Low-budget/high-fashion, Stereo Total (and that's pronounced "stay-ray-OH toe-TAHL") is the definitive soundtrack for the international thrift-store jet set. Singing in French, German and English together since 1993, the Berlin-based duo consists of French vocalist/guitarist/drummer Françoise Cactus and German vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Brezel Göring. Its giddy, ginchy, cosmopolitan style combines chic '60s French go-go pop a la Serge Gainesbourg, energetic female-fronted British punk/new wave like X-Ray Spex, and the bleepy, synthesized German cool of Trio. In recent years, US label Kill Rock Stars has domestically reissued rare and old Stereo Total albums as well as new discs. The latest release taking Cactus and Göring on the road is Paris - Berlin, continuing the signature sound that made them cult favorites. The Octopus Project and Blisse Anonyon Atu open for the band's first Cleveland appearance in five years at 9 p.m. at the Grog Shop (2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., 216.321.5588). Tickets: $10. - Michael David Toth

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30

Rush

Enduring Canadian prog-rockers Rush have withstood the test of time and then some. For over 30 years, the group's kept its line-up intact (drummer Neil Peart joined the trio after the first album) and continued to put out new material and tour at a reasonably steady pace. Its new album, Snakes & Arrows, is its first studio offering in five years. And while it continues to rely too much on studio production and synthesizers, it still proves the guys' musical chops are unparalleled (the instrumental "The Main Monkey Business" kicks some serious ass), especially when you consider the crap that passes as prog rock these days. And judging by the set lists from the tour so far, the band incorporates plenty of classics ("Tom Sawyer," "Limelight," "Spirit of the Radio") to make long-time fans content. There's no opening act and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. at Blossom Music Center (1145 W. Steels Corner Rd., 216.241.5555). Tickets: $30-$75. - Jeff Niesel

Dolly Varden

With their terrific vocal harmonies, the tracks on the Dolly Varden's latest disc, The Panic Bell, recall Americana acts such as the Jayhawks and early Wilco. The Chicago band, which has roots that go back a decade, is coming off a three-year hiatus and judging by this fine recording, it sounds like the band really relishes being back in the game. "Everything" is an unbridled rocker, every bit as engaging as Chuck Prophet's more uptempo material. Rambler 454 and Nathaniel Maloney open at 9 p.m. at the Beachland Tavern (15711 Waterloo Rd., 216.383.1124). Tickets: $7. - JN

The Bangles

Known as much for inventive covers (the band had a hit with its version of "Hazy Shade of Winter" and enlisted Prince to write "Manic Monday"), the Bangles were a fixture on pop radio in the '80s. The band fell apart in 1989 and its members went on to pursue solo careers, none of which yielded much in terms of notoriety. After reforming in 2000 to play the House of Blues in Los Angeles, the band has kept together and is now touring in support of Return to Bangleonia, its recently issued DVD recording of that performance. You can bet band members Susanna Hoffs, Debbi Peterson, Vicki Peterson and Michael Steele will deliver hits such as "Walk Like an Egyptian" and "Eternal Flame," in addition to the aforementioned "Hazy Shade of Winter" and "Manic Monday." The Bridges open at 8 p.m. at the House of Blues (308 Euclid Ave., 216.241.5555). Tickets: $27-$39.50. - JN

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31

The Almost

MACY GRAY - One of the queens of neo soul.

Normally when Aaron Gillespie is done laying down the drum tracks for an Underoath album, he "sits around playing video games and gains 15 pounds." But two years ago, he decided to spend that time more productively and started writing songs for what would become Southern Weather, an album by a side project he calls the Almost. "It's become totally different from what I envisioned," he says via phone from a San Francisco laundromat where he's washing clothes on a Warped Tour off-day. "I recorded all the music myself and had no band. Now, I play guitar live and it branched me out to do things I never thought I'd do. It's a totally different dichotomy." Gillespie has recruited a band for the upcoming tour, which includes a stop at the House of Blues (308 Euclid Ave., 216.241.5555) with Meg & Dia, Josh Moore and Dash the Assassin opening. Songs such as "Dirty and Left Out," which Gillepsie says was inspired by moody indie rockers Red House Painters, show a different side to the emo/hard rocker. "I think with the Almost record and any record, I try to live in a fishbowl and be completely open and honest," he says. "Whether it furthers my career or not, I want to be honest. There's so much garbage out there and people don't have an answer for why they're even in a band. I want to make music for a reason." Tickets: $9-$23. - JN

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Cloud Cult

There's a whole lot going on within the world of Craig Minowa and his Minneapolis band Cloud Cult. Long known as champions of the environmental movement, Minowa definitely walks the walk when it comes to being eco-friendly (his attention to detail when it comes to not harming the planet is painstaking and thorough, including purchasing energy credits and creating merchandise from recycled materials). Cloud Cult has also released six albums in seven years, with the most recent three forming a trilogy of sorts, all meant as forms of communication with Minowa's son, who passed away in 2002. It doesn't make for easy listening (witness the recent The Meaning of 8's harrowing "Your 8th Birthday" for evidence), but the records are unique and often transcendent, as well as garnering an ever-growing critical cult (pun intended). Their live performances build on that even further, with Minowa's wife Connie creating live paintings to sell after the show. Jeff D. Johnson and User Sets Mode open at 9 p.m. at the Beachland Tavern (15711 Waterloo Rd., 216.383.1124). Tickets: $7. - Chris Drabick

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Macy Gray

Canton native Macy Gray made a big splash with her 1999 debut, On How Life Is, a neo-soul effort that highlighted her husky vocals and cool demeanor. It even fetched a Grammy. Gray hasn't matched that success on subsequent efforts, but she's branched out into acting (having appeared in Training Day and Idlewild) and collaborated with everyone from the Black-Eyed Peas to Fatboy Slim. She's joined by the recently rejuvenated Brand New Heavies. Led by singer N'Dea Davenport, the band's most recent effort is last year's Get Used to It, a slick album of R&B that continues to mix electronic and trip-hop with traditional R&B and soul. The show starts at 5 p.m. at Time Warner Cable Amphitheater (1887 W. Third St., 216.241.5555). Tickets: $7-$32.50. - JN

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

Honeytribe

You'd expect Gregg Allman's son to be able to kick out some gritty Southern rock, and that's the case with singer-guitarist Devon Allman's band Honeytribe. Released last year, the band's debut Torch features swampy blues and a great cover of Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry," re-imagined as a blues ballad. Though he's only 32, the guy has a raspy voice not unlike his father's that sounds like it's wise beyond its years. The Jack Fords open at 9 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom (15711 Waterloo Rd., 216.383.1124). Tickets: $12. - JN