The hemp-flavored titling of Dub Trio is misleading. As stoned as their sound may be (a sealed wind tunnel of esoteric electronic effects, rubber-ball basslines and hollow drums), it's also informed by the tempura crunch of heavy metal. No wonder microphone extremist Mike Patton is the only guest vocalist on New Heavy. One interesting side note: Drummer Joe Tomino is a member of the Fugees' backing band and bassist Stu Brooks has played in G-Unit. Sip Bacardi like it's your birthday, my friend.

--Andrew Parks

Fri., April 14, 9 p.m., $8, with Aderbat, East Hundred and Up the Empire, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888, www.thekhyber.com.

Acoustic guitar-plucker Wayne Hsu wants to knock you over with a feather. His debut EP, A Boy Named Hsu, is blissful and lovely—but don't mistake that for wussy and vanilla. The pop hooks are gentle, the rhythms are peppy and the lyrics are sincere and utopic. Which probably makes it a good fit for this latest installment of Buddha Fest, the huge, every-other-monthly showcase put on by South Street Sounds Studio.

--Patrick Rapa

Sat., April 15, 5 p.m. (11 p.m. open jam sign-up), $7, with Jason Jeffries, Reverend Tea Bags, Good Dust, Lucy and Her Squeeze, New Pony, Stone City, TaLLtrEEs, Tangents and Brand New Gods, Tritone, 1508 South St., 215-545-0475, www.sssounds.com.

We don't talk about the Songwriters Project enough. Since '03, the local nonprofit has been putting on workshops, mentor programs and shows to the benefit of aspiring solo artists looking to learn the biz and develop their craft. This Friday, John Conahan, Marquis Mosley, Angella Irwin and Dan Rendine take the stage at MilkBoy for another one of the Project's trademarked supportive showcases.

--Patrick Rapa

Fri., April 14, 8 p.m., $10-$12, MilkBoy Coffee, 2 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, www.phillysongwriters.com.

She calls herself "a fat, feminist, queer, Jew girl with a fake leg who likes being at the center of attention." That's a start. Nomy Lamm is also an accordion-playing punk-rocker, an inspirational public speaker, an activist on issues of gender and body image and a skilled writer of plays, articles and speeches. Expect honesty, humor, politics and music when she plays the Lava Space on Sunday.

--Patrick Rapa

Sun., April 16, 8 p.m., $8, with Naima Lowe and Ashley Phillips, Lava Space, 4134 Lancaster Ave., 215-387-6155, www.shermanarts.org, www.lavazone.org.

Begin to Hope doesn't come out till June, but if you wait till then you'll kick yourself for missing this warm-up show. Because Hope is amazing. Regina Spektor is amazing—a twisted pop pianist with a moody, ginger voice and some funny ideas about how to arrange a song and write a lyric. Prone to giddiness and spontaneous asides, she is even more captivating in concert.

--Patrick Rapa

Sat., April 15, 9 p.m., $15, The TLA, 334 South St., 215-336-2000, www.thetla.com.

Expect an intimate evening of flamenco when Flamenco Olé opens its studio to Teye and Belén (a Swedish guitarist husband and his Sevillian dancer wife) for stage shows followed by a jam session with both troupes. As undeniably riveting as formal flamenco shows are, the jam promises to return the dance and music to its roots where players and dancers make music from the heart, rather than by heart. Order your tickets ahead of time.

--Mary Armstrong

Sat., April 15, 7:30 p.m., $12-$18, Flamenco Ole! Dance Studio, 1720 Mt. Vernon St., 215-232-5713, www.flamencoole.org.