WEDNESDAY, OCT. 27
PLANTS AND ANIMALS Montreal-based collective Plants and Animals, like many of its Canuck compatriots, prefer loose song structures, foot-stomp choir crescendo, and soaring, anthemic takes on what it takes to come — and stay — alive in tough times. But whereas an Arcade Fire might aim for a broader sweep with its writing world view, Plants and Animals most often stays within its own particular phylum (and/or species): broad, lush rock about love and loss and regret and all those other interminable facts of life. The fact they can make a simple song about heartbreak sound like the end of the world says something about them, and about us too. But most importantly, it says something about the heart, and is therefore universal. With Frightened Rabbit, The Phantom Band. $15, Neighborhood Theatre, www.neighborhoodtheatre.com (Timothy C. Davis)
ANOOP DESAI Desai is a crooner with a sweet, soul-infused, old-school R&B voice, that when dipped in pop and rhythms of his Indian heritage creates brightly lit pop songs. Yeah, he was a finalist on the eighth season of American Idol, but Desai has already matured beyond the confines of that clique, and his music and writing skills are in full display on his debut recording All is Fair earlier this year. Grand things await this Chapel Hill native. With Sallie Mosely and Isaac Russell. $10, The Evening Muse, www.theeveningmuse.com (Shukla)
THE SMOKER’S CLUB TOUR If you don’t know the name Big K.R.I.T. by now, you’ve been missing out on one of hip-hop’s newest, most unique talents. 2010 has been a whirlwind for the Meridian, Miss., rapper/producer, who went from relative unknown before releasing K.R.I.T Wuz Here, to Def Jam signee and rap blog household name, in just a few months. He joins forces with frequent collaborators, Curren$y, who’s had a standout year himself, releasing Pilot Talk (produced entirely by N.C.-born, legendary hip-hop hit maker, Ski Beatz) and flooding the Internet with visuals, and Smoke DZA, for a show I’d gladly put my name behind. $20, Amos’ Southend, www.amossouthend.com (Mike McCray)
ANDY THE DOORBUM You may think you know what you’re in for when you see Andy the Doorbum grab an acoustic guitar and take a seat on stage as he gets set to perform, but chances are, you’ll be surprised. Instead of the typical singer-songwriter stuff, Andy’s work not only finds depth in its lyrical approach, but floor-shaking energy in his growled vocals and momentary fits of strumming. The only bad thing is that a lot of his releases are on cassette. Anyone got a tape player? With Little Teeth and Bob Fields. $6-$8, The Milestone, www.themilestoneclub.com (Jeff Hahne)
THURSDAY, OCT. 28
NEEDTOBREATHE The Rinehart brothers lead this evocative alterna-rock band. Often tagged as aChristian rock, the South Carolina’s group composes deft, soulful rock numbers, regardless of whether the lyrics touch spirituality or explore secular dilemmas. At moments goading listeners into a front-porch, sing-along revival and, with a confident guitar stroke, bursting into moody rock that’s modern, yet steeped in classic rock ethos. Their “Young and Far From Home” tour also features the Daylights. $32.25, The Fillmore, www.livenation.com (Shukla)
FRIDAY, OCT. 29
311 A number of local acts make it their business to cover this band’s hits, but none is as good as the original. 311 continues to rock out on tour following its mid-’90s success with songs like “All Mixed Up” and “Down.” They’ll take the stage in the Q.C. to perform music that has enough guitar riffs to make you head-bang and beats funky enough for even the most dedicated hip-hop fiend. $67, The Fillmore Charlotte, www.livenation.com (Debra Renee Seth)
SATURDAY, OCT. 30
FIEND WITHOUT A FACE This Atlanta combo is essentially Brent Hinds and Brann Dailor from Mastodon. But don’t expect the pummeling sludge and metal of that band. This duo is all about psycho-billy, surf, swamp country and drunken dive bar shenanigans. Their hooch is mostly an instrumental mix of the aforementioned, but with a rambunctious, we’re-out-for-a-good-time vibe. With West End Motel, Daikaiju and Manchovy. $10-$12. The Milestone, themilestoneclub.com (Shukla)
SUNDAY, OCT. 31
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS The Athens, Ga., Southern rock band, known for recording in analog and pushing vinyl, has some serious North Carolina connections. A few years back, they settled down in Forsyth County to record their album, A Blessing and a Curse. This year they dropped their 10th album, The Big To-Do, and even with a lineup that seems ever-changing, it was the band’s most successful to-date on the charts. More than a next generation Lynyrd Skynyrd, when feeling boxed-in, they’ve shown they can do a whole lot more. $35.25, The Fillmore Charlotte, www.livenation.com (McCray)
MONDAY, NOV. 1
THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS Since 2007, the band has been comprised of former My So-Called Life hearthrob Jared Leto, his brother Shannon (who formed the band) and Tomo Milicevic. Leto says he prefers not to trade on his name recognition as an actor (which brings up the question of why he has name recognition as an actor 10 years past his most famous work), even going so far as refusing to play venues who trade on his name in promotional materials. Thing is, he’s likely a better front man anyway, even as the band’s music is the same spit-shined, Muse-y, keyboard-splashed, metal-spiked, semi-saccharine stuff that too often passes for alternative rock radio these days. With New Politics. Sold Out, The Fillmore Charlotte, www.livenation.com (Davis)
This article appears in Oct 26 – Nov 1, 2010.
