Though the new year has yet to yield many big name concerts in the area, there are plenty of local and lesser-known national acts playing this weekend that are worth a look.
JOE BONAMASSA
Utica, N.Y., native Joe Bonamassa brings his guitar wizardry to Piere's in Fort Wayne on Friday. A child blues prodigy, Bonamassa opened for B.B. King when he was 8 years old, and was gigging professionally before he was in his teens. Upon moving to the West Coast, Bonamassa joined forces with Berry Oakley Jr., Waylon Krieger and Erin Davis (sons of Allman Brothers bassist Berry Oakley, Doors guitarist Robby Krieger and jazz legend Miles Davis, respectively) in the band Bloodline.
After that group's dissolution, Bonamassa began to focus more on songwriting and took vocal lessons. His first solo album, "A New Day Yesterday," was released in 2000. He is touring in support of his latest release, "Had to Cry Today," which explores blues forms.
GOGGLESPHERE
I have no idea what the word Gogglesphere means, but I'm willing to live with that, because this Indianapolis-based metal band is just bizarre enough to be irresistable. When I saw them play at Indy's The Ritz last spring, I was blown away by their combination of ragged spontaneity and metal precision.
Drawing from the schizophrenic wackiness of Mr. Bungle and the odd-meter guitar riffs of System of a Down, Gogglesphere was fascinating live, but their eccentricity seemed like it would doom them from any widespread exposure. Eccentric or not, Gogglesphere has since been gigging furiously around the Indianapolis area and has established a foothold in the city's metal scene. Gogglesphere plays at at 9 p.m. Sunday at the Melody Inn.
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