Music Picks 

THURSDAY 6.28
ttTHE IRON MAIDENS
ttThe Iron Maidens are like She-Ra'princess warriors who save the day, replacing swords with guitars; Grayskul with Marshall. These superwomen fight in the name of classic metal, performing dead-on covers of Iron Maiden songs including “Run to the Hills” and “Children of the Damned.” The only thing they might want to work on: Aqua Net. They’re gonna need a whole lot more of it to mimic their idols’ ratty bouffants. Club Vegas, 445 S. 400 West, 10 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com

BUCK 65, SAGE FRANCIS
ttCanadian emcee Buck 65 is a rock star in many fans’ eyes, but for the zillions of people rushing in and out of clubs at South By Southwest, the gruff-voiced troubadour was just some dude spouting off between Black Lips gigs. Obviously hurt as hipsters passing by ignored his set, he mocked them with impromptu rhymes while his DJ scrambled to keep up. For the 10 or so folks paying attention, the moment was pure genius. Buck’s on-the-spot retaliation nearly achieved the power of Secret House Against the World, with its heavy French influences and twisted political themes running amok. He shifted gears on 2006’s Dirty Work, showing much love for the wild west. An outlaw in his own right, he understands the impulse to rebel. But mess with the Buck, and you’ll get the horns. Pay attention, please. In the Venue, 219 S. 600 West, 7 p.m. All-ages. Tickets: 800-888-8499

Also Thursday: Shearwater (In the Venue, Slowtrain--see Music p. 55); Jerry Joseph Band, JR Ruppel (Pat’s BBQ); Kenny Chesney (Usana Amphitheatre); Eek-a-Mouse (Suede, Park City); Ferry Corsten (Harry O’s, Park City)

Friday 6.29
ttHORSE FEATHERS, LOCH LOMOND
ttSomewhere between Illinoise and Michigan, Sufjan Stevens became the go-to comparison for indie-folk artists. And while no one in his/her right mind would contest such favorable parallels, it’s safe to say bands like Loch Lomond might rather be recognized for the qualities that set their music apart'even if they share a penchant for epic storytelling and lush, orchestral instrumentation. If anything, the now nine-piece Portland group'fueled by Ritchie Young’s ever-present talents'share more in common with neighbors The Decemberists and Neutral Milk Hotel, all products of an incredibly nurturing environment. Unlike, say, New York City or Los Angeles, Portland seems to be a pretty safe place to grow and experiment in'the sort of place where you can daydream about ships and giants while playing your mandolin or saw and singing things like “I want you like I told you and I’ll take you like I should.” Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 7:30 p.m. All-ages. Tickets: 24Tix.com

RICHMOND FONTAINE
ttHey! It’s another Portland band! Only Richmond Fontaine are more south-of-the-border in sound and sentiment, with cozy road-trip anthems for soul-searching lonely-hearts trying to escape regret'hopefully, maybe, “Making it Back” again. Their seventh album Thirteen Cities takes them out of the lush Pacific Northwest to the bone-dry deserts of Tucson, Ariz., where producer JD Foster (Calexico, Richard Buckner) added his signature touch with French horns, upright bass and Willy Vlautin’s endearing vagabond vocals spreading the gospel of roots and badlands blues. While the instrumentation is reason enough to pick up the new album, Vlautin'who published his first novel last year'pens lyrics like writing on the wall of a rest stop in Anytown, USA. Bar Deluxe, 666 S. State, 10 p.m. Info: 801-521-5255

Also Friday: The Iron Maidens (Club Vegas); The Makai, All Systems Fail (Red Light Books)

Saturday 6.30
ttMELT BANANA
ttMelt Banana? No, they’re not melodic if, by melodic, you mean palatable and bland. If you mean awesome, then, yes. They are super-melodic. The Japanese “noise rock” band make beautiful sounds out of nontraditional shrieks, double guitar riffs and random effects best described as bleeps, blips and braaaaaaaats. Imagine a water balloon being crushed by a rickety roller coaster with a bunch of high-pitched neurotics screaming as the carriage rushes up, then down. Up again. Weeeeeeeee! Basically, Melt Banana is the equivalent of your morning coffee plus a six-pack of Sparks alcoholic energy drinks and your niece’s heart rate after a Webkinz shopping spree. Awesome. The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 10 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com (with Vile Blue Shades and Agape)

Also Saturday: Dance Evolution Summer Kick Off (Broken Record); Hawthorne Heights (Great Saltair); John Tesh (Ogden Amphitheatre); The Iron Maidens (Firehouse Bar & Grill, St. George)

Monday 7.2
ttBlack Diamond Heavies, The Prids (Burt’s Tiki Lounge)

Tuesday 7.3
ttHot Rock’n 4th Freedom Festival (Ogden Stadium)

Wednesday 7.4
ttHOT ROCK’N FOURTH FREEDOM FESTIVAL
ttAnd now, words of wisdom from the classic Richard Linklater film Dazed and Confused: “OK guys, one more thing, this summer when you’re being inundated with all this American bicentennial Fourth of July brouhaha, don’t forget what you’re celebrating, and that’s the fact that a bunch of slave-owning, aristocratic, white males didn’t want to pay their taxes.” Or, simply sit back and enjoy an afternoon of monster trucks, demolition derby, musical performances by Melissa Jones and Ty England, and a fireworks spectacular. America, fuck yeah! Ogden Stadium, 17th Street, Ogden, 4 p.m. All-ages. Tickets: 800-888-8499

Also Wednesday: Stadium of Fire: Brooks & Dunn (LaVell Edwards Stadium, BYU, Provo)

COMING UP
ttDel the Funky Homosapien (Urban Lounge, July 5); Folk Fest American Revival w/ Bob Moss (Red Light Books, July 5); Robert Earl Keen, Sarah Borges (Gallivan Center, July 5); Vilma Palma e Vampiros (Club Karamba, July 6); Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival (Washington Square, July 6-7); Battles, The Tremula (Urban Lounge, July 7); Vans Warped Tour (Utah State Fairpark, July 7); Blue Oyster Cult, Foghat (The Canyons, July 7); Chicago Afrobeat Project (Urban Lounge, July 10); Hot Tuna (The Depot, July 11); The Rocket Summer (In the Venue, July 13); Chris Cornell, Juliette & The Licks (The Depot, July 14); Rasputina (Suede, July 14)