WEDNESDAY:
Carrie Underwood
curses those revamped
Billboard
country chart rules that kept her new single from going to No. 1 at the 1st Mariner Arena. Percussionist
Michelle Purdy
gives a recital at An die Musik.
Matt Graboski
plays acoustic at Joe Squared Station North.
Dick Hensold
plays traditional Scottish music on bagpipes at Guitars of Pikesville.
THURSDAY:
The
Fabulous Thunderbirds
, or at least the current incarnation, in which frontman Kim Wilson is the only original member, play the Maryland Live Casino in Hanover. Ohio bands the
Sidekicks
and
Saintseneca
swing into the Charm City Art Space. Upstairs at the Ottobar,
Call of the Wild
and
Spitting Images
play a pre-party for Unregistered Nurse Fest, while
Anamanaguchi
headlines downstairs.
Adrienne and the Merrylanders
get jazzy at Joe Squared Station North. The
Carolina Chocolate Drops
play the Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick.
FRIDAY:
Great White
, or at least the current incarnation, in which frontman Jack Russell is the only original member, plays the House of Rock in White Marsh. The Baltimore Composers Forum presents Sound Connections II, with performances from pianist
Ruth Rose
and others at An die Musik. Unregistered Nurse Fest kicks off with
Sick Weapons
,
Leather
,
Slow Jerks,
and more at the Metro Gallery.
Don't miss:
Inca
, the new project from Soul Cannon keyboardist Jon Birkholz, opens for
Class Actress
at the Ottobar.
SATURDAY: Brandy
arrives at Rams Head Live with her recent comeback hit, "Put It Down." Meanwhile, another staple of '90s R&B radio,
Mint Condition
, is across the street at Baltimore Soundstage.
Rocky Loves Emily
and
Late Nite Reading
play a matinee at the Ottobar. The Recher Theatre hosts Rock Harvest 2012, the annual Fallen Blue police benefit, with a hard-rock all-star lineup including
Don Dokken
,
Neil Turbin
,
Fallen Martyr
, and more. Alabama garage rockers the
Dirty Clergy
plays at Joe Squared Station North. The Creative Alliance at the Patterson presents the
Sweet Sweetback Sisters
and
Manly Deeds
. Awesome Welsh trio the
Joy Formidable
plays an intimate show at St. Stephen's Church in Washington, D.C.
Don't miss:
The second and final night of Unregistered Nurse Fest features
Grass Widow
,
Purling Hiss
, and a very special reunion set from
Moss Icon
.
SUNDAY:
Baltimore psych rockers the
Flying Eyes
open for one of the sound's forefathers,
Roky Erickson
, at the Ottobar. Gorilla Music presents a battle of the bands, featuring formidable opponents like
Axe the Stache
and the
Fuzzwoks
, at Baltimore Soundstage. An die Musik's Roots Café Singer-Songwriter Series (hosted by
City Paper
contributor Geoffrey Himes) features
Sam Nitzberg
and
Matt Douglass
.
MONDAY:
The
Hank Levy Legacy Big Band
digs into the late Baltimore jazz composer's unusual time signatures and harmonies at An die Musik.
TUESDAY:
Baltimore's own
Rye Rye
opens for
Kreayshawn
, another internet-beloved female rapper who released her debut album this year, at the Recher Theatre. WTMD brings singer-songwriters
Justin Townes Earle
and
Tift Merritt
to Rams Head Live.
Curren$y
and
Fiend
, two New Orleans rappers who moved on from No Limit Records to much more interesting current careers, play at Baltimore Soundstage.
Dope Body
opens for
Deerhoof
at the Ottobar. Nonsensically rebellious major-label rap-rockers
Death Grips
rage against the machine at the Rock and Roll Hotel in Washington.
Don't miss:
Pianist
Freddie Redd
plays music from his score for the 1959 Jack Gelber play,
The Connection
,
at An die Musik.
WEDNESDAY:
The Metro Gallery presents Embody Lab: a Catalyst of the Vocal Arts, with Baltimore beatbox talents like
Shodekeh
and
Chuck Da Mad Ox.
Baltimore indie band
Mr. Moccasin
plays a release party for its new album at the Windup Space with
Other Colors
and
Leaf House
(featuring
City Paper
contributor Michael Shank).
Rome
, the pathetic Bradley Nowell wannabe who sometimes pretends to be a member of the band Sublime, plays solo at the Recher Theatre.
Torche
brings sludge-metal from Miami to the Ottobar.
Don't miss:
The first annual WRNR holiday season Smorgasgourd concert brings
Chappo
,
Civil Twilight
,
Delta Rae
, and Maryland's own
Pasadena
to Rams Head Live.
IN THE WINGS:
Innovator of filth
Blowfly
comes to the Metro Gallery on Dec. 2. (For more information, visit themetrogallery.net or call [410] 244-0899.) Baltimore's inimitable '80s hard-rock heroes
Kix
will have their annual Kix-mas holiday celebration at Rams Head Live on Dec. 29. (For more information, visit ramsheadlive.com or call [410] 244-1131.) Maryland Deathfest X has been announced for 2013, with four days of heaviness from May 23 to May 26 at both Baltimore Soundstage and the "former Sonar compound," where the festival has been held the last seven years, featuring bands like
Exodus
,
Converge
, and
Pig Destroyer
. (For more information, visit marylanddeathfest.com or call [410] 244-0057.)