With flying dreadlocks, a snake logo, and dark imagery on the cover of its new self-titled CD, youthful West Palm Beach band Dharmata (DharmataBand.com) appears easy to categorize as metal.

But listen to the CD, and you’ll discover the melodic nuances of soaring late singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley and Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, plus creative guitar imagery from Jimi Hendrix to Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, as well as the metallic elements of Pantera.

Such unpredictability makes sense, since the occupations of lead vocalist Jay Slim, singing guitarists Chris Proano and Matt Sheridan, bassist Kevin Sanchez and drummer JC Lackey include waiting tables, teaching kids at the School of Rock, and working for area law firms.

Since the quintet formed in 2007, and especially since getting hand-picked by British band Skindred to open on its 2009 tour through the Midwestern United States, Dharmata is increasingly popular. The band played SunFest and the Buzz Bake Sale in 2011, and Orlando’s Florida Music Festival this April. Two songs, Do It Again and The Awakening, are receiving radio airplay from Miami to Orlando, and last month’s CD release party drew one of the largest crowds ever to Respectable Street.

“To do that playing original music was overwhelming,” Slim says.

See Dharmata (with openers Absolute Asylum and Silenmara) close the 10 p.m. Friday show at Propaganda, 6 S. J St., Lake Worth ($5 for ages 21 and over; $10 for ages 18-20, 561-547-7273), and at 10 p.m. on August 25 at the Crazy Horse Saloon, 4240 Northlake Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens (561-493-8909).

‘Round town

Singer/songwriter Marie Nofsinger (myspace.com/marienofsinger) commemorates the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew with her fourth annual hurricane-themed “It Was a Dark and Stormy Night” concert next weekend. From 4-8 p.m. on August 25, see her with George Manosis, Marc Ward, Ron and Bari, Max DuBose, Ivan Skinner and others at Kevro’s Art Bar, 166 SE 2nd Ave., Delray Beach (561-278-9675)….Opening a live music nightclub in South Florida has proven treacherous for decades, which makes the forthcoming 25th anniversary for Respectable Street (facebook.com/pages/Respectable-Street/142947196608) that much more impressive. Named for a 32-year-old song by British band XTC, the club even hosted the Red Hot Chili Peppers as the band took baby steps toward this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Its free celebratory block party features 25 bands including The Misfits, Band in Heaven, Lavola, Raggy Monster and Retrocities, and starts at 8 p.m. on August 25 at 518 Clematis St., West Palm Beach (561-832-9999).