On Friday at 8 p.m. The Adam Ezra group returns to the Mauch Chunk Opera House, 14 W. Broadway in Jim Thorpe.

Ezra is a compelling performer whose show in Jim Thorpe last April attracted many fans from well outside the usual 80-mile radius customers flock from.The Adam Ezra Group's live performances are sweaty, passionate affairs that have been compared to those of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which retain the power and conviction developed from Ezra's years of "do it yourself," grass roots work ethic.Whether as a kitchen hand or carpenter, teacher, athlete or traveler, Ezra crams it all into the music, always challenging your perspective and often teetering somewhere between rocker and poet.Having toured with Rusted Root, The Avett Brothers, Jason Mraz, Corey Smith, Deer Tick, The Goo Goo Dolls, Blues Traveler, Los Lobos and more, the Adam Ezra Group has graduated from the local Boston scene to the national level.On Saturday at 8 p.m. the opera house welcomes Hollywood Nights, one of the nation's finest Bob Seger tribute bands.Bandleader Rick Murphy had been working with other bands in the Philadelphia area when he signed on with an agent who also worked with tribute bands that included Zeppelin favorites, Get the Led Out. One night an audience member told Murphy his voice was very similar to Seger's.He downloaded Seger's whole catalog and immersed himself in it. The result: "I just fell in love with the guy."Murphy says he loves singing and performing Seger's songs."His vocal structure's right there with mine. And I did fall in love with his lyrics.Sunday is all about the funk with The Motet, which will perform at 8 p.m. Sunday.Earth Wind and Fire and Tower of Power come to mind, along with other furious down-and-dirty funky horn bands of the '70s like Parliament Funkadelic, KC & the Sunshine Band, even Sly & The Family Stone.It's all mixed in to an original but old-school funky disco and highly danceable atmosphere.The brilliance of The Motet is that though they are reminiscent of bands of the past, they create new, authentic sounds in a language from the past. And no matter how you choose to express funk, you can't fake it. Their shows sell out from coast to coast.In addition to their exciting music and stage presence, they bring a top-shelf light show.Tickets are available online at

www.mcohjt.com, or call 570-325-0249.