SCOWL BROW Scowl Brow songwriter Robby Hale's street-level storytelling exists in a perfect nexus of country and punk traditions - not the pop varieties, mind you. Yeah, there are great choruses and melodies here, but they serve as a center around which his devastating tales revolve. And he lays it all on the table here: suicide, wrecked relationships, failed families. This junction is the perfect home for this long-suffering blue-collar songwriter who, with resignation and gravel in his voice, sings "I've been dealing with this kind of shit for years." With Belmont Playboys, the Chalkies and Mercy Shot. $5. Snug Harbor.

VERITCAL HORIZON If you didn't already know what to expect from the dudes who quietly ushered alt-rock radio out of the '90s with their bland single, "Everything You Want," Vertical Horizon have made it easy with their guest drummer on the band's latest album - Rush's Neil Peart. We know what you're thinking - someone's still paying these guys to make music? Yes, and it gets worse. 2009's Burning the Days delivers a smorgasbord of light, mid-tempo alt-rock, landing the quartet somewhere between Creed and Tool on the sonic spectrum. It's about as safe and unchallenging as you can get, but then again, it's an oldies one-hit wonder. What else did you expect? $5. N.C. Music Factory.

DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND The New Orleans brass band tradition dates back to 19th century funeral marches, with players blowing dutiful dirges before turning on a dime and busting out the party tunes. Crescent City revivalists the Dirty Dozen Brass Band builds on those traditional tight arrangements. But the addition of steamy funk, deep soul and jazzy swing transforms the old timey field recording ethos into something modern, joyous and powerful. Playing since the '70s, the Dirty Dozen has jammed with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie to David Bowie, spawning imitators and reigniting a forgotten genre. Still, no one can match their mix of skronky sax, surprisingly soulful trombone, seriously rockin' sousaphone and tribal drums that invoke the ghosts of Tremé. In the hands of these players, the past becomes the future. $15-$18. Visulite Theatre.

RED JUNE It's almost commonplace now for a band to throw "folk" in its description, but Red June is the real deal. The Asheville trio uses some of the best elements from a variety of American folk genres: toe-tapping breakdowns, tight gospel harmonies and lyrics full of country longing. Blending old genres with a new, sleek sensibility, Red June brings traditional Southern music into a new age. What it lacks in raw sound, it makes up in seriously talented musicianship. Free. U.S. National Whitewater Center.

GIRLS GUNS AND GLORY These New Englanders channel old-school honky tonk, crank their Southern rock-fueled amps and turn just about any joint or outdoor venue into a Dixie roadhouse. Singer/ guitarist Ward Hayden's hefty vocals (is there such thing as Northern drawl?) colors much of their new recording Sweet Nothings. The country and roots-rock combo is rounded out with road-tested musicians that pretty much guarantee a fine evening of soaking and dancing. $8. The Evening Muse.

JOSEPH ARTHUR In the course of his 12-year career, Joseph Arthur's had a modest hit or two, popping up on The O.C.'s soundtrack once and being covered by Coldplay. But the real gems of Arthur's oeuvre reveal themselves to those who know his catalog well. Hidden among the layers of electronically looped guitar, synth, and harmonica - all of which Arthur performs solo, with the help of many gadgets - are warm themes of human error, failure and, ultimately, redemption. $12. The Evening Muse.

DR. JOHN Shunning boomer reverence, the Night Tripper Mac Rebennack casts a voodoo spell of leathery leering vocals, slithery funk, raunchy N'awlins R&B and Creole gumbo mojo. Chances are, Dr. John's swampy alchemical orgasm has touched you already, whether you were in the "Right Place, Wrong Time" for his sole hit in 1973; have been to Bonnaroo, which takes its name from his 1974 ode to hedonism, Desitively Bonnaroo; or (re)discovered him as a spiritual activist on Locked Down, his 2012 collaboration with The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach. Spanning genres and generations, the Big Mac swallows disparate musical styles whole and transforms them. Inexplicably opening for jam-band nonentities Gov't Mule, the good doctor is that rare living legend who can still shake your ass and fry your mind. $32/$45.35. Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre.

THE CARPENTER ANTS Even after 25 years, The Carpenter Ants still sound like they're having fun. The band's latest release, "Ants & Uncles", keeps the same retro blend of honky tonk, blues, and soul with playful lyrics about everything from "hillbilly moonshine" to trips to Chinatown.

The West Virginia band has certainly made their way around over the years — The Carpenter Ants have had four albums produced by Don Dixon, played a presidential election tour for Jesse Jackson, toured in Moscow twice, appeared on NPR's "Whad'Ya Know?" and "Mountain Stage", opened for the likes of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Paul Thorn, and Gov't Mule and have backed Kevin Coyne on tour. Thanks to band member and manager Michael Lipton, who founded the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and works on "Mountain Stage", "Mountain Stage" guests Radney Foster, Bill Lloyd, Jimmy LaFave, Solas, Mollie O'Brien, Hayes Carll, Terry Reid, Ben Sollee, Dwight Twilley, The Alternate Routes, Rodney Crowell, Robyn Hitchcock, Taj Mahal, and Luther Allison to jam with the band after the show.

Any band that has been playing for this long definitely has talent, but The Carpenter Ants have also managed to keep their infectious energy. Free. Rodi, Gastonia.

SCREAMING FEMALES It's not that we music writers aren't allowed to mention Hendrix, it's just that we rarely bother. Right now, for instance, I want to say Screaming Females guitarist Marissa Paternoster's playing kinda-sorta reminds me of his. But I'm a bit nervous to do so, I'm scared the Creative Loafing site will be inundated by commenters with names like HendrixIsAGod69 and BluesHammer420, seeking hot-headed retribution for my heretical beliefs. The culture of "greatest guitarist of all time" - as if it's the kind of thing that can be proven objectively, or at all - really gets in the way of an even-headed discussion. All I really want to say is that the emotional impact of the New Jersey garage rocker's fretwork is directly tied to her mastery of the instrument. With Ceremony and Joint D≠. $10. Haunted Mill.

CEREMONY This is so Charlotte - weeks with little out-of-town music to get excited about, and then two quality punk shows on the same night ... thank you, Jesus. Anyway, the hardcore kids dispute whether Ceremony fits that genre at all, and a 30-second-spin of this California band's recent songs - especially those off its latest, this year's Zoo - tells you the band has turned for inspiration toward Wire, the Pistols and the Buzzcocks and (way) away from Black Flag or Ceremony's own Bay area progenitors, the Dead Kennedys. It's still fast if somewhat less furious, and that melody thing has definitely become more important, so your mileage will vary depending on your punk proclivities. With Screaming Females and Joint D≠. $10. Haunted Mill.