Nov. 20-26 | Live: Castor & Pollution, Mary Tebbs, Coldplay, Brothers & Sisters & White Party: Sultan 

Thursday 11.20
nCASTOR & POLLUTION CD RELEASE
nLuke Slocum fled Philadelphia in 2004 and landed in Utah with just a pile of books and guitar to his name. Our state is, well, pretty great, and he needed to save his life from “imminent destruction.” Paul Slocum and Mike Vitale followed shortly thereafter and formed Castor & Pollution—in fits and starts. One apartment eviction, five cop visits and tons of broken equipment later, the trio finally has something to show for all the chaos. Here Is No Weather—No Wind or Water sounds like little—if anything—else currently being produced and performed in Salt Lake City. The six-track debut rolls out rhythmic, trance-inducing electronic movements that are unsettling and a bit psychedelic, with loops, samples, guitar, harmonica, keyboard and assorted other effects/gadgets culminating in a sound along the lines of The Books, Clinic (“Loose Control”) and Radiohead, specifically on “He’ll Be Elected,” which recalls Paranoid Android’s “Fitter Happier” meets MC 900 Foot Jesus’ “The City Sleeps.” Pretty cool stuff. And to what do we owe these pleasures? Luke Slocum says, “We all write the music together, but Mike is still listening to it on his headphones the next morning.” The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 10 p.m. (with Muscle Hawk and Brian Oakley)

• Also Thursday: Mason Jennings (Murray Theater); Australian Pink Floyd (E Center); Secondhand Serenade (Great Saltair); Broadway Calls (Baxter’s Cafe); Guilty Simpson (The Hotel); Matt Weidauer, Kris Paries (Muse Music, Provo)

Friday 11.21
nMARY TEBBS
nMany starving artists are discovered posthumously, their material celebrated and revered long after they’ve stopped creating. Local musician Mary Tebbs came this close to winding up in that camp when a benign brain tumor recently threatened to cut her life short. Doctors caught the deadly intruder early and one successful surgery later Tebbs is tumor-free—and more committed to a career she left and returned to several times in various capacities as part of Sweet Loretta, For the Love of Mary and Wifey. Tebbs’ close call inspired a spiritual journey that resulted in a rock opera of sorts—a series of songs, each with its own brief introduction to illustrate the narrative of self-awakening. Tonight’s show will be recorded for a CD/DVD package available “a little bit down the road from the live performance.” Tebbs deserves to be heard while she’s very much alive. Salt Lake Center for Spiritual Living, 870 E. Fort Union Ave, 7:30 p.m. All ages. Info: 307-0481

HOLLY GOLIGHTLY & THE BROKEOFFS
nHolly Golightly and her partner Lawyer Dave recorded their follow-up to the surprise hit debut, You Can’t Buy a Gun While You’re Crying, over a whirlwind five days in Spain. The resulting sophomore effort Dirt Don’t Hurt radiates a sense of urgency and devil-may-care abandon typical of Golightly’s signature no-fuss kitchen-sink folk. Her sweet and sassy drawl fuels campfire sing-alongs to nontraditional songs like the jovial “Getting High for Jesus.” Salt Lake City’s Heart Pharmacy opens the night with material off his solid acoustic debut, Natural Selection. Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 7 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com
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• Also Friday: Holly Golightly, Heart Pharmacy (Kilby Court); Misty River, Mel Wade, Rick Bracken (Baxter’s Cafe); Celine Dion (EnergySolutions Arena); 18 Wheels of Justice (Pat's BBQ); Radio Rhythm Makers, Kate LeDeuce & The Soul Terminators (Burt’s Tiki Lounge—see Music); Jeremy Enigk (Urban Lounge); Monarch, ZForce Headbangers Ball (Harry O’s); B.D. Howes Band (Cisero’s, Park City); Dead Confederate (Sidecar, Park City—see Music); Cowboys & Indies 3: Night One (Velour, Provo)

