Live: Music Picks Mar. 24-30 

FRIDAY 3.25
White Denim, Sam Cohen
Since 2013's Corsicana Lemonade, James Petralli and bassist Steve Terebecki—White Denim's sole remaining founding members—have added multi-instrumentalist Mike St. Claire, guitarist Jonathan Horne and drummer Jeffery Olson. Rejuvenated by new blood, and the release on their seventh studio album, Stiff (Downtown), the Austin-based band is blowing the doors off of venues across the states with a sound reminiscent of its earlier works: relentless, Texas-rooted guitar riffs bolstered by coursing drum chops and glazed with the sweet vocals of Petralli. Houston psych-rocker Sam Cohen, who released his first solo album to strong reviews last April, opens. (Westin Porter) The State Room, 638 S. State, 9 p.m., $18, TheStateRoomSLC.com

San Fermin, Esmé Patterson
When composer and songwriter Ellis Ludwig-Leone started out in the dorms of Yale University, he initially hadn't thought to write what some have called "baroque pop music." Instead, he wrote scores and operas with friend Nico Muhly (Bjork, Phillip Glass, Glen Hansard). In early 2013, Ludwig-Leone formed the octet San Fermin, and took the mismatched pop pieces from his laptop, with significant revision, to form the band's eponymous first album. In 2015, San Fermin reshaped, strengthened and released Jackrabbit (Downtown), quickly gaining notoriety for their intricately woven melodies, abrasive pop sensibilities and classically based mindset. Esmé Patterson—recently signed to Grand Jury and with a new album in the works—promises to woo audiences with her rambling guitar riffs, empowered lyrics and a voice like country starlets of old. (Zac Smith) The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 8 p.m., $12 in advance, $14 day of show, TheUrbanLoungeSLC.com

SATURDAY 3.26
Santigold
Born in Philadelphia as Santi White, the playful, genre-bending artist better known as Santigold, has built her career on passion, integrity and innovation. Majoring in music at Wesleyan University, she went on to form and front the punk band Stiffed, releasing 2003's Sex Sells (Coolhunter) and 2005's Burned Again (Outlook) to some local and national acclaim. With momentum from Stiffed, Santigold launched a solo career in 2008 with Santogold (Downtown). Over the years she has acted as writer and producer for such acts as GZA, Res and Christina Aguilera. By experimentally mixing dub, electronica, new wave and reggae, Santigold has created a sound that is reminiscent of glittery pop hits from the past, yet infused with a modern taste and urgency. Her newest album, 99¢ (Atlantic), finds her poised for her greatest musical takeover to date. (ZS) In the Venue, 219 S. 600 West., 7 p.m., $22.50 in advance, $25 day of show, InTheVenueSLC.com

Unearth, Ringworm, Culture Killer
Trudgin' along since 1998, Massachusetts metalcore outfit Unearth is touring the country behind the slightly sludgier sound of 2014's Watchers of Rule (eOne). Tonight, they headline a six-band lineup. Cleveland metalcore quintet Ringworm will scorch the Metro Bar stage with their unforgiving, punk-influenced metal and the callous vocals of James "Human Furnace" Bulloch. As if the blunt force of Unearth and Ringworm weren't enough, concertgoers will also be treated to the chunky metal grooves of Culture Killer, who released their debut album Throes of Mankind (Metal Blade) last November to favorable reviews. Rounding out the bill are New Jersey deathcore band Fit For an Autopsy, Boston metalcore act Great American Ghost and local thrashers A Balance of Power. (WP) Metro Bar, 615 W. 100 South, 7:30 p.m., $18 in advance, $20 day of show, JRCSLC.com

SUNDAY 3.27
K's Choice
So David Lee Roth of Van Halen rode the meat wagon as an emergency medical technician. Dropkick Murphys singer Mike McColgan left the band to join the Boston Fire Department before forming Street Dogs. Now we can add Sarah Bettens, frontwoman of alternative rockers K's Choice, to the seemingly growing list of rock & roll musicians who moonlight as emergency personnel. When she's not touring with her brother Gert in K's Choice, Bettens puts out fires with the Johnson City Fire Department in her hometown of Johnson City, Tenn. If you gotta work two jobs, you might as well make 'em both exciting. It's hard to tell if that extra adrenaline is pumping through K's Choice's music, though, because the band already makes a huge, anthemic ruckus on stage. If anything, Bettens' side gig's influence would come out in her lyrics—except they're already confessional and introspective. But why analyze something that's just plain cool? Check out the band playing tracks from their sixth album, The Phantom Cowboy (MPress), and bring a stuffed animal to donate to the Salt Lake City Fire Department. (Randy Harward) Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 7 p.m., $16-18, KilbyCourt.com

TUESDAY 3.29
Howardian, Conspiratorial Nod
Sometimes it seems like "art rock" is a convenient catchall tag for anything that's far out and tough to classify, like Howardian. New York City-based Ian Vanek—one of the two masterminds behind hyper-prolific noise band Japanther—is the main man behind this "band," which has just released its second album, A Smurf at Land's End (IanVanek.com). The 12-track platter pulls together odd samples, dreamy piano, fuzzy riffs, polyrhythms, goofy lyrics ("tsunami/ Eddie Money"), goofier vocals and an "Eye of the Tiger" reference into a blend of garage rock, '70s soft rock, hip-hop and straight-up pop that's truly a work of art. (Hey, that was easy!) Sharing the stage is Salt Lake City cowpunk/surf rock band Conspiratorial Nod, who nod to Wall of Voodoo, Agent Orange and Dead Kennedys, and released their debut CD, Emergence a few months back. Eminence Front, out of Murray, and Dream Collage, from Logan, open the show. (RH) The Loading Dock, 445 S. 400 West, 6:30 p.m., $8, LoadingDockSLC.com

click to enlarge

TUESDAY 3.29
Cullen Omori, Living Hour
Emerging from the 2014 breakup of the beloved Smith Westerns, former frontman Cullen Omori released his first solo album, New Misery (Sub Pop) earlier this month. While his solo material packs less of a punch than his former band's spunky indie-glam sound, Omori's new songs have a breadth never captured by Smith Westerns. Dreamy loops of helium riffs and airy vocals carry listeners through themes of crisis, identity and more. Performing with Omori are fellow dream-pop shoe-gazers Living Hour. The Winnipeg quintet's sound, driven by heavy bass and reverb-buoyed guitar, is a perfect complement to Omori's new "miserable" music, amounting to a light-headed night of psych-pop. (Westin Porter) The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 8 p.m., $10, TheUrbanLoungeSLC.com

WEDNESDAY 3.30
Greensky Bluegrass, Shook Twins
Newgrass, progressive bluegrass—whatever you wanna call it, it's reaching a saturation point. Every new band seems like they're jumping on the same hayride, and sifting through the straw to find the good ones gets to be tedious. After a while, you don't even care to look. Then along comes Greensky Bluegrass, from Kalamazoo, Mich. Their latest album, If Sorrows Swim, is self-released, but distributed by premium Americana label Thirty Tigers, who bring us Jason Isbell, Avett Brothers, Lucinda Williams and Trampled by Turtles—so you know Greensky is the good stuff. A listen is more telling, however. Go to GreenskyBluegrass.com/player and stream Sorrows. The dusky vocals and tasteful but virtuosic acoustic musicianship will bowl you over. Portland indie-folk duo Shook Twins opens. (Randy Harward) Park City Live, 427 Main St., 8 p.m., $25, ParkCityLive.net