Singer/guitarist, art-rock sprite and NPR-demographic crush object Annie Clark sings softly and carries a big pick. On
Strange Mercy (4AD), her third LP as St. Vincent, Clark wraps her most ethereal instrumentation and abstract imagery (“Chloe in the Afternoon,” “Surgeon”) around her most head-sticking hooks (“Cruel,” “Cheerleader”). Cate Le Bon opens. Tickets $16 in advance, $18 at the door. 9 p.m. Wednesday. Tipitina’s, 501 Napoleon Ave., 895-8477;
www.tipitinas.com