Blood Brothers

The name implies messy aggression, and Seattle’s Blood Brothers certainly deliver. The band’s latest effort, “Crimes,” is sonically arresting and charged with intent. Its 13 anthems are also the perfect fix for a dopesick rock scene jonesing for nostalgia and schmaltz. Whether they’re aping a not-too-distant past in a 3-car garage or earnestly tugging at young girls’ heartstrings, an alarming number of acts these days seem content to run in place — but not The Blood Brothers. The group joins The Chinese Stars, Mean Reds and Pixel Panda 9 p.m. Saturday at The Granada, 1020 Mass.

Hot Rod Circuit

Vagrant rockers Hot Rod Circuit have spent a good portion of their lives touring with local faves The Get Up Kids (guitarist/vocalist Casy Prestwood also moonlights with Lawrence’s The Only Children). The band is a hard-rocking and hook-laden unit that recalls the bouncy emo pop of the Kids and the driving riff-rock of Foo Fighters. Hot Rod Circuit joins Mae and The Snake The Cross The Crown 8 p.m. Sunday at The Bottleneck, 737 N.H.

William Elliott Whitmore

Banjoist/guitarist William Elliott Whitmore splits the difference between Tom Waits and Johnny Cash with his gruff voice and old-time Americana sound. Whitmore’s songs harken back to the days of the steam-powered engine and butter churner, with Guthrie-esque overtones and powerful fingerpicking stylings. Whitmore delivers an in-store performance 6 p.m. today at The Love Garden, 936 1/2 Mass., and joins Atone at Tone 10 p.m. today at The Replay Lounge, 946 Mass.

Teatro lirico d’Europa in ‘Carmen’

Many opera lovers consider “Carmen” to be Bizet’s greatest work. Set in 19th-century Seville, Spain, the show tells the story of a beautiful gypsy girl who works in a cigarette factory and Don Jose, a dutiful, young soldier, who becomes ensnared in Carmen’s web of seduction, deceit and betrayal. Musical highlights include the world-famous “Toreador Song” and the seductive “Habanera.” Teatro Lirico D’Europa will bring the production to the Lied Center at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Jim Seaver, Kansas University professor emeritus of history, will give a preperformance lecture at 6:30 p.m. at the Dole Institute of Politics.

KU Symphony orchestra

The Kansas University Symphony Orchestra’s 100th anniversary year continues this spring with a concert featuring student winners of the group’s first concerto/aria competition. More than 40 students auditioned for the competition, and five winners were selected: Annie Gnojek, flute; Holly Wrensch, mezzo-soprano; pianists Kyungmi Lee and Sun Young Ju; and the trio of Noemi Miloradovich, violin, Sibora Miloradovich, cello, and Paulo Olivera, piano. The program, under the direction of symphony orchestra assistant conductor Steven McDonald and graduate conducting student Andres Franco, begins 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Lied Center.