Trey Songz

Sneaky Pete’s, Friday

23-year-old singer Trey Songz (nee Tremaine Neverson) has had a pretty good run so far. After being signed to Atlantic Records in 2004, late Atlantic co-founder Ahmet Ertegun called Songz one of the label’s most promising new signings, mentioning him in the same breath as Ray Charles and Otis Redding. The Petersburg, Va., native made his national presence known with appearances on tracks by Twista and Scarface, followed by the release of the gold-selling debut I Gotta Make It. Songz’ recent second album, Trey Day, has him shooting higher: Already a Top 5 hit on the R&B chart, Trey Day’s second single, “Can’t Help But Wait,” just cracked the Billboard Top 20. And he’s thankful, too: Just check out the recording of “The Christmas Songz” (heh) on his MySpace page. Trey Songz will perform live at the Jump Off, Sneaky Pete’s Friday-night party, this week. (Dec. 14, 10 PM, $15, 711 Central Ave., Albany, 489-0000)

Juggling Suns

Red Square, Friday

Yep, you guessed it: hippies. The Juggling Suns have been a favorite on the jam scene since they formed in 1995—as a Grateful Dead cover band. Their lineup has shifted a bit over the years, as has their sound, but the band remain true to their rock, bluegrass, funk, dance, and psychedelic roots. The Suns won two consecutive Asbury Music Awards for Best Jam Band in 2002 and 2003 in their native New Jersey. Guitarist Mark Diomede, who has shared the stage with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Weir and Santana over his 18-year career, also received an Asbury Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. With a live show that has packed venues from Las Vegas to Japan, the Suns roll into Red Square tomorrow (Friday). An evening of patchouli, granola, and crunchy grooves awaits. (Dec 15, 9 PM, $8, 388 Broadway, Albany, 465-0444)

Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul

The Egg, Saturday

It’s almost Christmas, and Riverdance fiddler Eileen Ivers is excited. Her excitement for the season has been captured on the recent release, An Nollaig—An Irish Christmas, and likely will carry over into this Saturday’s performance. And she’s got plenty to be excited about: Ivers is a nine-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion; she’s played for royalty (kings, queens, Hall and Oates), and has been called the “Jimi Hendrix of the violin.” This week’s show, where Ivers will be joined by her backing band, Immigrant Soul, as well as the Albany Pro Musica choir, promises to capture “the spirit and magic of a Celtic Christmas.” (Dec. 15, 7:30 PM, $24, Empire State Plaza, Albany, 473-1845)

Todd Rundgren

Calvin Theatre, Saturday

Todd Rundgren is ready to rock. He’s strapping on an electric guitar to lead a five-piece band for a tour that will bring him to Northampton, Mass., on Saturday night. Why? He’s in the process of making a new album, he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last week, that will feature “big hooks, big chords, sing-along choruses and arrangements designed to echo through an ice rink.” Rundgren, now Hawaii-based, is certainly no stranger to the rock, having produced the most successful albums by Meat Loaf (Bat Out of Hell) and Grand Funk Railroad (We’re an American Band)—not to mention the harder bits of his own fine work, including the new work-in-progress. “I’m going to do an arena rock record,” he jokingly said to the Post Gazette. “Hopefully it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy.” (Dec. 15, 8 PM, $28.50-$38.50, 19 King St., Northampton, Mass., 413-584-1444)

Bill Anderson

Saratoga Music Hall, Sunday

It’s not often that a living country-music legend sets up shop at Saratoga City Hall. But thanks to WGNA’s Kevin Richards and his Classic Country Concert Series, folks from around the Capital Region will have a chance this weekend to hear Grand Ole Opry star and Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson perform live. “Whisperin’ Bill” hasn’t had a hit of his own since the 1960s, but he had more than his share during that decade, including such country classics as “Mama Sang a Song” and “Still,” which even crossed over to break the Top 10 pop charts. Since, he’s had a varied career, as a songwriter for other performers and as a TV game-show host; it all came full circle last month when he took home a Country Music Association Song of the Year award for co-writing the George Strait hit “Give It Away.” (Dec. 16, 2:30 and 6 PM, $29-$49, 3rd floor of City Hall, 474 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 888-403-0071)

Action Action

Revolution Hall, Monday

I I love love double double Chex Chex. . . . Action Action are the undisputed kings of the post-punk-indie-retro-synth-pop-new-wave movement, if such a thing exists. Formed by Mark Thomas Kluepfel from pieces of the Reunion Show and local boys Count the Stars, Action Action had a promising debut with their 2004 release, Don’t Cut Your Fabric to This Year’s Fashion, which sold more than 50,000 copies and received a fair amount of critical acclaim. Their follow-up release, An Army of Shapes Between Wars, picks up where Don’t Cut Your Fabric left off, with a slightly darker edge. Action Action seem to be on the right track, and may just be going somewhere even if they haven’t quite arrived there yet—not bad for a bunch of tie-wearing, floppy-haired emo boys. Kiss Kiss, the High Court, and Liam and Me are also on Monday’s bill. (Dec 17, 7 PM, $10, 425 River St., Troy, 274-0553)

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