FRIDAY, OCT. 28
An Evening with Elvis Costello & the Imposters
When singer-songwriter Elvis Costello came through town to play House of Blues in 2005, he emphasized the hits, playing rousing versions of songs such as “Watching the Detectives” and “Pump It Up” much to the delight of a crowd clearly ready to revel in some nostalgia for the ’80s. A 2014 solo show at the Palace Theatre provided a striking contrast to that gig. It showed just how versatile the veteran singer-songwriter really is. Now, Costello has returned to the U.S. for a dozen East Coast and Midwest shows this fall on the Imperial Bedroom & Other Chambers tour. Costello and his backing band the Imposters will “frame” selections from 1982’s Imperial Bedroom with "the songs that led in and out of that velvet-trimmed playhouse.” (Jeff Niesel) 8 p.m. Akron Civic Theatre.
Marateck
Marateck has been referred to as a “math rock” band, and fittingly so; their entirely-instrumental music is a line graph of crescendos and decrescendos joined by smooth bell curves at one moment and jarring minimums and maximums the next. The experimental four-piece is string-based, consisting of a family of guitars (standard, bass, and baritone) outlined by sharp drum staccato. Guitarist Brendon Randall-Myers is a Yale School of Music graduate whose repertoire includes work with operas, symphonies, and theater groups in the US and abroad. Marateck’s first full-length, which awaits release, will feature amped-up versions of songs from 2014’s EP, which was recorded as a three-piece. Local noise rockers Swindlella will open. The band features Cloud Nothing’s Jayson Gerycz on drums and Chris Brown on guitar. (Bethany Kaufman), 9 p.m., $5. Happy Dog.
SATURDAY, OCT. 29
Hello Violet
The songs on this local band's new EP, All or Nothing, emerged from a jam session. As a result, tracks such as "Trigger Happy " feature intricate guitar riffs and fluttering vocals (think Cranberries); on the other hand, the title track simmers with intensity as Annastacia drops the f-bomb. Band members say they've written a handful of new songs they hopes to record in February. Maybe some of them will find their way into tonigh'ts set. (Niesel) 9 p.m., $5. Happy Dog.
MC Chris
Audiences might recognize Chris Ward’s distinctive, pipsqueak rapping style right away, especially if they’re familiar with some of the late night cartoons that aired on Adult Swim during the early 2000s. Ward, whose stage name is MC Chris, worked behind the scenes of a few Williams Street Studios shows, such as Sealab 2021 and The Brak Show. But he is probably most recognized for his voice acting on Aqua Teen Hunger Force as MC Pee Pants, a deranged spider whose song “I Want Candy” infatuates the show’s impressionable meatball protagonist. If that plot sounds weird enough for you, the man’s music, which is described as nerdcore hip hop, will be right up your alley. Although the last entry to his 10-album discography came in 2014, his latest song, an ode to Star Wars called “The Fan Awakens,” dropped last December. (Jacob DeSmit)9 p.m., $15 ADV, $17 DOS. Grog Shop.
Mushroomhead
When the local metal act Mushroomhead first formed in 1993, few critics imagined the group would still be going at it in 2015. And yet the masked band is now more popular than ever. Last year was particularly productive as the band toured Australia, where it played as part of the massive Soundwave festival. It also hit the road with Insane Clown Posse for a Halloween-themed jaunt. Its latest album, The Righteous and the Butterfly, embraces a wide range of musical styles, including hip-hop, electronica and hard rock. Recorded at the band’s studio in North Royalton and mixed by long-time collaborator Bill Korecky, the disc is arguably the band’s most polished effort to date. Expect to hear songs from it at tonight's annual Halloween-themed concert. (Niesel) 6 p.m., $29 ADV, $35 DOS. The Agora Theatre.
Turkuaz
One of the busiest bands in the nebulous jam/funk scene these days, Turkuaz always delights when they land in Cleveland. The last few albums pack more than enough of a punch for anyone in the mood to dance. With the band’s last outing, 2015’s Digitonium, they double-down on the danceable 80s reinvention jams. It’s a bear of an album, too, at 23 tracks that stretch on for miles. We like “Nightswimming” and “The Generator” as examples of what this band does best: super tight grooves, bouncing bass lines and anthemic vocals. Onstage, they’re even better. Bring your dancing shoes. (Sandy), 8:30 p.m., $15 ADV, $18 DOS. Beachland Ballroom.
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