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It was a great weekend for music close to the ground. My favorite band, Drive-By Truckers, played an acoustic show at Tipitina's, part of their The Dirt Beneath tour. I don't know what happened to the conduit that used to magically let me know what was going on in New Orleans because I first heard of it only hours before the show. Anyway, I'm glad I went. It was like the finest Austin City Limits episode ever produced, minus the uncomfortable reverence that sanitizes so many of the performances there. Nashville keyboard legend Spooner Oldham and former Drive-By pedal steel wizard John Neff filled in any conceivable gap left by Jason Isbell, who quit the band earlier this year. Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley are two of my favorite contemporary songwriters and without the mammoth din of guitars their concerts usually provide, the songwriting took center stage. If you like the idea of Bruce Springsteen, but wish he was southern, Drive-By Truckers is the band for you.

The next night, I was met with the glorious noise of guitars arcing out into the night sky above Teddy's Juke Joint. Mem Shannon had jumped in on the tail end of Lil Dave Thompson's set, and the two guitar sharpshooters took turns putting their crosshairs on the blues. I really love Lil Dave's playing, a hyperkinetic barrage of melody that still follows the river of the song and having Mem Shannon alongside only made it better. But the real occasion was Kenny Neal's 50th birthday, and soon enough the man of honor took to the stage inside. Kenny Neal is a singular guitarist in the blues; he coaxes everything from moaning whalesong to ground-shaking thunderclaps from that beat-up guitar of his. He makes it seem so effortless, yet as epic as a solar flare. That's the thing about music close to its roots: It only serves to make it flower stronger.

Required Listening for the Week: The new Radiohead download is deserving of its hype, their infamous penchant for alienation and experimentation is laced with warmth and humanity. Go learn how to use the Internet if need be and get it.

Wednesday, Oct. 17:

Born Ruffians and Caribou at Spanish Moon

Mike Foster Project at Chelsea's

Far-Less, The Glass Ocean, Secret and Whisper, Cities Killed Starlight and Wake Into the Nightmare at The Darkroom

Minor Times, the Engineer and Jude Fawley at 3846 Government

Thursday, Oct. 18:

Karl Denson Trio and Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk at The Varsity

Barbarian Horde at Chelsea's

Andrew Duhon, Michael Gordon and Greg Talmage at North Gate Tavern

7 Deadly Sins and Paramaya at Click's

Minivan, God’s Good Soldiers and Ben at 3846 Government

Friday, Oct. 19:

Morning 40 Federation at Chelsea's

Better than Ezra at The Varsity

Revibe and Best Left Unsaid at North Gate Tavern

Phunk Junkeez, 6 Pack Deep, Supe and Brew Crew at Click's

Dhalism, PMToday, The Passing Lane, Subject Optional and In Her Defense at The Darkroom

justinbailey and O Pioneers! At 3846 Government

Smokehouse Porter and Miss Mamie at Teddy's Juke Joint

Saturday, Oct. 20:

Boris at Spanish Moon

Righteous Buddha at Chelsea's

Evangelina, Passing Japan and Feature Presentation at Click's

Murdervan, Paramaya and Crimson Mindset at The Darkroom

Rico and the Zydeco Connection at Teddy's Juke Joint

Monday, Oct. 22:

Radio Moscow at Chelsea's

Matt Wertz and Dave Barnes at The Varsity

We the Living, Electric Damn and Princess Thunderstorm at 3846 Government

Tuesday, Oct. 23:

Al Degrasse at Chelsea's

Cross Canadian Ragweed at The Varsity

Safe and Easy Action, Crimson Mindest and Somatic Portrait at North Gate Tavern