D&D SLUGGERS So much has changed in popular culture. Take rock music and video games. They've flipped in the popular perception, the former becoming the vestige of effete dweebery while the latter is now somewhat hip and acceptable. Even in the age of Amazon.com, freestanding Game Stop stores are everywhere. (Consider music stores' comparative survival.) Bands like D&D Sluggers bridge the gap between those worlds admirably, composing addictive dance-rock with a guitar, a synth, a Nintendo DS and a Game Boy. The thump and crackle of digital percussion and Nintendo soundbites back pop-punk guitar and fuzzy synth work. And the pop-punk quality is alive and well in the vocals of "Jam of the Year," while there's a conversational They Might Be Giants-ness to über-square movie date song "Johnny Depp," and even a refreshing Jamiroquai feel to "I Will Not Be There." Yeah, these are the good nerds for sure. $5. 10:30 p.m. The Evening Muse.

MATRIMONY Dearly beloved, we are gathered in the presence of these witnesses, to join music and lyrics in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate signifying the mystical union between instruments and vocals; the band and fans. Sustaining this hallowed union are the adept songwriting skills of guitarist/singer James Brown and keyboardist/singer Ashlee Hardee Brown, along with drummer Jordan Hardee and multi-instrumentalist CJ Hardee. Having found the support of Columbia Records for their upcoming major-label debut, the Charlotte band plans to rifle through its entire catalog of music on this night for one and all to enjoy. The celebration shall include, but not be limited to, a combination of energetic folk and rock infused with tales of life and love, and sparked by the slightest hints of blues, pop and bluegrass. $12. 9 p.m. Neighborhood Theatre.

TODD SNIDER The Nashville storyteller began his career as a bright and briefly controversial light on the too-tepid Americana singer/songwriter scene - a witty, John Prine-leaning raconteur (he was even on Prine's label) with a smart-aleck streak who'd mockingly incinerate whatever crossed his path. But Snider then took a blowtorch to his own life and, in the aftermath, his songs took on the banal flavor of rehab drunkalogues. Thankfully, Snider's recent output returns to topical socio-cultural fare - including this year's Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables - that at least makes his by-the-numbers country-rock stand out for its intelligence. With Kevin Gordon. $22-$25. 8:30 p.m. Visulite Theatre.

For the third year, Uptown Charlotte Jazz Festival brings more smooth R&B- and pop-based acts than actual jazz to Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre. But at least one of the acts stands out. Fronted by guitarist and producer Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick, the U.K.-based acid jazz ensemble Incognito has released a string of compelling, jazz-based dance albums since its beginnings in the early '80s, when smooth jazz first began colliding with hip-hop and funk. The group's most recent CD is Surreal, released earlier this year. Other performers on the festival roster include Boney James, Pieces of a Dream, Joey Sommerville, Soul of Summer (featuring Warren Hill, Maysa, and Jonathan Butler), and Innertwyned. $33 and up. 7 p.m. Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre.

ROBERT EARL KEEN The Texas troubadour explores small-town life, crime sprees, spirituality, love lost or gained and myriad other tales that seemingly shrink novellas into concise songs. Keen hovers in the hinterland between folk and country, where roots-rock and introspective balladry wrap around poignant songwriting. His honky-tonk twang and barroom rockers were an early influence on the development of alt-country. Keen's latest recording, Ready for Confetti, retains his oft-witty, always organic songcraft. Sure, with nearly three decades of hitting the road and releasing numerous recordings, he's bound to have a couple of misses. But his catalog is filled with plenty gems for the astute listener, even though, shamefully, radioland hasn't rewarded him with hits. $20-$23. 8 p.m. Coyote Joe's..

EARTH, WIND & FIRE Taking its name from the guiding elements in founder Maurice White's horoscope, Earth, Wind & Fire is slick and soulful, but often lacks the unpredictable and messy emotion of Water. At the dawn of the 1970s, EWF was part of an unofficial funk triumvirate including Sly & the Family Stone and Parliament-Funkadelic that forged a bridgehead into white-bread pop and busted down racial barriers. Espousing pan-cultural mysticism and snazzy showmanship, EWF did its damnedest to mash up the music, mixing soul, gospel, disco and rock into delectable pop. The group's horn-laden extravaganzas can still eclipse George Clinton's glittery cosmic slop, but they lack Sly or P-Funk's raw edge. EWF is seen less as a gutsy groover than as the Paul McCartney of funk. But like Sir Paulie, EWF's syrupy ballads and squeaky-clean image belie its ability to rock like a motherfunker. Especially on hits like "September" and "Shining Star." $40.50-$90.50.8 p.m. Ovens Auditorium. www.ovensauditorium.com.

OFF THE RECORD W/ THE BELMONT PLAYBOYS For more than 20 years, Charlotte's Belmont Playboys have put their own stamp on rockabilly, keeping the slapped bass and charging guitar riffs alive with grease and grit. On this night, things are sure to get personal as the band offers the stories behind their songs and strips the songs down to their barest bones. $8. The Evening Muse.

BOOTSY COLLINS Rightly revered and ridiculously entertaining, the Bootzilla stompin' one-man Funk ‘n' Roll Hall of Fame spreads the gospel of Universal Groove. The godfather of grimy, in-your-face slap bass, Bootsy Collins honed his chops with James Brown and held down the bottom for George Clinton's legendary P-Funk Mothership. In the process, Bootsy revolutionized the approach to bass guitar and spawned a teeming brood of imitators. With star-studded bass, glam-damaged get-up and more cosmic titles than the Holy Roman Emperor, Bootsy continues to astound with his idiosyncratic soul, bizarre humor and outrageous lyrics. So why is his sole Grammy for an appearance in a Fatboy Slim video? With Nu-funk acolytes Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band. $26-$35. Neighborhood Theatre.

MODERN MAN This act from Greenville, S.C. paints in shades of shoegaze, post-punk and post-rock, tilting more guitar squall than ebb-and-crest, though both elements comfortably co-exist on their palette. Sure, these days those tags apply to scores of young bands basking in its discovery of My Bloody Valentine-guitar distortion. But what sets Modern Man apart is the sinister undertow of Joy Division pulse-and-thrum - and Allen Glenn's ghostly, echo-chamber vocals - that dial up the tension to a pleasurable frisson. By all means, find out if their full-length debut, Eyes No, is your cuppa by heading over to their pay-what-you-can Bandcamp page. With Troubador Dali, a name neither catchy nor clever. $5. Snug Harbor.

SARAH JAROSZ Sarah Jarosz is a refreshing change from the balladry and bombast of radio mavens like Adele and Florence Welch. With a smoky voice and understated style, Jarosz weaves her songs (and the occasional Radiohead cover) amid mandolin, clawhammer banjo and guitar, all of which she plays herself. Her folk-pop often shares the doleful tone of old-timey Appalachain tunes, but it's balanced by her spirited, virtuosic talent, especially on the mandolin. Not bad for a gal who's not even out of college yet. $49.50 and up. Knight Theater.