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The best Reno area concerts

This week's picks (and pans) for Reno, Sparks, Carson and Tahoe

By Mark Earnest

Special to Metromix
September 2, 2008

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Aaron Lewis of Staind performs solo at the Silver Legacy on Friday.

It's hard to keep track of every show that's coming up, so let local musician-in-the-know Mark Earnest help you pick your playlist for this week. This page is updated with new concerts every Monday, so bookmark away.

Staind frontman Aaron Lewis visits Reno again for a solo show on Friday at the Silver Legacy.

Also check out Switchfoot, Stephen Lynch, Gloriana, the Expendables and local showcases Songwriters in the Round and Electric Circus 2.

Songwriters in the Round featuring Sam Lewis

The Tree House Lounge - 555 E. Fourth St. (behind The Underground) - Reno

January 7 : 8:30 p.m.

Thursday’s pick: This month’s Songwriters in the Round show is headlined by Sam Lewis, an acoustic indie-rock artist from the UK. He’s got a one-of-a-kind take on his musical style, somewhere between the moody, minimalist folk of a Drag City artist and someone from the ‘70s who is a bit more reverent toward acoustic blues music. It’s a neat combination and would likely please fans of the four excellent singer/songwriters from Reno also on this bill. $5, 8:30 p.m., Treehouse Lounge, 21+

Gloriana, John Dawson Band

Knitting Factory Concert House - 211 N. Virginia St. - Reno

January 7 : 8 p.m.

Also on Thursday: This show is headlined by emerging country/rock band Gloriana (from Nashville, and sounding like it in that “we love the Eagles more than George Jones” kind of way). Local country group the John Dawson Band opens things up. $15, 8 p.m., Knitting Factory, all ages

Liferuiner, Luck Won't Save You, Fairweather Sky, Anthropophagus, The Calmer

New Oasis - 2100 Victorian Ave. - Sparks

January 7 : 7 p.m.

Also on Thursday: The Canadian hardcore punk-metal band plays tonight, along with three local hardcore metal bands (Luck Wont Save You, Fairweather Sky and Anthropophagus) and prog/hard rock band The Calmer. $10, 7 p.m., New Oasis, all ages

NMA First Thursday with Tim Tucker Band

Nevada Museum of Art - 160 W. Liberty St. - Reno

January 7 : 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Also on Thursday: This local pop-rock band (who also play some reggae-rock from time to time) performs for the First Thursdays series at the NMA. $10, $8 seniors and students, free for NMA members, 5 p.m., Nevada Museum of Art, all ages

Flamenco Guitarist David Maldonado

Moody's Bistro & Lounge - 10007 Bridge St. - Truckee

January 7 : 8 p.m.

Also on Thursday: Hailing from Southern California, acoustic guitarist David Maldonado plays a blend of flamenco and classical styles. He and his trio are also playing tomorrow night at Crystal Bay Club. Free, 8 p.m., Moody’s Bistro and Lounge, 21+

Switchfoot, Paper Tongues

Knitting Factory Concert House - 211 N. Virginia St. - Reno

January 8 : 8 p.m.

Friday’s pick: It’s hard not to mention the fact that San Diego modern rock band Switchfoot has Christian themes in their music, but they also are one of the least preachy about it in their genre. Instead, they focus on spirituality in general, often identifying with the downtrodden and misfits of all stripes. Switchfoot backs it up musically with everything from sweet pop to crunchy harder-edged rock. They are easily one of the best of the radio-friendly rock bands going today. Promising openers Paper Tongues (from North Carolina) are another modern-rock band that favors melodic anthems, and they return to town only a few months after opening up for Flyleaf. $21, 8 p.m., Knitting Factory, all ages

Expendables

The Underground - 555 E. Fourth St., Suite B - Reno

January 8 : 6:30 p.m.

Also on Friday: The Ladera skateboard company is sponsoring this show featuring a slew of national bands that merge reggae with rock. The one exception is hardcore punk band Pour Habit from Southern Cali, but the other bands -- the Expendables from the Bay area, Iration from Hawaii, Passafire from Georgia and Roots Down Below from Massachusetts – show this sound is alive and well across the country. $15, 6:30 p.m., The Underground, all ages

Aaron Lewis

Silver Legacy Resort Casino - 407 N. Virginia St. - Reno

January 8 : 8 p.m.

Also on Friday: It’s the annual visit from the singer of Staind, playing his band’s songs acoustic and solo. $40, $55, $65, 8 p.m., Silver Legacy, all ages

Thares, 3 Lunas, Gusano

New Oasis - 2100 Victorian Ave. - Sparks

January 8 : 9 p.m.

Also on Friday: A night of bands on the louder end of the rock en espanol movement – 3 Lunas and Thares, both fromm San Jose, and local rockers Gusano. $7, 9 p.m., New Oasis, 18+

Reagan Years, The Mighty Surf Lords

Black Tangerine - 9825 S. Virginia St. - Reno

January 8 : 9 p.m.

Also on Friday: Two diverse Reno bands on the bill in south Reno tonight: The Reagan Years (punk/metal) and The Mighty Surf Lords (surf/rock). $5, 9 p.m., Black Tangerine, 21+

Deadly Gallows, The Bo Deens, Blood Orgy

Zephyr Lounge - 1074 S. Virginia St. - Reno

January 8 : 8 p.m.

Also on Friday: A show featuring three bands from Reno that mix acoustic folk and rock with the drive of indie and punk music. $5, 8 p.m., Zephyr Lounge, 21+

Courtesy Call

Se7en on West (Seven) - 148 West St. - Reno

January 8 : 9 p.m.

