Thursday, February 28, 2013

This week's hot concerts

George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic
9 p.m. Friday, March 1, Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St. $40-$60. www.neighborhoodtheatre.com
The NoDa venue’s outgoing management team kicks off its final weekend  of shows with the Funkfather himself, who is here for CIAA weekend. The club under new management later this Spring.
Bon Jovi
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, Time Warner Cable Arena, 333 E. Trade St. $19.50-$189.50. www.ticketmaster.com
With its new album, "What About Now" set for a March 12 release, the veteran rock band returns to the arena for its "Because We Can" Tour. The tour's named for its new uplifting single which follows the motivational all-American pop-rock of the band's more recent work. 
Dropkick Murphys
8 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, Fillmore, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd. $38. www.livenation.com
Best known for its contribution to “The Departed” soundtrack (“I’m Shipping Up To Boston”), this Boston combo still flirts with the angry punk of its youth while following its Irish roots with lyrically-driven, whistling group-shouted story songs that would sound at home in a pub or on the deck of a vessel crossing the Atlantic.
Bronze Radio Return/the Dunwells
9 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, Double Door, 1218 Charlottetown Ave. $12. 704-376-1446.
The next chapter of the current folk-rock revival brings more electrified touches and Dave Matthews-flavor to the group-sings (which, with countless TV placements, you’ve likely heard its single “Shake Shake Shake”). Its UK-based tour mates, the Dunwells, take a folkier, harmony-driven route.
Alexz Johnson/Charlene Kaye
6 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, Tremont, 400 W. Tremont Ave. $15/$50 VIP. www.ticketfly.com
Former Disney actress Johnson (“Instant Star”) joins forces with the Team StarKid guitarist/Darren Criss collaborator (and BFF) Kaye for a night of pop-rock that’s equally smart and infectious.
Cowboy Junkies
7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7, McGlohon Theater, 345 N. College St. $24.50-$44.50. 704-372-1000.
The Canadian export plays material from its latest collection as well as revisits its seminal album, “The Trinity Session” - a beautiful and unusual-for-its-time collision of sleepy folk and psychedelic, swirling rock that garnered a rare four stars from “Rolling Stone.”
Holly Williams
8 p.m. Thursday, March 7, Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St. $12-$15. 704-376-3737.
She’s Nashville royalty - the granddaughter and daughter of Hanks Jr. and Sr. and half-sister of Hank III (who owns a trendy upscale boutique to boot) - but it’s her lived-in voice and ability to channel heartbreak while straddling folk songwriting and polished country that makes her’s a unique voice apart from her bloodline.