With international notoriety on the rise and an amazing new CD of sprawling, anthemic prog-metal on Relapse, these hometown heroes are poised for even more massive success than they have already found in the international underground. This is the kickoff show of an almost month-long East Coast tour that should help to propel them to some level of major, worldwide notoriety. Yeah, they really are that good. Down-tuned Durham, N.C. metal quintet Tooth opens the show. Wed., 11 pm, The Jinx.

It doesn’t get much cooler than this world-weary, blues-soaked NYC-based performance artist and poet-turned singer/songwriter. A classical painter and former New Yorker cartoonist, he’s successfully transformed himself from the poor man’s Spalding Gray to a more sedate Reid Paley. His growling, grumbling tunes of remorse, despair and hard-luck characters are —much like those of Leonard Cohen, whom he’s often likened— memorably, vividly life-affirming. A one-of-a-kind artist that —like another touchstone, Luke The Drifter— magically sounds like he’s been in your record collection for years, even if you’ve never heard him before. Tues., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean - ALL-AGES.

This local guitar/bass/drums trio plays loud, aggressive original rock that’s not quite metal. There’s much to like about their no-frills approach to image and arrangements, and the fact they clearly have an interest in getting across melodies and vocal hooks as well as power chords sets them apart from many of the —relatively— sound-alike metal and post-hardcore groups tin our immediate area. For fans of Dinosaur Jr. and The Meat Puppets. Tusk opens. Sat., 10 pm, Guitar Bar.

Excellent, traditional rockabilly trio from Winter Park, Fl. whose bassist is also the frontman for the established rockabilly act Rocket 88 (a big draw at the old Velvet Elvis nightclub back in the day). They make one hell of a retro ruckus for just a three-piece, and notably bill themselves as the best such band in the Southeast. I must say, hype aside, of all the demos and albums I’ve heard recently in this genre, theirs does in fact easily rest at the top of the pile as far as regional acts go. Thurs., 10 pm, Mercury Lounge + Fri., 8 pm, Marsh Side Mama’s (Dafuskie Isl.).

This great psychedelic pop-rock band returns to town bearing advance copies of their forthcoming CD on the recently restarted Kindercore label (home to early releases by Of Montreal and I Am The World Trade Center). This group (along with Modern Skirts and a few others) is helping to lead the Athens, Ga. music scene back towards some kind of minor renaissance. Also on the bill, Athens’ atmospheric Elevado (a throwback to the glory days of Time Toy and even Mazzy Star), and Savannah’s own mellow indie-rockers Kiterunner. Fri., 9 pm, Hang Fire.

With well over $100,000 still needed to adequately finance the recently approved public skateboarding park near Tybee’s City hall, events like this will likely become more and more prevalent. I’m told the last one at this laid-back Caribbean eatery and live music showcase netted over $5,000 for the cause, despite inclement weather. This one features a free buffet featuring a taco bar, chicken wings, and an entire pig roasted on a spit(!), plus tons of door prizes, raffles and both silent and live auctions will be held all night long. Live entertainment provided by local rock/country and soul cover band The Magic Rocks. $15 admission at the door. For more info on how you can help, call 484-1070. Thurs., 6 pm, North Beach Grill (Tybee) - ALL-AGES.

With an amazing 40 weeks on Billboard’s Bluegrass Chart to their tongue-in-cheek name, a Folk Alliance Award for “Contemporary Release of The Year, and a Juno nomination (Canada’s Grammy) for Roots and Traditional Album of The Year, this female acoustic string-band trio is a bona fide sensation. Deftly mixing both Old-Time country and mountain music along with beguiling originals that sound decades older than these girls have been walking the earth, they are one of the premiere roots acts in North America, and have made a half-dozen appearances on A Prairie Home Companion. This should be a magical evening of high, lonesome balladry. Tickets from $12 to $35 are available online at www.lucastheatre.com, at the SCAD Box Office, or by calling 525-5050. Sat., 8 pm, Lucas Theater - ALL-AGES.