All you stoner electric wizards and interplanetary riffage freaks who think Monster Magnet's too mellow—you're scared your chrononauts in Orange Goblin retired after 2002's Coup de Grace. I hear your fear. Nothing left but old Kyuss records. But heavy emissions from the Orange monolith—the spaciest warlords of speed sludge—are being prepared as we speak. And live? Goblin'll mix up slow greasiness with a hardcore rush all while keeping it solar.

--A.D. Amorosi

Fri., May 19, 9 p.m., $12, with Scissorfight, Dixie Witch and Backwoods Payback, North Star Bar, 27th and Poplar sts., 215-787-0488, www.northstarbar.com.

Dreamy Krayg Burton has finally focused Film School's eclecto-electro drone-metal niche, after some messy EPs and a nice debut, Brilliant Career. With 2006's Film School (Beggars Banquet), Burton has found the link between '60s-era Who and Pink Floyd's spacey mod discord, and made it grandly poppy. And it sounds nothing like Coldplay.

--A.D. Amorosi

Wed., May 24, 8 p.m., $8, with Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, The End of Radio and Dragon City, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888, www.thekhyber.com.

Fiddlers and pipers, do what you must to attend the preconcert workshops with Tony De Marco and Ivan Goff. De Marco, NYC born, inherited a love of the Irish from his mother, Miss Dempsey, and her large family. Ivan Goff, originally of Dublin, is now a New Yorker too, bringing a boatload of traditional music championships with him. Both men have a profound mastery of tradition with De Marco being especially lauded for his Sligo-style fiddling.

--Mary Armstrong

Fri., May 19, 8 p.m., $15, Irish Center, 6815 Emlen St., 215-849-8899,
www.philadelphiaceiligroup.org.

Not only is there more new music being played in Philly than ever before, but audiences are actually growing. And why not? The music is refreshing and exciting, and our local pool of performers is extraordinary. The season closes with a bang, as the Prism Quartet presents five world premieres for saxophone quartet.

--Peter Burwasser

Sat., May 20, 8 p.m., $20, Trinity Center for Urban Life, 22nd and Spruce sts., 215-569-9700, www.prismquartet.com.

There must be something to all that sun and sand; Bud Shank doesn't look or sound as if he's turning 80. But that landmark birthday is just what the veteran altoist is rolling into town to celebrate. Shank hasn't lost his cool with the accumulation of years; he still blows with the trademark laid-back West Coast sound with which he is indelibly identified.

--Shaun Brady

Fri., May 19, 9 p.m. and Sat., May 20, 8 p.m., $15, Chris' Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom St., 215-568-3131, www.chrisjazzcafe.com.

Why was Rainer Maria ever filed under emo? They've always had a skill for drama and pretension, sure, but they're not whiney little ex-boyfriend types. And they have a girl singer. I mean seriously. Anyway, with the new Catastrophe Keeps Us Together (Grunion Records), Rainer finally seem to have outrun the emo tag. The rock is straightforward, sometimes quiet, sometimes even current-events-related. And they own an acoustic guitar now. I mean seriously.

--Patrick Rapa

Sun., May 21, 7:30 p.m., $10, with Ambulette and Pela, First Unitarian Church, 22nd and Chestnut sts., 866-468-7619, www.r5productions.com.

Talk to the regulars at Allons Danser and they can barely contain their glee at T's impending return. He plays that old-school creole accordion with thoroughly modern energy. By the end of the evening T is so into the groove he'll put down the accordion and leave the rhythm section in charge while he takes turns dancing with all the willing women in the house. Sporting a feather boa shows you are part of the in crowd at a Steppers show.

--Mary Armstrong

Fri., May 19, 7:30 p.m. dance lesson, 8:30 p.m. dance, $14, TK Club, East Hector and Apple sts., Conshohocken, 610-828-9352, www.allonsdanser.org.