Bad Mayo 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9 Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Café, 1104 Decatur St., 592-2565 The name Bad Mayo conjures images of a sloppy po-boy that's been sitting in the sun, and while the band's material sometimes sways to the less kosher side of life, the overall output is easy to swallow. Bad Mayo serves up down to earth lyrics of everyday concerns in short, playful songs that nod toward backwoods country rather than any urban New Orleans style. Typical Bad Mayo ditties like "Feelin' Kinda Fat" and "Shutup" contain whimsical musings on obesity and domestic unrest, respectively. Comical lyrics are compounded by countrified vocals from Lynn Drury, slide guitar effects, and plenty of rhythmic twists. Dave Stover leads the whole unruly ride on electric and stand-up bass. For a sampling of Bad Mayo's output, check out their latest CD, Chicken Slipper. Bluesman John Fohl plays before Bad Mayo at 3 p.m. and the Mike West Band plays hillbilly bluegrass after at 9 p.m. No cover. -- Cristina Diettinger

Crönk 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10 Tipitina's, 501 Napoleon Ave., 895-TIPS Crönk made quite a splash on the local scene in 2001. An unforgettable performance at Jazz Fest brought due attention to this relentless troupe of wacko-funksters, confirming their proclamation that Crönk is a musical concept to be reckoned with. With an overarching mission to take the party to its utmost potential, Crönk takes the basic New Orleans horn-funk band formula to monstrous proportions, perpetrating a curious progressive fusion of retro-soul, jazz, rock and hip-hop that appeals to hard-partying modern music fans. Crönk shows draw a heavy contingent of college-age female fans who dress up in flashy garb to dig the band's deep grooves, clever rhymes and comical lyrics of twentysomething courtship distress. Since the release of its debut album, Wegotchu, Crönk's original repertoire has expanded drastically with a crop of tunes for a new album in the making. Local poet and "raptivist" MYSELF opens with a set of socially conscious, reggae-laden material from his latest album, Rebel Souljah. Admission $6. -- Diettinger

Fredy Omar con su Banda, Son Del Pantano, Los Vecinos 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11 Howlin' Wolf, 828 S. Peters St., 522-WOLF There is nothing like a saucy Latin triple bill to heat up your spirits in the dead of winter. With Fredy Omar at the helm, this program makes a case for the vitality of the local Latin music scene. Resident Honduran Omar and his band draw crowds from miles around with everything from merengue to forthright salsa and other upbeat Latin styles. Los Vecinos stay on the mellower side of the Caribbean canon. A motley collection of versatile musicians from the Ninth Ward and Bywater, Los Vecinos (meaning "the neighbors") play traditional acoustic Cuban son music, including popular favorites from the Buena Vista Social Club repertoire ("El Cuarto de Tula," "Chan Chan"), as well as originals in the son style. One such composition, "Guajira en Cyberspace," is the title track on their 2000 debut album. In the same rootsy vein, Son Del Pantano also brings the traditional Cuban vibe to the mainland. Admission $8. -- Diettinger

Dixie Dregs 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11 House of Blues, 225 Decatur St., 586-1094 Led by the dazzling fretwork of guitarist Steve Morse, the Dixie Dregs bridge the gap between the Allman Brothers and Frank Zappa. The band's Georgia roots are responsible for their Southern charm, but since their inception in the mid-70s, the Dregs' rotating lineup has been stocked with virtuoso instrumentalists (including fiddle wizard Mark O'Connor and Mahavishnu Orchestra's Jerry Goodman) that play a searing brand of rock/jazz fusion leavened with doses of Zappa-like humor. Manic showcase pieces like "Wages of Weirdness" and "Refried Funky Chicken" have kept the Dregs' devoted fan base faithful for 25 years. They've maintained that following despite long hiatuses between albums, and Morse's status as sideman-for-hire for prog-rock band Kansas, and most recently, playing Ritchie Blackmore in the most recent Deep Purple incarnation. Morse leads a handful of Dregs alumni on this current tour, which kicks off in New Orleans, and promises highlights from the Dregs' eclectic canon. Tickets $20. -- Jordan