The profiler

The Suspect: Against Me!

The band arrives in Asheville on the first week of a three-month nationwide tour. Tom Gabel started the group in 1997 in Gainesville, Fla., but the band didn’t find its following until the 2002 release of its first full-length album, Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose. Spin named the band’s 2007 release, New Wave, album of the year; the 2010 release White Crosses goes lighter on the anarchy and yelling and heavier on harmonizing, changes which may or may not please fans.

Can Be Found: The Orange Peel, Wednesday, Jan. 19.

RIYD (Recommended if You Dig): The Gaslight Anthem, the Dropkick Murphys.

You Should Go If: Winter weather depresses you because there are very few uncontrived circumstances in which you can take your shirt off in public; you managed to stockpile six cases of Four Loco before it went off the market; you sometimes stop by your doctor’s office just to steal the latest copy of Men’s Health; you were the first of your friends to … enter Prehab.

The Suspect: Crooked Fingers

When the Chapel Hill band Archers of Loaf broke up in 1998, lead singer Eric Bachmann started the solo project Crooked Fingers. As Crooked Fingers, Bachmann has released five albums and just as many singles and EPs, singing both his original (and often bleak) tunes, as well as covers of everyone from Neil Diamond to Queen to Prince. His last release, Forfeit/Fortune featured musicians from the Silver Jews, DeVotchKa and Neko Case.

Can Be Found: The Grey Eagle, Friday, Jan. 21.

RIYD: Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake.

You Should Go If: You are known as one of the preeminent “Worst Case Scenario” resources below the Mason-Dixon line; thanks to you, your office now has a formal dress code; your parents nicknamed you “Flatliner”; you were the first of your friends to … predict that seemingly healthy birds would start dropping dead out of the sky.

The Suspect: No Age; “Accomplished” and “disciplined” punk: That’s what Pitchfork said about No Age’s 2010 Everything In Between (on the Sub Pop label), as well as calling the release “…Sonically chameleonic, musically generous and seriously compelling.” This two-man group from L.A.  formed five years ago after the hardcore punk group, Wives, disbanded. No Age has toured with Dan Deacon and Deerhunter and most definitely established themselves as critical and indy darlings.

Can Be Found: The Grey Eagle, Saturday, Jan. 22.

RIYD: Deerhunter, Abe Vigoda.

You Should Go If: No less than three members of the “Asheville Eleven” are vying for your affections; all this snow has been a wonderful opportunity for you to sharpen your skills as an avid indoorsman; you stick it to the man by sneaking refills of coffee, eating as many grapes as you can before you get to the checkout, and asking for eight different samples of the ice cream at Kilwin’s; you were the first of your friends to … admit that you aren’t really a vegan if you eat grilled cheese four times a week.

The Suspect: Less Than Jake

Another Gainesville band, this one formed almost 20 years ago. The band started out playing power pop but quickly moved into playing ska-punk. 1997 was a breakthrough year for the band as it played on three major tours: Caffeine Nation, the Race Around Uranus and Warped. Their most recent release is the TV/EP, consisting of sixteen covers of television theme songs that lasts a total of thirteen minutes.

Can Be Found: The Orange Peel, Saturday, Jan. 22.

RIYD: Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Jimmy Eat World.

You Should Go If: You are a master of Social Notworking; there is no greater pleasure for you than eating an entire large pizza while watching a Scooby Doo Mega-Marathon; you subscribe to Skateboarder magazine but you don’t actually own a skateboard; you were the first of your friends to … make out with your kids’ babysitter.