Edward Sharpe and Some Great Music

Tuesday, May 22: Curren$y with The Jets, Smoke DZA, Fiend 4 Da Money, Corner Boy P, Trademark and Young Roddy @ Turner Hall, 7 p.m. ($20)
Curren$y sure loves weed. The New Orleans-based rapper loves the green stuff so much, he’s released an unreal 8 primarily pot-themed studio albums since 2009 (not to mention multiple mix tapes). The prolific (and silky smooth) nature of the rapper’s workload has vaulted him out of the shadows of other Big Easy powerhouses Master P and Lil Wayne and into his own successful career. And who says marijuana makes you lazy? (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)

Also: Technicolor Teeth with Dude Magnets and Buster Douglas @ Quarter’s Rock ‘n Roll Palace, 9 p.m. ($5) (900 E. Center St.)

Also: Huey Lewis and The News @ Potawatomi Northern Lights Casino, 8 p.m. ($40-$55) (1721 W. Canal St., PaysBig.com)

Wednesday, May 23: Huey Lewis and The News @ Potawatomi Northern Lights Casino, 8 p.m. ($40-$55)
Best known for giving time travel a rocking soundtrack (Back To The Future), creating perhaps some of the most quintessentially ’80s music videos of the era, and, of course, playing a concert on the ice following an Admirals game, Huey Lewis is as much a running joke as he is a nostalgic throwback act with a musically solid backing band (The News was always so underrated!). But who can honestly deny that they’ve tapped their foot when “The Power of Love” came on the radio or at least contemplated singing “The Heart of Rock & Roll” one drunk karaoke evening? Guilty as charged. (1721 W. Canal St., PaysBig.com)

Also: The Barr Brothers @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m. ($10/$12) (1434 N. Farwell Ave., ShankHall.com)

Also: David Lindley with Sam Llanas @ Turner Hall, 7 p.m. ($20) (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)

Also: Eve 6 with The Audition and Fall From Grace @ The Rave, 8 p.m. ($16) (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)

Thursday, May 24: Alejandro Escovedo and The Sensitive Boys with Jesse Malin @ Turner Hall, 7:30 p.m. ($17.50)
Ask any artist to describe their musical style, and they will undoubtedly give you the runaround about how impossible it is to categorize their broad ranging sound. And though most of these artists are full of it, singer-songwriter Alejandro Escovedo can actually make the case. Equal parts soulful roots storyteller and unbridled punk rocker, Escovedo truly does transcend convenient genre labeling. This compelling mix of influence will be on full display during this candlelit, cabaret seated show. (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)

Also: ZETI @ Sugar Maple, 8 p.m. ($11) (MySugarMaple.com, 441 E. Lincoln Ave.)

Also: The Maine with Lydia and Arkells @ The Rave, 7 p.m. ($19) (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)

Friday, May 25: Mark Sultan with The Jorday Davis Honey Melon and Slow Walker @ Cactus Club, 10 p.m. ($10) (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)

Also: Blockhead with Big Pauper, Adoptahighway and Plight of a Parasite @ Stonefly Brewing Company, 9 p.m. ($12) (735 E. Center St., StoneflyBrewery.com)

Also: The Steepwater Band @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m. ($10) (1434 N. Farwell Ave., ShankHall.com)

Also: The Honeydogs with Dick Prall and Farewell Milwaukee @ Tonic Tavern, 8 p.m. (2335 S. Kinnikinnic Ave., TonicTavern.com)

Also: Nickelback with Bush, Seether and My Darkest Days @ Bradley Center, 7 p.m. ($43.50-$72) I got a little nauseous just typing that. (1001 N. 4th St., BradleyCenter.com)

MUSIC NOTES SHOW OF THE WEEK
Saturday, May 26: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros with He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister @ Riverside Theater, 7 p.m. ($25)
After fronting Ima Robot (former members of Beck’s backing band) to surprisingly great heights during the mid-2000s and subsequently hitting hard times, Alex Ebert shifted his focus to stories of a messiah-like figure named Edward Sharpe. From these dark, literary beginnings, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros have turned into a free-wheeling hippie love fest of a band with a knack for multi-part harmonic sing-alongs and catchy melodies. (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., PabstTheater.org) 

Also: Lest We Forget: Die Kreuzen with Lubricants, St. Bernard, Dummy Club and more @ Turner Hall, 5 p.m. ($20) Lest We Forget (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)

Also: Footnote Music Festival featuring Choir Fight, Ten Million and Wereworm @ Cactus Club, 10 p.m. (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)

Also: De La Buena with Antioquia @ Club Garibaldi, 10 p.m. (2501 S. Superior St., myspace.com/clubgaribaldis)

Sunday, May 27: Primus @ The Rave, 9 p.m. ($32-$42)
Primus rose to cult hero status during the ’90s on the strength of its innovative and unclassifiable progressive sound and the inimitable slap bass chops of frontman Les Claypool. Though the band will primarily be remembered for a song about a certain big brown beaver, Primus has penned many a classic tune, including a solid return effort in last year’s Green Naugahyde. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)

Also: Orgone with Monophonics @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m.($12-$15) (1434 N. Farwell Ave., ShankHall.com)

Also: God’s Outlaw @ Frank’s Power Plant, 1 p.m. (2800 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., FranksPowerPlant.Angelfire.com)