Monday, April 21

Mushroomhead at Alley Katz

Formed in 1993 in Cleveland, Ohio, this group plays some heavy electro-industrial songs.  They adopted "X-Face" masks for their musical identity but don't refer to them as being like Slipknot. Mush-Head will be playing with Saint Diablo, Human Factors Lab, Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars, Three Ways To Nowhere, Choke Chain, and Seraph. This is a BIG show for the money. $14 in advance or $16 at the door. All ages show. 6 p.m.

Tuesday, April 22

Collective Soul at The National

Just good ole fashioned classic alternative rock. If you think back to mid-nineties radio, back when The Buzz was still on the air in Richmond, you heard such bands like Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and….Collective Soul, the latter being one of the last remaining bands that still makes good, decipherable, new music. Touring in support of their seventh studio album Afterwards, which was released in August of last year, these guys still bring spirituality through sound. Josh Kelly and the Whitest Lights open the show. $20 general admission. All ages show. 7 p.m.

Alesana at The Canal Club

Originally beginning in Baltimore but officially setting their roots in Raleigh, N.C., this is Tragic Hero Records' first signed band. The title of their soon coming album, due June 3 this year, is also to the title of their present tour, Where Myth Fades To Legend. The show includes Sky Eats Airplane, Lovehatehero, Our Last Night and The Chariot. $12 in advance or $14 at the door. 21 and older. 6 p.m.

Wednesday, April 23

The Used at Innsbrook After Hours

Touring for their latest album, Lies For The Liars, this band is unyielding with enthusiasm, most likely due to destroying their conservative Utah cultural boundaries as rebelling singer Bert McCacken says. $15 in advance or $20 at the door. All ages show. 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 24

Mensrea's CD Release Party at The Canal Club

DISCLAIMER: This show is not for wimps. Mensrea is one of Richmond's most progressive and top-rated metal bands and consists of GWAR guitarists Cory Smoot (a.k.a. Flattus Maximus) and Nate Krishna (a.k.a. Slave Dogg). They have been working through their American tour and are playing here to throw a release bash for the latest album, Media Coil Inerupt. Mensrea is on tour with Chalkline Beauty and will be playing Thursday with Dysphasia and Ends In Fire. $6 general admission. 21 and older. 8:30 p.m.