Aldridge, Katsük, Madràs

I don’t know what –– if anything –– this means, but two of the first few musicians I met when I moved here, lo, these 10 years ago, are not only still writing, recording, and performing but are also now putting out new albums. Even cooler, both artists –– Kevin Aldridge and Daniel Katsük –– are celebrating their albums’ releases on the same weekend in August. Back when I met Aldridge, he was fronting a rocking band called Brasco (’member them?!); Katsük was a member of Spoonfed Tribe, about to start his own project, A-Hummin’ Acoustical Acupuncture, whose Monday night residency at the dearly departed Wreck Room quickly became the place to be in Fort Worth on Monday nights. Aldridge stuck with the solo thing for years, forming his current outfit, Kevin Aldridge & The Appraisers, only a few months ago. Katsük rode Triple-A for a few years before decamping for the wilds of Colorado, where he lived for a while before returning home a couple of years ago and starting over. Of course, most of yesteryear’s most popular bands and artists –– Collin Herring, Flickerstick, John Price, Mermaid Purse, Doosu –– have either broken up or moved away. But looking back on those days, I can easily see the obvious fact that both Aldridge and Katsük would stop making music only when they weren’t breathing and would make music nowhere else but here, their home. Zero Point, the new album from Katsük’s musical vehicle, KatsüK (note the two capital “K”s), is incredible, a real opus, and hard to categorize, going from acoustic reverie to crunching guitars and beats sometimes within the same song. Featuring contributions from more than a dozen killer musos, including monster bassist Matt Skates and members of Sally Majestic, Zero Point –– with its shades of jangly R.E.M. Americana, syrupy Zeppelinesque stomp, and Blind Melon hyper-melodicism –– is a strong candidate for album of the year. Similarly, Aldridge’s album, The Viper Sessions, also features backing by some badasses –– guitarist Scott Davis and drummer Kenny Smith, who make their livings backing Austin-based Americana superstar Hayes Carll –– but is contemplative, subtle, and moody where Zero Point is bombastic and dramatic. Aldridge will host a listening party 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6, on the Near South Side at The Usual (1408 W. Magnolia Av., 817-810-0114). Copies of the disc and merch will be available for sale, and Aldridge will probably play a few tunes solo acoustic. Admission is free. Aldridge’s CD release party will be in the West 7th corridor with Fort Worth ’60s-throwback rockers The Apache 5 on Friday, Aug. 10, at Magnolia Motor Lounge (3005 Morton St., 817-332-3344). Cover is $8. Two classic-rock-oriented Fort Worth outfits, the venerable Goodwin and Neptune Locals, will help KatsüK celebrate the release of Zero Point on the Near South Side at The Where House (2510 Hemphill St., 817-913-7777) on Saturday, Aug. 11. Cover is $10, and the first 50 people will get a free copy of the album.

As first reported in town on Blotch (“Madràs: Good News, Bad News,” Friday, Jun. 22, 2012), Madràs frontman, Dubai native, and TCU album Jeevan Antony has not been able to find an employer to sponsor him and will be forced to leave the United States once his visa runs out next month. The band, which also includes drummer Ben Hance (frontman for Secret Ghost Champion) and Jeevan’s brother bassist/keyboardist/backing vocalist Mathew Antony, will continue –– co-songwriters Jeevan and Mathew collaborate digitally mostly anyway. However, your last chance to see Madràs –– at least for a long time –– will be this Saturday with Igneous Grimm at Live Oak Music Hall & Lounge (1311 Lipscomb St., 817-926-0986) on the Near South Side.

Contact HearSay at hearsay@fwweekly.com.