10 Years in One Evening at the Rex; “Neverlands” at 709 Penn (CPs Thu., 1/30/14)

1) A few years ago, Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, and a handful of others decided that maybe heavy metal could have bass groves, melodies, and sorta discernible lyrics…and alternative metal was born. Since 1999, 10 Years have produced six albums and been one of the most reliable exemplars of this subgenre. Their songs have tight melodic traction, and lead singer Jesse Hasek knows a hook when he hears one. But that doesn’t stop them from rocking out mightily and taking on the usual metal themes of suffering and pain. To further showcase the craftsmanship beneath their loudness, the band is playing unplugged at a tour that comes to the Rex Theater today. Opening is Milwaukee’s Trapper Schoepp & The Shades and locals ShirtCollarSmile. 7:30 p.m. 1602 E. Carson St., South Side.

2) Whether you were introduced to it via a children’s book, the animated Disney classic, or Steven Spielberg’s Hook, the story of Peter Pan no doubt conjures up colorful images. So it is strange and kinda brilliant that CMU-trained visual artist Terry Boyd has used sparse, black-and-white, ink-drawn landscapes to represent the story in Neverlands, his exhibit of Pan-inspired art at 709 Penn Gallery. Whether the drawings call to mind the simplicity of a child or are an attempt to spark your own imagination as to what could complete the scene in honor of a story that inspires us to never stop imagining, we think Boyd honors the legend—however unconventionally. The work is on display through Feb. 23. 709 Penn Ave., Cultural District.

3) Phillip-Michael Scales, a.k.a. Briar Rabbit, is a nephew and protégé of B.B. King, and there is an organic quality to his work that shows the influence of an old hand. Briar Rabbit sings clearly and tenderly, obviously loves his acoustic guitar, and avoids most the electronic flourishes that have infiltrated all modern genres. Not quite bluesy, he shows the droll folk-rock qualities of a Wilco or a Gomez. Scales has deemed his work “thought pop,” and he’s draped it across three albums. Check him out at Club Café today. Spokane-based singer-songwriter Joel Ansett and Pittsburgh’s own Tony Cenname open. 8 p.m. 56 S. 12th St., South Side.

4) Each Thursday, Jekyl and Hyde has one of the most boisterous, well attended karaoke nights in the city. The South Side bar offers $2.50 shots all night and a few of them might mean the difference between doing a classy version of an Al Green song, like a Dr. Jekyl, or belting out Warrant’s “Cherry Pie,” like a Mr. Hyde. 9 p.m. 140 18th St.

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