Truckstop Honeymoon

Truckstop Honeymoon

Mike West and Katie Euliss of Truckstop Honeymoon play banjos and washtubs. They sing about adultery and oil refineries. They deliver breakneck breakdowns or heartbreak waltzes. Like a Dodge with a burnt-out clutch, their music has two speeds and no reverse. According to legend, they spent their wedding night in the Tiger Truck Stop, somewhere between Lafayette and the Atchafalaya Swamp. And there Truckstop Honeymoon was born. The band joins The Dewayne Brothers at 9 p.m. today at The Bottleneck, 737 N.H.

Idlewild

Scottish rock act Idlewild has drawn comparisons to mid-period R.E.M. as well as Echo and the Bunnymen, but attentive listeners will likely hear a more MTV-friendly Morrissey. Formed in 1995, the band has followed a slow and steady course to fame that resulted in an opening slot for Pearl Jam’s “Riot Act” tour. Now the group is touring in support of its recently released fourth album “Warnings/Promises.” Idlewild joins Inara George at 9 p.m. Saturday at The Bottleneck, 737 N.H.

Grand Buffet

Grand Buffet

Pittsburgh’s Grand Buffet has fostered a rep as mack daddies of the party-rocking, independent hip-hop scene. As lyrically swift as Sage Francis and as entertaining as R. Kelly, the vivacious white-boy pairing of Lord Grunge and Grape-a-don might be dismissed as a novelty if they weren’t so damn good. Songs like “Oh My God You’re Weird” and “You’re On Fire” feature molar-shattering bass lines and rock guitars, complementing the duo’s ripe sense of humor. Opening is Lawrence’s laptop genie Superargo (aka Adam Jeffers), a composer of dense, satisfying cuts a la Aphex Twin who always goes the extra mile to put on a compelling live show. The acts perform at 9 p.m. Sunday at The Jackpot Saloon, 943 Mass.

‘Shrines’

'Shrines'

Former Lawrence resident Charron Andrews returns to town this weekend for the opening of “Shrines,” an exhibition of her assemblages at Do’s Deluxe, 416 E. Ninth St. Andrews now lives in North Carolina, but she grew up in a large Catholic family and spent a lot of time as a child wandering alleys searching for treasures. She continues that practice today to find objects for her shrines. “I like to think that all broken things can have a new life,” she says. “Shrines” opens with a reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and remains on view through Oct. 22. All proceeds from sales will go to Hurricane Katrina relief.

‘Chalk and Pastels’

'Chalk and Pastels'

Lawrence artist Laura Kimball’s latest pieces focuses on portrayals of people and pets. “Electric Blue Eyes,” her portrait of a mother, a child and a Cabbage Patch doll, will be among the works in “Chalk and Pastels,” a group show opening Sunday at Unity Gallery, 900 Madeline Lane. Kimball will give at least one demonstration of how to use charcoals and pastels during the opening reception, which runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The show will remain on view through Nov. 12.