Rock Picks: Mark Eitzel, Wanda Jackson, Dan Deacon, Heartless Bastards

DAN DEACON AT THE TROUBADOUR

Perhaps the brightest light in Baltimore’s much-buzzed art-punk scene, Dan Deacon is best known for his giddy-chaotic live show, in which the portly electro-prankster plants himself in the middle of a venue’s floor and unleashes a stream of hyperspeed video-game beats that inevitably trigger the 20-something equivalent of the bouncy-ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese. Deacon’s new album, Bromst, is not without its bouncy-ball moments. But with its expansive cast of guest musicians and its increased focus on “real”-instrument interplay, Bromst is also this conservatory alum’s stab at new-music sophistication; Steve Reich’s name is being thrown around in reviews, and not without reason. At the Troubadour, Deacon will perform with a 14-piece ensemble that he’s extremely unlikely to find room for on the club’s tiny stage. Good luck, brah. (Mikael Wood)

Also playing Wednesday:

BRIGADIER JERRY, YELLOW WALL DUB SQUAD, SCIENTIST at the Echoplex; JEFF BECK, DAVY KNOWLES at El Rey Theatre; HORSE STORIES, HOLCOMBE WAILER, GABRIEL KAHANE at the Mint.

THURSDAY, APRIL 23

ANGUS & JULIA STONE AT THE TROUBADOUR

At first glance, the Australian brother-sister duo Angus & Julia Stone may not seem like especially flashy performers. The folk-pop songs on their 2007 debut CD, A Book Like This (released domestically last year by Nettwerk), are pleasantly mellow, with gentle harmonies and innocuous, laid-back instrumentation. On closer inspection, their music’s subtle pleasures eventually creep through, like the eerily reproachful vocals that cycle over the ending of “The Beast.” Most of the tunes have flat, blank titles like “Silver Coin” and “Paper Aeroplane,” but the simple lyrics sometimes have unexpected impact, such as the bittersweet fairy-tale awakening of “Hollywood.” Julia Stone has an unusual, plaintive voice that’s somewhere between Victoria Williams and a young Marianne Faithfull, while Angus (who performs solo under the name Lady of the Sunshine) chimes in with a breathy, androgynous accompaniment. Given the sensitive settings, they generally avoid being too precious. (Falling James)

Also playing Thursday:

BLACK KIDS, MATES OF STATE at the Henry Fonda Theater; FISHTANK ENSEMBLE at Home; UB40 at House of Blues; DAWES, AMATEURS, MISSISSIPPI MAN at the Echo; CASXIO, OH DARLING, VANAPRASTA, THE NIGHTS at Spaceland; LENKA, GREG LASWELL AND GUESTS at Largo at the Coronet; WEYOU, SLINGSHOT DAKOTA, DAVID SCOTT STONE, BOB BRUNO, HOWARDAMB at the Smell; LEZ ZEPPELIN at the Key Club.