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Music: the week ahead

CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS Formed in 2005, this North Carolina trio finally came to national prominence a few years ago with its revival of African-American string-band music. But it stands to make an even bigger splash with next month’s release of “Genuine Negro Jig,’’ a smart and snappy collison of traditional (“Cindy Gal’’) and contemporary (Tom Waits’s “Trampled Rose’’) propelled by the group’s high-stepping mix of fiddle, banjo, and jug. 8 p.m. Jan. 23. $28. Somerville Theatre. 617-876-4275. www.worldmusic.org CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS Formed in 2005, this North Carolina trio finally came to national prominence a few years ago with its revival of African-American string-band music. But it stands to make an even bigger splash with next month’s release of “Genuine Negro Jig,’’ a smart and snappy collison of traditional (“Cindy Gal’’) and contemporary (Tom Waits’s “Trampled Rose’’) propelled by the group’s high-stepping mix of fiddle, banjo, and jug. 8 p.m. Jan. 23. $28. Somerville Theatre. 617-876-4275. www.worldmusic.org (Julie Roberts)
January 21, 2010

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POP & ROCK
MYSTERY ROAR The latest addition to Boston’s synth-pop scene is Mystery Roar, a winkingly retro-minded band that’s never met a Casio it didn’t like. Anchored by Nathanael Bluhm’s processed vocals, the group mashes up its penchants for ’80s new wave, freestyle, and a seriously deep love of Giorgio Moroder. Tonight’s bill also includes Pretty & Nice and Nooka Jones. 9 p.m. Jan. 21. $8. Middle East Upstairs. 617-864-3278. www.mideastclub.com

NOUVELLE VAGUE Three albums into its reimagining of ’80s pop classics, this French ensemble takes some welcome detours on its new album, “3.’’ A cover of the Talking Heads’ “Road to Nowhere’’ goes country, and “Our Lips Are Sealed’’ becomes a soft-rock slice of Tropicalia. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24. $25. Somerville Theatre. 617-876-4275. www.worldmusic.org

SHINEDOWN It’s the kind of lineup that will have fans packing the venue while completely befuddling the detractors. Shinedown, a hard-rock band with a heart of gold, joins forces with Puddle of Mudd and Skillet, two fellow bands whose guitar hooks are almost as bombastic as the choruses. 8 p.m. Jan. 26. $32.50-$50. House of Blues. 877-598-8689. www.livenation.com

OF MONTREAL Fronted by the best-dressed man in indie rock (Kevin Barnes rocks glitter and fishnets like nobody’s business), Of Montreal is on a short tour ahead of a new album expected this year. James Huggins, Of Montreal’s longtime multi-instrumentalist who performs as James Husband, will open with songs from his excellent new solo debut, “A Parallax I.’’ 8 p.m. Jan. 27. $32. Paradise Rock Club. 877-598-8689. www.livenation.com JAMES REED

FOLK, WORLD & COUNTRY
ELIZABETH LAPRELLE Most of her repertoire is a half-century older than she is, but this young old-time singer from Virginia brings astonishing clarity and emotion to the Appalachian ballads she interprets, often a cappella. LaPrelle shares the bill with multi-instrumentalist Matt Brown, another fresh-faced Americana artist with tremendous respect for the past. 8 p.m. Jan. 23. $15, $5 for students, free for ages 17 and under. St. John’s United Methodist Church, 80 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown. 617-623-1806. www.brownpapertickets.com

CARRIE RODRIGUEZ & BEN SOLLEE They’re calling it an “acoustic cafe evening,’’ which is exactly how you want to hear two of folk-pop’s most engaging new stars. Rodriguez, a sprightly fiddler and singer, quickly picked up a following after hitting the road with Lucinda Williams and Alejandro Escovedo. And Sollee, who’s brought a newfound respect for the cello as his primary instrument, comes to town ahead of an upcoming album with Daniel Martin Moore. 8 p.m. Jan. 27. $20. Club Passim. 617-492-7679. www.clubpassim.com JAMES REED

