Wed. June 27

 Sometimes you can make judgment about artists by the company they keep. In the case of Dustin Kensrue - who sings in the post-hardcore/screamo/metal band Thrice - you might consider he's touring this summer with the Nightwatchman, the one-band  politically oriented singer-guitarist Tom Morello, (in photo) who's been with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. Both musicians are taking breaks from their main bands and pursuing alternate paths together on tour this summer. Morello, a former Harvard guy, has got politics up front and center. Kensrue takes a deep dive into the alt-country pool fans of Ryan Adams enjoy. Gruff, hard-edged, plaintive. Fans of Neil Young and Johnny Cash will want to pay attention; Thrice fans might scratch their heads. (On one song on his "Please Come Home," Kensrue 'fesses up a fondness for Cat Stevens. (Who does that nowadays?) Says Kensrue of this incarnation: "As an artist, I always want to be as real and honest as I can be in my songs. I feel where powerful songs come from - tapping something inside of you, that actually means something to you and getting that into the song - I think you can hear when a song is not from that place. I try to be an artist who aspires to find hope even in dark places. If I don't, I don't want to bring people down to that place with me. I'm looking for a way out." Kensrue opens the Wedensday June 27 show at T.T. the Bear's around 9; Morello's on about 10:30. Now, as you might expect given the star-power, this one is sold out, meaning it's up to you to find that one friend with a spare ticket and a real fondess for you and lefty politics.

10 Brookline St., Cambridge, 617-492-0082 ttthebears.com