Little Pink
Web: littlepinktheband.com
Album: Gladly Would We Anchor
Label: Night World
Show: May 10 at the Evening Star Cafe (plus other dates in May)
Little Pink is Mary Battiata’s roots band, and from the first note of “Gladly Would We Anchor” her singing and songwriting display a new confidence. Like 2001’s “Cul-de-sac Cowgirl,” the new disc presents personal, often sad country rock that draws comparison to people such as Lucinda Williams. But on GWWA the intensity of Battiata’s vision is turned up. Tracks such as “Extinction,” “Ten Feet High” and opener “Like a Wheel” exert a quiet power that will leave no attentive listener unaffected.

The Vita Ruins
Web: thevitaruins.com
Album: Thanks for Your Concern (But We’re Okay) (EP)
Label: Self-released
Show: May 5 at IOTA
These locals do a nice job with slow-building, spacey jams. All four tracks on the EP run to about five minutes of a particular, well-made sound: a background fog of wailing ’80s guitar, spooky keyboards that range from Pink Floyd church chords to echoes of ice-rink jollity, bursts of aggressive drumming and dreamy new-wave vocals.

Justin Trawick
Web: justintrawick.com
Album: How to Build a Life With a Lemonade Stand
Label: Self-released
Show: May 14 at Jammin’ Java, among others
Fans of Dave Matthews will find a lot to like about this full-length from local singer/songwriter Trawick. He uses a familiar blend of acoustic guitar, jaunty attitude, rapid-fire lyrics and a sort of nonthreatening cleverness. The combination is a proven way to please young, optimistic people who want to have a good time without thinking too hard, and the opinions of crotchety curmudgeons like myself should be ignored. Also, to his credit, Trawick does a lot for other local musicians, hosting a monthly songwriter’s showcase at Solly’s U Street Tavern, doing bookings and dispensing advice to fledgling bands.

The Alphabetical Order
Web: www.myspace.com/thealphabeticalorder
Album: I Am Magically Happening
Label: Self-released
Show: May 10 at IOTA
    These locals play out frequently, blasting audiences with aggressive straight rock. The vocals are often hardcore-inspired shouts, backed by a relentless wall of rock guitar, group choruses and an in-your-face rhythm section. IAMH displays the harder-edged evolution of TAO with a darker sound and grimmer songs than some of their earlier power-pop.