Otis Taylor's Picks of the week

The Movement plays a roadside version of "No Wood".

9 tonight: Concrete Jumpsuit at Elbow Room. Concrete Jumpsuit, a funk rock band that's known to cause people to dance (if that's what they call it), has a song titled "Sit Down." Here's a question: With a funky and stout rhythm, how are people going to do that? Elbow Room is at 2020 Devine St. (803) 253-7888

9:30 tonight: Sweet Vans at New Brookland Tavern. Sweet Vans has a sense of what most mainstream MC's lack: humor. The duo, MC B-Money and MC Ginger Snap, Bakari Lebby and Will Flourance, respectively, take their art seriously but not necessarily the genre's typical art form. Songs such as "BallRealHard" clown hip-hop stereotypes through clever rhymes and beats. With DJ George Brazil, Junior Astronomers and Death Becomes Even the Maiden. Brazil will be playing in between sets and after the last set. NBT is at 122 State St., West Columbia. $5 for over 21, $7 for under; (803) 791-4413

8 p.m. Saturday: Stillhouse at Utopia. Stillhouse, which combines, folk, jam, rock and covers, is an outdoor-weather band, especially on a night when a jacket is required. Stillhouse will provide the warmth. Utopia is at 406 Howard St. Free; (803) 733-2222

8 p.m. Saturday: Dearanna at NBT. Dearanna, a rock band that understands the tension between loud and soft within a song, is led by Aaron Fisher, one of the sickest in the rock scene here: He's always taking shots with bands. With Needeep, Host to Another and Deleveled. $5 for over 21, $8 for under

8 p.m. Saturday: Harvest Wind at Bill's Music Shop & Pickin' Parlor. Harvest Wind is a band picks the best elements of bluegrass and gospel to share with its audiences. Bill's is at 710 Meeting St., West Columbia. $12; (803) 796-6477

9 p.m. Saturday: Bentz Kirby Birthday Show at Art Bar. Kirby will celebrate his birthday with friends: The Dirty Lowdown; a Rolling Stones tribute with Kirby and The Rusty Davis Band; a Cream and Eric Clapton tribute by The Rusty Davis Band; and Shannon Arthur. You'll notice Kirby's new look at the show. He's going to cut off his ponytail for Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which partners with the American Cancer Society to make wigs available for free to women who lose their hair due to cancer. That's a good look, Bentz. Art Bar is at 1211 Park St. $3; (803) 929-0198

7:30 p.m. Sunday: American Aquarium at NBT. American Aquarium, a band from Raleigh, plays spirited alt-country that's moved by bouncy piano and bass lines and songs about drowning in whiskey and ginger. With Magnolia Wildcats and Adam Glover. $5 for over 21, $7 for under

9 p.m. Tuesday: SOJA at Headliners. SOJA, an acronym for Soldiers of Jah Army, is a band that interprets Jamaican reggae music while adding elements of D.C. go-go rock. With The Movement, the hometown band featuring Jordan Miller and Josh Swain that is now a four-piece band. The Movement recently completed a West Coast run with SOJA. In a video recently posted on YouTube, Miller and Swain sit down on the side of the road to perform "No Wood," a brilliant song from the band's first album, when things were less hectic. Headliners is at 700 Gervais St. $12 in advance, $15 at the door; (803) 394-5467

8 p.m. Thursday: Corey Smith at Headliners. Smith is the future of the record industry: He doesn't need label backing to sell records and sell out shows. His grass-roots efforts in delivering his Southern bar rock - simply by touring - have led to appearances like this: two-night engagements in towns. The Oct. 23 show is at 8 p.m. $20 in advance, $25 at the door