Modern R&B ballads aren't so much created as they are conjured, transmitted like electricity through cable lines and radio waves in blasts of wispy melodies and soft sexuality. With the exception of old-school revivalists such as Amy Winehouse, little thought is given to the idea of an R&B auteur. But Las Vegas singer/songwriter Ne-Yo is just that. His voice is sweet and almost cherubic, while his lyrics are slyly complex ("So Sick" criticizes the very type of song it aspires to). His hits and those he writes for others (Beyonce's smash "Irreplaceable") are easier to dismiss than they are to forget. Ne-Yo performs on Friday, June 15, at the Fillmore at 9 p.m. Admission is $44; call 346-6000 or visit www.thefillmore.com for more info. —Sam Chennault
Paris currently has quite the rep for cranked, filter-crusted electrohouse. Dimitri From Paris , however, recalls a bygone jet-set era of slow-burning, sweat-beaded dalliances. He celebrates a culture of jazzy, Latin-flecked Cocktail Disco (as he named his most recent collection), when slowly unfurling tracks pulsed more than pumped. Dimitri is capable of playing commercial house that makes for good ringtones, but his idea of pop is more Quincy Jones-era Michael Jackson. He's likely to test San Francisco's soul with a deep, disco-dusting set of sultry, sexy selections. Dimitri From Paris performs on Thursday, June 14, at Pink at 9 p.m. Admission is $20; call 431-8889 or visit www.pinksf.com for more info. — Tony Ware
