Music Picks 

THURSDAY 9/15

STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON

Tonight, show all your stick-in-the-mud friends that Styx (pictured below right) and REO Speedwagon inspire more than just a swell night of drunken karaoke. Seriously, they might think “Mr. Roboto,” “Come Sail Away,” “Roll With the Changes,” and “I Don’t Want to Lose You,” belong in the VFW, but that’s just because they’ve never witnessed ’70s/’80s rockers make like Napoleon Jagger. Utah State Fairpark, 155 N. 1000 West, 7:30 p.m. All-ages. Tickets: 800-888-8499, SmithsTix.com.

ADRIAN & THE SICKNESS, ALMOST UNDONE, STILETTO

It’s easy to grow complacent with the wildly disproportionate ratio of male to female rockers, especially when talented boy bands dominate local lineups. When women take over the stage, however, it’s kind of like a native Utahn visiting Atlanta for the first time'suddenly aware that minorities are majorities in some parts. This particular lineup features a Hell’s Belle and two crowd-pleasing local groups. Bonus: Each lead vocalist wails like a girl! Burt’s Tiki Lounge, 726 S. State, 10 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com.

Also Thursday: Katrina Benefit Concert (Gallivan Center); Dierks Bentley (Utah State Fair); Aqualung, Tracy Bonham (Lo-Fi Cafe); Day & Age, Curse of the Carousel Ponies (Kilby Court); Unseen (In the Venue)

FRIDAY 9/16

BEN KWELLER

Evan Dando and Juliana Hatfield are fans, but can Ben Kweller win over a bunch of TRL-bred college students? Find out today at the University of Utah’s annual RedFest, an awkwardly timed festival that made a lot more sense back when it was held in the spring. At 23, Kweller is still trying to shed his indie-rock-prodigy reputation. His latest release, On My Way, evidences steps toward maturity, but the album never quite makes it to adulthood. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if'like many incoming U freshman'you’re not all that jazzed about growing up. RedFest: Union Patio, University of Utah, 11 a.m-11 p.m., Ben Kweller, 6:45 p.m. All-ages. Free. Info: 585-9010, UStudents.com.

BOOKS ABOUT UFOS

Yeah, that’s right: BAUFOs are back in action! The local rockers dropped off the map last year just when things were heating up. Guitarist-vocalist Jason Warner left to pursue family and career goals, leaving the remaining members in search of an adequate replacement. When that didn’t pan out, Warner returned and the reunited crew recorded a new album. It’s all good news for longtime listeners who already know BAUFOs’ sound is tiiiggghhht! Newcomers can check out the goods at Rest30.com or MySpace.com/BooksAboutUFOs. Todd’s Bar & Grill, 1051 S. 300 West, 10 p.m. Info: 328-8650 (with The Rubes and The Heaters).

Also Friday: Tracy & the Plastics (Kilby Court); Cheri Magill (Sandy Amphitheater'see Music, p.58); John Pizzarelli Quartet (Peery’s Egyptian Theater, Ogden); Zach Parrish Blues Band (Zanzibar); Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (In the Venue'see Music, p.57); Bullets & Octane, Broke (Burt’s Tiki Lounge), Pleasure Thieves, Form of Rocket (Urban Lounge); The Annuals (Egos)

SATURDAY 9/17

ALASKA!

Imaad Wasif is often quoted philosophizing about his group’s near-death experience'how the Silver Lake trio (former Red Aunts drummer Jenny Ishino and Sebadoh expatriate Russ Pollard round out the threesome) flipped their van in a Wyoming blizzard and subsequently resolved to grab life by the balls. Seems a little cliche, but Rescue Through Tomahawk proves there’s some truth to his musings. The group’s previous albums featured sweet, whispered melodies about the sun and such. Tomahawk, on the other hand, has teeth. Ten tracks delivered as if today is the end of classic rock as we know it. Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 7:30 p.m. All-ages. Info: 320-9887, KilbyCourt.com (with Gift Anon, Pearls & Brass and Glacial)

Also Saturday: Rockfest (Sandy Amphitheater); Marques Wyatt (Halo); Thunderfist (Egos); Cosm (Urban Lounge); Cart, Invisible Rays (Todd’s Bar & Grill); Unsound Mind, Art of Kanly (Burt’s Tiki Lounge)

SUNDAY 9/18

MOGGS

The White Belt is Not Enough, but somehow repetitive lyrics help round things out. You’d think hiccup lines like “Ooh the kids are cruel, they owe/ Ooh the kids are cruel, they owe,” and “Cuts in our hearts won’t stop us now/Cuts in our hearts won’t stop us now,” might wear a bit thin, but dejà vu is sweet when the Moggs are in control. This Bay Area husband-wife duo is obsessed with analog recording, which might explain why words take a backseat to syncopated beats. They try to avoid digital processing, so whether in-studio or onstage, what you see is what you get. Now that’s refreshing. Now that’s refreshing. Monk’s, 19 E. 200 South, 10 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com (with Dragon and Agape).

MONDAY 9/19

Acceptance, Augustana (Lo-Fi Cafe); Even Lower (Burt’s Tiki Lounge)

TUESDAY 9/20

LTJ BUKEM

Welcome to the jungle'LTJ Bukem’s jungle, that is. The U.K.-born DJ is credited with revolutionizing hardcore techno, tweaking it to create a light, airy effect. His groundbreaking ideas run counter to contemporary trends, evolving on the fringe and slowly catching on as the new standard. Bukem, aka Danny Williamson, even formed his own label, Good Looking Records, as a platform for innovative sounds. Y’all want this party started, right? Y’all want this party started, quickly. Right. Now. W Lounge, 358 S. West Temple, 10 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com.

Also Tuesday: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (Velvet Room); Muddy River Nightmare Band (Burt’s Tiki Lounge)

WEDNESDAY 9/21

THE SIXFIFTEENS

Live! From Upstate New York: It’s the Sixfifteens! Arty-indie rockers whose forefathers founded Pavement, Mission of Burma, Fountains of Wayne and other established luminaries permanently affixed to rock critics’ tongues. While cited as “experimental,” there’s nothing really daring about these guys, save for their ability to not sound anything like a Top 40 knockoff. Take this as a compliment, for “groundbreaking” doesn’t always equal “good.” Sometimes it’s just nice to hear a group perfecting the mold. Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 7:30 p.m. All-ages. Info: 320-9887, KilbyCourt.com.

Also Wednesday: Green Day (Delta Center); The John Whites (Kilby Court); Salty Rootz (Burt’s Tiki Lounge)

COMING UP

Dramarama (Velvet Room, Sept. 23). Local H (Urban Lounge, Sept. 23). X96 Big Ass Show (Utah State Fairpark, Sept. 24). Franz Ferdinand (Saltair, Sept. 28). Idlewild (Velvet Room, Sept. 28). Dr. Know (Burt’s Tiki Lounge, Sept. 28). Every Time I Die (Lo-Fi Cafe, Sept. 30). Heavenly States (Urban Lounge, Oct. 3). Nine Inch Nails (E Center, Oct. 4). North Mississippi Allstars (Suede, Oct. 4). My Chemical Romance (McKay Events Center, Oct. 5). Acid Mother’s Temple (Egos, Oct. 6). Death Cab for Cutie (In the Venue, Oct. 7). Supersuckers (Suede, Oct. 7). Coheed & Cambria (Great Saltair, Oct. 8). ZZ Top (McKay Events Center, Oct. 11). Horrorpops (Lo-Fi Cafe, Oct. 19).