ONE MAN ARMY

“There’s a lot of kids nowadays who don’t know about the Clash, or Stiff Little Fingers, or the Toy Dolls,” says One Man Army singer-guitarist Jack Dalrymple of the old-school/new-school punk divide. “They’re into goddamned Blink-182 and Fenix TX and MXPX and whatever. I’m not gonna talk any shit.” Dalrymple gripes from solid ground, thanks to the classic punk grit and working-class blues that inform albums like Rumors & Headlines (BYO), the San Francisco trio’s latest and greatest. But we’re not gonna talk any shit. Thursday, Dec. 5 @ Bricks, 579 W. 200 South, 6 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com (with The Explosion, Madcap and The Revolvers).

CLUMSY LOVERS

Sure, it seems like Vancouver’s Clumsy Lovers are here all the time, but they’re on the road 300 days a year—they’re everywhere all the time. The hard-touring Celtic-bluegrass quintet have carved an admirable niche with their raging live shows and frequent CD releases (the latest: Under the Covers), so don’t expect them to change now. “All proceeds from our CDs go directly to us,” says bassist Chris Jonat of the band’s just-say-no-to-major-labels ethic. “As crazy as it sounds, if we got signed I might have to get a day job.” Thursday, Dec. 5 @ The Zephyr Club, 301 S. West Temple, 355-CLUB, 9:30 p.m.

PAWS ACROSS AMERICA

Tigerbeat6 Records artists Cex (hilarious 20-year-old laptop rapper, a.k.a. “the white Eminem”), Numbers (robo-jerk electro-punks who just wanna dance and devolve) and Stars as Eyes (chilly techno fuzz-drone atmospherics) are crossing the land on the Paws Across America tour, but is the land ready for them? Specifically, “No. 1 Entertainer in the World” Cex? “You don’t need to know anything about electronic music to have fun at a Cex show,” No. 1 says of his mad stage skillz. “You don’t even need to like it.” Sold! Friday, Dec. 6 @ The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 746-0558, 9:30 p.m.

MAX GRAHAM

If your average rock band knew how much bank international DJs make for one-night stands, well, there would probably be fewer rock bands. Still, the persistent “are DJs overpaid?” question is moot to Canadian DJ/producer-on-the-rise Max Graham. “What people don’t understand is, because the demand is so high, the promoters bid up to these levels,” says the man credited with introducing progressive house to the Great White North. “If you’re wanted in 20 countries on a Saturday, obviously you’re going to go for a high rate.” Hey, music writers can totally relate. Thursday, Dec. 5 @ Axis, 108 S. 500 West, 712-5050, 9:30 p.m.

CLAY

The elaborately packaged CD, The Dragon Lies Sleeping, came with a photo of pretty singer-guitarist Clay (just Clay) and band performing at an unidentified House of Blues, with the note “For more info see www.ClayMusic.com.” Sorry, no info whatsoever to be had there, so dig Clay’s music: Adult-alternative guitar-rock with dashes of folk, soul and Americana with radio-ready attitude and hooks to spare—think a more freewheeling Jeff Buckley, or a less jammy Train. With his tunes and looks, Clay is made for VH1—artist or VJ. Thursday, Dec. 5 @ Harry O’s, 427 Main, Park City, 435-647-9494, 9:30 p.m.

RIDDLIN’ KIDS

In reviewing the pop-punk band’s big ‘n’ bouncy corporate debut, Hurry Up and Wait (Columbia), YM Magazine editor Patty Adams gave Austin’s Riddlin’ Kids perhaps the last press quote they’ll ever need: “I spend way too many days PMS-ing or stressing over bad hair to listen to mopey music. Give me a fun song any day.” That there be genius. Is it too late to hire this visionary as City Weekly’s new editor? Position already filled? Damn, damn, damn … Saturday, Dec. 7 @ Xscape (Basement), 115 S. West Temple, 8 p.m. Tickets: 877-548-3237 (with Allister and Don’t Look Down).

ALTAN

And we all thought Irish Celtic music would be outta here like swing and Ricky Martin. Fiddler-singer Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh of Irish (stylistically and regionally) band Altan knows something: “It’s becoming an international music,” she says. “When you’re stuck in a concrete building working 9-to-5, it can help you feel better if you can imagine a little bit of green countryside.” Altan’s latest, The Blue Idol (Narada), spiked the critical meter again upon release, so expect them to hang onto the Best Irish Band Ever crown a wee bit longer. Sit down and shut up, Bono. Saturday, Dec. 7 @ Peery’s Egyptian Theater, 2415 Washington Blvd., Ogden, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: 801-395-3227.

THE HIGH STRUNG

Any connection to kick-ass retro-activists Mooney Suzuki should be viewed as a hearty recommendation—Brooklyn’s High Strung have a biggie in Jim Diamond, the producer behind the Mooneys and the White Stripes (man, it’s been weeks since we’ve mentioned them). Diamond helmed the High Strung’s upcoming These Are Good Times, which outs the band not as just another garage-rawk throwback, but studious songsmiths with Beatles harmonies and Big Star jangles tucked inside their swaggering rock & roll riffage. Oh yeah, and screw Creed (been a few weeks for those dickheads, too). Tuesday, Dec. 10 @ The Zephyr Club, 301 S. West Temple, 355-CLUB, 9:30 p.m.

CMT MOST WANTED

If you’re a cable subscriber, you’re happily (or painfully) aware that there are 45 country-music channels on all day and night. You’re also probably hip to Country Music Television and its hot request show, Most Wanted—it was only a matter of time before the inaugural CMT Most Wanted tour, a road package of the show’s favorite stars, like headliner Brad Paisley, happened. Now, would it be possible to trade in at least one of these country channels for something else, Local Cable Monopoly? Puh-leez? Wednesday, Dec. 11 @ The Dee Events Center, 4600 S. Harrison Blvd., Ogden, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: 800-888-TIXX.

COMING UP

Kurt Bestor (Abravanel Hall, Dec. 13-19). Four Bitchin’ Babes (Peery’s Egyptian Theater, Dec. 13). Def Leppard (E Center, Dec. 14). Bacon Brothers (Eccles Center, Dec. 14). Scarface (Axis, Dec. 15). El Vez (Zephyr Club, Dec. 18). Jim Brickman (Kingsbury Hall, Dec. 19). Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash (Zephyr Club, Dec. 19). Guitar Shorty (Dead Goat Saloon, Dec. 23). Spearhead (Harry O’s, Dec. 27). Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons (Zephyr Club, Dec. 27-28). The Used (Xscape, Jan. 3). Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker (Abravanel Hall, Jan. 7). Juliana Theory (Xscape, Jan 27). BR5-49 (Zephyr Club, Jan. 28). Coldplay (Saltair, Feb. 7).