Music Forecast 4.30–5.6: James McMurtry, Billy Joel, the Who, Joan Jett, Primus, and Luke Wade

James McMurtry
With his long curls, gray-streaked goatee and out-of-time round spectacles, James McMurtry looks about the way he sounds: a little rough around the edges, a little older than he planned to be. But fans of the Texas singer-songwriter’s latest full-length, February’s Complicated Game, like him that way. It’s that dust and grit that give his Americana deep flavor. And there’s nothing scraggly about McMurtry’s way with the language. The son of novelist Larry McMurtry and an English-professor mother, McCurtry is a natural-born storyteller. Every song lands a vividly imagined protagonist inside an impeccably structured vignette. Thursday at Knuckleheads, McMurtry lays out a batch of his stories with the usual sure grace.

Thursday, April 30, Knuckleheads Saloon (2715 Rochester, 816-483-1456)

Billy Joel
Sure, Billy Joel hasn’t released a pop album since 1993’s River of Dreams, but if we’re being honest, the man hardly needs to. His catalog brims with hits, and the old stuff still yields new fans ready to fill arenas alongside folks who have long been with the Piano Man. And Joel’s shows these days aren’t just the smashes; he’s a one-man deep-cuts station. It’s an approach that works: The singer-songwriter’s wildly successful monthly residency at Madison Square Garden, sold out since January 2014, is proof enough. Friday at the Sprint Center, concertgoers can expect a filling two-hour show that spans the length of Joel’s industrious career. You might want to do some vocal warm-ups in preparation for the unavoidable crowd sing-alongs.

Friday, May 1, Sprint Center (1407 Grand, 816-949-7000)

The Who
Though only two of the Who’s original members — guitarist Pete Townshend and singer Roger Daltrey — are around to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary, don’t believe for one second that Tuesday night’s Sprint Center show will come up short. The 71-year-old Daltrey still has one of rock’s most incendiary voices, and hearing him charge through “Baba O’Riley,” “Behind Blue Eyes” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” is draw enough. Bonus: Ringo Starr’s son, Zak Starkey, is the band’s drummer on this tour; we have a feeling he’ll do Keith Moon justice. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, open.

Tuesday, May 5, Sprint Center (1407 Grand, 816-949-7000)

Primus
Les Claypool is completely insane. How else might one explain the bizarre interpretation that his band, Primus, gave the soundtrack to the classic 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory? It seems rather like the opening lines of a complicated and bad joke: Thrash-metal-funk band reunites classic lineup for a new, Wonka-themed album; tour to include exclusive chocolate bars. But despite Claypool’s sense of humor, this is no joke. Drummer Tim Alexander performed on the October-released album, titled Primus and the Chocolate Factory With the Fungi Ensemble, and is touring with the band now for the first time in nearly two decades. Wednesday night’s show at the Uptown will feature a two-hour set divided into two parts: the band as Primus, performing classic material, and then with elaborate Wonka costumes, stage design and effects. It’s going to be ridiculous. Don’t miss it.

Wednesday, May 6, Uptown Theater (3700 Broadway, 816-753-8665)

Luke Wade

A bit of stigma comes with participating in those nationally televised singing competitions, but Luke Wade — a runner-up on the seventh season of The Voice — seems to have avoided the associated trappings. He may not have the title or the superstardom, but the Texas native does have a nearly flawless instrument, and that’s his saving grace. Wade’s voice has a cozy, worn-in warmth, and on his latest release, The River, he uses it to sell some stirring soul songs. Fans of Ray LaMontagne and St. Paul & the Broken Bones will find a lot to love at Wade’s Bottleneck show Tuesday night.

Tuesday, May 5, the Bottleneck (737 New Hampshire, Lawrence, 785-841-5483)