Thursday, December 12, 2013

This week's hot concerts


 Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas
Friday  8 p.m., Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St., $7-$9, www.eveningmuse.com
With influences like Tom Waits and world rockers Gogol Bordello, this Detroit vocalist already piques curiosities. The daughter of Mexican and Cuban immigrants and Motor City restaurant owners is grabbing ears with an original gypsy-flavored sound and stand out voice.

Grown Up Avenger Stuff
Friday  8 p.m., Visulite, 1615 Elizabeth Ave., $8, www.visulite.com
The local female-fronted hard rock powerhouse continues a busy month that started out opening for Clairy Browne and ends with New Year’s Eve in Florida. Check out this headlining show in between.

Those Darlins
Friday  10 p.m., Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St., $10, www.snugrock.com
The Nashville group - now a co-ed effort - continues to evolve from its early country-punk girl group days on its new album “Blur the Lines.” The heavy twang, indie edge, humor and `60s girl group elements remain.

Spyro Gyra & the Yellowjackets
Saturday  8 p.m., Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St., $42.50-$65.50, www.blumenthalarts.org
Nearing its 40th anniversary next year one of jazz-pop’s biggest crossover acts shows little inclination for retirement when its last four albums have received Grammy nominations. It’s joined by fellow smooth jazz fusion institution Yellowjackets.

Carolina Chocolate Drops
Saturday & Sunday  8 p.m., Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St., $22-$25, www.neighborhoodtheatre.com
Its semi-annual winter show may be fans’ last chance to catch co-founder Dom Flemons with the band. He’ll embark on a solo career in 2014 and two new members will join founder Rhiannon Giddens for the group’s next chapter.

Chris Isaak
Monday  7:30 p.m., Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St., $39.50-$84.50, www.blumenthalarts.org
The seemingly ageless band leader returns to a bigger venue (since his intimate 2012 McGlohon gig) for a holiday set that’ll include Christmas tunes, his biggest hits and favorites, and possibly a flaming piano.

Diarrhea Planet
Wednesday  9 p.m., Chop Shop, 399 E. 36th St., $10-$12, www.chopshopnoda.com
Easily voted the best band with the absolute worst name, this Nashville good-time garage rock outfit is actually much better than its name implies. It’s almost as if it gave itself (or its audience) something to overcome before the walls of guitar and wild live show kick in.

Bob Schneider
Thursday  8:30 p.m., Chop Shop, 399 E. 35th St., $16-$20, www.chopshopnoda.com
On his latest album, “Burden of Proof,” the charismatic Austin songwriter adds string arrangements to his eclectic adult pop-rock and sometimes rootsy songs. He equates the approach to giving him his most mature sounding record yet.

Torche
Thursday  8:30 p.m., Tremont, 400 W. Tremont Ave., $10-$13, www.tremontmusichall.com
Don’t let the stoner tag fool you. This Miami outfit is heavy and although its guitars are cloaked in a film of psychedelic distortion, the pop hooks are ample as if it’s all hopped up on goofballs instead of drug down by barbiturates.