The Profiler

The Suspect:  Tommy Emmanuel
Born in 1955, this Australian guitarist has been playing professionally since the age of nine. As a child, he heard Chet Atkins on the radio. “Travis picking,” that is, playing bass with the thumb and melody parts with the first two or three fingers at the same time, became the basis for Emmanuel’s style. He played with his brother at the closing ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and he has shared the stage with Eric Clapton, Doc Watson and Tina Turner.

Can Be Found: The Orange Peel, Wednesday July 28.

RIYD (Recommended if You Dig): Frank Vignola, Chet Atkins.

You Should Go If: Your social engagements are mostly scheduled around reruns of Matlock and Murder, She Wrote; You enjoy being placed on hold by your credit card company; You listen to relaxation CDs for the music soundtrack; You’re driven to tears by trying to change the settings on your cell phone.

The Suspect: Rooney
This four-man power-pop band from L.A. have been compared to The Cars and The Beatles. They’ve toured with The Strokes, The All-American Rejects and Weezer, and they performed on the television show The O.C. Though they’ve been making music for 11 years, the band feels like the release of their new album, Eureka, is both a fresh start and a declaration of independence. After battling their label for years, the band recorded and produced their latest effort on their own, and it was released on June 8 through Warner Music’s Independent Label Group.

Can Be Found: The Orange Peel, Friday July 30 (Opening for Hanson).

RIYD: Weezer, The Cars, The Kooks, Fountains of Wayne.

You Should Go If: You manage three active profiles on Match.com, each under a different assumed name; Your daydreams resemble Axe commercials; You envy gays because no one ever bugs them about when they’re getting married; You’re driven to tears by the parade scene when Ferris Bueller lip-syncs “Twist and Shout.”

The Suspect: Corrosion of Conformity
Formed in Raleigh in the early ‘80s, COC was one of the first punk-metal fusion bands, and they became known for their aggressive sound and political lyrics. They are taking to the road after a nearly four-year hiatus, and the show should be a treat for their fans. The band has endured many lineup changes, but the classic original 3-piece of Woody Weatherman,  Mike Dean and Reed Mullin will be performing songs from Animosity and Technocracy, as well as some new material.

Can Be Found: Stella Blue, Friday, July 30.

RIYD: Korn, Black Sabbath, Clutch.

You Should Go If: You have a Tea Party tattoo; You own an extra refrigerator that you use exclusively for meat storage; People have often commented on your uncanny resemblance to the Unabomber sketches; You’re driven to tears by … kitten videos on YouTube.

The Suspect: of Montreal
Kevin Barnes formed of Montreal in Athens, Ga. in the mid-’90s along with Derek Almstead and Bryan Poole. Their music is a marriage of a fun, flamboyant pop sound with Iggy Stardust psychedelia and old-time vaudeville style. The band’s more recent releases are more synth-driven and danceable. Many of these head-bobbing tunes are now commercials for Outback Steakhouse, T-Mobile and NASDAQ. Their shows are a crazy pageant costume party musical adventure.

Can Be Found: The Orange Peel, Monday, August 2.

RIYD: Queen, Pet Shop Boys, Elf Power.

You Should Go If: You currently own more than 100 stuffed animals; Eye shadow has its own line item on your monthly budget; You’ve vowed to name your first child “Major Tom;” You’re driven to tears by memories of your parents forcing you to wear gender-appropriate clothing.