Peter Wolf Photo: Tracy Berglund

Peter Wolf

The Egg, Friday

After an eight-year silence, during which he reached the age of 64, Peter Wolf has released Midnight Souvenirs, his seventh solo album. The album is a showpiece for the performer’s unique charm and instantly identifiable voice. Age hasn’t mellowed the man; he’s still the same Peter Wolf, for better or worse, that you remember from “Freeze-Frame.” Here, he employs his instrument on 14 rootsy, R&B-flavored tunes, with standout guest spots from Merle Haggard, Shelby Lynne, and Neko Case. But it’s undeniably Wolf’s show, as it will be tomorrow (Friday) when he (and, most likely, none of the aforementioned guests) appear at the Egg. (May 21, 8 PM, $34.50, Empire State Plaza, Albany, 473-1845)

Marcy Playground

Jillian’s, Friday

There was a point in time, sometime around late 1997, where we definitely said, out-loud, “If I hear ‘Sex and Candy’ one more emmer-effing time I’m going to [do something outlandishly vile].” While we may have been physically illed by the ubiquity of the New York band’s debut single, Marcy Playground certainly didn’t complain. To this day, the “one Marcy Playground song” remains very popular, which isn’t surprising as it was also one of the rare one-hit wonders to spur platinum album sales. And “Sex and Candy” continues to be culturally emblematic of a particular point in time, a position held by very few pop singles. But still, we really don’t need to hear that song ever again. (May 21, 9 PM, $15, 59 Pearl St., Albany, 432-1997)

Leland Sundries, Dan Kaplan

Emack and Bolio’s, Friday

Singer-songwriter Dan Kaplan grew up on Long Island and now lives in Somerville, Mass. Nick Loss-Eaton, the man behind Leland Sundries, hails from Lexington, Mass., but now resides in Brooklyn. And now they’re both coming to Albany. Why? We think it’s for the ice cream. In any case, this is the show to catch if you like your Americana with a “Ween-meets–Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy feel” (as Time Out New York summed up the music of Leland Sundries), or if you enjoy “Ryan Adams and Wilco-inspired songs [that] should make you nostalgic for something—or someone” (as Bostonist.com described Kaplan’s ouevre). (May 21, 7 PM, free, 366 Delaware Ave., Albany, 512-5100)

Reverend Horton Heat

Northern Lights, Sunday

Press people often exaggerate, but the flack for Reverend Horton Heat got it just right when she referred to his concerts as “ass-kickin’, mind-blowin’, fit-causin’ throwdown” live shows. The good Reverend, who’s actually kinda wicked, has a new album on Yep Roc, Laughin’ & Cryin’, which has one scary-ass looking rodeo clown on the cover, and is packed with the usual psychobilly tunes about Texas and his other favorite subjects. (Sample song titles: “Please Don’t Take the Baby to the Liquor Store” and “Beer Holder.”) Also on the bill are Cracker, the snarktastic ’90s antiheroes who play around here so often we think of ’em as locals, and Miss Derringer. (May 23, 7 PM, $22, 1208 Route 146, Clifton Park, 371-0012)

Karen O and Nick Zinner acoustic, Imaad Wasif

Colonial Theatre, Monday

Well, we sure didn’t see this one coming and are consequently still trying to determine the appropriate number of PBRs to imbibe ahead of showtime. See, belligerence is usually mandatory when Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer Karen O and guitarist Nick Zinner take the stage. Almost a decade back, the band pretty much dropkicked the garage-rock revival into gear. And last year’s death-disco It’s Blitz! kept things vicious. But, for this special Colonial Theatre benefit performance, the two are going to bring it down a notch, scrap the drums, roll out an oriental rug, maybe light a couple candles, oh, and invite former bandmate Imaad Wasif to open the evening. We just heard the acoustic version of their single “Maps” and, well, Carlo Rossi might better suit the show. But maybe we’re all just getting old. (May 24, 7:30 PM, $25-$45, 111 South St., Pittsfield, Mass., 413-997-4444)

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