Loretta Lynn, Arena Theater, February 21: "Lynn has slowed down at her age, and she performed three-quarters of her set on a golden chair, complete with cushion and tassels. Currently backed by a nine-piece band with her son on guitar, her voice still packs a wallop, even as she was perched on that tiny throne. Still, she tripped up on some of her own songs, mostly the lesser-known gospel cuts." Craig Hlavaty

Son Volt, Continental Club, February 24: "Farrar learned back in his Uncle Tupelo days that sometimes the best way to deal with all the unpleasantries of reality, whether economic hardships or just not getting along with people, is to throw up your hands and let the hammer down... The darker things look, the louder Son Volt turns up." Chris Gray

Slipknot, Coheed and Cambria, Verizon Wireless Theater, February 25: "Slipknot has always been 'pre-apocalyptic' for us. While most bands want to wallow in the aftermath of a cataclysm, Slipknot wanted to be there from the beginning for every flame and blast, be it internal or external." Craig Hlavaty

Gene Loves Jezebel, Meridian, February 26: "Any band can push it to the hilt when there's a packed audience urging them on, but it takes real commitment to do that when the entire crowd could fit on their tour bus. And yet, the four-piece played a powerful set of dark, Goth-y glam-rock with driving bass; druggy, Velvet Underground-like guitars; and frontman Jay Aston's voice none the worse for wear even after all this time, even if the same couldn't quite be said the same about his face." Chris Gray