Saturday 11.22
nCOLDPLAY
nOn Feb. 13, 2001, I joined a modest-sized crowd at the Mayan Theater to watch Coldplay make their Los Angeles debut. It was a magical night populated by music lovers who’d not yet tired of a little song called “Yellow” off the U.K. band’s debut LP Parachutes. Chris Martin & Co. thawed at least one bitter heart that Valentine’s Eve with gorgeous live renditions of new material and singles from the lesser-known Safety EP. I saw the band a year later at the Wiltern, and again in 2004 at Salt Lake City’s Great Saltair. With each show, the group’s reputation became increasingly divisive, at times encountering heated opposition by those who once championed their success. Strange. Guess they wore out their welcome. But while the new Viva la Vida or Death & All His Friends is rather underwhelming, Coldplay are still a great band. And “Bigger Stronger” is still as moving as the first time I tried a little of its tenderness on the old stereo. EnergySolutions Arena, 301 W. South Temple, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: 325-SEAT

• Also Saturday: Misty River, Mel Wade, Rick Bracken (Café Marmalade); Dredg (Avalon); Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Ezra Furman & The Harpoons (Urban Lounge); Villains (Trapp Door); The Black Sheep Of Kali, Gaza, Iota (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); Hardcore Tattoo Anniversary Party (Club Vegas); Cowboys & Indies 3: Night 2 (Velour, Provo)

Monday 11.24
nBROTHERS & SISTERS
nWill Clawson started his professional music career as a California dreamer, moving to Los Angeles to follow in the footsteps of ’60s and ’70s flower children, surfers and idealists who lived in the canyons between the valley and the big city. But like Wolf Parade’s Spencer Krug, who penned a biting response to the Mamas and the Papas’ romantic ode to SoCal on his band’s latest album, Clawson quickly grew disillusioned by the cold, fast-paced music scene and hopped on down to Texas where he now makes beautiful music with his sister, Lily Courtney as Brothers & Sisters. Their latest release, Fortunately, is jam-packed full of earnest harmonies and hooks—yes, hooks! No meandering “anti” folk here, folks. The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 10 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com (with Hacienda)

• Also Monday: Kid Theodore, Drew Danburry (Kilby Court); Such Vengeance (Muse Music, Provo)

Tuesday 11.25
nThe Classic Crime (Avalon); Belly of the Whale, The Thin Line, Broken Silence (Burt’s Tiki Lounge)

Wednesday 11.26
nWHITE PARTY: SULTAN
nNo, not that kind of white party. Now in its eighth year, Gravity’s annual ballroom blitz draws its name from all those fluffy snowflakes that we’re supposedly stoked about because now we can shred. Tonight, though, we dance! This year’s featured guest artist, Sultan, is (of course) internationally renowned and in just six short years has established himself as a fierce presence on the global electronic-music scene. Tonight’s lineup also includes Jluvv feat. Joy, Josh Max and Dan Dixon. Organizers strongly suggest you wear your most creative white outfit, perhaps topped by a hat like Mystery’s from VH1’s The Pickup Artist. The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, 9 p.m. Tickets: DepotSLC.com

• Also Wednesday: The Randies (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); Royal Bliss (Port O’ Call); Top Dead Celebrity, The Deathless Pros (Bar Deluxe); Metal Meltdown (Club Vegas); Bootie Quake (Teazers, Ogden); Matisyahu (Harry O’s, Park City)

Coming Up
nDJ Tanner (W Lounge, Nov. 28); Dub Trio (Urban Lounge, Nov. 29); Ours (Burt’s Tiki Lounge, Nov. 29); Stephen Pearcy of Ratt (Club Vegas, Nov. 30); Mac Lethal, Mindstate (Urban Lounge, Nov. 30); Jeff Hamilton Trio (Salt Lake Sheraton, Dec. 1); Benton Paul Holiday Tour (Velour, Dec. 3); Shwayze (Murray Theater, Dec. 4); Afro Omega CD Release (Urban Lounge, Dec. 6); X96’s Nightmare Before Xmas (Great Saltair, Dec. 12)