Most bands don't tour until after their new release comes out. But for Chicago's Plain White T's, the summer represents an opportunity to fine-tune their live act and show off some of the tracks from their forthcoming album, Big Bad World, due out in September. "We have a full summer for sure," admits guitarist Dave Tirio via phone from a Milwaukee tour stop. "Even though we are in a transitional period, we do have a lot of new material. The album should be done soon. We'll put the finishing touches on it through the summer and should have a single by the end of July." Formed by high school friends nearly 10 years ago, the band's fan base grew quickly after the success of 2006's Every Second Counts, which yielded the spunky hit "Hey There Delilah." The group also benefited from being part of a burgeoning Chicago scene. "We were more suburban," Tirio says of the band's roots. "Right when we were starting up, there were tons of bands and a really booming scene. We got to exchange fan bases once we started playing in the north suburban scenes with Fall Out Boy and the south suburban scene with Mest." And yet the band really took off in Europe, where it remains more popular than it is in the States. "Until we reestablish ourselves here in America, I think we'll be bigger in Europe," Tirio says. "We haven't done a headlining tour in the US since "Delilah' got big. We'll do that in the fall and then headline in the spring. Things just went smoothly in the UK. All the points lined up and serendipitous stuff happened. But we're excited to come back to Ohio. I used to date a girl from Ohio." Plain White T's perform as part of the AST Dew Tour at 9 p.m. at North Coast Harbor. Tickets: $15-$35. — Jeff Niesel

THURSDAY, JULY 17

John Mayer

John Mayer has come a long way since his "Your Body Is a Wonderland" days. After major-label success with Room for Squares, Mayer made a risky but smart decision, ditching his acoustic sensitivity for rock and blues to form the John Mayer Trio in 2005. Mayer gained substantial critical praise, proving that he is not just a sensitive singer-songwriter, though he still has the girls swooning. While being influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan and labeled one of the "new guitar gods," he's collaborated with musicians such as Common, Eric Clapton and Fall Out Boy, diversifying himself and showing that there is something there for everyone. His 2006 album, Continuum, became no less of a success and combined Mayer's signature pop sincerity with grooves, while his bittersweet single "Say" became his highest charting single to date. With Where the Light Is, Mayer's latest CD/DVD recorded live at the Nokia Theater, three sets are featured: one solo acoustic set, another with the John Mayer Trio and the last with his touring band, providing fans with songs not available on previous albums and delivering a musical workout with powerful vocals and mesmerizing guitar playing. If anything, Mayer sounds better live, making his old music sound impressively new with such clarity. Colbie Caillat and Brett Dennen open at 7 p.m. at Blossom Music Center (1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216.241.5555). Tickets $30-$55. — Lauren Yusko

FRIDAY, JULY 18

Widespread Panic

The jam band Widespread Panic is the Rolling Stones of Southern rock. In 22 years, the six-piece group from Georgia has released 19 albums, headlined Bonnaroo seven times and is one of the highest grossing live bands. It's already sold out several dates on its summer tour in support of its latest album, Free Somehow. It's also Widespread Panic's first album with guitarist Jimmy Herring, who joined after co-founder and lead guitarist Michael Houser died in 2002. While other bands of the same age keep performing the same songs they did 20 years ago, Widespread Panic has continued to evolve, and songs on the latest album were influenced by Hurricane Katrina and the Virginia Tech massacre. Widespread Panic adapted while keeping the bluesy rock 'n' roll sound it's known for. The show starts at 7 p.m. at the Plain Dealer Pavilion (2014 Sycamore St., 216.241.5555). Tickets: $33.50 advance, $34 day of show. — Brittany Moseley

MONDAY, JULY 21

Cherry Poppin' Daddies

It takes a certain type of song for "Weird" Al Yankovic to cover it. The Cherry Poppin' Daddies' "Zoot Suit Riot" was that song. It's also the song that brought the band record sales and got them labeled a swing band. That was 11 years ago though. They've released three albums since then, including the latest Susquehanna. Although the album features the swing sound that made Cherry Poppin' Daddies popular, it also includes ska, Latin dance and happy rock 'n' roll in the vein of the Beach Boys. The themes of the album are as deep as the New York river it's named after. The airy number "Breathe" is about living to the fullest before you run out of time. When lead singer Steve Perry sings, "This is the dream that they thought they would lead" in "The Mongoose and the Snake," it sounds like he's singing about Cherry Poppin' Daddies' struggle to be seen as more than a dance band. Susquehanna isn't all serious, though. "Wingtips" and "Bust Out" remind listeners that Cherry Poppin' Daddies still know how to make you move. Madison Crawl opens at 7 p.m. at Peabody's (2083 E. 21st St., 216.776.9999). Tickets: $14 advance, $16 day of show. — BM

!!!

