FRIDAY, MARCH 16
Rodriguez
A few years ago, the folk singer Sixto Rodriguez experienced a resurgence thanks to the release of the art house hit movie Searching for Sugar Man, a documentary about his life that centers on the rumors of his death that circulated in the '90s. In the wake of its release, Rodriguez appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and embarked on a short tour. He was also the subject of a 60 Minutes feature that highlighted the film and his burgeoning career. Expect him to revisit his past glories for tonight’s show. (Jeff Niesel) 8 p.m., $47-$67. Akron Civic Theatre.
Cross Brothers LP Release/Glass Traps/Part-Time Lover/Sister Smirk
With three guitars constantly vying for attention, Living on Sheepheads, the debut album from the locally based Cross Brothers simultaneously recalls the garage rock revival acts of the '90s (the Hives, the Strokes) while drawing from Kinks-like songwriting structures. In "Crashing Down," Matt Charboneau's beefy bass riff somehow mixes well with vibes, bursts of guitar and thumping drums, and the band effectively turns a clichéd expression into a catchy refrain on the rollicking, Dylan-like "Where the Water's Fine." Ultimately, the album suggests the extent to which the Cross brothers, two guys who showed so much potential with Coffinberry and have created a buzz with the Cross Brothers even before the band released an album, have evolved and matured into fantastic songwriters and musicians. (Niesel) 9 p.m., $6. Happy Dog.
Michael Schenker Fest
For Michael Schenker Fest, which just released the new album, Resurrection, guitar guru Michael Schencker recruited three classic Michael Schenker Group vocalists (Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet and Robin McAuley) plus Doogie White, who sings in Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock. The supergroup also includes guitarist/keyboardist Steve Mann, bassist Chris Glen and drummer Ted McKenna. The album's first single, the Dio-like "Warrior" features a somber intro before escalating and allowing all four vocalists to show off their chops while Schenker delivers a gritty mid-song solo. Schencker has said the band will deliver a two-plus hour set that includes tracks from his extensive back catalog. (Niesel), 7 p.m., $19.99 ADV, $27 DOS. Agora Ballroom.
SATURDAY, MARCH 17
Heaven is In You Presents Ghost Noises with Hi-VIS/FANA/Ghost Noises/A/V
Tonight's special electronic music concert hosted by the locally based Heaven is In You features a range of different artists. Performances include "evocative sound collages" courtesy of FANA, as well as psychedelic hip-hop from Ghost Noises, a local group that'll perform its first live show in months. Expect to hear new material from the group. The lineup also includes guitarist Ted Bizon from Seeress/Significant Loss. (Niesel), 9 p.m., $8. Now That's Class.
Michael Stanley and the Resonators/Donnie Iris
Late last year, local hero Michael Stanley, who had just released Stolen Time, a fine new studio album, had to cancel a pair of shows at Hard Rock Live in the wake of his recovery from coronary surgery. Tonight’s show serves as a make-up date. It happens to fall on St. Patrick’s Day, but we suspect Stanley, a guy who operates more like an indie rocker these days as he self-releases his albums, won’t cater to the holiday and will instead put the emphasis on delivering a quality performance. (Niesel) 7:30 p.m. Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park.
SUNDAY, MARCH 18
Big K.R.I.T./Cyhi the Prynce
Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T. (an acronym that stands for King Remembered in Time) also has battled his own demons and wrestles with the duality of being K.R.I.T as well as Justin Scott. The rapper burst onto the national scene in 2010 with his K.R.I.T. Wuz Heremixtape which ended up landing him a deal with Def Jam Records. While it seemed like a blessing at the time, K.R.I.T.'s tenure with the label was tumultuous as his vision and the corporate vision for his career didn't always sync up. After two critically well-received albeit underperforming albums (2012's Live From the Underground and 2014's Cadillactica), K.R.I.T. and Def Jam parted ways. Late last year, Big K.R.I.T. released his third studio album, 4eva is a Mighty Long Time, independently through his Multi Alumni imprint. Expect to hear songs from it at tonight’s show. (Emanuel Wallace) 8 p.m., $23.50 ADV, $27 DOS. House of Blues.
Kristen Hersh & Grant Lee Phillips
Two years ago at Music Box Supper Club, singer-songwriters Steve Poltz and Grant-Lee Phillips played a fun co-headlining show. They couldn't stop talking about what a great time they were having together on their first-ever tour together. This time around, Phillips comes to town on a solo tour in support of his terrific new album, Widdershins. He's teamed up with Throwing Muses singer-guitarist Kristin Hersh. The two introspective singer-songwriters should match up well. 7 p.m., $18 ADV, $22 DOS. Music Box Supper Club.
