MONDAY
>> Saul Williams (pictured right) is the only person I’ve ever seen overshadow Ted Leo with his magnetic personality, lyrical prose and outright intensity. And that was just at a discussion panel. Tonight at the 9:30 Club he brings his four piece band and new material from The Rise and Fall of Niggy Tardust. Dragons of Zynth opens. Doors at 7:30 p.m. $15.

>> The shoegazey dream-poppers of Ambulance LTD may be on round #3 of current members, but as they name The Velvet Underground’s John Cale as a collaborator, we’re definitely willing to go to the Rock and Roll Hotel for a listen. Openers Wild Light and Bear Hands aren’t exactly lightweights either. Bear Hands return to the Rock and Roll Hotel for the second time within a month, seen previously opening for Jukebox the Ghost (***) and the Interpol-esque Wild Light opened for The Arcade Fire’s final American show for a couple of years at Randall’s Island this past October. Doors at 8 p.m., $12 in advance, $14 at the door.

>> The genre tossed salad Dirty Projectors is the vision of Yale dropout Dave Longstreth and although the band has gone through several rounds of members (including two current members of Vampire Weekend), the current lineup has seen the most critical acclaim. Anything from jazz to reggaeton to African beats can be found in their sounds, yet they can still be placed under the increasingly umbrella term of indie rock. Vancouver trio No Kids open this show at the Black Cat Backstage. Doors open at 9 p.m., $10.

>> Grammy-winning country songstress Shelby Lynne graces The State Theatre tonight with her presence. David McMillin opens with his folky tinged Southern rock brought to you direct from…Chicago. Doors at 7 p.m. $25.

>> The Carolina Chocolate Drops are a young African-American trio into string band/old-timey strumming. Hear them bring back this rural approach with fiddle, banjo, jug and twang-filled vocals at at IMT at St. Mark Presbyterian 10701 Old Georgetown Rd, Rockville. 7:30 p.m. $15 in advance, $20 at the door.