This week's hot concerts

 
A Troop of Echoes

9 p.m. Saturday, January 14, Common Market, 2007 Commonwealth Ave. Free.

This Rhode Island-based instrumental combo is doing something new and original with indie-rock. Its saxophone takes the place of vocals while it and the guitars scale unusual melodies and shifting rhythms while the tracks remain anchored in math rock.  

Josh Kelley

11 p.m. Saturday, January 14, Coyote Joe’s, 4621 Wilkinson Blvd. $12-$15. www.etix.com

The adult contemporary artist recently followed his brother Charles (Lady Antebellum) into country, where Kelley, who had a few Top 10 adult pop hits, scored a Top 20 Country single in 2011 with “Georgia Clay.” 

 
The Toasters

8 p.m. Tuesday, January 17, Milestone, 3400 Tuckaseegee Rd. $10-$12. www.etix.com

Having recently celebrated its thirtieth anniversary, the longstanding New York-based third wave ska institution returns for what’s become an annual January show at the Milestone during what looks like a relentless winter tour (with only one day off in a month and a half!).

 
Graveyard

8 p.m. Wednesday, January 18, Tremont, 400 W. Tremont Ave. $12. www.etix.com

One of the surprise standouts of 2011’s Bonnaroo Festival, this Swedish outfit captures early `70s blues rock, heavy psychedelia, and garage rock (shades of Mountain, Deep Purple, Peter Green, and Humble Pie). Its latest album, “Hisingen Blues,” made several heavy and underground music sites’ “best of” lists. 

Miranda Lambert

7:30 p.m. Thursday, January 19, Bojangles’ Coliseum, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. $37.20-$63.90. www.ticketmaster.com

The country spitfire headlines her first Charlotte show since playing Coyote Joe’s in November 2007. Since then she's gone from “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” to award winning and critically acclaimed without losing her sass and fire. She’s joined by Chris Young and Jerrod Niemann.

 
Eilen Jewell

8 p.m. Thursday, January 19, Visulite, 1615 Elizabeth Ave. $12-15. 704-358-9200.

The revered songwriter, who has enjoyed plugs on FX’s “Sons of Anarchy,”  in “No Depression’s” year-end best list, and from Tom Hanks (who included her in a summer must list in "Entertainment Weekly"), channels another era and spikes her reputation as “Queen of the Minor Key” (the title of her latest album) with jumping rockabilly and classic country.

 
The Farewell Drifters

8 p.m. Thursday, January 19, Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St. $12-$14. 704-376-3737.

This Midwestern roots outfit scored a Top 10 album on Billboard’s bluegrass charts and while its instrumentation is traditional its soaring vocals are steeped in rock and classic pop - making it a cousin to the Avett Brothers or Mumford & Sons.