The week in music: Dec. 27-31, 2012

10&2: a dozen gigs for your consideration

• by Grayson Currin
The Foreign Exchange, Heads on Sticks, Juan Huevos, Make, Solar Halos, The Lollipops & More, The Spinns, Ghost to Falco, The Mercators, Tom Maxwell, Sarah Shook, The Hackensaw Boys, Danny Barnes, American Aquarium, Tim Easton, Caroline Spence, The Wusses, Phish

Cover Story

Venturing beyond the iron maiden

• by Kim Kelly
Once one starts digging a layer or two deeper beneath the metallic mainstream, the dizzying array of sounds that rest comfortably under the banner of "METAL" becomes apparent.
• Tags: Hopscotch Guide, Cover Story

The guide to the week's concerts

This weekend's four festivals, and the big choices of tiny communities

• by Corbie Hill
It's not about making decisions or picking the best itinerary; it's about letting music soundtrack a good weekend.

Audio

Following the jagged pattern from one Horseback LP to another

• by Corbie Hill
It's hard to think Horseback's new Half Blood could cover so much ground—and do it so well—if Jenks Miller hadn't stayed so busy honing his craft.
• Tags: Music Feature, Horseback, Jenks Miller, Relapse Records, Audio