Best known as the former wild-man bassist of Queens of the Stone Age, a sometimes member of maniacal punk-rockers the Dwarves or the howling front man of his own band Mondo Generator, Nick Oliveri is showing a much quieter and more tender side of his musical personality on his new album “Death Acoustic,” a set of spare home recordings collected over the last year. He performs on Monday, Feb. 1, at Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee, after opening sets by Weedeater Barstool Set, My Cold Dead Hand and Blackbox starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10; call (773) 489-3160 or visit www.doubledoor.com.
Building on roots in sensitive folk-rock, genteel early ’60s pop and this city’s post-rock scene, local quintet the Hudson Branch is becoming a bona fide Chicago buzz band. It tops an all-ages bill on Saturday, Jan. 30, at Metro, 3730 N. Clark, that starts with the Urbanites, Very Truly Yours and the Break at 6:30 p.m. The cover is $9; for more information, call (773) 549-4140 or visit www.metrochicago.com.