Henry Rollins delivers a talking cure, Yellow Claw spins a party, and David Ramirez brings you back down in time for the rest of this week’s shows
Henry Rollins
When punk legend Henry Rollins appears at the Uptown, it will not be in a musical capacity. Those hoping for a Black Flag–heavy set or a Rollins Band reprisal may be dismayed, but they are probably not surprised: Since disbanding the Rollins Band, in 2003, the man has declared himself done with music several times. His current tour centers on a “talking show” — yes, this is Rollins in spoken-word mode, with his observations, concerns and anecdotes ruling the night. Fans of Rollins’ work — and anyone disappointed by the post-election climate — should find something to enjoy on Friday night.
8 p.m. Friday, November 25, at the Uptown Theater, 3700 Broadway
Yellow Claw
Dutch DJ duo Jim Aasgier and Nizzle (real name: Nils Rondhuis) have had a relatively quick ascension to the top of the EDM world since their debut in 2010. It’s not hard to understand why, given the group’s talent for blending trap, hip-hop, dubstep and moombahton matched to an ability to attract edgy vocal talent for its singles. See 2013’s breakthrough hit, “Shotgun,” featuring Rochelle, or this year’s “Invitation,” with Yade Lauren. Saturday night will be all about the party : Yellow Claw is just as renowned for its ability to throw down as it is for spinning. If you’re looking for a sweaty, sultry danceathon, powered by music destined to pound through your brain well after the night is over, make sure you get a ticket to this show.
8 p.m. Saturday, November 26, at the Uptown Theater, 3700 Broadway
David Ramirez
No one will accuse David Ramirez of looking on the bright side — his latest release, last year’s Fables, sees to that. The album plays as a series of vignettes told by the same downtrodden, somber narrator, doing his best to navigate the choppy waters of a cloudy conscience. It’s not exactly a balm for the brokenhearted, but Ramirez isn’t all darkness and gloom. Perhaps some of his best advice comes in the scratchy refrain on “New Way of Living”: Maybe it’s time to move on. For the unfamiliar, Ramirez will remind listeners most of Jason Isbell; he and Ramirez seem to share a particular talent for homing in on difficult elements of the human experience, and giving them poignancy.
7 p.m. Sunday, November 27, at the Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Midnight Mauraders
8 p.m., Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
Playing for Horses
9 p.m., Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club, 3402 Main
Steve Lambert Quartet
9 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Magnificent: A Tribute to the Cure
9:30 p.m., RecordBar, 1520 Grand
Savage Thanksgiving with DeeJay Spinstyles
7 p.m., Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
The Schwag: Grateful Dead Experience Tribute
8 p.m., Uptown, 3700 Broadway
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25
Lady D
5 p.m., the Blue Room, 1616 E. 18th St.
Kevin Mahogany
8:30 p.m., the Blue Room, 1616 E. 18th St.
Black Friday, Rat Salad
9 p.m., the Brick, 1727 McGee
Mr. Mojo Risin’: A Celebration of the Doors
8 p.m., Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
Jupiter & the Moons, Whales, Dark Matter Theory, High Ken
8 p.m., Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club, 3402 Main
Tim Whitmer
5:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Steve Lambert Band
8:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Wonderfuzz
10 p.m., Kelly’s, 500 Westport Rd.
David Wax Museum
8 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
The Belairs
8:30 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
The Architects, Black Calvin, Cantankerous
9:30 p.m., RecordBar, 1520 Grand
Gnarly Davidson, Summer Salt, Maybe Not
10 p.m., Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Shannon and the Rhythm King
9 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26
Ida McBeth
8:30 p.m., the Blue Room, 1616 E. 18th St.
Small Waves, Invisible World, Electric Orchids
9 p.m., the Brick, 1727 McGee
Truckstop Honeymoon, Heidi Lynne Gluck
8 p.m., Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
The Irieplaceables Ska Orchestra
9 p.m., Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club, 3402 Main
Beautiful Brother: A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield
7:30 p.m., Granada, 1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Molly Hammer Duo
2 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
OJT
6 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Max Groove Quartet
8:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
The Leading Average
10 p.m., Kelly’s, 500 Westport Rd.
The Belairs, with the Nace Brothers
8:30 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Found a Job (Talking Heads Tribute)
10 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Meglacoil, Fast Radio Burst, the Magic Johnson
9 p.m., MiniBar, 3810 Broadway
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker
3 p.m., Midland, 1228 Main
10 Years Indyground
9:30 p.m., RecordBar, 1520 Grand
The Ants, Black Calvin, the Medicine Theory
10 p.m., Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Frances & the Foundation, Attic Light, Hungry Foxes
7 p.m., Tank Room, 1813 Grand
Mama Ray’s Jazz Meets Blues Jam
2 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
Levee Town
9 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27
The Good Life (above), Field Mouse, Jake Bellows
7 p.m., Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
Boulevard Big Band
5:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Ernest Melton Quartet
9:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Katy Guillen and the Girls
6:30 p.m., RecordBar, 1520 Grand
The Confessors
6 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28
Jazz Disciples
7 p.m., the Blue Room, 1616 E. 18th St.
The 88er, X-Ray Mary, Four Arm Shiver
7:30 p.m., Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club, 3402 Main
Max Groove Trio
4:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Crossroads Quartet
9 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
The Scars Heal in Time
7 p.m., Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29
Together Pangea
7 p.m., Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
Mike Herrera Quartet
10:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Mac Miller
8 p.m., Uptown, 3700 Broadway
Mignon Grabois
7 p.m., Tank Room, 1813 Grand
Greasehouse Boogie Band
7 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30
Broccoli Samurai
8 p.m., Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
Jacob Farrett, Formlessness, Chess Club
8 p.m., Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club, 3402 Main
Natalie Bates Trio
5:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
OJT
9 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Julie Major Trio
8 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Walker Lukens
6 p.m., Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
Keelan Donovan
7 p.m., Tank Room, 1813 Grand
Shinetop Jr.
7 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
