The Profiler

The Suspect: Jimmy Eat World

Formed in Arizona in the early 90s by childhood friends Jim Adkins and Zach Lind, Jimmy Eat World was originally more of a punk-rock band. The sound has gradually morphed into indie emo. The band’s seventh album, Invented, is due out the end of the month and marks its third collaboration with producer Mark Trombino, the man behind the group’s two most commercially and critically successful releases, Clarity and Bleed American. Catch them on Late Night with David Letterman two days after their Asheville show.

Can Be Found: The Orange Peel, Wednesday, Sept. 22.

RIYD (Recommended if You Dig): All-American Rejects, Third Eye Blind, Sunny Day Real Estate.

You Should Go If: You own over 50 pairs of tennis shoes; You overdo it on the bumper stickers and graphic tees as a way of dealing with your deep inner rage; You own the entire DVD collection of The Office; You spent your summer … trying to beat your kids at Rock Band.

The Suspect: Marshall Crenshaw

He played John Lennon in an off Broadway production of Beatlemania, and he portrayed Buddy Holly in the movie La Bamba, but Crenshaw is best known for his infectious pop single, “Someday, Someway,” released almost 30 years ago.  He is touring in support of his 2009 release, Jaggedland and was recently nominated for a Grammy for co-writing “Walk Hard” from the film, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.

Can Be Found: The Grey Eagle, Thursday, Sept. 23.

RIYD: Nick Lowe, Graham Parker, Elvis Costello.

You Should Go If: Your ideal woman is a combination of Terry Gross, Christiane Amanpour and Angelina Jolie; As a rule you don’t go out to see music because it interferes with your bar trivia schedule; You fail to see anything funny about peace, love and understanding; You spent your summer … trying to wear a fedora and not feel self-conscious.

The Suspect: Rosie Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys

Also known as “The Zydeco Sweetheart,” Ledet mastered the accordion in her late teens by watching her future husband, Morris Ledet, play. The New York Times writes, “If the Allman Brothers went zydeco they would probably sound like Ledet,” and the Wall Street Journal raves, “(her) soulful voice kicks her male counterparts right out of the club.” Get there and get down!

Can Be Found: The Grey Eagle, Sunday, Sept. 26.

RIYD: Zydeco Music.

You Should Go If: You pick out your dresses solely on the basis of how they look while twirling; Every two years you ask your partner to consider being in an open relationship; Your version of the “shoulder shake shimmy/washing machine” combo is ready for prime time; You spent your summer …. with a wooden fan in one hand and a Ragin’ Cajun in the other.

The Suspect: The Hold Steady

When the Hold Steady emerged from Brooklyn onto the 2004 rock scene with their album, Almost Killed Me, Pitchfork described them as, “…a bar band far too good for the bars, a spectacular mess of sprawling guitar, ferocious vocals, and well-channeled, raucous irritation.”  Each of the band’s five albums have been critically praised, including their most recent, Heaven is Whenever. Maxim called them “America’s Greatest Existing Rock Band.” Come see if you agree.

Can Be Found: The Orange Peel, Tuesday, Sept. 28.

RIYD: Bruce Springsteen, Paul Westerberg, The Grifters.

You Should Go If: You were the resident badass of the English department; You are philosophically opposed to “belonging” to a gym; You yo-yo between going to confession every week and being a disciple of Christopher Hitchens; You spent your summer … seeing if you can drink as much as the characters on Mad Men and still keep your job.