Livewire: 10 rockin' ass concerts happening in metro Detroit this week

Thursday, 5/12 Sloan @ Saint Andrew’s Hall The cult Canadian indie pop-rockers are at it again with a huge tour this summer in support of their 20th anniversary. They just released a deluxe reissue of their classic album One Chord to Another; the set includes three LPs with two lyric inserts, a big-ass full color book, a 7-inch single, a fanzine-style booklet, a high digital download of LPs, and maybe even some other things. If you don’t have it already, you should totally buy it directly from the band at their merch table. Doors at 7 p.m.; 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; Tickets $17.50.

Thursday, May 12 - Low Key Sounds @ El Club - LKS is one of Detroit’s most fun bands, and they range from covering your favorite rock en Español jams to smatterings of pop, reggae, and funk. It’s rad that El Club is serving the local Mexicantown community with Spanish language music within its first week of opening. Plus, LKS has a broad appeal as they play covers by Bob Marley, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, and Stevie Wonder. There will be a special comedy performance before the show by Sandro Rodriguez and the Mighty Snow Cone. Doors at 7:30 p.m.; 4114 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; elclubdetroit.com; Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

Friday, May 13 - Breizh Amerika - @ Birmingham Congregational Church The French Institute of Michigan presents Breizh Amerika. It’s an organization “established to create and sponsor projects that strengthen and foster relations and cooperation between the United States of America and the region of Brittany, France.” Breton is of course a major basis for Celtic culture as well as the unique musical traditions of France’s northwestern reaches, which is badass stuff. These musicians are touring in a path that retraces the byways of trappers, traders, and adventurers, performing in Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, New Orleans, and other American markets this month. Doors at 6 p.m.; 1000 Cranbrook Rd., Bloomfield Hills; frenchinstitute.org;

Saturday, 5/14 - Jeezy @ Fox Theatre - The multiplatinum rapper returns to our fair city for a special performance in support of his newest album, Church in These Streets. The Atlanta rapper has been setting the bar high for other artists coming out of the historic city, and is probably the best-known artist to call Atlanta home since Outkast put it on the hip-hop map back in the 1990s. This concert coincides with the sure-to-be off-the-chain Freaknik party happening next door at the Fillmore that same night; O.T. Genasis and Young Dolph will be performing at both of those events. Doors at 8 p.m.; 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-471-3200; Tickets $79-$15

Saturday, 5/14 - Border Patrol, Diving Bell, and Thirty Men @ Elizabeth Theater - Here’s a folk-heavy lineup that looks pretty damn great. Detroit/Windsor-based act Border Patrol fuses trad bluegrass with indie and funny/deep lyrics. Chicago’s Diving Bell mixes layered vocals with a rootsy and complex Americana. Oh, and then there’s Emily Rose’s side project Thirty Men, which pits a singing saw with haunting melodies. Doors at 8 p.m.; 2040 Park Ave., Detroit; $5.

Saturday, 5/14 - Detroit Freaknik @ The Fillmore - If you’re not familiar with Freaknik, it was a annual spring break in Atlanta that was off the hook. Party people, DJs, and rappers came together for one epic event that eventually got shut down by the city. Detroit has organized its own version of Freaknik in honor of the exciting party. Performing at this concert is O.T. Genasis, Young Dolph, and an entire slew of other rappers and DJs. Doors at 10:30 p.m.; 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; Tickets $50-$75.

Saturday, 5/14 - Intimate Instruments Workshop @ Spread Art - You can build and play your own special instrument, a thing called a “linguaphone of tremulous communion,” at this workshop. The linguaphone is a musical instrument that cannot be heard by an audience. It is specifically for two players, who face each other and bite down on the opposing ends to play. Vibrations flow through the teeth, using each player’s nasal cavities as a resonant chamber. Sounds both creepy and excellent — creexcellent? Maybe bring a friend, and definitely brush your teeth and bring some gum along, as well. Starts at 3 p.m.; 5141 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit; spreadart.org; $10. com/event/2519204; tickets are $10.

Saturday, 5/14 - War, Average White Band @ Detroit Music Hall - For those looking for something more than just a concert, then going to see War and Average White Band at the Music Hall is your event. War has forged a fantastic blend of funk, jazz, rock, and R&B for over 40 years. The band has toured the world, sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, and has developed quite the cult following. Joining the band is Average White Band, an act whose albums are already likely in the library of all serious War fans. Doors at 8 p.m.; 350 Madison St., Detroit; Tickets $49-$89.

Saturday, 5/14 - Paint Thinner @ UFO Factory - In celebration of releasing their newest work, simply titled Demo, Detroit’s post-punk killers Paint Thinner are headlining the UFO Factory. The band has been on tour since the release of the EP, so this hometown show will be extra exciting. In addition to Paint Thinner there is a band from Chicago called Order of Night, who are probably great, just because everyone else on the bill is so good, and that’s not a bad band name, either; Primitiv Parts, one of our new favorite bands — they’re basically raw, goth garage vampires; and the sublimely smeared tape-noise emo genius that is Sam aka Tarpit. Get there early. Seriously, show up the night before and camp out for this one. Doors at 9 p.m.; 2110 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; ufofactory.com; Tickets $7.

Wednesday, 5/18 - Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds @ PJ’s Lager House - Kid Congo Powers is such a badass — and has been such a youthful, stylish badass for so many years — that there’s a feature in this month’s Vogue magazine titled “The Singular Fashion Sense of Punk Icon Kid Congo Powers.” As a guitarist for the Gun Club, Cramps, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and Knoxville Girls, Congo has had years to refine his ripping and raw style. Thankfully, he’s kept it raw, in the Link Wray vein, and is touring in support of his band’s fourth album for In the Red, La Araña Es La Vida. The always-great Hentchmen and the delightful Pretty Ghouls open the show. So you know you not only want to be there, but you ought to dress sharp for the occasion. Doors at 9 p.m.; 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit; pjslagerhouse.com; $10.