We know and love Mark Kozelek for his 1990s work fronting somber, brutally honest and introspective indie-folk outfit Red House Painters, whose string of albums are some of that decade’s greatest music. Kozelek, however, remains the clichéd “enigma wrapped in a question.” Why does a guy who is essentially the focal point of the band ditch a known moniker (Red House Painters) and start putting out records as Sun Kil Moon? And, for all of Kozelek’s power as a songwriter, how do you explain a career that has seen a steady series of cover songs championing artists he admires, including reassessments of the music of John Denver, a new light cast on Bonn Scott-era AC/DC with the genius solo work What’s Next to the Moon (Badman) and last year’s excellent Sun Kil Moon album Tiny Cities (Caldo Verde), entirely made up of Modest Mouse songs? Finally, as revered as he is by a hard-earned cult audience, Kozelek has transcended indie appeal and reached a wider audience thanks to feature films. He won kudos for his turn as tight-lipped Stillwater bassist Larry Fellows in Cameron Crowe’s acclaimed valentine to rock and roll Almost Famous, turned up again in Crowe’s surreal Vanilla Sky and appeared in last year’s Steve Martin vehicle Shopgirl, again as a musician. All of this matters little as this Tuesday Buffalo finally gets a chance to see Kozelek do what he does best with his voice, a guitar and some well-chosen songs.

Tuesday, May 30 at 8pm. Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk Street (855-3931). $13-$15.