Launching their U.S. tour Wednesday night in Washington, D.C., Savannah, GA, quartet Baroness wasted little time in showing off the grand, intricate style of Blue Record, one of 2009's most acclaimed metal albums.

Now a major-label act with U.K. chart hits whose bluesy garage-punk style has been streamlined by producer Rick Rubin, the Gossip are no longer underground scrappers. But somebody forgot to inform vocalist Beth Ditto, who was her old exuberant subcultural self when the band began its first U.S. tour in three years early Wednesday night at Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club.

Seven years after Layne Staley's death from a drug overdose in 2002, Alice in Chains began its first major headlining tour Friday night without the iconic singer. The quartet's upcoming album -- Black Gives Way to Blue, due Sept. 29 -- includes songs inspired by the late frontman.