Failure House of Blues, June 11

Failure is one of the fondest-remembered bands of the mid-'90s, not least because they broke up just when it seemed when things were really starting to happen for them. Based around the musical partnership of L.A. multi-instrumentalists Ken Andrews and Greg Edwards, whom All Music Guide called "a songwriting team practically unrivaled within the claustrophobic confines of post-grunge American rock," Failure were more melodic and adventurous than almost any of their peers.

Despite champions like Steve Albini (who engineered '92 debut Comfort) and Tool's Maynard James Keenan, Failure's moody songs never quite caught on outside their avid fan base, and they were practically out of gas by the time "Stuck On You" did finally start getting radio play in 1996. Andrews, Scott, and drummer Kelli Scott went on to play with the likes of Blinker the Star, Autolux and ON, and then suddenly reunited in February and embarked on this summer tour based around the Tree of Stars live EP.

The Whigs Fitzgerald's, June 12

The Whigs offer nothing fancy, but the Nashville-via-Athens trio has played dependably potent and tuneful rock and roll for more than a decade now, splitting the difference between garage-rock and power-pop while steadily refining their songwriting. Their fifth album, this year's Modern Creation, was recorded live over two weeks with producer Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Wilco), and the trio's rangy energy easily spills into songs like "Hit Me" and "You Should Be Able to Feel It." With Houston's Buxton, who have been lying low as of late.

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