Monday, October 29 

• Steve Forbert

Raleigh
Steve Forbert
The Pour House—In the late '90s, when caught in the trolling alt.country nets, Steve Forbert offered, "It's still folk-rock to me." Well, Forbert's brand of "still folk-rock"—lively, smart, warm—has served him well for 30 years. And with "Simply Spalding Gray" from his latest, Forbert again demonstrates (as he did with an earlier Rick Danko tribute) how to honor the departed. Pay $15 for the 8 p.m. show. —Rick Cornell

Rick Atkinson
Quail Ridge Books & Music—Investigative reporter and former assistant editor for the Washington Post, Rick Atkinson is also the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the Liberation Trilogy, a narrative history of the American Army's WWII worldwide involvement. He will read from Vol. Two of the trilogy, The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944. Atkinson should draw a big crowd, so arrive early to buy your book and pick up your signing ticket. For more info, visit www.quailridgebooks.com or call 828-1588. —Megan Stein

Carrboro
Lucero, Avail, Bobby Bare Jr.
Cat's Cradle—Virginia anthemic hardcore quintet Avail is the bridge between the indie rock twang of Bobby Bare Jr. and the ever-evolving Lucero. If anyone can match the roof-caving fury of Avail, it's Lucero, who've made the transition from Americana to stonesy cowpunk to soul-drenched rock 'n' roll just fine. Tickets are $12-$14 for a 7:45 p.m. start. —Chris Parker