Bettye LaVette
The 67-year-old rhythm & blues singer’s rollercoaster career
and 2005 comeback (which wasn’t a traditional comeback, since few remembered
her `60s and `70s work) was ripe for an autobiography. Accompanied by the book,
her latest album is hailed as some of her best work.
Farewell Drifters
The Nashville roots-pop group previews material from its third
album, "Tomorrow Forever," which is set for a January 28 release. The group
relies heavily on sunny `60s and `70s pop, but remains traditional enough to
make the bluegrass charts and play Merlefest.
Mickie James
If you’re a fan of WWE and you haven’t caught Charlotte’s own PWX
indie wrestling yet, here’s your chance to cheer (and you will) our excellent
up and coming talent at pre-concert matches and catch the former WWE
Diva-turned-country-singer. Wrestling starts at 6 p.m.
Math the Band
With its Kickstarter-funded album, "Stupid & Weird" (which
more than doubled its goal) scheduled for 2014, this coed, retro, synth-punk
duo returns with more of its outrageously fun, videogame music-inspired,
hardcore bleeps. Imagine Matt & Kim without any brakes.
Lucy Kaplansky
It’s been decades since the NYC folk singer (and Shawn Colvin’s
former musical partner) returned to music after pursuing a career as a
psychologist. She brings empathy as well as a unique alto and a gift for
detailed storytelling to the songs on her latest record "Reunion."
Molly Gene One Whoaman Band
Like the wayward daughter of Robert Johnson and Donita Sparks
from`90s female hard rock quartet L7, this Missouri musician plays the kind of
gnarly blues where you can hear the metal slide rub against steel strings while
operating a drum kit with her feet and singing mean, pained, sexy, Delta blues
songs.
Crunk Witch
Neither rap nor goth (although closer to the latter), the
curiously yet fabulously named duo actually makes synth-pop that sounds like
the violently beautiful collision of early Depeche Mode, disco, techno, and
dubstep, but with plaintive vocals (think Peter Murphy meets Fitz) and
meaningful lyrics.
New Politics/Sleeper Agent
Thursday 7 p.m., Amos’, 1423 S. Tryon St., $15,
www.amossouthend.com
With its catchy single “Harlem” everywhere from Disney’s “Frozen”
to commercials for Taco Bell and Windows 8, spots on “Fallon” and “Conan,” and
an opening slot with Pink, breakdancing, Brooklyn-based, Copenhagen-bred
trio New Politics is poised to break big. Kentucky's Sleeper Agent rocks like the ornery love child of the Donnas and the Strokes. Its sophomore album is out in March.
Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires
The Alabama Southern rockers, who recently signed to Sub Pop
Records, is likely the best live band you haven’t seen yet. While touching on
country-soul, folk, punk, and rock, Bains and his equally enthusiastic band
come across as the Allmans meet the Stooges with the live intensity of early
Avetts.