Can’t beat these ‘Dead Horses’

The Oscar-winning writer of the haunting theme from Crazy Heart, Ryan Bingham and his band The Dead Horses will take the stage at the Varsity Theatre to play their take on genuine Texas country. With a raspy voice that belies his young age, Bingham sings like a cowboy with a mouthful of prairie dust and the band’s music uses melancholic mandolins and fast-plucked melodies to great effect. Tickets are $20 at varsitytheatre.com.