Music Picks 

Friday 11.24

SLAID CLEAVES
nOffstage, Slaid Cleaves is a man of few words. The Maine-born, Austin-based singer/songwriter keeps his head down and out of the spotlight, responding to interviews with succinct, direct responses. Through his music, however, Cleaves transforms into a powerful albeit mild-mannered storyteller whose songs carry a universal quality. 2006’s Unsung is perhaps even more accessible, its tracks composed by Cleaves heroes and friends. Don’t worry. He has plenty of original material in his hat. Take his lead'be patient. Prospector Theater in Prospector Lodge, 2200 Sidewinder Dr., Park City, 8 p.m. All-ages. Tickets: MountainTownStages.com.

L.A. GUNS
nThere was a time when the term “supergroup” somewhat applied to L.A. Guns, whose members included offshoots of Guns N’ Roses, Girl and W.A.S.P. But there’s nothing too super about significant lineup changes (including enough vocalists to rival Spinal Tap’s dead drummer roster) and mediocre post-heyday albums. Yes, the Guns have seen hard times. And while they never quite nailed down a consistent lineup, they produced increasingly decent sounds. If you’re craving old-school metal hooks and melodies, look no further. Club Vegas, 445 S. 400 West, 9 p.m. Tickets: SmithsTix.com (with Shadow and Aerial).

- Also Friday: This Love Machine (Kilby Court); Skatalites (Urban Lounge); Utah County Swillers CD Release (Burt’s Tiki Lounge'see Music, p. 74); Dr. Bob (Celsius Lounge, Park City)

Saturday 11.25

THE DUHKS
nThe phrase “difficult to pigeonhole” gets bandied about whenever musicians ignore the classic bass/drums/keys/guitar formula in favor of more complex instrumentation. It also comes into play when bands combine more than two genres (because pop-punk, rap-rock, etc., are now familiar labels). In other words, they make life difficult for lazy critics. The Duhks are one such group. The young Canadian quintet (some of whom have'gasp!'tattoos) squeeze in bits of soul, blues, bluegrass, zydeco, Celtic guitar, Irish fiddle and Appalachian clawhammer banjo into gorgeous, often acoustic, compositions that might be difficult to interpret but oh-so-easy to embrace. Eccles Center, 1750 Kearns Blvd., Park City, 7:30 p.m. All-ages. Tickets: 435-655-3114.

- Also Saturday: DJ Micro & DJ Baby Anne (In the Venue); Elias, Rebel Spell (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); Cliff Eberhardt (Prospector Theater, Park City); Just Wanna Dance (W Lounge)

Monday 11.27

TRICK PONY, TAYLOR SWIFT
nIn the mood for songs that literally reference Chevy trucks and the moon as a spotlight? Contemporary country’s Taylor Swift, whose “Tim McGraw” (not a pass at Faith’s honey'you thought that awards-show flip-out was scary? Ha!) is chock-full of romantic down-home clichés. It seems Swift is the sweet to Trick Pony’s snips and snails? Well, so much for that analogy. Basically, TP are tough as nails. They pump out barroom honky-tonk with three- … er, make that two-part harmonies. Singer Heidi Newfield recently left the group to launch a solo career. No worries. TP have more than one trick up their sleeves. Dee Events Center, Weber State University, Ogden, 7:30 p.m. All-ages. Tickets: WeberStateTickets.com.

Tuesday 11.28

- Margo & The Nuclear So & Sos (Kilby Court'see Music, p. 72); Queensryche (The Depot)

Wednesday 11.29

THE SOUNDS
nInxs’ Michael Hutchence didn’t write “Suicide Blonde” for Maja Ivarsson, but the ’90s ode to platinum power is an apt summation of The Sounds’ leader in action: “White light everywhere, but you can’t see a thing.” Onstage, Ivarsson wails (check the Ozzy howl on “Song With a Mission”) and struts like a dominatrix commanding everyone to dance, dance, dance. Her authority is backed by swift, halting beats and snarly riffs courtesy of fellow Swedes Felix Rodriguez, Johan Bengtsson, Jesper Anderberg and Fredrik Nilsson. Pay some respect and break a sweat. Avalon Theater, 3605 S. State, 7 p.m. All-ages. Tickets: 24Tix.com (with Shiny Toy Guns).

PANIC! AT THE DISCO, COBRA STARSHIP
Snakes on a Plane might have tanked at the box office, but the heavily marketed film still planted in our collective consciousness one of the silliest catch phrases ever to grace the silver screen. Props to Cobra Starship for latching onto the motherf'kin’ mania by including Samuel L. Jackson’s infamous sound-byte in their song, “Snakes on a Plane (Bring It).” Props also for including on the track The Sounds Maja Ivarsson (see above) and Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz, whose dramatic voice shares a striking resemblance with Cobra’s Gabe Saporta. They’ll get you warmed up right and proper for Clockwork Orange fans'and sooo not emo group'Panic! At the Disco. E Center, 3200 S. Decker Lake Dr., 7 p.m. All-ages. Tickets: SmithsTix.com.

COMING UP

The Aquabats (In the Venue, Dec. 1). The Lemonheads (The Depot, Dec. 1). The Dears (Urban Lounge, Dec. 4). Kurt Bestor Christmas (Abravanel Hall, Dec. 5-9). Artemis Piledriver (Burt’s Tiki Lounge, Dec. 5). Saliva (The Depot, Dec. 5). Devotchka (Suede, Dec. 6). Plus 44 (In the Venue, Dec. 7). Imogen Heap (In the Venue, Dec. 8). Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (The Depot, Dec. 8). Dan the Automator (Suede, Dec. 8). Trans-Siberian Orchestra (E Center, Dec. 9). Big John Bates (Burt’s Tiki Lounge, Dec. 9). Dressy Bessy (Urban Lounge, Dec. 10). Michelle Malone (Urban Lounge, Dec. 13). And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead (Avalon Theater, Dec. 14). The Supersuckers (Suede, Dec. 31).