Concert Previews

Seabear began as a moniker for Iceland's Sindri Már Sigfússon, and it still retains some of the quiet, homespun intimacy of a lo-fi bedroom project, mainly because of his hushed vocals. But now Seabear is a band, an expansive orch-pop septet. Melancholy strings, horns, and piano frame Sigfússon's soothing voice on the lovely "Cold Summer," from

We Built a Fire

, the second Seabear album. That track is followed by the perky, plucky chorale of "Wooden Teeth," demonstrating that this is a band concerned with texture and variation. Here's hoping they include their introverted cover of the Undertones' extroverted punk classic, "Teenage Kicks," when they appear at Kung Fu Necktie on Wednesday. Also on the bill: Via Tania (Chicago-based Australian Tania May-Bowers), who is similarly understated but decidedly more spacey, and Seabear member Soley.

- Steve Klinge

The pairing of the aging arena-rock stars of Bon Jovi with Chris Carraba's Dashboard Confessional, a group once known for its acoustic guitar work and melodramatic lyrics, might raise a few eyebrows. After all, the audience crossover between the 1985 MTV generation and the 2010 MTV generation is about nil. But the two acts have a lot to offer each other: loyal fans who will sing along exuberantly with every lyric, songs with infectious energy and swelling choruses, and, of course, classic good looks from both parties. With Dashboard Confessional's recent album,

Alter the Ending,

Carraba has begun to transform his acoustic project into a full-blown pop-punk band. Meanwhile, Bon Jovi's 2009 album,

The Circle

, brought the group back to its rock roots. Together, they'll bring an inordinate amount of arena-rock anthems to the masses.

- Katherine Silkaitis

They were teen superstars of the 1950s: three South Philly boys who grew up within three blocks of one another, each with big dreams and loads of charisma. Although their hits had stopped even before the British Invasion of '64, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, and Fabian have retained a fervent following, touring together for the last 25 years as The Golden Boys. Backed by a 10-piece orchestra, the former teen idols perform individual sets of their biggest hits, Avalon's "Venus," Rydell's "Wild One," and Fabian's "Tiger" among them. Then the pals join forces, together covering tunes made famous by some of their long-gone contemporaries - Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, Rick Nelson, and Bill Haley. And to make the flashback feeling complete, there's even a segment of rare footage from the threesome's

American Bandstand

-era days, as well as a dance contest that encourages audience participation.

- Nicole Pensiero

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