Top 5 Shows

1) Lola’s has a pair of worthwhile shows this weekend, starting with the Squanto-headlined bill on Friday. The last time I spoke with Squanto mastermind Rickey Wayne Kinney, he said his new material was a lot more groove- and pop-oriented than the stuff on Color TV Death, which is funny to me because I find that shit mesmerizing already. I hope that in the future, when the world gets the first glimpses of artificial intelligence, this music makes that electronic entity feel like it’s not alone when it discovers that the joys of sentient existence also come with crippling, existential anxiety. Opening for Squanto are ATRx777, a Brooklyn-based, one-man laptop-and-sampling-equipment outfit, and FiF, which I am not unconvinced is a certain Christian ska band. Or maybe I just wish Five Iron Frenzy were on this bill. This is not Five Iron Frenzy (it’s ATRx777):

2) Saturday night’s show at Lola’s has Dallas country super-group the Vandoliers headlining; they’ll obviously be the main draw, but get there in time to see the Van Sanchez, a Dallas rock ’n roll band that also claims punk and soul as part of their sound. I wonder what they mean by that, because it seems like the difference between the arrangements between a “punk ’n roll” band and a regular ol’ “rock ’n roll” are mostly just beats per minute, underscored by whatever band t-shirt or hat the rhythm guitarist or bass player is wearing. I guess you’ll just have to go see them to figure out where the “soul” elements come into play. An “Americana, indie rock” band from Austin called Tahoma opens the show. Those pieces of information, as well as the fact that they are named after a font and have a recent show poster with some kind of fowl on it (I think it’s a grouse, but I’m not a bird expert), so you probably know what to expect when you see them. I’m going to guess you can expect a flashback to seeing some band from 2009 or 2010. If you like 1100 Springs, you probably need to see Vandoliers; here’s a video of them at the Gas Monkey from June to help sell you one way or the other:

3) I rarely include a show at the Aardvark in this list, but the place can be a really excellent spot for a show, and the one on Saturday is a hip hop bill featuring a rare appearance of Rivercrest Yacht Club in the headlining spot, as well as Feletha Black, Kyeyote with Raw Appetite. Because TCU classes start again next week, there is the likelihood that you’ll have to suffer the bro-downs of TCU’s Northface Nation, but all those feathered-haircut frat guys standing in the back by the bar will make an interesting contrast to what’ll be happening on stage. Here’s what those guys will be ignoring; maybe their girlfriends will be more interested in it.

4) If you like High on Fire, go to the Crown and Harp in Dallas on Saturday night. Obviously, HOF are too big to play Crown and Harp, but the bill will appeal to fans of doom, sludge, effects pedals, and guitar pyrotechnics. Auric (from Fayetteville, AR) calls itself progressive sludge; the band clearly has grains of black metal running through their veins, but I hear post-metal stuff like Pelican and Isis in this, too. Pretty punishing stuff, preceded by Dallas post-rock outfit Glasir, with Denton’s Wax Ruins opening the show. You probably want to get there before it starts (which is at 10pm), because all these bands’ music is fairly cerebral stuff, which also means that if you’re prone to talking during a band’s show, go upstairs. You’ll have way more fun than if you had to watch some stupid bands, and the people in the crowd who want to soak this stuff up without having to hear where you ate dinner and/or pre-gamed earlier will appreciate it. This video doesn’t really do Auric justice, but it’s them playing live from a few years ago:

5) Gonna squeeze Saturday’s and Sunday’s 1912 shows into this: Saturday night features Stoogeaphilia venturing forth from the dust of s’70s-era protopunk to play the hits of the Stooges, the Dead Boys, Television, and other seminal reference points in the path from Lou Reed to whoever the modern spokesperson of punk rock is. I’m tempted to say it’s Fat Mike, but isn’t there some new loudmouth in his late 20s who’s in charge of this music now? Sub-question: I wonder if punk rockers who hate Fat Mike share a similar emotion with African Americans who wish Al Sharpton would just STFU. Besides Stoogeaphilia, there’s the Crack Pipes (from Austin), the mysterious psych punk band Bulls, plus Tame Tame and Quiet, who’s return to the scene merits the attention of everyone too young or absent to have missed them in their original incarnation — bass players are important, y’all! A lot of people don’t realize that until they play in a band without one. Here’s what the Crack Pipes are like – seems like 1912 is going to be loud and rowdy:

Sunday’s show at 1912 Club is headlined by Jake Paleschic playing a solo set, but don’t miss Natural Anthem in the middle slot, either. They’re a psychedelic pop band that I’m surprised hasn’t garnered more attention around here, seeing as how their music is full of the kind of hooks and harmonies that people who wish KXT would play more Fleet Foxes and Band of Horses love to hear. Really, you shouldn’t miss Trai Bo, either. While a little brainier with their arrangements, Trai Bo is another accessibly groovy band with sticky pop hooks that deserves to catch on a lot harder with local show-goers. This is not to say that either band doesn’t draw or have fans; I’m saying more fans should be drawn to these guys’ shows. Check out Trai Bo here: