For a more than a year now, Mark Waldoch has been fronting a band again and that group -- The Celebrated Workingman -- has a new record and plays at Turner Hall Friday at 7 p.m. with Decibully, Koufax and The Championship.

Always a compelling performer, Waldoch (pictured above with hand on heart, but fingers crossed) appears literally possessed by his music on stage and is gripping to behold. He often forms bands (Islands, The Mustn'ts), but then sometimes appears hemmed in by them.

Luckily, that doesn't seem to be the case with "Herald the Dickens," the anticipated eight-song Workingman debut.

The music is chimey and poppy and vivid, offering a release valve for Waldoch's pent-up musical passion and breathless vocal urgency.

Released on Milwaukee's Bus Stop Label, the disc opens with "We're Numb," the first word of which is "Milwaukee." This is a hometown record. But it feels bigger than that. Waldoch's universal themes, like the tattered relationship that fuels "Love Is Getting Your Way," for example, feel even more accessible thanks to the jangly 12-string guitars and bells.

Of course, The Celebrated Workingman is a band, so credit doesn't go only to Waldoch, but also to drummer Justin Krol, bassist Gavin Rice, guitarist Nate McNichols, lap steel guitarist Chris Vos and percussionist Charlie Hosale.

Showtime is 7 p.m. and tickets are $10. The show is all-ages and non-smoking.

Some other shows this week include:

Instrumental art rockers from Austin, Texas (that means they drink more than you do, on average) Bee vs. Moth plays at the Cactus Club Tuesday night. The quartet is touring in support of its debut disc, "Soundhorn," which the Austin Chronicle dubbed, "hard ear candy for your soft inner child."

Crowded House offspring Liam Finn -- son of Neil Finn -- opens for Eddie Vedder at the Riverside on Tuesday night. Finn issued his solo debut, "I'll Be Lightning," in January and has played in Milwaukee on a couple other occasions. However, the show is sold out, so a broker is your best bet at this point.

On Wednesday, Shank Hall hosts lefty blues veteran Coco Montoya at 8 p.m. Cover is $20. On Friday, you can see Dairyland Youth, Casey Stang and Peter D'Amore at 9 p.m. for just $6. Meanwhile, prog rockers The Flower Kings play on Saturday at 8 p.m. with Mandrake and cover is $25.

The Hope for the Hopeless tour arrives at the Eagles Club on Thursday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. with Kill Hannah, The Medic Droid, Innerpartysystem and The White Tie Affair. Tickets are $14.