1.) Scott Copeland will be all over town this weekend, starting Friday night at Magnolia Motor Lounge (3005 Morton St., 817-332-3344), where the rowdy country singer-songwriter and his crack band The Enablers will be preceded by Terry Rasor and Vincent Neil Emerson. On Sunday at Lola’s Saloon (2736 W 6th St., 817-877-0666), Copeland will celebrate the release of his debut book, Deathbed Diaries and Jailhouse Journals, and two new CDs: Rants and Ramblings at Lola’s Saloon and 13 Songs I Wrote Party. The $20 cover includes a copy of both the book and comedy CD. Jody Jones, Guthrie Kennard, Derek Larson, Johnny Mack, Luke McGlathery, Terry Rasor, Jake Robison, Gary Grammer, Vincent Neil Emerson, and a bunch of other local singer-songwriters will also play.
2.) Friday’s show at Three Links (2704 Elm St., Dallas) was supposed to be a CD release party for Foxtrot Uniform, but, well, something happened and now it’s not. That’s OK, because the greasily soulful Fort Worth/Dallas quintet is still awesome. With Dallas’ Somebody’s Darling and J Charles & The Trainrobbers.
3.) From the late-’70s/early-’80s New York City scene that produced Sonic Youth and Lydia Lunch, Swans pounded out what could be considered minimalist punk, kind of like if Philip Glass were a rocker: lots of repetitive melodies, drone, and intricate structures. Swans disbanded years ago, but frontman Michael Gira reformed them in 2010. They play tonight (Thursday) at Trees (2709 Elm St., Dallas, 214-741-1122).
4.) Loud, gritty, gutsy rock ’n’ roll will rule The Where House (2510 Hemphill St., Near Southside) on Saturday, when Nashville’s Sol Cat and Houston’s Featherface open for homeboys The Longshots, who in February perhaps quietly put out one of the most blistering slabs of rock goodness of the past year.
5.) Think of Phox as Wisconsin’s answer to Denton’s Seryn: soft, dreamy, and old-timey with lush vocals and richly detailed acoustic accompaniment. The band just put out a quiet yet well-crafted self-titled debut and is on tour, stopping by Three Links (2704 Elm St., Dallas) on Saturday with Trails & Ways.
