RODNEY CROWELL

Wednesday: In the '00s, Crowell released four first-rate alt-country albums. On his latest, 2008's "Sex and Gasoline," the Houston hero sounded broken but resilient. His just-published memoir, "The Chinaberry Sidewalks," gives insights to where all the pain comes from. Not a look at his ex-marriage to Rosanne Cash or even an examination of his successful musical career (five No. 1 country hits), the book focuses mostly on Crowell's troubled childhood, specifically his alcoholic musician father (who took him to see Hank Williams at age 2) and his demanding mother, who whipped him with branches from a Chinaberry tree. It's tough stuff for the man whose first album was called "Ain't Living Long Like This." (7:30 p.m. Wed. $22-$25. Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Av. S., Mpls. 612-338-2674.) JON BREAM