After two nationwide tours and months spent in lockdown while writing and recording, Lazlo Hollyfeld comes back to one of the stages that has supported the band’s evolution. The show at Nietzsche’s on Friday (March 28) is in support of their latest album Elimination, released on New Year’s Eve. Already gearing up to split town again, the band is planning for a fall 2008 tour through the country, but not without paying their dues to fans by honing their experimental indie-pop with some spring and summer shows back home. Lazlo will be joined by longtime musical colleague DJ Zuk and brand new electronic duo Fourem. Zuk will be returning from Boulder, CO to share in the spotlight and Fourum, the brainchild of Buffalo musician Chris Groves, will make its public debut. The show starts at 10pm.

Matthew Good’s solo acoustic tour comes to Club Infinity on Saturday (March 29), nipping at the heels of last summer’s release, Hospital Music. Influenced by thoughts of Nick Drake and Good’s own hospitalization following an accidental overdose, the album certainly reflects a time of turmoil. But its release also marked the end of Good’s studio recording contracts, presenting the possibility to start something new. Hospital Music is the musician’s seventh album and third solo release—the first four were with the Matthew Good Band. After this brief solo tour, Good will start a full band tour of his native Canada in May. Doors at Club Infinity open at 7pm.

An unusual face in the world of hip-hop, mid-western Muslim rapper Brother Ali brings “The Truth Is Here” tour to Nietzsche’s on Saturday (March 29). The tour is in support of his album The Undisputed Truth, chock full of passionate lyrics and angry political rhymes set to soulful beats. Born in Wisconsin, Ali comes this way from his hometown in Minneapolis. He is legally blind, like many with albinism, and his unique experiences with the challenges of fitting in are reflected in his lyrical play in equal measure with his politics. Presented by DeepThinka Records and Center Stage Concerts, the show also features Abstract Rude, Toki Wright and BK-One, plus hometown favorite Edreys. The concert starts at 9pm

Ohio-based quartet Aloha makes experimental music nice and easy. Lilting and melodic, there’s a whimsical aspect to the music that differentiates this band from typical post rock dramatists. Their latest release, Light Works (Polyvinyl), is being hailed by critics as the best yet, taking the minimalist song structures to elegant new heights (and thankfully, some say, losing the vibraphone). Lest this makes Aloha sound too upbeat, rest assured they’re planted firmly in progressive experimentalism, only with a striaghtforwardness and sense of integrity that’s often lacking in modern music’s ongoing quest to brave new terrain. Aloha plays at Soundlab on Sunday (March 30) at 9pm with Chicago band Anathallo who, like Aloha, are considered “Sufjanesque” but are much, much noisier, bringing horns, guitars, drums, piano, bells, chains, velcro strips and pipes to the stage.