Live: Music Picks Oct. 9-15 

THURSDAY OCT. 9

• Of Montreal

Of Montreal
Athens, Ga., band Of Montreal has changed up their style multiple times over the years—moving from mellow indie stuff to synth-y electro-rock and beyond—and that evolution continues on their 12th album, 2013's Lousy With Sylvanbriar. Largely inspired by a solo retreat frontman Kevin Barnes made to San Francisco, the jangly, minimal result is influenced by '60s and '70s musicians such as Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Gram Parsons and more, as well as Sylvia Plath's tortured poetry—"Colossus" is especially bleak, but lovely. And being the prolific musician he is, Barnes is already onto a next thing: a "prog-pop" album, Barnes told Paste, on which he's "navigating through all of the changes and experiences from the last year." Pillar Point is also on the bill. (Kolbie Stonehocker) The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 9 p.m., $18 in advance, $20 day of show, TheUrbanLoungeSLC.com; limited no-fee tickets available at CityWeeklyStore.com

THURSDAY OCT. 9

The Felice Brothers
2014's Favorite Waitress is the first album folk-rockers The Felice Brothers have recorded in a real studio, but you almost wouldn't know it—and that's a good thing. The album retains the untethered, earthy sound of the band's 2008 self-titled major-label debut: raspy Bob Dylan-like vocals; dour topics of drugs, brothels, guns, heartbreak and murder; and backwoods-y instrumentation provided by fiddles and accordions—but the kind that predates the suspenders-and-banjos gimmickry that currently scores every sappy insurance commercial. The five-piece (two of the current members are actual Felice brothers) has undergone some lineup changes since its birth deep in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York, but a raucous show is always guaranteed, usually involving a singalong to "Whiskey in My Whiskey." Spirit Family Reunion will start off the night with its "open-door gospel" music. (Rachel Piper) The State Room, 638 S. State, 8 p.m., $20; limited no-fee tickets available at CityWeeklyStore.com

FRIDAY OCT. 10

• New Pornographers

The New Pornographers
A.C. Newman has moved on from the life-changing events—including the passing of a family member—he explored on his 2012 solo album, Shut Down the Streets. In the band's online bio, he says that Brill Bruisers, the recent album he created with Canadian seven-piece supergroup The New Pornographers, is a "celebration record. After periods of difficulty, I am at a place where nothing in my life is dragging me down, and the music reflects that." Bright, spangly and energetic, Brill Bruisers is full of dance-friendly '80s-pop sounds that influenced The New Pornographers, and features plenty of seamless vocal harmonies between Newman, Neko Case and Kathryn Calder. Album highlights include synth-tastic rocker "War on the West Coast" and the massive and soaring title track. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart will open. (Kolbie Stonehocker) The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, 9 p.m., $23 in advance, $26 day of show, DepotSLC.com

FRIDAY OCT. 10

Joshua James
It's been two years since American Fork singer-songwriter/producer Joshua James released his captivating folk full-length From the Top of Willamette Mountain, but he's been keeping plenty busy. In June, he released a Spanish-language single titled "Esperanza"—part of a soundtrack based on Jack Kerouac's novella Tristessa—and also starred in a sumptuous music video for the track, created by Corey Fox and Matt Eastin. Since the beginning of September, James has been on a nationwide tour, and tonight's show is his homecoming performance. If you haven't experienced a Joshua James show yet, now's your chance, and you won't be disappointed; his rich, insightful songwriting and emotion-filled delivery make his performances truly unforgettable. Quiet House (formerly Sun House) will also play. (Kolbie Stonehocker) Velour, 135 N. University Ave., Provo, 8:30 p.m., $10 in advance, $12 at the door, VelourLive.com

SATURDAY OCT. 11

Mike Doughty
With his Question Jar Tour, New York singer-songwriter/guitarist and former Soul Coughing frontman Mike Doughty is taking musician/audience interaction to a whole new level. At each stop on the tour, he and cellist Andrew "Scrap" Livingston will spend between-song breaks answering questions that concert-goers have written down and placed in a jar onstage before the show. Since the duo tend to go off on whatever tangent the question inspires, the unscripted results are sometimes funny and sometimes awkward, but always entertaining. Doughty is on tour in support of his new album, September's Stellar Motel. Influenced heavily by hip-hop, the album features a variety of guests, including MC Frontalot and emcee Miss Eaves, and contains plenty of his cryptic, poetic lyrics. This will be Kilby Court's first-ever 21-plus show, so bring your ID for the beer garden. (Kolbie Stonehocker) Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West), 8 p.m., $16 in advance, $18 day of show, KilbyCourt.com; limited no-fee tickets available at CityWeeklyStore.com

MONDAY OCT. 13

• Shervin Lainez
• St. Lucia

St. Lucia
The music of Johannesburg, South Africa-born Jean-Philip Grobler, better known by his stage name St. Lucia, will have you second-guessing what decade it is. The musician—who's joined by a full band live—has forged a sound that blends euphoric electronic beats with casual rock-influenced hooks to create a feel that's nostalgic but refreshingly modern. St Lucia's captivating lyrics, upbeat keyboard and robust synthesizer bring to life songs like the hit "Elevate," from his debut album, When the Night, released in 2013. Opening the show will be Brooklyn, N.Y.-based rock band Haerts, whose debut EP was produced by Grobler. (Nathan Turner) The Complex, 536 W. 100 South, 7 p.m., $16, TheComplexSLC.com; limited no-fee tickets available at CityWeeklyStore.com

TUESDAY OCT. 14

• Jennifer Steinglen
• Angus & Julia Stone

Angus & Julia Stone
When you hear this Australian brother/sister duo sing together, it's obvious their voices complement each other like salt & pepper or peanut butter & jelly. But before Angus & Julia Stone released their self-titled new album in August, they hadn't released a collaborative effort since 2010's Down the Way, and were living in different parts of the world while pursuing separate solo projects. It took the urging of producer Rick Rubin to get the twosome back together, and boy, was he on the money. The buoyant, breezy indie pop heard on Angus & Julia Stone is complemented by the two vocalists' familial chemistry as well as flawless vocal harmonies, which they could attain only together. Songs like the moody but grooving "A Heartbreak" and "From the Stalls" showcase their sweet, heartache-y style. Conner Youngblood will also perform. (Kolbie Stonehocker) The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 9 p.m., $20, TheUrbanLoungeSLC.com