Thanks to in large part to festivals like Punk Rock Bowling and Psycho Las Vegas, we’ve been able to catch some bonafide punk-rock legends in our own backyard these past few years—icons like Iggy Pop, the Descendents and Death. Add another to the list, sans festival: Punk pioneers The Dead Boys are set to rock Beauty Bar on Thursday, November 9. The Cleveland quintet is famous for fusing the snotty sensibilities of its proto-punk brothers with a newfound intensity. That sound is best displayed on 1977 debut Young, Loud and Snotty, which featured the rambunctious single “Sonic Reducer.” Original vocalist Stiv Bators died in 1990, but founding members Cheetah Chrome (guitar) and Johnny Blitz (drums) are still active. With a new lineup, including singer Jake Hout, the band released Still Snotty: Young, Loud and Snotty at 40 in September and is touring for the first since the 1970s. 7 p.m., $15.
On the opposite end of the sonic spectrum, Wild Ones land at the Bunkhouse on Saturday, November 11. The Portland, Oregon, dream-pop outfit released its second full-length, Mirror Touch, on Topshelf Records last month. It’s a 10-track, 30-minute mingling of melodic chord progressions and dark lyrical themes paying homage to a breadth of influences, from New Order to Cocteau Twins. The album has received positive reviews, and has allowed Wild Ones to join indie sweethearts Tennis on a national tour starting November 13. Take a listen to the lush synths and pouding rhythms of songs like “Standing in the Back at Your Show” and “Invite Me In” and see how they play out live. 9 p.m., $10-$12.
Rapper Grieves has been at it for nearly 10 years—performing on the Vans Warped Tour and at South by Southwest along the way—and he’s stopping at Backstage Bar & Billiards on Wednesday, November 15. The Chicago-born, Seattle-based Grieves (born Benjamin Laub) has released five albums and four EPs during his decade-long career, and his crisp, staccato flow helped land him a record deal with the fabled Rhymesayers. He has shared the mic with labelmates Slug (of Atmosphere), Cunninlynguists and Brother Ali and has released two collaborative albums with producer/multi-instrumentalist Budo, to critical acclaim. Grieves’ latest effort, Running Wild, sees the emcee switching hats between laid-back party rapper and introspective storyteller. Check out his personal diatribe on drugs, “RX,” then snag some tickets. 8 p.m., $13-$15.
