Music Picks 

Thursday 6.29

Rayah (Kilby Court); B-Side Players (Egos)

Friday 6.30

Rogue Wave (Kilby Court); Kottonmouth Kings (In the Venue); String Cheese Incident, RatDog (Great Saltair); Castles in the Sky (Harry O’s, Park City)

Saturday 7.1

THE COUP

Listening to Oakland hip-hop duo The Coup’s Pick a Bigger Weapon, you can almost picture emcee Boots Riley 10 years ago, sitting in his basement with a pile of Marvin Gaye and Dead Kennedys records thinking, “I’m gonna write the next ‘What’s Going On,’ ’cept my work will balance political activism with straight-up humor, you know, light & deep.” It took some time, but eventually he gathered enough ammo (misguided war overseas and in the streets) to pack the powerful, groove-laden Weapon. Guest stars including Talib Kweli, Tom Morello and Jello Biafra further Riley’s mission to “Laugh, love, f'k and drink liquor'and help the damn revolution come quicker.” Egos, 668 S. State, 9 p.m. Tickets: SmithsTix.com.

JONNY LANG

It’s tempting to think of Jonny Lang as the same guitar virtuoso who went home with a Grammy at age 19 all those years ago. However, such logic undermines his continued acceleration as one of the today’s best blues artists. While Lang’s talent has never been defined by his age, sexy lyrics about deceptive hearts are certainly more believable now that he’s actually wandered this world. Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way (U of U Research Park), 7:30 p.m. All-ages. Tickets: Ticketmaster.com.

Also Saturday: Royal Bliss (In the Venue); Slender Means (Kilby Court)

Sunday 7.2

THE BLACK HEART PROCESSION

They say it never rains in Southern California, but when fog descends on the San Diego Valley, a palpable sense of gloom envelops residents. Some, namely The Black Heart Procession, embrace the downward shift in weather. Their first three albums (aptly named 1, 2 and 3) established a trademark depression'dark dirges amplified by an eerie saw'driven by harsh takes on love and death. The Spell is slightly more uplifting, tighter and complete (thanks to new members Joe Plummer, Matt Resovich and Jimmy LaValle), with abstract lyricism that, while dramatic, at times pack a powerful punch of realism: “As cities ignite again we’ll say, ‘It’s too late,’ I know.” Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 10 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com (with Dan Sartain).

Monday 7.3

LILYS, HUMAN TELEVISION

Most of today’s music lacks the sort of forced whispering that makes you want to jump into an ill-fated relationship. Emo is close, but it’s too whiny. Back in the ’80s, songs by Psychedelic Furs, OMD … well, basically the entire Pretty in Pink soundtrack featured breathy vocals that, while intimating unrequited desire, carried a certain attractive confidence. Such is the case with Lilys, a group that’s more or less Kurt Heasley plus whichever musicians can make it to practice that day. Only Heasley one-ups his predecessors, incorporating a slew of live and electronic instruments that bounce or swirl in such an appealing way, you’ll tell everyone to lower their voices when it comes on at a party. Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 10 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com.

Wednesday 7.5

4-PLAY CONCERT SERIES

In previous years, the Come Alive Concert Series was viewed by some as a second-rate version of the Gallivan Center’s superior Twilight Concert Series, its arguably less-impressive lineup simply background music to pounding 3.2 beer. This year, X96, SLUG and City Weekly scratched their collective heads and devised a more enticing evening of free music. The 4-Play Concert Series pits local bands against one another in a fight to the death! No. That’s a lie. The stakes are just slightly lower: Audience-vote winners play X96’s Big Ass Show! Tonight’s selection includes The Heaters (jittery rock jams), Dead City Lights (Salt City Bandits 2.0), Subrosa (dark feng shui) and Screaming Condors (drunk metal). Gallivan Center, 239 S. Main, 7-10 p.m. Info: X96.com.

? Also Wednesday: Steel Train (Kilby Court); Rihanna (The Vortex); Hightower (Burt’s Tiki Lounge)

COMING UP

Ray Davies (The Depot, July 7). Indigo Girls (Red Butte Garden, July 9). Bang Sugar Bang (Burt’s Tiki Lounge, July 11). AFI (Utah State Fairpark, July 13). Built to Spill (The Depot, July 13). Koko Taylor (Red Butte Garden, July 14). Social Distortion (In the Venue, July 14). Dave Hole (The Depot, July 14-15). LL Cool J (Harry O’s, July 15). The Fixx (The Depot, July 18). Rusted Root (The Depot, July 19). Vans Warped Tour (Utah State Fairpark, July 22). Panic at the Disco (In the Venue, July 24). Ween (In the Venue, July 27). Frank Black (Urban Lounge, July 27). Chris Isaak (The Depot, July 29). The Rentals (In the Venue, July 28). X, Rollins Band (The Depot, Aug. 4).