Thursday 9.7

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Agent Sparks (Kilby Court); Legendary Shack Shakers (The Depot); Evolver (Urban Lounge); Phono (The Exchange)

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Friday 9.8

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Raven Symone (Utah State Fairpark); Breakestra (Egos); Relapse Records Contamination Tour (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); SLUG Localized (Urban Lounge)

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Saturday 9.9

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SHOOTER JENNINGS

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Why listen to “anything but country” when Shooter Jennings writes songs that can drink Garth Brooks under the table? Country isn’t a four-letter word, as Waylon’s outlaw child pointed out on Putting the ‘O’ Back in Country, a debut that proved this is one Southern crooner who’s not afraid to bust some serious balls. He’s not pretty. He’s not sensitive. He’s got a beard dripping with sweat. His most recent release Electric Rodeo follows a path of most resistance with well-constructed, sometimes poignant tracks that amp traditional country through arena-rock speakers with just enough twang. Are you listening? The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, 9 p.m. Tickets: DepotSLC.com.

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Also Saturday: Kutless (Utah State Fairpark); Under the Influence of Giants (Avalon Theater); Alan Jackson (Usana Amphitheatre); Cow Ballet: Bow Wow Wow (Woodenshoe Park, Peoa); Jett Black, Charley Horse (Burt’s Tiki Lounge)

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Sunday 9.10

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JERU

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Tiger style might apply to Wu-Tang Clan’s street ninjas, but the marriage of hip-hop and martial arts is more commonly linked to another master of the mic, Mr. Jeru Davis, aka Jeru, aka Jeru the Damaja, or D. Original Dirty Rotten Scoundrel. The former Gangstarr emcee, whose lifestyle more closely resembles that of a holistic New-Age health nut than a chain-smoking street thug, is “hardcore conscious,” tough enough to throw down, smart enough to win fight with words. “You can pray to Jesus but there’s no deliverance,” he says in the robotic rapid-fire “Rap Wars.” In the Venue, 219 S. 600 West, 9 p.m. All-ages.

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Also Sunday: Country Gold Tour (Utah State Fairpark); The Queers, The Hard-Ons (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); Blackfire Revelation (Broken Record); Nouvelle Vague (Urban Lounge'see Music, p. 63)

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Monday 9.11

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JURASSIC 5

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Cut Chemist fans and Dave Mathews foes are up in arms over the DJ’s absence and the college-rock rep’s presence on Jurassic 5’s latest album, Feedback. Others are just stoked the multigenre Los Angeles collective finally released new material even if, as some critics have bemoaned, it betrays little effort to experiment. True, mind-blowing music is bred on risk, but why mess with a good thing? J5’s signature fusion of positive hip-hop, salsa and world music roped us in'and keeps us coming back for more. The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, 9 p.m. Tickets: DepotSLC.com.

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GENITORTURERS

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For the most part, any group promoted as “Sexiest Band in the World” sets off major hyperbole alarms. But one listen to The Genitorturers’ “Take It” made me so hot, now I’m a believer! The industrial-metal band shreds and bangs their way through synthesized rock the Rob Zombie way'raw and unapologetic. Throw in some gnarly stage makeup for good measure and you’ve got yourself a show. Sex-ay! Club Vegas, 445 S. 400 West, 9 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com.

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Also Monday: Josh Gracin (Utah State Fairpark); Cute Is What We Aim For (Avalon Theater)

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Tuesday 9.12

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RAKIM

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Want to hype your new album? Check out the following foolproof marketing techniques: 1. Stage an early retirement, then without explanation stage a comeback three years later; 2. Break up with someone famous and cry about it in an embarrassing manner; or 3. Swear that long-awaited sophomore effort will hit streets in 2004, then put it on hold indefinitely. Apparently Rakim found the latter ploy useful. Although, judging by his frequent contributions to other artists’ recordings, the mad delay is probably genuine. Widely recognized as hip-hop royalty, the prolific emcee’s puts all his sweat and tears into collaborations (see Eric B) and musical philanthropy (allowing others to sample his timeless lyricism), leaving little time to fine-tune solo work. Besides, who needs hype when your sexy, assertive, funky voice flows like the Energizer bunny? Suede, 1612 Ute Blvd (Kimball Junction), Park City, 9 p.m. Tickets: SmithsTix.com.

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Wednesday 9.13

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CANDLEBOX, WHITESTARR

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Candlebox is on tour? Sweet! Are they bringing Silverchair? No? What about Poe? Verve Pipe? C’mon! Sorry, dudes. Modern-day clubs can only handle so much ’90s residue, which is why the alt-rockers responsible for such hits as “Left Behind” and “You,” asked Hollywood “It” band Whitestarr to open. Good move. Cisco Adler (aka Mr. Mischa Barton) and his Malibu boys worship T. Rex, Guns N’ Roses (see video for “Sunshine Girl”) and the type of classic-rock machismo that hip young things seem to totally dig these days. Besides oversexed, overprivileged lyrics, Whitestarr’s instrumentation is good enough. Bonus points for including dancer Tony Potato, a less ecstasy-driven version of Happy Mondays’ Bez. The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, 9 p.m. Tickets: DepotSLC.com.

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Also Wednesday: Kenny Rogers (Utah State Fairpark); Le Severance (Kilby Court); Blue Sirkut (Urban Lounge)

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COMING UP

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Yard Dogs Road Show (Suede, Sept. 14). Gigantour: Megadeth, Lamb of God (Usana Amphitheater, Sept. 15). Sugarcult (Avalon Theater, Sept. 15). Brian Jonestown Massacre (Urban Lounge, Sept. 15). Reggae in the Mountains (Gallivan Center, Sept. 16) Elton John (E Center, Sept. 19). Mofro (Suede, Sept. 20). Redfest (University of Utah, Sept. 21-22). Soulfly (Club Vegas, Sept. 21). Band of Horses (In the Venue, Sept. 28). The Strokes (In the Venue, Sept. 29). North Mississippi All-Stars (Suede, Oct. 1). Rancid (In the Venue, Oct. 5-6).