Music Picks 

Thursday 6.21
ttTaylor Swift (Sandy City Amphitheatre); Albino! (Urban Lounge); Tommy Castro (Utah Arts Festival); Steve Lyman (Alchemy)

Friday 6.22
ttCHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE
ttFor whatever reason, electronic music producers and DJs have to work a little harder to book shows and sell records in America, relying on awards and ratings to convince club owners and audiences for a fair shake. Christopher Lawrence, the world’s “No. 4 DJ” according to DJ Mag, is no exception. Though widely sought after in Europe, Australia and other trance-happy countries, Lawrence struggles for mainstream acceptance in the states. Pick up his new Gatecrasher release Live in Moscow for a taste of tonight’s show. Give the man some much deserved homeland love. The Hotel, 155 W. 200 South, 8 p.m. Tickets: SmithsTix.com

LUCINDA WILLIAMS
ttLucinda Williams’ latest album received mixed reviews for the very reason critics praised her previous efforts. Widely revered for her awe-inspiring grit, the weathered-and-torn country singer’s deeply personal musings fall just south of intense on West, with well-crafted, albeit languid tracks like “Are You Alright?” weighing down the ballsy heat of “Come On,” a pointed attack that recalls the sort of acrid intensity Courtney Love pulled off in her most authentic, punk-rock moments. The rare misstep hardly seals Williams’ fate as a washed-up performer. Her obvious strength and determination override West’s failings, immediately relieving any question of Williams’ staying power. If anything, the negative response will just add more fuel for fire. Kingsbury Hall, 1395 E. Presidents Circle, University of Utah, 8 p.m. Tickets: 581-7100

Also Friday: Silver Cities (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); In Camera, Loom (Broken Record); Facing New York (Kilby Court); Angelique Kidjo (Utah Arts Festival); Summer Slaughter Tour (Country Club Theater, Ogden)

Saturday 6.23
ttDEFTONES
ttIt doesn’t much matter what critics think of Deftones: Sacramento’s alt-metal veterans will always have legions of loyal fans to keep those copies of White Pony flying off the rack. The atmospheric, unsettling'some might say overly dramatic'quintet will hold a special place in my heart for emoting without whining. In fact, while often saddled with Korn comparisons, their vibe is more in line with contemporary goth bands than sophomoric, dreadlocked rap-rockers. Plus, Deftones evidenced some signs of growth with 2006’s Saturday Night Wrist, whose tight production value complements the group’s manicured drama. Question their talent if you will, but with two Salt Lake City dates nailed down, there’s no reason to doubt these shows will sell out. In the Venue, 219 S. 600 West, 6:30 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com

Also Saturday: Les Claypool (The Depot); Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin (Great Saltair); Slough Feg, Accidente (Urban Lounge); As Tall As Lions (Kilby Court); Lunar Fire (Suede, Park City); Return to Sender, Facing New York (Velour, Provo)

Sunday 6.24
ttDeftones (In the Venue); Kan’Nal, Preservation Hall Jazz Band (Utah Arts Festival)

Monday 6.25
ttMarnie Stern (Urban Lounge'see Music p 57); Steve Winwood (The Depot); Fall Out Boy (E Center); Paul Wall (Teazers, Ogden)

Tuesday 6.26
ttGREAT LAKE SWIMMERS
ttFeeling sleepy? Might want to skip Great Lake Swimmers. Ontario’s ambient folk group will pull your lids down faster than you can say Bonnie Prince Billy. Or Smog. If those names make you swoon, then by all means grab an energy drink, pop some NoDoz'do what it takes to stay lucid and memorize every whispered moment of this heartbreaking band’s epic lullabies. While most of Swimmers’ Canadian contemporaries subscribe to the “more is more” policy, vocalist Tony Dekker, guitarist Erik Arnesen and drummer Colin Huebert (various guests appear on certain recordings and in concert) prefer subtle, stripped-down compositions that succeed on the strength of their convictions. Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com (with Paul Jacobsen and Libbie Linton)

Also Tuesday: John Cowan Band, Great American Taxi (Port O’ Call)

Wednesday 6.27
ttDAN DEACON
ttDan Deacon is not so unusual in his choice to set up shop in the middle of a bar. He’s one of those fun, off-kilter performance artists who eschews most conventional trends, including the obvious choice to kick out the jams on a raised stage. Unlike artists like Girl Talk, Deacon stops short of sacrificing his bod for the art: Instead of hunching over his gear, he stands up straight and shakes his groove thing'a shimmy not unlike one of those inflatable figures convulsing in the wind outside your local Jiffy Lube. Infectious and hilarious, Deacon’s physicality is arguably more exciting than the frantic beeps, blips and train-of-thought vocals that inspire the Baltimore native’s zany live shows. The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 10 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com (with Video Hippos and Jessica Something Jewish)

Also Wednesday: Dying Fetus (Country Club Theater, Ogden)

COMING UP
ttShearwater (Kilby Court and Slowtrain, June 28); Eek-A-Mouse (Suede, June 28); The Iron Maidens (Club Vegas, June 28-29); The Makai, All Systems Fail (Red Light Books); Melt Banana (Urban Lounge, June 30); Doin’ It at the Park (Liberty Park, July 1); Black Diamond Heavies (Burt’s Tiki Lounge, July 2); Big Business (Urban Lounge, July 3); Del the Funky Homosapien (Urban Lounge, July 5); Lola Ray (Monk’s, July 6); Vilma Palma e Vampiros (Club Karamba, July 6); Van’s Warped Tour (Utah State Fairpark, July 7); Battles (Urban Lounge, July 7)