath, yet have the IQ to take metal beyond the mass of self-stroking contemporary headbangers and metal-rappers. Tremont Music Hall (Shukla)

Loch Ness Johnny -- This Columbia, SC quartet boasts its members playing acoustic guitar, bass, drums, and fiddle. Yes, fiddle. The Johnnies spice their Southern black coffee with a little Irish cream, mixing mid-tempo acoustic rockers with a Guinness-guzzling Emerald Isle flair. Hints of Richard Thompson and Van Morrison crop up from time to time, as well as nods to Mellencamp. Strangely enough, it works. Luck of the Irish, perhaps? Puckett's Farm Equipment (Davis)

Ultra Bait -- Swingin' punk rockers from the bowels of Virginia who quickly define their agenda with plenty of lyrical niceties like the title track from their record, Bitch 4 Hire. Ruminations on copulating and gurgling gallons of beer are the ever-present themes as they crank up guitars with slappin' percussion and a frontwoman who'll give any testosterone-bloated comrade a run for his money. Fat City (Shukla)

SATURDAY 6.29

First Night on Earth / 63 Crayons -- A rare evening of, count 'em, four hip bands. The Port Huron Statement are exotic sound weavers already heading to my batch of this year's fave releases. 63 Crayons have dropped an irresistible EP that begs for more. The outfit could be pegged 63 Crayons circa '66 as they update paisley sounds for all of us born a decade or two late. Andalucia play a slo-mo rock textured and layered with fuzzy guitars, bringing back shoe-gazing memories. Headliners First Night on Earth are the maturation reached by musical veterans after years of tipping hats to Brit-pop notions and finally arriving at these shores. It's the perfect "get there early and stay till the end" sorta gig. The Evening Muse (Shukla)

Flavor 8 -- Another in the popular line of hip-hop/DJ events that regularly invade the Queen City, Flavor 8 features a rare appearance by the influential group The Pharcyde, Monk of Rabbit in the Moon, Freaky Flow with MC Flipside, and more. The 'Cyde are known for their off-kilter humor and interesting, pumped-up De La Soul-like beats, but the band was just as adept at folding emotion into the recipe, something not done much in the pre-Anticon days of 1992. Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde and Labcabincalifornia are at the very least minor classics of the genre, and the band still mixes it up today with an energetic live show. Toronto drum & bass whiz Freaky Flow is another one to catch, even with the rather uninteresting shoutouts by MC Flipside. Grady Cole Center (Davis)

Hadden Sayers -- Texas rocker mixes electric blues and classic rock intonations to spin his own brand of music. S.R. Vaughan is never too far away while Hadden trips the six stringer in a proper manner, tackling best works of Ian Moore or Kenny Wayne Shepherd. In the end it's Hadden's songwriting prowess that keeps things interesting. Double Door Inn (Shukla)

SUNDAY 6.30

Blind Boys of Alabama -- The exclamation point on the 60-year history of this group is last year's release Spirit of the Century (Real World), a defining blues gospel record. On the record they do traditional gospel standards as well as cover Ben Harper, Jagger/Richards and Tom Waits. The dull and over-polished contemporary gospel /Christian performers can learn volumes from these gentlemen, mainly that the message is a personal quest while music is the true gift and a soulful delivery paramount. Secular music lovers as well as faithful will sway heads in unison. Johnny Irion, a rising star of the American music, will open. Top recommendation. Neighborhood Theatre (Shukla)

WEDNESDAY 7.3

Uncle Sam Jam -- Not a bad little show here, especially if you like your music 80s-style with a bit of attitude. Worthy if only because she helped make Sleater-Kinney possible (we'll forgive her Meredith Brooks), Joan Jett doesn't give a damn about her bad reputation, and she does love the rock & roll. LL Cool J simply needs a beat (an 808, preferably). The L, not considered that much of a player anymore by the rap cognoscenti, nonetheless has rocked more house parties than Ja Rule and Trick Daddy combined. L was one of the first to bring the rugged/ruff vocal style to the fore, and Rule and folks like Method Man owe him his propers. Not to mention he's had so many hit singles that the whole show ought to be tighter than the tops of one of the women in his videos. Course of Nature and Abandoned Pools also appear. Dixie's Tavern (Davis)