Citizen Zero, jazz in the gallery top week’s music choices

In one sense, Citizen Zero is new to the rock scene.

New in that Wind-Up Records just released the Detroit rock band’s debut album, “State of Mind,” this month. New in that the band is the midst of its first official U.S. tour as a headliner and is being discovered by many fans for the first time. Of course, the journey to this point – the tour stops Wednesday, Aug. 24 at Fulton 55 with The Wans and The Black Moods – wasn’t quick or easy.

It seldom is, says vocalist Josh LeMay, on the phone from Michigan.

“Nobody ever gets to see how the sausage is made,” he says.

Citizen Zero has earned some notoriety for blending Stone Temple Pilots’ grungy angst with Kings of Leon-style grooves and sharing the stage with rock heavyweights like Kid Rock, ZZ Top, Halestorm and P.O.D. The band also played some major rock festivals – such as Ohio’s Rock on the Range. But its members have also dealt with bad record contracts, a change in the band’s lineup and management, and the death of one of its founding members.

If anything, Citizen Zero is resilient, Le May says.

“It took some grit. It took some triumph,” he says.

And that seems fitting, since the band is from Detroit, a place that is notoriously down and out and yet home to musicians who defined their genres, LeMay says. Bob Seager and Iggy Pop come to mind.

“You’re a little tougher if you’re from here,” he says.

Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, Fulton 55, 875 Divisadero Ave. $1.05. 559-412-7400, www.fulton55.com

Sweet like Honey

The event: Toronto-born rapper Honey-C stops in town on tour in support of her just released single “Coconuts.”

The draw: Honey-C may be better known as Honey Cocaine, the protege of Los Angeles rapper Tyga, with whom she collaborated on the tracks “Heisman” and “Heisman Part 2.” She also got shot while on tour with Tyga in 2012 and has since distanced herself from the rapper. This is one of two Valley shows for Honey-C. After Fresno, she’ll travel to Modesto to take part in the outdoor music festival X-Fest.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, Strummer’s, 833 E. Fern Ave. $15. All ages. 559-485-5356, www.strummersclub.com

Rock on the dark side

The event: Fresno promo company The Artourage stages a “Dark Side of the Moon” concert and laser light show.

The draw: Pink Floyd’s 1973 concept album is a high-water mark in progressive rock. Here, the album is interpreted in its entirety by a group of Valley musicians that includes Harley Giles, Jamin Baker and Johnny Beesley. Also on the bill is the Fresno rock band Friend Or Faux and experimental musician Matthew Embry +1.

Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, Fulton 55, 875 Divisadero Ave. $15-$20. 559-412-7400, www.fulton55.com

Gallery jazz

The event: Richard Giddens leads his powerhouse jazz trio in another installment of Jazz in the Gallery at Arte Americas.

The draw: Giddens uses the Jazz in the Gallery series to introduce jazz luminaries to local audiences in intimate environments, free from the trappings of a standard nightclub. His trio will be joined by pianist and California Institute of the Arts jazz program director David Roitstein. Early in his career, Roitstein played with contemporary jazz artists such as Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny, as well as legendary singers, including Frank Sinatra.

Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, Arte Americas, 1630 Van Ness Ave. $15. 559-266-2623, www.arteamericas.org

This story was originally published August 18, 2016 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Citizen Zero, jazz in the gallery top week’s music choices."