[METAL] + SAT., JULY 18
There will be blood this weekend at First Niagara Pavilion — some of the biggest names in metal will converge for this year's Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival. Since 2008, the energy-drink titan hasn't pulled any punches in booking genre heroes of now and yesteryear for its touring festival. It continues the trend this year with a loaded bill that includes Slayer, King Diamond, The Devil Wears Prada and the Pittsburgh-bred Code Orange. Say what you will about brand synergy — this lineup's too good to pass up. Shawn Cooke 1 p.m. 665 State Route 18, Burgettstown. $37-73.66. 724-947-7400 or www.burgettstownpavilion.net
[AMERIPOLITAN] + Sun., July 19
Even as an opening act for Rev. Horton Heat in January, Dale Watson made a big impact on the crowd in a very short period of time. Now Watson is returning to headline his own show, hot on the heels of his new record, Call Me Insane. Besides the new material, fans can expect an evening filled with tunes from the Austin-based musician's vast catalog that started with 1995's Cheatin' Heart Attack. One might be tempted to call Watson a country artist, but he's broken away from that label in favor of the term "Ameripolitan" — a sound comprising honky-tonk, rockabilly, Western swing and outlaw country. Pro tip for the show tonight at Thunderbird Café with Wood & Wire: Watson loves taking requests and can always be swayed with a shot of tequila. Charlie Deitch 8 p.m. 4023 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $15-17. 412-682-0177 or www.thunderbirdcafe.net
[PUNK] + TUE., JULY 21
Mourn trade in a sort of bracing simplicity: The Spanish youngsters delivered memorable, in-your-face sentiments like "SHUT UP! MARSHALL!"on their self-titled debut collection of two-minute tracks. Vocalists Carla Perez Vas and Jazz Rodriguez Bueno were likely still in Pampers for the initial reign of Sleater-Kinney and PJ Harvey, but they've certainly made up for any lost time to prove their worth as '90s-punk scholars. It remains to be seen whether Mourn will explore outside this template, but for now, this band has conviction and earnestness to spare. Mourn takes Cattivo tonight with support from Fluorescent Medicine. SC 7 p.m. 146 44th St., Lawrenceville. $10. 412-687-2157 or www.cattivopgh.com
[FOLK] + WED., JULY 22
Tamara Lindeman's music as The Weather Station isn't much like what you'd hear on The Weather Channel. Her great one-two punch of last year's What Am I Going to Do With Everything I Know EP and this year's Loyalty gave us a heaping helping of wispy, gentle folk. You're probably thinking, "We don't need another one of these singers," but Lindeman is more concerned with mood and detail than most. The people, places and feelings from her songs seem effortlessly lived-in. She performs tonight at Club Café with Andy Shauf and Adeline Hotel. SC 8 p.m. 56 S. 12th St., South Side. $10-12. 412-431-4950 or www.clubcafelive.com
