Former Smiths singer Morrissey has made misery into a prosperous career. But unlike many maudlin singer-songwriters, Morrissey has a wit to him. It's no wonder Oscar Wilde is one of his idols; Morrissey's own tunes (think "Unhappy Birthday" and "Everyday Is Like Sunday") make use of clever turns of phrase and sarcasm, too. Since he's touring in support of last year's Ringleader of the Tormentors, expect to hear plenty of tunes from that disc, along with the occasional Smiths' track as Moz comes to town on his first extensive US tour in three years. Opener Kristeen Young sounds like a cross between Kate Bush and Tori Amos on her new album, The Orphans, but her piano ballads are even more out there — which is probably why Morrissey hand-picked her to accompany him on this tour. She opens the show at 7:30 p.m. at the State Theatre (1501 Euclid Ave., 216.241.6000). Tickets: $42.50-$55. — Jeff Niesel

Friday, May 18

Back of the Moon

With the Ohio Scottish Games a month away and the ashes of the honorable James "Scotty" Doohan ceremonially shot into space, where will you get your fix of Highland melodies? Try the Cuyahoga Valley Heritage Series, with its world-class representatives from the international folkie scene such as Back of the Moon, voted Best Folk Band in the 2005 Scots Trad Music Awards. Gillian Frame, Ali Hutton, and Hamish and Findlay Napier came together in 2000 as finalists in the BBC Young Folk Awards and have since brought their fiddles, border pipes, bodrans and step-dance chops to folk festivals throughout Europe, the UK and the US. With three CDs behind it, Back of the Moon rises at the Happy Days Visitor Center (Rte 303, Boston Hts.) at 8 p.m., playing traditional and modern Celtic tunes with tight horn/fiddle arrangements. Tickets: $15 adults, $5 kids. Go to cvnpa.org or call 330.657.2909.

— Charles Cassady Jr.

Porcupine Tree

London's successful pseudo-psychedelic Porcupine Tree describes its new album, Fear of a Blank Planet, as a "beautiful elegy" about the problems of today, and lead singer Steven Wilson modeled the album "on those great old LP albums of the '70s." With songs such as "Anesthetize" (clocking in at 17 minutes, 42 seconds), it's clear the band can meld its signature sound with dissertations on youth drug problems, apathy, self-indulgence and overmedication. The band 3 opens at 8 p.m. at the House of Blues (308 Euclid Ave., 216.523.2583). Tickets: $23-$30. — Emily Spine

Sunday, May 20

Ladytron

GINN SISTERS - A background drenched in music informs their take on Americana.

Both predating and surviving this decade's formerly trendy electroclash analog-synth scene, Ladytron is broader than the synth pop it's commonly associated with. Its third and most recent album, Witching Hour, is testimony to its diversity, as is 2002's Softcore Jukebox. A Ladytron-compiled mix album with only two actual Ladytron tunes, Jukebox started with My Bloody Valentine's "Soon," finished with Nancy Sinatra's "Some Velvet Morning," and zig-zagged across rock and electronica in between. Before recording the Witching Hour follow-up in June, Ladytron's Mira Aroyo and Reuben Wu are now on a DJ tour. Although more dance-oriented and less stylistically extreme than Jukebox, Ladytron's hipster DJ spins are decidedly more eclectic and rock-oriented than typical club mixes. Dan Mcleod will open at 9 p.m. at the B-Side Liquor Lounge (2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., 216.932.1966). Tickets: $10 advance, $12 day of show. — Michael David Toth

Fall Out Boy

Having graduated from clubs to outdoor sheds after its last album, 2005's From Under the Cork Tree, blew up something fierce, emo sensation Fall Out Boy is on a summer shed tour after a short warm-up tour that included an Agora date earlier this year. It'll likely focus on its new album, Infinity on High, which, with songs such as "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" and "Carpal Tunnel of Love," leans more toward straight-ahead rock 'n' roll, which isn't a bad thing. The Academy Is..., +44, Cobra Starship and Paul Wall round out the eclectic bill which starts at 4 p.m. at Blossom (1145 W. Steels Corners, 330.920.8040). Tickets: $23.75-39.25. — JN

Ginn Sisters

A pair of talented sisters from Texas, Tiffani and Brit Ginn, who comprise the Ginn Sisters, derive their musical skills and interests from a musical family, school and church choirs, formal training and college musical studies. Now they've got a pair of albums (2003's Generally Happy and 2006's Blood Oranges) under their belts featuring Tiffani's roots/Americana-style songs and guitar, Brit's flute and melodica, and both women's confident but downhome vocals. They'll perform at Club 2527 (2527 W. 25th St., 216.771.2527) at 5 p.m. It's free.

