Music Forecast 11.20-11.26: The Appleseed Collective, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Marr, and more

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Loretta Lynn
Long before the rosy-cheeked country pop of Taylor Swift and Kacey Musgraves, there was Loretta Lynn, an example against whom all would-be country stars must be measured. Often called the Queen of Country Music, the 82-year-old Lynn has enjoyed an illustrious career spanning more than five decades. And it’s no wonder: Each time you hear “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)” or “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” you can’t help but feel the triumph of that tough-as-nails voice. Saturday at the Uptown, don’t miss the opportunity to hear this legendary powerhouse live. Note: Wanda Jackson, originally scheduled to appear with Lynn, has canceled due to illness. Nikki Lane opens.

Saturday, November 22, Uptown Theater (3700 Broadway, 816-753-8665)

The Appleseed Collective
Looking at the lineup of roots band the Appleseed Collective — comprising violin, banjo, mandolin, guitar, upright bass and washboard — you think you’ve got a pretty good idea of how this band sounds. But the Ann Arbor, Michigan, group gathers up these instruments and applies them in a way that sets them far apart from its contemporaries, reviving sounds borrowed equally from Dixieland jazz and old-fashioned ragtime. These guys might be a throwback, but good luck figuring out exactly where to place them. That doesn’t matter, though, as long as you’re prepared to dance when the band plays at Knuckleheads Thursday.

Thursday, November 20, Knuckleheads Saloon (2715 Rochester, 816-483-1456)

The Bad Ideas, Red Kate, the Itch, and more
It’s hard to imagine a more ideal alignment than the upstairs bar at Harling’s and a solid bill of scrappy punk-rock acts. Friday night, brave those treacherous wooden steps leading to the bar and treat yourself to the happy reward of a shot, a beer and a bunch of bands primarily interested in waking up the neighbors. Count on the Bad Ideas to get the secret malcontent in you to raise a fist. Red Kate will probably blow your eardrums out. And the Itch generally inspires moshing, while Brain Dead and Drugs & Attics promise to keep things scuzzy and loud. There’s no stage at Harling’s, just a little patch on the floor where bands set up, making you practically one of them. Shy? Keep to the bar itself. It’s big.

Friday, November 21, Harling’s Upstairs (3941-A Main, 816-531-2024)

Johnny Marr
It took Johnny Marr long enough to get around to a solo career, starting with last year’s The Messenger. But the former guitarist for the Smiths is proving, particularly with his latest full-length, Playland, to be a very capable frontman. Playland, like Messenger, doesn’t really break new ground, but Marr doesn’t really need to. All he needs to do is deliver rock-solid guitar-driven tracks (such as the instantly danceable single “Easy Money”), and he’s good at those. The songs on the new album play to Marr’s strengths in that regard, but his lyrics are surprisingly nuanced, and his singing, while a bit downplayed, is actually pretty likable. In fact, pretty much everything about Marr is likable, especially when you compare him with his cranky former bandmate Morrissey.

Wednesday, November 26, the Midland (1228 Main, 816-283-9921)

Ha Ha Tonka
Rest assured that every holiday family gathering has this silver lining: While you’re being bored by the circle of aunts swapping diet tips and recipes, hordes of folks are also yearning to get out of the same situation at their house and their house and their house. The other nice thing about this time of year is that we get to see some familiar faces return home — such as Springfield’s Ha Ha Tonka. Get down to RecordBar Wednesday and celebrate the start of the season with a group of guys who know how to party (and how to play some decent Americana, too). With any luck, you’ll be able to sleep through your hangover the next morning and roll straight into turkey time.

Wednesday, November 26, RecordBar (1020 Westport Road, 816-753-5207)