Keri Noble At Beachland Ballroom

Keri Noble is back after her much-praised debut, Fearless, with a new six-song EP, Leave Me in the Dark. It provides a teasing glimpse of her full-length album due in February 2009. Noble, who's been compared to Norah Jones, is far from a carbon copy because she has a darker side that often leads to more revealing songwriting. Take, for example, the song "Fading," which displays Noble's ability to grab a listener with the sultriness and earnestness of her voice while she softly chews up the pain reflected in her lyrics. Behind these beautifully sincere vocals is a softly played piano that makes you sink further into the depths of this soulfully painful tune. If you like music that says something you only wished you had said, you should come to Beachland Ballroom (15711 Waterloo Rd., 216.383.1124) at 8:30 tonight. Paper Circus opens. Tickets: $10. — Ryan MacLennan

THURSDAY, JULY 10

Bobby Sanabria

New York-based Latin jazz percussionist Bobby Sanabria has a strong connection to Cleveland. It runs through the late Roberto Ocasio, kingpin of the local Latin jazz community. The two were classmates at Berklee College of Music and remained friends over the years. So when the Roberto Ocasio Foundation was founded to honor Ocasio's memory by continuing his educational work, Sanabria leapt at the chance to become involved. This year for the third time, he's artist-in-residence at the foundation's Latin jazz camp running July 8-11. While here, he's making a side trip to perform at Nighttown (12387 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216.795.0550) with his Quateto Ache, comprising bassist Alex Hernandez, pianist Enrique Haneine and sax and flutist Peter Brainin. Tickets: $20. — Anastasia Pantsios

FRIDAY, JULY 11

Teddy Geiger

With the decline in CD sales and increase in music downloading, artists have to do whatever they can to keep fans interested. Singer-songwriter Teddy Geiger has put the fate of his yet-to-be released album in the hands of his fans. He wrote 33 songs, put them online and left the rest to listeners' eager mouse clicks. Geiger gained fans with his second album, Underage Thinking. Pegged as a younger John Mayer, he got as much flack for his good looks as he did praise for his music. His single "For You I Will (Confidence)" earned him a place in the hearts of teenage girls and positive reviews as an impressive young musician. His new music begs to be taken seriously. Fan favorite "Sweeter than the Truth" is a raspy love song while "You Stole My Heart" is rock 'n' roll that starts off as a piano ballad. With enough songs for three albums, some stand out while others will be forgotten when his album is released. Decide for yourself when he plays the Agora Ballroom (5000 Euclid Ave., 216.881.6700). Hilary McRae and the Scott Harris Project open at 8 p.m. Tickets: $16 advance, $18 day of show. — Brittany Moseley

Gavin DeGraw

VIRGINIA COALITION: They're not as dour as this picture suggests; their music can uplift your spirit.

After "I Don't Want To Be" from his debut album gained him tons of fans and a guest appearance on teen drama One Tree Hill, singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw wasn't heard from for a while. Then in March he released the self-titled follow-up to 2004's Chariot, and things picked up again. Whether he's singing the euphoric single "In Love with a Girl" or the downtrodden "Cheated on Me," DeGraw seems content, and he has every reason to be. His first single is still on the charts, and his album premiered at number seven on the Billboard charts and number one on the digital sales chart. It would be easy to dismiss DeGraw as a pop musician who sold his soul for the opening track of a television program, but DeGraw actually has talent. He plays the piano and guitar, and wrote all the songs on both albums. He went to the Berklee School of Music, then worked his way through New York City's club circuit. He proved himself as a musician, and just like his new album says, he couldn't be happier with the result. Marie Digby opens at 8:30 p.m. at the House of Blues (308 Euclid Ave., 216.241.5555). Tickets: $22-$30. — BM

3 Doors Down

If you've visited a movie theater recently, there's a good chance you've heard one of the songs off 3 Doors Down's latest release. The over-produced "Citizen/Solider" has been used in a commercial for the National Guard, where it's played in its entirety presumably so the band's fans can blindly join the recruitment process. The song, which has the unfortunate side effect of getting stuck in your head, is generic and lackluster, embodying everything wrong in the music industry today. The rest of the new album is no different. Every song is interchangeable and devoid of passion. It would be an understatement to say this band has had some hits (the past three records have gone platinum and they've charted numerous singles) and it's unclear why. See if you can figure it out when the band plays with Staind, Hinder, Jet Black Stare and American Bang at 6:30 p.m. at Blossom Music Center (1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., 216.241.5555). Tickets: $19-$69. — Emily Zemler

SATURDAY, JULY 12

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin could easily be one of those pretentious indie bands hipsters like to namedrop. They're signed to indie label Polyvinyl, they're four dorky guys from Missouri, and they have a ridiculously long and quirky band name. Pretentious, however, is the last thing the band or its music is; more like endearing, fluid, old-school pop that has garnered the band nothing but positive reviews since its debut, Broom. The band managed to evade the sophomore slump with Pershing, a wisp of a record that, at 34 minutes, is long enough to leave listeners feeling satisfied, but short enough to keep them interested. "Modern Mystery" reveals the band's youth with lines like "I think you are so annoying," but they still manage to sound charming. "Some Constellation" is the perfect acoustic mash-up of the music of indie darlings and '90s boy-band ballads. See why everyone is infatuated with the band when it plays at the Grog Shop (2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., 216.321.5588). Ha Ha Tonka and the Hearts open at 7 p.m. Tickets: $8 advance, $10 day of show. — BM

Virginia Coalition

With an achingly optimistic sound, the Virginia Coalition is all about music that can uplift your spirit, like Gavin DeGraw with a mild cold. VACO's hit tune "Sing Along" and its video have received airplay on VH1 and come off as something like Train. Alternative Routes will join them on the bill, playing acoustic folk music that brings to mind Damien Rice, but also mixes in a few heavy-lifting rock songs. Like Rice, Alternative Routes doesn't miss the boat on lyrics either. "Love Me for Nothing" has lead singer Tim Warren singing, "Do you know what you're looking for/When you're looking my way." The band's blue-collar song "Good Time Gang" reminds you of a new Bret Michaels track. Rex Moroux opens at the Beachland Ballroom (15711 Waterloo Rd., 216.383.1124) at 9 p.m. Tickets: $12. — RM