Adam Ant claims “I don’t think about time, really.”
But he does have some perspective on the music he’s made during the 45 years since his debut “Dirk Wears White Sox” — including three albums with his New Wave band The Ants and six as a solo artist.
“I think I’ve created quite a diverse sort of quality of music — so different that it’s almost like you have to go back and say, ‘How’s this gonna work with that?'” says Ant, 69, who was born Stuart Goddard in London. “I look at that with every album and every concept, not just a visual concept but a musical concept, as well.
“Each album was completely different, hopefully, both musically and visually, not just for me but for the audience, as well.”
That variety is exactly what Ant is putting on display with his current tour, dubbed ANTMUSIC after the single from his 1980 album “Kings of the Wild Frontier.” The shows, he promises, will be loaded with hits such as “Stand and Deliver,” “Prince Charming,” “Ant Rap,” “Good Two Shoes”, “Friend or Foe” and more — unrepentant nostalgia even if he’s no longer sporting the Edwardian fashions and war paint of his early ’80s heyday.
“I felt that after the pandemic, I just want to come back with something that’s a celebration of the entire catalog — not just the hits but some songs I haven’t played live before out of the catalog and just take a new look on it all. I still give everything I’ve got on stage. It’s different now, but I still feel there’s a lot of energy to use up on stage and I try to use all of it I’ve got every single night.”
Adam Ant and the English Beat perform Friday, March 29 at the Masonic Cathedral Theatre, 500 Temple St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-548-1320 or themasonic.com.
Other music events of note this weekend (all subject to change) include …
FRIDAY, MARCH 29
• Detroit guitar hero Sammy Boller releases “Great Unknown,” the first single from his upcoming album “Pharaohs.” Stream via orcd.co/greatunknown.
• After the box office success of the “Bob Marley: One Love” biopic, his progeny Damian and Stephen Marley perform together at the Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-5451 or thefillmoredetroit.com.
• Fresh off his starring run in the Rick James musical “Super Freak,” former Mint Condition frontman Stokely Williams plays his own music at 8 p.m. at Sound Board in the MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. 800-745-3000 or soundboarddetroit.com.
• Barclay Crenshaw headlines an official Movement pre-party with Super Future and Great Dane at Elektricity, 15 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Doors at 9 p.m. paxahau.com.
• Americana singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly is Too Chill to Kill at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• Indiana’s The Why Store returns for an 8 p.m. concert at The Roxy, 401 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. 248-453-5285 or theroxyrochester.com.
• Former Saving Abel frontman Scotty Austin plays at the Diesel Concert Lounge, 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township. Doors at 7 p.m. 586-933-3503 or dieselconcerts.com.
• Kris Baha, DJ Sphinx and Latex Girl man the decks starting at 9 p.m. at the Leland City Club, 400 Bagley St., Detroit. 313-962-2300 or lelandcityclub.net.
• The British indie pop trio Autoheart beats at the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. Argonaut & Wasp and Reagan are also on the bill. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
• The Shapeshifters, Melvo Baptiste and Mona Black offer a full night of EDM at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 9 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.
• Reeds player Dave Bennett is on tap through Saturday, March 30 at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, 97 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe. 313-882-5399 or dirtydogjazz.com.
• Guitarist Jontavious Willis plays at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• The Tool tribute band Toolology rocks at District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte. Doors at 7 p.m. district142live.com.
• The RFD Boys plays its regular hometown gig at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.
SATURDAY, MARCH 30
• The California quartet Mom Jeans headlines the 10-band bill for the Roundabout Festival at the Russell Industrial Center, 1600 Clay St., Detroit. Doors at 1 p.m. 248-434-7699 or roundaboutfestival.com.
• Jazz/R&B keyboardist Brian Culbertson brings his Trilogy Tour to Sound Board at 8 p.m. in the MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. 800-745-3000 or soundboarddetroit.com.
• New York rapper Bas is back at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• R&B stalwarts the Whispers perform at 8 p.m. at the Music Hall Center, 350 Madison Ave, Detroit. 313-887-8500 or musicalll.org.
• Ignominious and the Art of Deception bring The Tractor Smash Tour to town at the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
• Michigan’s One Ton Trolley rolls into 20 Front Street in Lake Orion for an 8 p.m. show. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• El Club celebrates women with a Baddies bill that features Barz, Lakeyah, Carla Rae the CEO and more. 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 6:30 p.m. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.
• The Truth celebrates a new record release at Small’s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 7 p.m. Chaw and the Merriwethers also perform. 313-873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.
• Drummer Louis Jones III and his band perform at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• The Canadian rock quartet Elephant Stone crosses the border to play at 9 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. Evolfo and Warhorses are also on the bill. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• Vulgara gets ugly, but in a good way, in the Pike Room at the Crofoot Complex, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Katharsis, 10KTeeth and Starscourge also perform. 248-858-9333 or thecrofoot.com.
• Queen Flash — The Ultimate Tribute to Queen will rock you at the Emerald Theatre, 31 N. Walnut St., Mount Clemens. Doors at 7 p.m. 586-630-0120 or theemeraldtheatre.com.
• Grand Rapids’ The Fever Haze comes east to top a bill with Blind Season, Of House and more at 9 p.m. at the New Dodge Lounge, 8850 Jos Campau, Hamtramck. 313-638-1508 or thenewdodgelounge.com.
• Carl Caballero & the Wreckage wreak a little havoc at 8:30 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• Singer, songwriter, musician and activist Susan Werner performs at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. King Margo opens. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.
• A Tribe Called Quest co-founder Jarobi White headlines a full night of hip-hop starting at 9 p.m. at the Orchid Theater, 141 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. orchid-theatre.com.
• Veteran alt-rock heroes Sleater-Kinney livestream their concert from Los Angeles at 12:10 a.m. Tickets via veeps.com.
SUNDAY, MARCH 31
• The all-female British alt-rock quintet The Last Dinner Party serves at the Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. Miss Grit opens. 313-833-9700 or majesticdetroit.com.
• Tampa rockers Set It Off come north to play at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• Nick Schillace’s Post Imperial Jazz Band sets up at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• Saul, Kingdom Collapse and Remember Me bring some heavy music to the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. Doors at 6:30 p.m. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.
