RJD2

We weren't surprised when RJD2 strapped on a guitar and started singing for his third solo LP. The Ohio DJ and producer concluded his 2004 visit to the area doing just that, and though last year's The Third Hand didn't receive the critical acclaim of its sample-based predecessors, the change has done wonders for his live set. With a three-piece band in tow, RJ can flip the script on those obscure funk and soul breaks that once earned him the reputation as the next DJ Shadow. Expect plenty of hip-hop-inflected pop and turntable acrobatics and, possibly, a glimpse into the future.