BUZZ BANDS

A special vintage

Matthew Smith, front man for Outrageous Cherry, is used to drawing a cross-generational audience -- “from hip young kids to people who used to go see the Doors and Spirit.” Just don’t call the Detroit quartet’s music retro. After all, it’s only the equipment, not the music, that’s vintage.

“I’ve always thought what we’re doing is futuristic,” Smith says of the spacey tangle of jangly guitars, fuzz and harmonies on the band’s seventh album, “Our Love Will Change the World” -- psych-pop that thumbs its nose at the digital age.

“The old technologies were well-designed, and they make sounds that work well for human ears,” Smith says. “Hey, all of my friends who are into hip-hop? These are the sounds they’re trying to sample.”

The foursome -- including Courtney Sheedy, Carey Gustafson and Larry Ray -- performs at Spaceland on Saturday night.

Evolving in song

After 10 releases in seven years with a rotating cast of musicians playing under the moniker Songs: Ohia, songwriter Jason Molina now plugs in as Magnolia Electric Co. “What Comes After the Blues,” his quintet’s new album, is an arresting slice of Americana -- stolid enough to recall early Son Volt, countrified enough to warrant comparisons to “Harvest”-era Neil Young.

If his voluminous catalog shows Molina’s command of his style, the new album (recorded in one-take fashion with producer Steve Albini) reveals a more mature songwriter. Molina credits having met Willie Nelson and Lucinda Williams in 2004 with helping him “take the process of songwriting one step further,” he says. “I just started editing my songs more.”

Magnolia Electric Co. performs Friday night at the Echo, with the Court and Spark and Milton Mapes.

*

Fast forward

Not everybody’s gone to the desert: Morrissey collaborator Alain Whyte -- he co-wrote more than half the material on “You Are the Quarry,” not to mention many of the highlights of the Mozzer’s solo catalog -- has been recording in L.A. with his new band Red Lightning. With bandmates Milo Todesco and John DiMambro, Red Lightning will play Saturday night at Zen Sushi.... So if the album title doesn’t get your attention -- “Songs Not to Get Married To” -- Reggie & the Full Effect’s swagger will. An arresting hybrid of synth, metal and emo, the band opens for New Found Glory on Tuesday and Wednesday at the House of Blues.... With a new EP “Kick Your Heart” just out, Gliss kicks off a May residency Monday at the Echo.... With his album “The Ever Changing Picture” just out, Brad Byrd celebrates with shows at the Temple Bar on Tuesday and the Hotel Cafe on Wednesday.... Portland’s winsome husband-and-wife team Viva Voce returns to Spaceland tonight.... On the Speakers has broken up.

*

-- Kevin Bronson