Aloe Blacc

This rapper-turned-soulster is generating some big buzz via his new album, Good Things, thanks to a soul style that is anything but retro (And what is it with modern soul invading Salt Lake City this week? Wow!). Unlike his modern-soul peers who might focus on the personal, Blacc is more of a social commentary man, aiming his songs to address issues like unemployment, homelessness or a lack of compassion in society at large. His album is a nice companion piece to the new project by the Roots and John Legend in that way. Even with the serious song topics, though, you can bet Blacc and his band The Grand Scheme will still turn his concert into a party. Maya Jupiter opens. The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 9 p.m., $10