Music Picks Jan. 17-23 | Sundance, Akon, Mac Lethal, Zelazowa 

Thursday 1.17
SUNDANCE CONCERTS
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—gaining access to concerts during the Sundance Film Festival can be a bitch for anyone without proper credentials and/or tight networking skills. Rather than face freezing temperatures and humiliating rejection, focus on events open to the public including the new Salt Lake City Festival Cafe, located in the Beehive Tea Room (12 W. 300 South). Starting Jan. 18 and continuing through Jan. 26, the cafe will feature an eclectic lineup including the Red Rock Hot Club, Bob Moss, Rauber-Prinz Trio, Jo’mo’ka, Global Cocktail and Latin Jazz Factory All-Stars. Radical Rat’s Spur Bar residency (350 Main, Park City) is another good option, with local and touring acts playing intimate day and evening shows today through Jan. 26. Highlights include Leopold and His Fiction, Gigi Love and Emily Kurn. BMI’s Turning Leaf Lounge (751 Main, Park City) hosts several singer/songwriters including Joshua James (!), as space allows. New Frontier on Main (333 Main, Park City) features several cool multimedia events including a live performance by Califone playing along with Brett Green’s animated films, and DJ Spooky! Again, space is limited, so get there early. Ditto for the Star Bar at night. Info: Sundance.org/Festival; RadicalRat.com

AKON
Senegalese-American performer Akon is quickly earning a reputation as somewhat of a loose cannon—like 30 Rock’s Tracy Morgan, or maybe Charlie Sheen in the ’90s—whose mostly onstage antics often threaten to overshadow his Grammy-nominated skills. For those who don’t scour entertainment headlines for salacious watercooler fodder, in 2007, Akon allegedly simulated sex with a minor, allegedly threw a teenager off the stage and onto a woman who suffered a concussion, and released a song titled, “Sorry Blame It On Me” to which many people obliged. Should he learn from his mistakes, Akon will likely stick around for some time. His skills as an R&B singer, songwriter and producer are no joke. The blame-game song is seriously catchy, and “Bartender,” his collaboration with T Pain, sparked more than a few summer flings. Like Snoop says, that’s some sensual seduction. Pony up the dough and get your freak on already. Harry O’s, 427 S. Main, Park City, 9 p.m. Tickets: SmithsTix.com

• Also Thursday: Sea Wolf (Kilby Court); Pink Lightnin’ (Bar Deluxe); Banyan feat. Mike Patton (The Paladium); Slamdance Soiree w/ M1 of Dead Prez (Star Bar, Park City)

Friday 1.18
Listener, The Lionelle (Solid Ground Cafe); School of Rock: AC/DC (The Circuit); School of Rock: Prince (Social Work Auditorium); SLAMMys Showcase: God’s Revolver, I Am the Ocean, Tamerlane (Addicted Café); The Ruckus (Orange); SLAMMYs Showcase: Accidente, Loom, Glacial, Blackhole (Club Vegas); Eddie Spaghetti & Jordan Shapiro, Kate LeDeuce (Bar Deluxe)

Saturday 1.19
SLAMMys Showcase: Andale!, Monorchist, Fuck the Informer (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); SLAMMys Showcase: Tolchock Trio, Downright Blue (Bar Deluxe); The Bravery (Club Sound); Future Sound of Breaks (In the Venue); No Quarter (The Depot); School of Rock: AC/DC (The Circuit); School of Rock: Prince (Social Work Auditorium); Matt Jennings (Velour, Provo); Booty Quake (Teazers, Ogden)

Monday 1.21
The Pack (Kilby Court); Finch (Avalon Theater); Dusty Rhodes & The River Band (Urban Lounge)

Tuesday 1.22
MAC LETHAL
Oh Mac Lethal, you had me at “Self-absorbed women don’t make good lovers.” Any artist who renounces hot but arrogant models in favor of average-looking but genuine and interesting ladies has my attention. Lethal, another standout on the Rhymesayers roster, deserves recognition not only for exhibiting stand-up character, but also quick wit and smooth narrative style that place him on par with Aesop Rock and fellow label mate Brother Ali. His rhymes are humorous and intelligent but, perhaps most importantly, they resonate with guys and gals who don’t necessarily spend the weekend passing the Courvoisier. Lethal’s subject matter is more universal territory, from unfit mothers to mad ex-love and proving oneself as an unsuspecting young-looking emcee. Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 8 p.m. (with Grieves and Blue Collar Theory)

• Also Tuesday: Eek-a-Mouse (The Paladium); Four Letter Lie (Club NVO, Logan); Will Bailey, Butch Walker, Dusty Rhodes (Star Bar, Park City)

• Also Wednesday: Matt White (Kilby Court—see Music); Angela Correa with Daniel Ahearn (Area 51—see Music); Ice Age Cobra (Urban Lounge); Tim Williams, Everest, Dirty Sweet (Star Bar, Park City)

Coming Up
Roe V. Wade Anniversary w/ Andale! (Bar Deluxe, Jan. 24); Vast (The Paladium, Jan. 24); SLAMMys Pop/Indie (Velour, Jan. 25); SLAMMys: Ambient Rock (Liquid Joe’s, Jan. 25); School of Rock: Women in Rock (Social Work Auditorium, Jan. 25-26); Michael Franti & Spearhead (The Depot, Jan. 25-26); SLAMMys: Hard Rock (Burt’s Tiki Lounge, Jan. 26); SLAMMys Pop/Indie (Urban Lounge, Jan. 26); SLAMMys: Noise (Red Light Books, Jan. 26); Paul Oakenfold (In the Venue, Jan. 26); Jessica Something Jewish (Kilby Court, Jan. 26); Special Teamz (Bar Deluxe, Jan. 29); Liars, No Age, Tolchock Trio (Urban Lounge, Jan. 31)