This week's cool shows: Mike Scheidt & Nate Hall, Town Mountain and more

Lots of good shows happening this week, but I'm personally most looking forward to the solo acoustic show featuring Mike Scheidt of Yob and Nate Hall of U.S. Christmas, Wednesday, July 18, at Kings. If you're familiar with Yob's driving, mystical doom, then the uplifting AM Gold melodies on Scheidt's solo record "Stay Awake" (Thrill Jockey) might be a bit surprising. But if you free your mind of pre-conceived notions about heaviness, and just surrender yourself to the music, you'll find that "Stay Awake" is just as deep as anything Yob has created. Nate Hall's excellent solo record, "A Great River," is out now on Neurot. Looking forward to seeing both of these guys at Kings.  

Also this week: Up-and-coming Asheville bluegrass band Town Mountain will be at the Pour House on Thursday, July 19. On Friday, July 20, Valeint Thorr, Holy Grail, Royal Thunder and Caltrop will be at Cat's Cradle. All four of those bands put on some of the most amazing shows I saw last year, so this is going to be a killer show. Finally on Saturday, July 21, Hog, Sons of Tonatiuh, Man Will Destroy Himself, and Stampede will be at Casbah. Looking ahead, get ready for Agalloch at Kings on July 29!