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The Top 10 Live is a collaborative effort between Indy.com and Indianapolismusic.net

1. Detholz, Thunders, Red Light Driver, Beta Male

9 p.m. Aug. 16, Birdy's, 2131 E. 71st St., (317) 254-8971.

A chance to see three of Indy's most buzzworthy acts and an avant pop act from Chicago tops thisweek's list. Thunders quickly went from unknown to musical darlings thanks to its indie garagesound and all-star lineup. Beta Male brings sex appeal to its dance-pop sound, while Red LightDriver updates classic Britpop from the '80s & '90s. Detholz visits from Chicago with a soundcompared to Devo's.

2. Faun Fables

8 p.m. Aug. 16, $10, Harrison Center for the Arts, 1505 N. Delaware St., (317) 396-3886.

Faun Fables brings folk, art rock and experimental sounds, and mixes them with performance art.The group brings to life the artistic vision of musician/artist Dawn McCarthy and featuresmembers of fellow musical experimentalists Sleepytime Gorilla Museum.

3. New Orleans Groove featuring Hot 8 Brass Band

8 p.m. Aug. 15 and Aug. 16, $19, Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Road, (317) 776-6000.

The summertime tradition of Symphony on the Prairie takes on a funky bayou beat this week, whenthe Hot 8 Brass Band brings the sounds of the Crescent City to Central Indiana. Started as astreet band in New Orleans, the group has won critical acclaim for mixing traditional brass bandjazz with modern hip-hop and R&B.

4. Video Games Live

8 p.m. Aug. 15 and Aug. 16, $22-$58, Hilbert Circle Theater, 45 Monument Circle, www.indianapolissymphony.org

More than 25,000 gaming enthusiasts will descend on Indy this weekend for Gen Con. To lure thatcrowd to the Hilbert Circle Theatre, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is bringing Video GamesLive to town. The show is described as offering "the power of a symphony orchestra mixed with thetechnology of a video game."

5. Oneida

8 p.m. Aug. 17, $8, Bluebird, 216 N. Walnut St., Bloomington, (812) 336-3984.

Brooklyn rock act Oneida is one of the most prolific bands on Bloomington indie record labelJagjaguwar. The quartet stops by in support of its latest release, "Preteen Weaponry." The albumcarries on the group's tradition of extended, repetitive musical pieces that compare more toclassical or operatic music than traditional rock.

6. Projekt Revolution

2 p.m. Aug. 17, $13.50-$70.25, Verizon Wireless Music Center, 12800 E. 146th St., Noblesville, (317) 776-8181.

The summer touring festival season draws to a close this week as Projekt Revolution makes itsannual stop at Verizon. As usual, festival organizer Linkin Park headlines. The two-stage showalso features ex-Soundgarden and Audioslave singer Chris Cornell as well as the Bravery, Atreyu,Hawthorne Heights and four other bands spanning the spectrum of modern rock.

7. Poison with Dokken & Sebastian Bach

8 p.m. Aug. 15, $16-$134.50, Verizon Wireless Music Center, 12880 E. 146th St., Noblesville, (317) 776-8181.

Poison, the band that invited the world to "Talk Dirty To Me," brings its party rock tour toCentral Indiana to kick off the weekend. The group earned renewed popularity thanks to singerBret Michaels' and guitarist CC DeVille's appearances on celeb reality shows. Fellow hairmetal-era survivors Dokken and Sebastian Bach share opening duties.

8. O.A.R. with Ozomatli

7 p.m. Aug. 15, $30, WhiteLies.tv Lawn at White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St., www.in.gov/whiteriver/lawn

O.A.R. (or, Of A Revolution if you want to be formal) is the model for do-it-yourself success inmusic. The roots/jam group started as popular party band at Ohio State University, and is nowselling out arenas, thanks to word-of-mouth and Internet buzz. O.A.R.'s latest album, the morepop-oriented "All Sides," hit stores in July.

9. Bottoms Up Burlesque, featuring Black Cat Rebellion and The Lusties

9 p.m. Aug. 15, $6, Sam's Saloon, 1640 E. Prospect St.

An unusual art/music event hosted by the Bottoms Up Burlesque troupe of Indianapolis hitsFountain Square. The early part of the evening is a "Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School" event, inwhich the burlesque girls pose for artists. Once the pads and pencils are put away, the rockbegins with garage-billy band Black Cat Rebellion and rockers The Lusties.

10. Adam Marsland

8 p.m. Aug. 20, Birdy's, 2131 E. 71st St., (317) 254-8971.

After taking time off from touring, the California-based singer/songwriter 8returned to the roadin 2008. Marsland's music updates the classic sounds of radio pop back when the playlist includedElton John and the Beach Boys.

Tonight marks the beginning of one of the greatest weekends of the year, Halloween. For an entire weekend, grown adults have a perfect excuse to dress up in ridiculous costumes and act like fools with no serious consequences (hopefully). Another great part about Halloween is the slew of concerts it brings and this weekend at ... Dear Potential Readers,Id like to humbly welcome you to my first post for IndyConcerts.com, a website that has tapped me for my boundless talent and magnanimity as a writer and music critic. I would say that Im the best of the best, but that would unfairly compare me to others, who never stood a chance ...