Boston’s Bang Camaro broke into the mainstream with the Guitar Hero II hit “Push Push (Lady Lightning),” and the buzz spread quickly to create an international fan base. A metal band with indie leanings and arena rock stage presence, this quintet can grow to as many as twenty at any given show. Guest singers are generally members of various indie rock bands from around the Boston area, forming a choir of lead singers and turning out a glam-rock gala. Shows are fast becoming legendary, consistently selling out dates and ever-expanding the group’s size and scope. Now with the release of their self-titled debut on Black Sword Records, Bang Camaro revs up for a victory lap with a fall tour that comes to the Showplace Theater on Friday (Sept. 7). The show starts at 8pm and support comes from Johnny Nobody.

In 2005 Marissa Nadler released her sophomore recording, The Saga of Mayflower May, on Eclipse Records. Gothic, moody and hauntingly psychedelic, that release earned her a strong cult following as dream-folk’s newest darling. This year’s Songs III: Bird on the Water (Kemado Records) has gotten huge critical acclaim, with MOJO awarding the album four stars and calling Nadler “the most incredible thing happening in music right now.” Praise doesn’t get much heavier than that, and it’s fitting for a sound that’s this dark and brooding. Her songs are melancholy and idealistic ballads, involving characters of her own creation and lyrics set to intricate guitar work. Nadler is poised to begin a tour with Peter Bjorn & John and the Clientele in late September, but first she’ll visit Soundlab this Saturday (Sept. 8) for a 9pm show. Support comes from Toronto post-rock band Picastro.

It’s a Three-Band Trash-A-Billy Extravaganza at Nietzsche’s on Saturday (Sept. 8), when the Midwest Trash Rock Invitational hits Buffalo. Cleveland’s Whiskey Daredevils (above) are no strangers to our city (kind of like our honorary trash-rock kings, made up of three former local boys from the ever popular Cowslingers), and they bring with them Detroit’’s Lords of the Highway and Toronto’s Brown Hornets to this raunchy rockabilly stomp. Lords of the Highway needs no introduction here, being arguably the region’s best known group in this genre, and the Brown Hornets play a self-described “MC5/Frat Rock blend” or “blues/soul/rock n roll gumbo.” Showtime is around 10pm, rockabilly time.

Like fellow San Fransciscans Erase Errata, Kill Rock Stars’ Numbers fuse art punk and raw disco to create their own distinct brand of No Wave party rock. Buzzing with electro static, the trio’s asymmetrical dissonant guitars, spasmatic synth stabs and robo-beats bring together minimalism, noise and herky-jerky dance-pop. Above it all, deadpan boy/girl melodies erupt in infectuous cheers, chants and shouts. Experience Numbers’ lurching razor electro at Soundlab this Tuesday (Sept. 11) at 9pm. Opening is Buffalo indie experimental group Besnyo.

Some guitarists entertain an audience and inspire other guitarists to go out in the woodshed and polish up their own licks. Monte Montgomery is the kind of guitar player who entertains an audience but provokes other guitarists to go out in the backyard and throw their equipment into a bonfire. He’s been named Best Acoustic Guitar Player in Austin, Texas for seven years in a row—a town overflowing with pickers. But don’t expect straight bluegrass flat-picking when Montgomery plugs in at the Sportsmen’s Tavern next Thursday (Sept. 13). His influences include Mark Knopfler, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert Lee, but he’ll be conjuring up a tone unique among his peers as part of the popular ongoing Private Party series at the club. Tickets are $15 for the 9pm show, and $15 for the guitar clinic that will be conducted by Montgomery at 7pm, in Sessions Recording Studio right next door.

New Orleans’ Jon Cleary kicks off this season’s “Big Easy in Buffalo” series next Thursday (Sept. 13). Taking a break from touring with Bonnie Raitt as her keyboard player and songwriter, Cleary comes to town with his band The Absolute Monster Gentlemen. Jon Cleary is what is known as a triple-threat: Great voice, famed piano skills and a knack for composing tracks with infectious hooks. These skills are best evidenced on the band’s 2004 LP, the funky Pin Your Spin (Basin Street Records), and of course at his live performances. The Big Easy in Buffalo series is hosted by the Tralf Music Hall (with a few exceptions) and will present six shows between September and February. Thursday’s show starts at 9:30pm at the Tralf. Visit www.bigeasybuffalo.com for a full schedule and venue information.