The best Reno concerts this week

Plan A: Not only is it remarkable that Subhumans are still playing regular U.S. shows, it’s practically phenomenal that it’s pretty much the original lineup treading those boards. Beloved by punks around the world, this U.K. band did have a huge gap of inactivity (as in, most of the mid 80s-90s). Still, time hasn’t diluted the power of its basic but smart hardcore punk, always with a strong vision toward social and political issues. They are sharing this bill with Total Chaos, another longtime hardcore punk with social issues to the fore (this time, though, they are from Southern Cali). Reno punk bands Out For War and Priscilla Ford complete the bill. $13 adv., $15 door, all ages

A return to town for roots-reggae-rock band Fortunate Youth from Los Angeles, along with similar Hawaiian band Inna Vision. $10, 21+  

Another edition of RAW’s mixed-media-style shows featuring art, music, fashion shows, etc. The music this time is provided by local singer/songwriters Tovah Goodman and Joshua Clemens, plus DJ Mojo Jojo. $10 adv., $15 door, 21+

A night of indie/pop/rock featuring large L.A. band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, as well as Portland, Ore., group Wild Ones. $30, all ages

I saw Ben Taylor a few years ago open up for John Haitt and liked his mellow but edgy take on folk/pop. He is indeed the son of musicians James Taylor and Carly Simon. $17 adv., $20 door, $37 booth seat, 21+

Plan A: What is commonly thought of as “bar band” music gets a bad rep. There are bands out there taking the tropes of classic rock – blues, roots music with twang, the occasional heavy distortion, catchy tunes – and doing something compelling without resorting to the tired. One of those bands is a hard-touring outfit from North Carolina called The Freeway Revival. The band has a varied sound that takes the best of the roots bands from the ‘70s and adds a modern melodic jam/rock twist. Some sterling musicianship and strong songwriting only sweeten this pot.   $5, 21+

The Nugget hosts its annual Country Crossroads multi-day show festival. This time, it’s this Nashville country-meets-pop group. $39, all ages

This Memorial Day weekend show features a free barbecue before the music (at about 7 p.m.). A good bill of extreme metal bands, too: the three above, plus Scattered. Free, 21+

Classic rock/roots band that features ex-members of Creedence Clearwater Revival. $55.50 and $65, all ages  

Electronic/dance meets indie rock with this popular Reno group. Free, 21+

Two indie-style singer/songwriters from Reno. Free, all ages

Plan B: I will probably recommend L.A. band TSOL until the end of time (or at least my column). Led again by intense, wired vocalist Jack Grisham, they’ve evolved a lot over the years. They were one of the first American bands to bring darker, Goth-style influences to their hardcore, and it’s a sound they continue to toy with to this day. TSOL has always been one of the best original SoCal punk bands – discover them now if you haven’t yet. They are playing with great Sacramento noise/punks Kill the Precedent. Some solid local/regional punks on this bill: Tahoe band Ninja Slaughterhouse, and two from Reno: Liver Scars. $13 adv., $15 door, all ages

The second Country Crossroads show features this Nashville country singer. $39, all ages

Good double-bill featuring two Reno bands that take trad acoustic music down a different path. Free, 21+

A second night in the area for Carolina roots/rock band Freeway Revival, this time with local rockabilly groups Hellbilly Bandits and Jukebox Rebels. Free, 21+

A pair of reggae bands from San Diego (Stranger) and Gardnerville (S.O. Dubs). $7, 21+

Plan A: Cali country artist Dwight Yoakam is the headliner of the Nugget’s Country Crossroads show this year, and it’s a great choice. While his album from last year, “3 Pears,” didn’t get a lot of overground attention, it continues his quest to take trad country influences to new areas, while not losing sight of that Bakersfield-style sound that made his name. Yoakam certainly doesn’t sound like his hotter-selling contemporaries – but then again, he never did. $69 and $79, all ages

A night of modern-rock-meets-hardcore from these four local bands (the fourth is newer group Jazz The Children). $5, all ages

A return to town for Dave Mason, the excellent and underrated rock artist who played with the band Traffic and had solo hits in the ‘70s. $25 and $40, 21+

Underrated classic rap act that had the hits “O.P.P.” and “Hip Hop Hooray,” among others. $10, 21+

Oregon indie/experimental group Third Seven returns to town, along with local indie band The Observers. Free, 21+