Lyle Lovett and his Large Band Lovett, always a favorite of the critics, is touring on the strength of his piping-hot, new Natural Forces, which is more of the same for the tall, cool drink of water: namely, melancholic mid-tempo heart-bruisers with a thread of the existentially absurd running through them to remind us that we shouldn’t take anything too seriously. He’s beginning to get his just desserts as a catalog artist, which is nice. What’s nicer is Forces is more than a worthy addition to his already teeming panoply of platters. Belk Theater (Timothy C. Davis)

Lucero Ramblin’ Roadshow & Memphis Revue The erstwhile Memphians’ newest, 1372 Overton Park, sees their already bustling countryfied sound served up with a side of sweet soul gravy with the inclusion of horns on a number of tracks. What’s more, it works: The band has always tended toward the anthemic, and the muscle-bound (if not Muscle Shoals) brass allows the band to somehow sound even more stripped-down. Which is not to say slick – think early Springsteen, where you could almost smell the streets that the Bard of the Boardwalk so lovingly described. Singer Ben Nichols is a worthy successor to the Boss’ poet/populist throne, and, the band’s sometimes-tight-assed fans be damned, this might be his most cohesive extended narrative yet. With The Dirty Streets, Cedric Burnside and Lightnin’ Malcolm. Visulite (Davis)

Adam Arcuragi Touring behind his recent countrified release, I Am Become Joy, Arcuragi’s music is cousin to the sad-eyed folk and country rock of fellow travelers like Mark Kozelek and Damien Jurado. These shimmering songs feature gentle, minor key jangle with a slight twang, the occasional well-placed horn and string section, and literate narratives with a vaguely religious undertow. Arcuragi’s a published poet and playwright, so this ain’t the usual “I got hammered last night cuz you left me and now I can’t pay the rent” fare. With Japan’s Uzuhi, Self-Evident and Summer Night Shade, all part of Customer Appreciation Night, meaning … no cover, ya cheap bastards. Milestone (John Schacht)

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Sarah Borges & Broken Singles Borges has played the Muse a bunch of times, and each time is better than the last. Her high-energy music gives hints at punk as much as country. The last couple of times, she’s made her way on top of the bar to encourage a sing-along … in a purely rock ‘n’ roll kind of way without the cheese. The Evening Muse (Jeff Hahne)

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Hatebreed This one isn’t gonna be about puppies and kittens. Expect aggro vocals, cookie monster vocals, screaming, vocal pain, shredded vocal chords and gargled razor blades. The Grammy-nominated headliners combine the heaviest of metal with something more groove-oriented, but either way, it’s mosh-pit friendly. The band’s touring in support of their fifth studio album, the self-titled release hit stores in September. With Unearth, Cannibal Corpse, Hate Eternal, Born of Osiris. Amos’ Southend (Jeff Hahne)

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Lambchop The long-running Nashville ensemble defies categorization, blending classic countrypolitan, ’70s soul, chamber pop, experimental synth accents and just enough rock to remain in that aisle at the record store. But everything orbits leader Kurt Wagner, arguably one of our best lyricists and chroniclers of the quotidian. With his omnipresent trucker’s cap, Buddy Holly glasses and hoarse delivery, Wagner doesn’t exactly exude romantic lead, but he’s seen enough to know there’s no end to human folly – and narrative fodder – when it comes to affairs of the heart. All that keen-eyed detail winds up ennobling our efforts, and once Lambchop gets under your skin – fuggetaboutit, they’re there for good. A freakin’ bargain at $10. Visulite Theatre (John Schacht)

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Matisyahu As musical and cultural boundaries bend and blend, there was bound to be a Hasidic Jew singing rasta music. Matisyahu (born Matthew Miller) weaves traditional Jewish spirituality with mighty, uplifting reggae grooves. He is touring for his third album simply called Light, where conscious lyrics, funky riddims, ragamuffin, dancehall, roots reggae and soaring rock riffs collide in this, well, a cross-cultural blend. With Moon Taxi. The Fillmore Charlotte (Samir Shukla)