Also on Friday: This emerging modern rock band from Reno plays a show downtown tonight. $5, 9 p.m., Se7en at West Street, all ages

Strange on the Range

Ceol Irish Pub - 538 S. Virginia St. - Reno

January 8 : 9 p.m.

Also on Friday: This local trad bluegrass band plays tonight. Free, 9 p.m., Ceol Irish Pub, 21+

David Maldonado

Crystal Bay Club-Casino - 14 Nevada 28 - Crystal Bay

January 8 : 10 p.m.

Also on Friday: Here’s the second night in Tahoe for this California group that mixes acoustic pop with flamenco and classical guitar influences. Free, 10 p.m., Crystal Bay Club, 21+

Electric Circus 2

Studio on 4th - 432 E. Fourth St. - Reno

January 9 : 5 p.m.

Saturday’s pick: The last few years have seen a proliferation of Reno-only themed festival shows, and that’s a great thing. The Electric Circus stands out, though, for its inclusive vibe and its diversity within the confines of guitar- or key-driven rock. It’s also a masquerade party, which always encourages a creative freakiness. The lineup this year is very strong, with early-punk influenced modern rock (The Madorians), folky indie-punk (The Deadly Gallows), avant-electronica (In Space with Lasers), funk-meets-psychedelia (Whatitdo), indie pop with banjo and horns (Very Pretty Pigeon), and three bands with their own distinctive takes on prog-influenced rock (The I Knows, Babel and Valmar Place). Let’s hope this January tradition continues in Reno. $5, $2 with costume, Studio at 4th, starts at 4 p.m., all ages

Strung Out, Calabrese, The Penny Dreadfuls

The Underground - 555 E. Fourth St., Suite B - Reno

January 9 : 8 p.m.

Also on Saturday: This bill is headlined by Bay-based punk-meets-metal band Strung Out, returning to the area to promote its latest album, “Agents of the Underground.” Also on the bill are horror-themed punk band Calabrese (from Phoenix) and garage-punkers The Penny Dreadfuls (from the Bay). Local punk/metal group The Reagan Years play the 21+ after-party next door at the Treehouse Lounge. $13, 8 p.m., The Underground, all ages

Stephen Lynch

Silver Legacy Resort Casino - 407 N. Virginia St. - Reno

January 9 : 8 p.m.

Also on Saturday: Also on Saturday: This comedian is more like a musician than most. The good news is that he’s both excellent and funny most of the time, with his “I Am Not A Jukebox” routine worth the price of admission alone. This show is a re-sked from his performance that was canceled last October. $25, $35, 8 p.m., Silver Legacy, all ages

Devil's Own, Dustraiser

Zephyr Lounge - 1074 S. Virginia St. - Reno

January 9 : 8 p.m.

Also on Saturday: A potent bill of alt-country with a heavy-duty rock kick, featuring Bay area band The Devil’s Own and great local band Dustraiser. $5, 8 p.m, Zephyr Lounge, 21+

Nerv, The Flesh Hammers, Black Widows Forever

Davidson's Distillery - 275 East Fourth St. - Reno

January 9 : 9 p.m.

Also on Saturday: I predict this show will be crazy (in a good way) with sets by Bay area hardcore punks The Nerv, local hardcore-meets-early punkers The Flesh Hammers, and WTF/comedy/rock band Black Widows Forever. Free, 9 p.m., Davidson’s Distillery, 21+

JStalin, Outrage Fiasco

Tonic Lounge - 231 W. Second St. - Reno

January 9 : 10 p.m.

Also on Saturday: A pair of hip-hop artists are on tap at Tonic tonight – JStalin from Oakland and Outrage Fiasco from Sacramento. $10, 10 p.m., Tonic Lounge, 21+

Ed Sheets, Seth Horan, Petteri Sariola

Maytan Music Center - 777 S. Center St. - Reno

January 9 : 8 p.m.

Also on Saturday: Despite the soon-to-be-relocated Reno Music Project leaving this venue, there will still be very occasional shows – and here’s a good one! Highly skilled So Cal guitarist Ed Sheets performs with Reno bassist/singer/songwriter Seth Horan, and Finnish guitar player Petteri Sariola. $8, 8 p.m., Maytan Music Center, all ages

My Flag Is On Fire, Crush, Joe Little, Hopscotch Whiskey

Rainshadow Community Charter High School - 121 Vesta St. - Reno

January 9 : 7 p.m.

Also on Saturday: A great bill of locals at the charter school tonight, sponsored by the Holland Project. Indie-folk artists My Flag is on Fire and Joe Little are paired with ragged-but-right indie rockers Crush and Hopscotch Whiskey. $5, 7 p.m., Rainshadow, all ages

MC Hammer

Harrah's Lake Tahoe - 15 U.S. Highway 50 - Stateline

January 9 : 7:30 p.m.

Also on Saturday: Yep, the hip-hop-meets-pop rapper is on the comeback trail with a new album due later this year. $40, 7:30 p.m., Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, all ages

Law Abiding Citizens, The Shames, Compton SF, Anti-Panti

Whiskey Dicks Saloon - 2660 Lake Tahoe Blvd. - South Lake Tahoe

January 9 : 9 p.m.

Also on Saturday: A bill featuring punk and harder rock, featuring two Bay area bands (Law Abiding Citizens, Compton SF) , the Shames from Reno and Tahoe band Anti-Panti. $5, 9 p.m., Whiskey Dick’s, 21+

Orchestra of Strange Tour with B Dolan

Se7en on West (Seven) - 148 West St. - Reno

January 10 : 5 p.m.

This all-ages show features rappers B Dolan of Rhode Island, Sleep of Portland (not to be confused with the rock band of the same name) and Cecil Otter of Minneapolis. Local hip-hop artists Koala T, Cognito, Spoken Views and DJ Desiree also perform.