Smart Bets

Sheet Rock: The Poster Art of Subject Matter Studio

Drew Findley is the artist behind Subject Matter Studio, and therefore a whole lot of the most eye-catching, locally made rock posters. (He's also the Production Manager at Xpress.) Gene Ween, Brett Dennen, Kings of Leon, The Avett Brothers and Ray LaMontagne have all been immortalized in Findley's art. See the collection of over 20 posters in the exhibit Sheet Rock at Desoto Lounge. Opening Thursday, Dec. 2, 8:30 p.m. Music by DJ Wayd Runk.

Aaron Sizemore at Flood

Of his exhibit, The Birds on Acid, artist Aaron Sizemore writes, "The idea for the show originally stemmed from Alfred Hitchcock's black-and-white thriller The Birds. Tranquility turned into chaos and the true nature of birds (their majestic nature, fidelity, their ability to be ruthless cannibals) are just some of the ideas explored for this show." Opening reception at Flood Gallery on Saturday, Dec. 4, 7-10 p.m. On exhibit through Jan. 8. floodgallery.org.

Masters of Vaudeville

"Armitage Shanks travels the world sharing his incredible voice and rouge-ish stage presence," says press for the ringmaster/international Impressario/Neo-Vaudeville Revival forefather. Shanks joins the Mezmer Society's Madame Onca, Atlanta's Blast-Off Burlesque and local gypsy/funk/punk fusion band Sirius.B for the Masters of Vaudeville at Scandals, Saturday, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m. After-party at 10:30 p.m. in the Boiler Room. thegrovehouse.com/scandals.

Decline Nite

Where the term "intimate gathering" tends to mean a few close friends or a quiet, seated show, Decline Nite might be the former, but definitely not the latter. Billed as "A rare intimate gathering of Western North Carolina’s indie rock, punk and fringe rock pioneers," the Saturday, Dec. 4 show features local rockers Bob Rest (and his band We Have a Meth Lab) along with A Bigger Hammer, Electrolux and Jeff Kannon. At The Get Down. $5. getdownasheville.com.

Foul Mouth Jerk album release and video premiere

Local hip-hop artist Foul Mouth Jerk manages to reunite New Jersey underground hip-hop group The Artifacts, roast the excesses of rap culture and toast Asheville in his new video, "Back Up On the Scene." (There's also an especially lithe shout out to Kid 'n Play.) The song is just one from Jerk's new album, Oldest Trick In the Book. His album release tour brings him to the Emerald Lounge (with StereoGram, TopR and The Ville Boys) on Friday, Dec. 3, 9 p.m. emeraldlounge.com.

Turku, Nomads of the Silk Road

According to its Facebook page, South Carolina-based Turku plays "300 year-old rock ‘n' roll from the seat of civilization — high-energy village music from the western half of the Silk Road: Persia, Kurdistan, Caucasus, Anatolia & the Balkans.” Joined by dancer Ashley Bennett, Turku performs at White Horse Black Mountain, Saturday, Dec. 4, 8 p.m. $8. whitehorseblackmountain.com.

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