The Flatlanders Like a shooting star across the Texas sky, The Flatlanders began in the early ’70s and then quickly dispersed after record company hassles. But the band birthed three fab singer/songwriters ­– Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock. After a three-decade break, and a slew of solo recordings, the gents are recording and touring twangy country records laced with folk, Texas blues and slow-mo rockabilly. The fluid new album Hills and Valleys is a statement on the vast songcraft skills of this Lubbock trio. With Colin Gilmore. McGlohon Theatre (Shukla)

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Real Estate This generically-named yet musically-astute pop outfit is adept in channeling the Pet Sounds vibes with other experimental pop of the era into downright spacey music. They unfold each song with a laid-back groove that blooms into pop draped in sunshine, usually subtle, occasionally somber, and often intriguing. Also on the bill: Bob Fields, the Spalding Grays and Neon Methods. Milestone (Shukla)

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TUESDAY, JULY 14

The Offspring, Sum 41 There hasn’t been a time warp, and you aren’t having a dream – two of the late ’90s radio-friendly punk rock bands are coming to town. No one can forget those fly white guys and Canadian pranksters, especially since one of them committed the ultimate publicity stunt – dating Paris Hilton. If they can survive after that act, then they deserve to have their three-chord progressions heard. With Frank Turner. Uptown Amphitheatre (Webster)

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SUNDAY, JULY 12

Toby Keith and Trace Adkins Despite “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” Trace Adkins is the real straight-talkin’ country troubadour here. He’s got a real-live, bourbon-aged classic country voice (in contrast to Keith, who’s got about a one-and-a-half octave growl which manages to sound even flatter), and, when he says stupid stuff in the media, it’s actually funny (See his recent appearance on Real Time With Bill Maher, when asked about cattle cloning: “Did cows stop fuckin’?”). Keith, of course, is the draw here, and he does the bad-ass with steel balls hanging from his trailer hitch schtick as good as anyone. However, a gimmick’s a gimmick, and while country music’s history is full of them, they’re usually in the form of a song, not a public persona. Being big and, er, rich is one thing – being remembered 20 years from now is another. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (Davis)

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FRIDAY, JULY 10

Buckwheat Zydeco Front man Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural Jr. is celebrating the band’s 30th anniversary with a tour and new album, Lay Your Burden Down. The accordian-friendly zydeco is sure to get feet moving, but I have to give an honest warning – you never know how long it will last live. I caught the band in Chapel Hill a few years ago and it took 40 minutes to play just three songs. Just as the crowd was finally getting warmed up and their feet moving, the show was over. Yep, just three songs and 40 minutes. Hopefully, he’ll stick around a little longer this time. Visulite Theatre (Jeff Hahne)

Truckstop Preachers The Preachers boast enough countrified charm and respect for their elders (Hank Sr., Ernest Tubb, Buck Owens) that, were someone to pull a Resistol down over your eyes – and perhaps pour a couple-three Lone Stars down your gullet – you could conceivably believe you were at one of Willie Nelson’s old hell-bent-for-Spanish-leather Fourth of July Picnics. And fireworks they got: Singer Nate Palmer, boasting the best Carolina country voice this side of the Two Dollar Pistols’ John Howie Jr., is worth the price of admission by his lonesome. Double Door Inn (Timothy C. Davis)

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By Sarah Coombes

This Friday, as in April 24, Strike City in the Epicentre is bringing in some special guests — Fall Out Boy. The group will be there to bowl, meet and greet fans and play Guitar Hero. Anyone who has played the game knows how sensitive the controls are… wonder how the bands do at their own songs! Rock‘N Bowl starts at 3:30 p.m. and might I suggest getting there early. Who knows, maybe 50 Cent and Ashlee Simpson will be there too … more random things have happened.

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