POP MUSIC
AVETT BROTHERS The purveyors of one of the finest albums of the year, the shaking, quaking, heartbreaking rootsy rocker “I and Love and You,’’ bring their rip-roaring live show to bear on the new tunes. Simpatico rocker Nicole Atkins handles warmup duties. 8 p.m. Oct. 18. $25-$35. House of Blues. 800-745-3000. www.ticketmaster.com
VERTICAL HORIZON It’s been six years since their last release, but the former Boston rockers come back with a secret weapon on the new album “Burning the Days’’: Rush drummer Neil Peart plays on some of the songs. Seriously, the poppy “Everything You Want’’ guys have gone sorta prog. We wish the band’s regular drummer luck in re-creating Peart’s fills live. 8 p.m. Oct. 19. $18. Paradise. 877-598-8689. www.livenation.com
BRAND NEW HEAVIES Acid jazz, hip-hop soul, chilled out R&B - whatever you want to call it, the Heavies do it well, and vocalist N’Dea Davenport remains in the fold, topping the grooves with her soulful, ethereal vocals. 8 p.m. Oct. 20. $25. Showcase Live. 800-745-3000. www.ticketmaster.com
SARAH RODMAN 
