HELLBLINKI SEXTET

At 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21

Wormhole Bar, 2307 Bull St.

With Megan Jean and the Klay Family Band, Sapphire Rebellion, and Sadirah Bellydance

It’s always a treat when Andrew Benjamin and his accomplices from Augusta come to town, because there’s nothing quite like a Hellblinki show, which is kind of like a vaudeville nightmare with a backbeat and catchy tunes; seated at a drum kit – and often playing guitar at the same time – Benjamin, with painted face, sinister goatee and bizarro Abe Lincoln top hat, acts as a demented master of ceremonies for a program of back–porch blues, off–kilter, Tom Waits–ian dervish romps and what he likes to call “psycho cabaret”: A three–ring American punk circus where something is going on in every dark corner, freaky and theatrical but unmistakably musical just the same. See hellblinki.com.

FRONTIER RUCKUS

At 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22

Live Wire Music Hall, 307 W. River St. $8.

This Midwestern Americana band was here in October, and their Live Wire set was so well-received that people are still talking about it. They’re back, and not a moment too soon. With Matthew Milia on lead vocals, with guitar, banjo, accordion and the odd horn – not to mention songs that mine a deep, rich vein of Americana – Frontier Ruckus is not unlike The Band in its Big Pink days. “The perfect recipe for Gothic Americana,” raved Rolling Stone. See frontierruckus.com

CHECK IT OUT: THE RETURN OF AMERICAN AQUARIUM

B.J. Barham and American Aquarium return for their semi–annual Jinx show Jan. 22 (with Crowfield); this anthemic Americana band has been one of Savannah’s faves for a good three years now – if you’re one of the few that haven’t caught an AA show, best grab those tickets quick (they’ll go fast) and get thee over there …. Hard–hitting Savannah trio Howler shares a Jinx bill Jan. 21, with Ricer and Indian Giver …It’s time once again for the Coastal Jazz Association’s monthly concert at the Westin Harbor Resort. This one (Jan. 23 at 5 p.m.) features Charleston pianist Mike Wolk and his trio … Dare Dukes, who’s been out on paternity leave since November, returns Feb. 4 for a show at the Wormhole with The Red River … The Lee Boys, one of the coolest R&B, blues and sacred steel gospel bands on the road today, have a Feb. 5 date – I’m not making this up – at Wild Wing Cafe  … On Feb. 12, Savannah’s always–beloved rockin’ Superhorse reunites for a Jinx show. The band includes Kevin Rose, Jim Reed, Gene Lyons, Bob Holman, Jason Anderson and Sebastian Edwar