Robb Reiner and Steve "Lips" Kudlow

The two core members have turned into middle-aged road warriors, championing a vintage brand of heavy metal that's way too raw and sincere to be branded anything but genuine. Theirs is the kind that helped parent watchdog groups spring up all over the globe in the early '80s. Metal is scary, but the dildo that "Lips" has used to strum his electric guitar is even scarier.

With a remastered slew of albums, including Strength of Steel and Pound for Pound, set for Valentine's Day release (you've been wondering what to get that special someone, haven't you?), Kudlow, Reiner and a newly reworked line-up has hit the road once again. Dallas will get their share of Canadian metal when Anvil takes the stage Saturday at Trees.

We caught up with "Lips" over the phone and discussed musical vocabulary, metal ballads and the South American air.

Since You Me at Six is already a major success in their home country of England, Josh Franceschi and crew have now set their sights on conquering America.

To that end, the pop-punk five-piece recently released Sinners Never Sleep, their most mature effort to date. Featuring intense numbers like "Bite My Tongue" and "Time is Money," Sinners succeeds in distancing the band from such obvious influences as Blink 182 and Incubus. Speaking from a London pub just a few days before leaving on tour and in anticipation of tonight's gig at The Door, Franceschi was kind enough to talk about this tour being his band's first headlining trip through America.

Judging by Jillian Edwards' recently released sophomore effort, Head First, the Richardson-bred singer-songwriter shouldn't have much trouble making it in Nashville. Tunes such as "No Other Plans" and "Mind Made Up" show Edwards wiser than her 23 years might indicate.

Speaking from her parents' home in Richardson and in anticipation of her performance tonight at The Door, Edwards spoke about her memories of Dallas and her plans to conquer Music City.

Denton's Boxcar Bandits have been playing their warped version of Americana for just over half a decade. In that time, they've played countless shows and produced two albums: 2008's Smells Like Grass and the recently released Live at Dan's Silverleaf.

And while live efforts are often perfunctory product issued to fill gaps between studio efforts, Live at Dan's is a minor revelation. Recorded with amazing clarity, it perfectly encapsulates Boxcar Bandits' striking mix of traditional Americana and ragged alt-country. Speaking from his home in Denton in anticipation of tonight's weekly gig at Dan's, lead Bandit Rex Emerson spoke about the band's comfort level playing live and some of the strange places they have plied their craft.

Electro house musician Steve Aoki is much more than your run-of-the-mill remixer. Besides running the influential Dim Mak record label, Aoki also owns two restaurants, works with artists as diverse as Duran Duran and Drake, has a clothing line, invented his own brand of headphones and plays more than 250 shows a year. And Aoki's music is a mish-mash of old-school punk and contemporary electronica, all played to accompany a pounding, dancehall pulse.

Speaking from St. Louis in anticipation of tonight's show at the Palladium Ballroom, Aoki spoke about his remixing skills as well as his rapidly expanding business empire.

Bravo, Max! has been through a tumultuous few months. After releasing Dog's Light, the band's fantastic debut full-length, they suddenly lost two members. Johnny Beauford, Ben Gastright and Jonathan Jackson decided to charge ahead as a three-piece and, judging by recent songs such as "Sleepy Simon," the move is already paying off.

Speaking from an area dog park in anticipation of tonight's gig at the Common Table, drummer Jackson talked about the band's recent transition and how the reduction to a trio has affected the band's personality and perspective on making music.

Matt Pryor

Speaking from the tour bus outside of Birmingham, Alabama and in anticipation of tonight's gig at Dada, Pryor talked about his numerous side projects and how he hates, at least on this tour, to perform last.

A Lull is a relatively new band hailing from Chicago. In just a few years, they've developed a solid reputation for edgy indie pop and chaotic live performances. Currently on tour in support of Confetti, their impressive debut, A Lull seems primed for a larger audience.

Speaking from his car on the way to Santa Barbara and in anticipation of tonight's show at Dan's Silverleaf with Deleted Scenes, A Lull's frontman Nigel Dennis talked about the awkward band name and how the shows are not dangerous.

Speaking from the tour bus in anticipation of tonight's performance at the South Side Music Hall, Osborne spoke about his adopted home and why he likes playing in Dallas.