For Your Ears

Buckethead and That 1 Guy
Wednesday, Feb. 29
7 p.m.
Sunshine Theater
All ages
$20

Everyone’s favorite KFC bucket-wearing guitar player is coming back to the Sunshine Theater this Wednesday. With 35 albums under his belt, Buckethead’s sway in the metal community as a virtuoso guitarist is no laughing matter. The band plays a mix of classic rock, jazz, ambient and heavy metal, and is sure to put on a show any metalhead would be proud to attend.

A Skylit Drive, Crown the Empire, From Undefeated Hands, Among Oceans and Statues
Sunday, March 4
7 p.m.
The Launchpad
All ages
$12

A Skylit Drive makes the type of hardcore music angsty teen girls crave. The group is best known for that one song where the lead singer sings the chorus and screams for the rest — you know the one. A Skylit Drive promises to perform a loud and raucous show, but unless you’ve got seasoned ears, there’s no guarantee you’ll understand a word it’s howling.

William Fitzsimmons and Noah Gundersen
Tuesday, March 6
8 p.m.
Low Spirits Bar and Stage
21
$17

William Fitzsimmons writes music perfect for high school graduation slide shows, teenage breakups and the type of TV shows your mom would watch. His rough, bearded exterior is just a cover for inner sappiness. His songs have been featured on countless television dramas such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “One Tree Hill,” “Army Wives” and “Teen Wolf.”

Paquito D’Rivera and Brasil
Guitar Duo
Saturday, March 10
7:30 p.m.
El Rey Theater
All ages
$10 for students

Does your life need more Cuban and Brazilian music? If so, this concert is for you. The show features two-time Grammy award winning Paquito D’Rivera and the talented Brasil Guitar Duo. This event is sure to please those looking for a night filled with smooth clarinets, light guitar strumming and a few saxophone solos. If a relaxing night out is needed, this is the place to go.

REDvolution 2012 featuring Thousand Foot Krutch, Manafest, Nine Lashes and Kiros
Sunday, March 18
7 p.m.
Sunshine Theater
All ages
$18-$35

You might think this is some kind of communist revival tour, judging by the name alone. In fact the bands are all Christian and use their music to share their love with the world. Even if religious proclamations make your skin crawl, it’s fairly easy to pretend they’re praising something you love yourself. Maybe they’re paying homage to Dionysus, the Greek god of grape harvest, wine making and wine. Songs of adoration sound similar and full of passion regardless of their target audience.

Set Your Goals, Cartel, Fireworks, Mixtapes, and Super Prime
Tuesday, March 20
7 p.m.
Launchpad
All ages
$13
Set Your Goals is a pop-punk band for kids who aren’t quite tough enough for hardcore punk. Its music is complete with blistering drums, group vocals and lyrics about the corruption of religion, politics, global warming and record labels. The group once recorded a song with Hayley Williams from Paramore, to give you a sense of what it’s up to. Also on tour is Fireworks, a band that every aching Fall Out Boy fan would surely fawn over.

Protest the Hero, Periphery, Jeff Loomis Band, The Safety Fire and Today I Caught the Plague
Friday, March 30
7 p.m.
Sunshine Theater
All ages
$16

Headbangers rejoice, for Protest the Hero will be stopping by ‘Burque for some guitar-soloing, bass-chugging, nonstop-moshing madness. The group is known best for its technical guitar-noodling, or playing random notes. Protest the Hero and touring mate Periphery will melt the face off of even the most seasoned metal fans.