Jeff Beck -- live shows have studio type sound and effects. You'll spend most of the concert with your jaw on the floor thinking, "He can't be doing that live... How the heck can he do that?!?" Several years ago I saw him ocmpletely upstage Carlos Santana and a few years later blow away Jonny Lang. Plays stuff from as far back as the Yardbirds and Jeff Beck Group days with some of the jazz fusion stuff and goes off the chart with the new stuff. Guitar players be warned -- you will either quit playing forever (no, really, FOREVER) after hearing him or else go out and get a third mortgage on the house to get that classic and perfect '57 Strat.
Deke ****erson and Junior Brown -- two of the best guitar players you've never heard of. Great music and great shows from both. Deke plays clubs and as an opener and is pretty approachable. Junior Brown plays as an opening act and as a headliner for smaller venues. They both play a variety of music from country/rockabilly to rock and roll, but that doesn't begin to do justice to how good these guys can play.
Los Straightjackets -- OK, so the Mexican wrestling masks are a cool/bizarre gimmick, but this group is as amazing as The Ventures (and definitely do not pass up a chance to see The Ventures). Los Straightjackets are Surf guitar heroes and 60's instrumental rock at its best. This band tends to tour with Kaiser George (think early Beatles and Dave Clark Five type music with a great feel for the 60's small club, ultra hip scene) and the Famous Pontani Sisters (this is what real burlesque is all about). The whole show is not to be missed and it's a good show for the older kids, too (skin and lots of leg from the Famous Pontani Sisters but no nudity -- check out their website to see what I mean).
Winton Marsalis -- catch him when he plays classical music. He is a brilliant jazz musician, but I saw him play "Flight of the Bumblebee" with a brass ensemble and was STUNNED! He is multitalented - as tremendous a player as he is, don't limit him to just jazz. Even if you hate classical music, this will make you fall out of your seat.
The Reverend Horton Heat -- Psycho-billy! This group is small but makes an amazing amount of noise (bring ear plugs). What a huge amount of energy! The Rev will take away your Top 40 Rock & Roll sins, make you appreciate Martini Time, the healing powers of a Galaxie 500, and give you strength and confidence to let his power overcome the darkness and that evil thing that's living in your barn. Moshing at some shows (beware!) but even the bigger guys tend to bounce off me, so I don't really mind.
Dave Alvin, Rodney Crowel, Marshall Crenshaw, or Peter Case -- "Who? Never heard of 'em...?" These are some of the best songwriters around. You probably know one or more of their songs. All of these guys can really play. They'll play smaller venues of open for others. Be prepared to become a big fan of any of these musicians. Nothing like seeing the people who wrote the songs up close and personal.