Art, concerts, clubs, activism, love, fear, sex, destruction, and a cash bar. Get yourself in some really uncomfortable situations and live your damn life.

Jeff McLaughlin spills about where the band name came from, their local musical role models, and what they’re doing to support the local Red Bull and smokeless tobacco economy.

“We try to make our shows as similar to a party atmosphere as possible, but without the running from the cops and throwing up (unless you throw up from the mind blowing, stomach altering vibes coming from on stage).”

From Dragons to Skaters, Gothic Barbers to Green Happy Hours, and Nadastrom to laser shows, this weekend has a little something for everyone.

I can tell you two things. One: get it, you won’t regret it. Two: Once you do, prepare to abandon whatever else you were into for a few days.

All the best local music blogs, all the best concerts, all the best the Norfolk/Virginia Beach music scene has to offer.

Rock, Country, Hip-hop. We got it covered this week. Plus, a sic act coming out of VA.

I won’t call them punk-country or “cowpunk” because both of those terms are stupid and conjure images of bands that just suck. Let’s just call it Lucero.

“There is no longer a Music Business, just Music.”

Escovedo is one of the premier songwriters of our times, fluent in a ridiculous range of genres. This is the guy who opened for the last Sex Pistols show in 1978. There are echoes of everything from Lou Reed to Townes Van Zandt to Roky Erickson in his work.

The Weiss Family features Aaron and Mike Weiss, members of indie band mewithoutYou. But you could tell by the show at Jewish Mother that The Weiss Family tour isn’t about acquiring fame or promoting any record.

The One Not to Miss: CLIPSE, Tuesday at the Norva

Highlights: Incubus, Satan and Adam, Over the Ocean, and Rusty Doves

Highlights: Dave Mathews Band, Lil’ Wayne and Michigan, Superior (the best local band you’ve never heard of)

Neko Case, Mercy Creek, Bob Dylan, Kid Rock, Nightmare of You, G. Love, Gogol Bordello, Crystal Method, and more…

Pack it with parties and shows.