Centro-matic

Indie rock thrives deep in the heart of Texas tonight. Centro-matic front man Will Johnson has more songs in him than bands to play them, and though Centro-matic's current tour commemorates no newer album than 2003's sweet, shaggy Love You Just the Same, you can bet on hearing your share of new tunes. Offer him a beer or seven, and maybe he'll get the band to do something from his forthcoming South San Gabriel disc The Carlton Chronicles: Not Until the Operation's Through, which is sweet and not so shaggy. Hard to say if the Baptist Generals did what Sub Pop wanted them to with their cantankerous label debut, No Silver/No Gold--have they been on The O.C. yet? I doubt the band could give a shit.