Nice Hair — and He Rocks

Sure, Ryan Cabrera may be best-known for his failed relationship with Ashlee Simpson, but beneath the flat-iron Stegosaurus 'do, the scorned man is one hell of a pop-rocker. Although plenty of teenaged girls blindly reel for his lovelorn lyrics, Cabrera's resonant tenor and effortless falsetto separate him from the whiny boy-band set and give him musical credibility. In fact, Cabrera exhibits a knack for intricate guitar work, melodic movement, and hummable hooks, which undoubtedly engages anyone with an open mind — particularly fans of his musical doppelgängers, Train and the Goo Goo Dolls. (The latter's vocalist, Johnny Rzeznik, even co-produced Cabrera's 2004 Atlantic Records debut, Take It All Away.) Cabrera's pop chops are bound to keep him relevant long after Simpson is out of syndication.

Ryan Cabrera performs Friday, July 28, at Studio A, 60 NE 11th St., Miami. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $17. Call 305-358-ROCK, or visit www.studioamiami.com.