This week's hot concerts

Manchester Orchestra

8 p.m. Friday, November 18, Amos’ Southend, 1423 S. Tryon St. $15-$18. www.etix.com

The Southern indie-rock combo nears the end of the tour behind its grand and provokingly open album “Simple Math” (which beams with rich orchestrations and vulnerable, soul searching themes) before taking next year off from the road.

Joe Bonamassa

8 p.m. Friday, November 18, Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. $61.35-$83.45. www.ticketmaster.com

A former child prodigy whose guitar playing extends beyond the blues community (Slash called him his “new favorite guitar player” on Twitter). He’s moved out of the clubs and on to “Guitar Hero;” a top contender for modern blues “great.”

Beth McKee

10 p.m. Friday, November 18, Double Door, 1218 Charlottetown Ave. $8. 704-376-1446.

This New Orleans blues singer (a former member of Cajun/country act Evangeline) previews her upcoming album, “Next to Nowhere” (scheduled for a February 2012 release). The piano and accordion maven touches on Cajun, gospel, Americana, and swamp blues with the vocal strength of a rootsy `70s era singer-songwriter.

David Bazan

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

The voice and creative mind behind defunct indie band Pedro the Lion returned to the rock band format on his well-received second full-length, “Strange Negotiations,” which takes a small step away from his crisis of faith period while still ruminating on heavy, intimate ideas.

The Knux

8 p.m. Saturday, November 19, Milestone, 3400 Tuckaseegee Rd. $8-$12. www.etix.com

Not since Outkast has a hip-hop duo mixed hip-hop, rock, electronica, dance, and pop so seamlessly as to escape categorization. The L.A.-by-way-of-New Orleans duo knock out another versatile, genre-defying album with “Eraser” - one of 2011’s best releases.

Josh Ritter

8 p.m. Saturday, November 19, McGlohon Theatre, 345 N. College St. $20-$25. 704-372-1000.

The critically acclaimed songwriter turned novelist who has drawn comparisons to Dylan and Springsteen is usually backed by a crack rock band, but goes it alone for an acoustic solo performance where he’ll test new material.

Obituary/Denial Fiend

7:30 p.m. Sunday, November 20, Tremont, 400 W. Tremont Ave. $17-$20. www.etix.com

The Floridian death metal outfit surpasses the 20-year mark without straying from its heavy riff roots. Denial Fiend boasts influential, underground hardcore/metal act the Accused’s Blaine Cook as its vocalist.

The Airborne Toxic Event

8 p.m. Wednesday, November 23, Fillmore, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd. $24. www.livenation.com

This L.A. indie outfit combines the drama of a small string section (think the instrumentation of Arcade Fire) with the melancholy of an Irish folk singer-songwriter and the darkness of Interpol.