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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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DIET COKEHEADS Catchy names are always a good draw, but this group doesn't seem to be paying homage to the popular carbonated drink. One look at its blogspot, lovingly titled the "dietcrackheads," tells you this female punk band enjoys living on the edge. Their psychedelic, funk-tinged rock has a strange yet likeable appeal, and before you know it, you find yourself lulled into a trance of sorts. Slightly puzzling? Yes, but interesting enough that you'll want to hear more. With Grids and Holy Hand. $3-$5, Lunchbox Records, www.lunchboxrecords.com

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ANDREW W.K. Ryan Schreiber of Pitchfork once gave W.K.'s record "I Get Wet" a point-six, further calling the man's entire oeuvre "blistering tard-rock." A lot of things have happened since then: W.K. has become a motivational speaker (no kiddin'), he's been dropped by a satchel of record labels, and even been accused of having been a corporate construction all along. As for yours truly, I always thought of the man as something akin to a joke that seemed to be on everyone's lips but with a punchline impossible to parse. Whatever it was — and is — is probably immaterial at this point. To his credit, the "music" has decidedly not stood the test of time, which somehow seems to give the whole affair a little more humanity. Amos' Southend (Timothy C. Davis)

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MACHETE MUSIC TOUR Many would argue the reggaeton era in music has passed but for a generation that come of age during its height, it still holds a special place for them. The biggest names in Reggaeton and Latin urban music descend on the Queen City with a roster as stacked as they come. Ivy Queen, Tego Calderon and more will grace the stage. I wish I spoke Spanish. $35-$85, Bojangles' Coliseum, www.bojanglescoliseum.com (Mike McCray)

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HARDCORE LOUNGE The Johnson Brothers, Wes (vocals) and Chris (keyboards, vocals) are continuing the tradition. They're third generation performers to be precise, following the steps of the famed Johnson Family Singers. After nearly a decade of performing, Hardcore Lounge is celebrating the release of Dance of My Life. The multi-hued genre hopper can be pegged as jazz, lounge and pop, but that's only a start. . Charlotte music stalwarts Marlon Young, Marco Heeter and Mary Massie Allegrucci round out the crew. With Tara Busch and Jay Coop. $5, Snug Harbor, www.snugrock.com (Samir Shukla)