Def Leppard

Wednesday
Sprint Center

It’s unclear how the sight of Tom Cruise belting out Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me” in the new film “Rock of Ages” will affect the band’s formidable career. But the movie, based on the hedonistic aesthetic that propelled Def Leppard to stardom, will surely introduce the music of the ’80s hit-makers to new audiences. Def Leppard returns to the Sprint Center on Wednesday with Poison, whose 1988 power ballad “Every Rose has its Thorn” is also in “Rock of Ages.” Opening the show is another hair-metal veteran, Lita Ford, better known for her sultry music video “Kiss Me Deadly” than for her pioneering work with the Runaways.

Tickets to the 7 p.m. concert are $30 to $120.

Bill Brownlee, Special to Ink

K.Flay

Friday
Riot Room

Kansas City’s Mac Lethal isn’t the only nerdy, hyper-literate rapper who’s found unusual ways to use YouTube as a marketing tool. California’s K.Flay, a former Stanford student, manages to out-geek Mac Lethal by posting lighthearted yet insightful book reviews of material like Syvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar.” K.Flay’s effervescent personality obscures her formidable skills as a rapper. “Eyes Shut,” her latest release, is loaded with smart lyrics and fresh sounds. The most promising of K.Flay’s locally based opening acts is the Phantastics, a rock-based group fronted by local hip hop up-and-comer thePhantom*. Sage N Sour, a rock band that compares its sound to Muse and Gotye, is also on the bill.

Tickets to the 9 p.m. show are $10 in advance.

Bill Brownlee, Special to Ink

Ginuwine

Saturday Midland Theater

More mature than Chris Brown and less lurid than R. Kelly, Ginuwine is one of the most accomplished R&B crooners of our time. The 41-year-old native of Washington, D.C. possesses an impressive catalog filled with smooth songs of seduction. His hits include the sweet testimonial of “Differences,” the glorious funk stomp of “Pony,” the sleek braggadocio of “None of Ur Friends Business” and the direct come-on of “In Those Jeans.” The likeminded act Silk — best known for the raunchy 1993 hit “Freak Me” — is the most promising of Ginuwine’s opening acts.

Tickets to the 8 p.m. are $33 to $58 in advance.

Bill Brownlee, Special to Ink

The Mynabirds

Monday Jackpot Music Hall

Plenty of albums released in 2012 will be more celebrated than the Mynabirds’ “Generals,” but few will possess more quiet confidence. The new release by the fashionable Omaha-based band combines the soulful declarations recently popularized by Adele with the unpredictable artistry of David Bowie. The politically minded title track is a memorable election-year anthem. “Radiator Sister,” a woozy dance song, features delightfully understated vocals by charismatic front person Laura Burhenn. Both selections indicate that the band is on the verge of playing at larger venues. Fellow Nebraskans Icky Blossoms open the show with a set of convulsive synth-pop.

Tickets are $7 in advance.

Bill Brownlee, Special to Ink

Colt Ford

Thursday at KC Live

“Us rednecks ain’t stoppin’,” Colt Ford insists in “Mud Digger.” Modeled on “Hood Figga,” a 2007 hit by hip-hop star Gorilla Zoe, the song encapsulates Ford’s aesthetic as it extols the virtues of tricked-out vehicles, eluding law enforcement and chugging beer. Combining rap and country on amusing material such as “No Trash in My Trailer” has made Ford a remarkably successful novelty act. After securing roles on television programs “One Tree Hill,” “Entourage” and “Friday Night Lights,” Ford’s opening act, Jana Kramer, has turned her attention to country. Her debut single, “Why ya Wanna,” indicates that she’s a talent worth watching. The free show is at 7 p.m. on the Power & Light District’s outdoor stage.

Bill Brownlee, Special to Ink

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