RELATED POSTS

• Q&A: Jason Stollsteimer of the Von Bondies

Devil to Pay will be performing at Melody Inn on Jan. 11. (Submitted photo for The Star)

See The Von Bondies at Music Mill on Thursday, Jan. 10. (Submitted photo for The Star)

Danz Poeta will be at The Melody Inn on Jan. 12th. (Submitted photo for The Star)

See Hum.V & the Cleptoz w/Lazarus & Steetkor at The Vogue on Friday, Jan. 11. (Submitted photo for The Star)

See Albert Cummings Jan. 15 at The Slippery Noodle. (Picasa 2.0 for The Star)

The Top 10 Live is a collaborative effort between Indy.com and Indianapolismusic.net

1. The Von Bondies, SSM, Freer
8:30 p.m. Jan. 10, $12, Music Mill, (317) 841-1850

Detroit has been a hotbed for raw rock 'n' roll ever since the city launched bands like The Stooges and MC5 in the 60s. The Von Bondies are among the latest in that line of Michigan-based garage rockers. The group hits the road in advance of the 2008 release of its third album, "Love, Hate and Then There's You." Fellow Detroit garage rockers SSM and Freer open.

2. Hum.V & the Cleptoz w/Lazarus & Steetkor
10 p.m. Jan. 11, $5, the Vogue, (317) 259-7029

Live music returns to the Vogue's weekend schedule with its Live Music Fridays series. The Broad Ripple club has scheduled local and nationally known acts every Friday through April. The second week of the series features some of Indy's top hip-hop acts. Hum.V and the Cleptoz have been among the most popular live hip-hop acts in town since making the scene. They're joined by Lazarus (aka Rusty of the Mudkids) and Steetkor.

3. Doggiepalooza
9 p.m. Jan. 11, $7, Birdy's, (317) 254-8971

A group of Indy-based acts gather at Birdy's on Friday to raise money for pet advocacy and rescue groups. "Doggiepalooza" benefits the Indianapolis Humane Society as well as Indy Pit Crew, a group that promotes responsible ownership of pit bulls. Shadyside Allstars, 19Clark25, Records Records Records, and Vinyl Shriner are among the acts lending their time to help out the event.

4. Red Horse, Devil to Pay, Bulletwolf, Devils of Belgrade
10 p.m. Jan. 11, $6, Melody Inn, (317) 923-4707

Indianapolis is becoming a mecca for quality hard-rock bands. Some of the finest will be on display Friday at the Melody Inn. Devil to Pay and Red Horse are among the area's most established hard rockers. They're joined by Bulletwolf, featuring members from About the Fire and Eyes of Jade, and Devils of Belgrade, which eschews a vocalist.

5. Dixon/Rhyne Project
7 p.m. Jan. 16, $5, Jazz Kitchen, (317) 253-4900

Though known for hosting jazz stars on the weekends, the Jazz Kitchen keeps up the same quality Monday through Wednesday with local talent. Wednesdays in January have been locked down for the Dixon/Rhyne project. The group represents the old and new guard of Indy's jazz scene. Organist Melvin Rhyne's work dates back to the Indiana Avenue era. Saxophonist Rob Dixon is one of the best-known young players on Indy's scene.

6. Elvis Birthday Tribute Tour 2008
8 p.m. Jan. 11, $29-$42, Pike Performing Arts Center, (317) 216-5450

Another chance to celebrate Elvis Presley's 73rd birthday comes with the current Elvis Birthday Tribute Tour. This tour provides a direct link with "The King." D.J. Fontana, the drummer who performed on Elvis' classic singles from the '50s, will appear. The Sweet Inspirations, an Elvis-backing vocal group, and three Elvis impersonators are on the bill, too.

7. Project 44, Order of the Black Hand, Danz Poeta
10:30 p.m. Jan. 12, $7, The Melody Inn, (317) 923-4707

The weekly Punk Rock Night showcase takes a dark turn this Saturday for an event billed as "Goth vs. Punk." Order of the Black Hand delivers a metal/punk mash-up that's closest to the event's usual punk rock fare. They're paired up with Chicago industrial/electronic act Project .44, a group put together by former Ministry member Louis Svitek. The electronic rock continues with Danz Poeta featuring Form 30's Jamie Vitro.

8. Newton Faulkner
9 p.m. Jan. 16, free, Radio Radio, (317) 955-0995

Sometimes it takes a lot to get even committed music fans out on a Wednesday night in January. Radio Radio has the right combo with a free concert by Newton Faulkner. Faulkner is an English singer/songwriter whose debut album, "Hand Built By Robots," topped UK charts and placed the single "Dream Catch Me" in the top 10. The artist was busy in 2007 opening for Paolo Nutini, John Mayer and the John Butler Trio.

9. Marvelous Marvin Hamlisch
11 a.m. Jan 11, 8 p.m. Jan. 11-12, 7.p.m. Jan. 13, $30-$56, Hilbert Circle Theatre, (317) 231-6788

Composer Marvin Hamlisch joined an elite group in 1995 with his first Emmy. It joined his Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards for a grand slam of top entertainment honors. He's best known for his stage and screen music in "A Chorus Line," "The Way We Were" and "The Sting." He'll lead the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in his works.

10. Albert Cummings
9 p.m. Jan. 15, $8, Slippery Noodle Inn, (317) 631-6974

Like many guitarists, Albert Cummings is a disciple of Stevie Ray Vaughan. He even got to play live and on record with the guitarist's backing group, Double Trouble. Unlike other musicians, Cummings didn't pursue music professionally until his late 20s, although he learned to play guitar at a young age before switching to banjo at age 12. But he came back to guitar in college. He is also unusual in that he has not abandoned his day job as a house builder.