SoundCheck: Matt Hires, Laws, Charlie Louvin, Norma Jean, Black Dada

Matt Hires

Details: 7 p.m. Friday. Orpheum, 1902 Republica de Cuba Ave., Ybor City. $8.50. (813) 248-9500.

In 2009, Hires gave the Tampa music scene something it has long hoped for: an opportunity to watch a homegrown pop star make it on a national level. Here's his year in review: The lead singer of a well-liked local band (Brer), Hires gets discovered on MySpace and signs with an Atlantic Records imprint. He then lands a couple of songs on Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice and goes on tour with nationally known artists like Paolo Nutini, Kate Voegele and American Idol's Jason Castro. Finally, he releases his solo debut album, Take Us To The Start, which hits No. 96 on the Billboard album charts.

Laws

With Super Show, Hard Target, Mason Caine

Details: 10:30 p.m. Friday. Orpheum, 1902 Republica de Cuba Ave., Ybor City. $6. (813) 248-9500.

When you dub yourself "your future favorite rapper," it's good to have the skills to back it up. Lucky for us, Laws does. Straight out of Spring Hill (!?), the veteran MC recently signed to Warner Bros. imprint Asylum. And that means he's now a full-time musician — which also means more sleeping in and Ren and Stimpy, he jokes. Celebrate with him where it all started during this "Laws got signed showcase." You can download his DJ Smallz-hosted mix tape, which includes hot and synthy J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League production Rain, for free at yourfuturefavoriterapper.com.

Charlie Louvin and the Smokin' Guns

With Have Gun, Will Travel, Blind Buddy Moody

Details: 6 p.m. Sunday. New World Brewery, 1313 E Eighth Ave., Ybor City. $13. (813) 248-4969.

As fathers of the genre now known as "alt-country," the Louvin Brothers laid down the kind of harmonious, poetic country songs that could make even the dingiest ill-lit truck stop seem welcoming. Eighty-two-year-old Charlie (the brother that doesn't sound like a lady, he jokes) will perform both his own songs and Louvin Brothers classics.

Norma Jean

With Horse the Band, the Chariot

Details: 6:30 p.m. Friday. State Theatre, 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. $15-$17. (727) 895-3045.

Like Underoath and August Burns Red, Norma Jean pummels listeners with jagged guitar riffs and intense screaming, often in the name of the Lord. The band got an assist from Page Hamilton of Helmet and Chino Moreno of the Deftones on Anti Mother, its most diverse and technical album to date.

Black Dada

Details: 9 p.m. Friday. Legends Sports Bar, 1339 E Fletcher Ave., Tampa. (813) 453-4779.

When Black Dada's Imma Zoe came out, we admit we had to do some Google searching (and ultimately consult the urban dictionary) to make sense of the lyrics. Turns out the South Florida singer-producer was waxing poetic about his Haitian roots. He'll bring a mix of island R&B and pop-leaning rap to this USF area hangout.

Times correspondent Carole Giambalvo can be reached at carole.giambalvo@gmail.com.