— Anastasia Pantsios

Bo Bice

Did anyone ever think that we could string the words "long-haired rocker" and "American Idol finalist" in the same sentence? Probably not. However, two years ago, Bo Bice broke the Idol mold with his Southern rock sound to make it to the final two. He has since released The Real Thing and is working on a new album that he hopes will have more of his own songs on it. Gary Nichols kicks off the acoustic evening at 8 p.m. at the Kent Stage (175 East Main St., 330.677.5005). Tickets: $30 advance, $35 day of show. — ES

Monday, May 21

!!!

UNSANE - "A combination of blood, guts and violence."

When !!! issued Me and Giuliani Down by the School Yard (A True Story) in 2003, the EP was a trendsetter. In the wake of electroclash's nadir, danceable punk was commanding attention from club kids around the world. 2004's excellent Louden Up Now capitalized on the EP's success. But things have changed. While !!! is still an exciting live act, the trend it once anchored is ending, littering the music world with corpses of similar-sounding acts, even the !!! side project, O.U.T.H.U.D. So the new Myth Takes, a perfect example of a "near-classic record that follows the band's classic record," is released into a world that might not be willing to accept it. It's nearly as good as Louden Up Now, but where that album trumpeted the band's Bush-hating politics, this one's a dark funk exploration that's all about the groove. The title track seems ripped from a funkier re-write of Grease, while "All My Heroes Are Weirdos" feels a bit like Pere Ubu. "Must Be the Moon" sounds like a lost track from Prince's Purple Rain, and "Heart of Hearts" recalls classic funk of the late '70s and early '80s. Holy Fuck and DJ Misterbradlep open at 9 p.m. at the Grog Shop (2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., 216.321.5588). Tickets: $12 advance, $14 day of show. — Jeremy Willets

Olympic Ass-Kickin' Team

Having written some of the Georgia Satellites' best tunes, drummer Terry Anderson is well-versed in the art of redneck rock. He's also a member of the Yayhoos, a bar band that plays with the same kind of Southern swagger as the Satellites. And while some of that permeates the music of his other band, the Olympic Ass-Kickin' Team (known as OAKTeam, to those in the know), the group covers a broader palette, dipping into pure power pop ("Can't Get the One You Want") and bluegrass ("Rehab") on its 2005 self-titled disc. Sure, the guys still kick out the usual quotient of drinking ballads ("Feel a Drunk Comin' On" and "Thunderbird") and retro rockers ("Purple GTO"), but this stuff is more NRBQ than Skynyrd. Mobile Crimelab USA opens at 8:30 p.m. at the Beachland Tavern (15711 Waterloo Rd., 216.383.1124). Tickets: $8. — JN

Tuesday, May 22

Maria Muldaur

Maria Muldaur ran away from home at 17 and found herself in the Greenwich Village folk scene of the early '60s. This led to her eventual career start with the Even Dozen Jug Band and meeting legendary blues singer Victoria Spivey. Spivey took Maria under her wing and taught her the important facets of the blues, and since then, Muldaur has stayed true to her roots. Her new album, Naughty, Bawdy & Blue, completes the trilogy dedicated to classic women blues singers, begun by 2001's Richland Woman Blues and 2005's Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul. You can catch her at 7 and 9 p.m. at Nighttown (12387 Cedar Rd., 216.795.0550). Tickets: $20. — ES

Kings of Leon

The story of Southern rockers Kings of Leon isn't exactly typical. The three brothers Followill and their first cousin grew up traveling with their father, a Pentecostal minister, around the Deep South. After the release of 2005's Aha Shake Heartbreak, they toured with big names such as U2, Bob Dylan and Pearl Jam. It would have been easy for them to continue banking on the success of Aha, but instead, they followed up with Because of the Times, featuring a revamped sound that does indeed cross many strange and intriguing lines (Caleb's repetitive screech on "Charmer," for example). After three solid albums, these boys have nowhere to go but up, and as playing live is their "bread and butter" (according to drummer Nathan), their show at the House of Blues (308 Euclid Ave., 216.523.2583) promises to be an interesting one. Snowden and the Features open at 8 p.m. Tickets: $24.50-$30. — ES

Wednesday, May 23

Unsane

After lead singer Spencer was attacked and seriously wounded at a concert in 2000, noise rockers Unsane took a three-year hiatus. But the band came back as strong as ever in 2003, and has continued for the last four years, releasing two new records, as well as a greatest hits album, Lambhouse. The band's newest album, Visqueen, is a continuation of the self-described "combination of blood, guts and violence" found on its past six releases. However, there are some less intense tracks on this album, which provide a nice break from all the clashing guitars and pained screams. You can catch them at the Grog Shop (2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., 216.321.5588) at 9 p.m. Openers include 400 Blows and the Mouth of the Architect. Tickets: $10 advance, $12 day of show. — ES