Call !!! anything you want. No really, you can, as long as it's a monosyllabic word repeated three times. Most people call them Chk Chk Chk. Just don't call its music predictable. With eight members (half from Kenya, half from the States) playing everything from saxophone to the synthesizer, !!!'s music blurs genres and borders. The band formed more than a decade ago and somehow managed to combine funk, punk, dance rock and glam into songs that were trippy enough to work. Its last album, Myth Takes, takes all those influences and more, making it an album that would be just as popular if it was released 30 years ago. Even though Myth Takes came out more than a year ago, people are more than happy to see the group, new music or not. The band is known for its energetic live shows that turn into all-night indie dance parties. Just try not to tap your foot when !!! plays the Grog Shop (2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216.321.5588). Extra Golden and Icy Demons open at 9 p.m. Tickets: $14. — BM

TUESDAY, JULY 22

King Khan and the Shrines

As usual, Europeans seem to know what's cool before US fans. Germany was introduced to King Khan and the Shrines in 1999, and now the band is touring in the US for the first time. After releasing Three Hairs & Your Mine and Mr. Supernatural, the band — which includes Khan and 10 others — gained popularity and some memorable gigs, including shows with the Black Lips and an afterparty for 50 Cent. The latest album, The Supreme Genius of King Khan and the Shrines, is a throwback to '60s psychedelic rock complete with trumpet, organ and tenor saxophone. The album includes some of the best tracks from the band's last album, What Is?!, and earlier songs. Even though the band is the size of two normal bands, the music is never overpowering. Instead, each musician contributes something different, giving King Khan and the Shrines a vintage sound that many popular bands have tried but failed to accomplish. See what made Khan King when his band plays the Grog Shop (2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216.321.5588). Half Rats and the Dimeras open at 9 p.m. Tickets: $8 advance, $10 day of show. — BM

Over the Rhine

In nearly two decades as Over the Rhine, Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist have grown into more than a married couple of musicians. They're one of the most consistent American songwriting teams on the market today, churning out song after fanciful song in such an eclectic fashion that the result is a timeless, down-home vibe for just about anyone, black to white, sea to sea, city on out to the fields. Maybe if they hadn't chosen Cincy as their headquarters years ago (naming themselves after one of the city's historic districts), they'd be more of a household name by now. But that's never been the goal. Combining elements of everything America's grown to be known for — jazz, country and blues to cabaret, soul and folk — OtR has consistently delivered with virtuoso instrumentation and that torchy voice of Bergquist's. The group garnered one of PASTE magazine's first five-star reviews for 2003's dreamy double-disc Ohio. Dylan's taken them on tour as an opener, and they've been named "adjunct" members of the Cowboy Junkies. But not until recent years have they started to sell out venues on their own. See what the hubbub is about when the group performs at 8 p.m. at Cain Park (Superior and Lee roads, Cleveland Heights, 216.241.5555). Tickets: $2. — Dan Harkins

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23

Jeremy Jay

Normally, I'm inclined to distrust those who have a Christian name as a surname; these people have long struck me as a little noncommittal, or as if they are hiding something. I'll make an exception for K Records artist Jeremy Jay. The LA native is so wispy and thin that you might actually bet on Deerhunter/Atlas Sound frontman Bradford Cox to win if the two were on one of those celebrity boxing shows. In addition, he populates his debut, the mostly excellent A Place Where We Could Go, with time-warped tunes that evoke any number of 1950s rock songwriters filtered through a distinctly Jonathan Richman-style whimsy. Tracks like "Hold Me in Your Arms Tonight" and "Heavenly Creatures" are utterly earnest, with Jay's heavily reverbed and double-tracked vocals still somehow sounding naked. The ballads of this thin man are almost guaranteed to warrant a strong reaction from a prospective listener; you'll either fall in love or wince uncontrollably. Jay and locals JJ Magazine open for Film School at 9 p.m. at the Beachland Tavern (15711 Waterloo Rd., 216.383.1124). Tickets: $8. — Chris Drabick