JAZZ, BLUES & CABARET
BRIAN ADLER’S PRANA TRIO FEATURING MELISSA STYLIANOU MONIKA HEIDEMANN Drummer/composer Adler’s jazz-informed, esoteric crew explores the classic poetry of ancient Persia, India, China, and beyond, as featured on his compelling new CD, “The Singing Image of Fire.’’ The music sets Heidemann’s vocals in contexts reminiscent of a more user-friendly version of the great Steve Lacy’s songs written for his muse, Irene Aebi. 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21. Jamaica Plain Library, 12 Sedgewick St., Jamaica Plain. 617-524-2053

REVOLUTIONARY SNAKE ENSEMBLE Saxophonist/composer/impresario Ken Field and his “Urban Tribal’’ brass ensemble perform in Brookline in anticipation of their sixth annual New Orleans Mardi Gras parade march with the Krewe of Orpheus. 8 p.m. Jan. 21. $12-$15. Vernissage Restaurant, 1627 Beacon St., Brookline. 617-566-3340, www.vernissagerestaurant.com

BILL CHARLAP TRIO Scion of a distinguished New York-based musical family - his father “Moose’’ was a protégée of Broadway legend Frank Loesser, while his mother Sandy Stewart sang with Benny Goodman and was a regular on Perry Como’s television show - the pianist and his trio are surely among today’s finest torchbearers of the Great American Songbook. 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., Jan. 22-23. $22-$23. Regattabar. 617-395-7757, www.regattabarjazz.com

THE BEBOP TRIO Pianist Lefteris Kordis, clarinetist Alec Spiegelman, and drummer Thor Thorvaldsson play freely improvised suites of obscure but engaging bop tunes from the 1950s, by the likes of Elmo Hope, Herbie Nichols, Lennie Tristano, and others. 7 p.m. Jan. 24. $10. Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Cambridge. www.lily-pad.net KEVIN LOWENTHAL

CLASSICAL
BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Sir Colin Davis leads the BSO and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus in the American premiere of Scottish composer James MacMillan’s “St. John Passion.’’ British baritone Christopher Maltman will be the vocal soloist. 8 p.m., Jan. 21, 22 and 23, $29-$115, Symphony Hall. 617-266-1200.

AVANT GARDNER The Gardner Museum’s recently launched series features Stephen Drury’s intrepid new-music band, the Callithumpian Consort, in works by young composers Adam Roberts, Nicholas Vines, and Lei Liang. 7 p.m., Jan. 21, $23, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. 617-278-5156, www.gardnermuseum.org.

BOSTON MODERN ORCHESTRA PROJECT Gil Rose conducts a characteristically eclectic BMOP program featuring works by Stravinsky, Wayne Peterson, Percy Grainger, Harold Meltzer, and Joseph Schwantner. Soloists include pianist Ursula Oppens and the PRISM saxophone quartet. 8 p.m., Jan. 22, $10-$52, Jordan Hall. 781-324-0396, www.bmop.org.

GRAMERCY TRIO How about a side of tango lessons with your chamber music concert? That’s on offer here, at the Gramercy Trio’s program called “Where Sound and Motion Meet: Exploring the Link between Music and Dance.’’ Dance lessons start at 7 p.m. and a milonga follows the concert. The 8 p.m. performance will include premieres by Wheeler, Asia, Dembski, and Vores as well as a work by tango artist Sonia Possetti, performed by dancers Pracha and Martha Eamranond. Jan. 22, $12, Seully Hall, Boston Conservatory. 617-912-9222, www.gramercytrio.com.

RHONDA RIDER Pianist Jung-Ja Kim partners with the eloquent Boston cellist for a marathon traversal of the complete Beethoven Cello Sonatas. 7:30 p.m., Jan. 28, Free, Seully Hall, Boston Conservatory. 617-912-9222, www.bostonconservatory.edu. JEREMY EICHLER

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