The Virginia Beach band Bear Crossing has been making a name for itself outside Hampton Roads. Even as its lead singer dealt with two surgeries last year, the trio has charged ahead, releasing a debut album, receiving a licensing deal and charting on college radio. Now, the band is back home after playing the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas.

Backstage with ... Critical Mouse From Norfolk   They play ... garage rock   See them with Crissy Babe and The Dastards. 10 p.m. Saturday at the Belmont House of Smoke, 2117 Colonial Ave., Norfolk. $5. 623-4477.   Website www.criticalmouse.com  

Norfolk's Critical Mouse formed in 1997 and is on its third lineup, with founding member, singer, songwriter and guitarist Scott McElvein, bassist Mario Merlo and newest member and drummer Derek Slate.
The garage-rock band focuses on originals but does perform a few David Bowie covers from time to time.

Backstage with The Gentlemen Bastards From Members live all over Hampton Roads, but practice in Norfolk. They play power rock ’n’ roll See them  9 p.m. Saturday at the Belmont House of Smoke, 2117 Colonial Ave., Norfolk. $5. 623-4477. Website www.reverbnation.com/bastardly

Hampton Roads musician Seth Stainback is no stranger to competition. He was a finalist at the 2010 Sea Level Singer/Songwriter Festival’s Emerging Artist Showcase, and will open for Grammy-winning artist Shelby Lynne at this year’s event in Norfolk on April 5.

Backstage with ...
Groove Town Alliance
 
From Virginia Beach
They play alternative funk-rock
See them 7 p.m. Saturday at Shaka's, 2014 Atlantic Ave., Virginia Beach. $5. 227-7153
Virginia Beach’s Groove Town Alliance knows playing gigs will get its tunes out locally, but what the four-member funk-rock band really wants is a music licensing deal.

from Chesapeake
they play ... Alt-rock
see them  7 p.m. Friday at The NorVa, 317 Monticello Ave., Norfolk. $10. (800) 745-3000.
Website www.facebook.com/andrband
A New Day Rising, which took its name from a lyric in the Foo Fighter’s song “Times Like These,” will play its fourth show at The NorVa in Norfolk on Friday.

Backstage with ... Galaxy Dynamite From Norfolk They play “I feel if you wanted to put our genre in the simplest of terms, it would be electric groove,” said drummer Mike Mahgerefteh.

From Norfolk

They play Alternative rock

Website www.thekillcircuit.com
 
This alternative rock trio, which formed last year, has released a four-song EP of original music and recently filmed an episode of Cox Channel 11’s "Soundcheck."

Backstage with ... Knuckle From Virginia Beach Playing a mix of rock, blues, funk and reggae, the band will headline its second show at The NorVa on Friday. The lineup will also feature local bands Foreplay, Malt Liquor Sundae and The Remedy.