A solid hump-day offering of shows is on tap for you tonight as quality acts are spaced all across the area.
The Antlers and Little Scream at The Loft
Brooklyn's The Antlers are
led by the singularly depressed talents of Peter Silberman, a guy whose
best songs seem as if they were written for a funeral march. Or so it
seemed on Hospice, the 2009 effort that brought The Antlers major
critical kudos. Burst Apart, the band's recently released fourth album,
lightens things up considerably. First off, the new effort isn't a
concept album about death. Secondly, Burst is a true group effort, not
just a collection of Silberman demos fussed up with backing musicians.
Songs like "I Don't Want to Love" and "Every Night My Teeth are Falling
Out" may sound depressing, but they have the feel of a band jelling
around its leader, not just following his tracks.
Bleubird, Otem Rellik, Galaxies, Thrifty Astronaut and K-The-I at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios in Denton
Quite
the cool collection of experimental hip-hop and electronica we have
happening in Denton tonight. Otem Rellik is really just Toby Hendricks,
a decent poet hailing from Fort Collins, Colorado. Elephant Graveyard,
Otem Rellik's 2010 effort, is a solid collection of random noises and
thoughtful rhymes. Although not on that effort, also check out this
guys' cool deconstruction of Radiohead's "Creep." And get to the venue
early in order to catch K-The-I, a big and big-voiced rapper out of Los
Angeles.
Brandon Jenkins at 8.0 in Fort Worth
Oklahoma
native Brandon Jenkins has written songs for the likes of Stoney LaRue,
Bleu Edmondson and Cross Canadian Ragweed. Jenkins has also released
seven albums of solid, hardcore country that bridges the gap between the
rebellious alt-country of Steve Earle with the more mainstream concerns
of the acts that have covered Jenkins' songs. The guy's a heavily
tattooed redneck with attitude and talent to spare. If I was anywhere
near Cowtown tonight, I'd seriously consider going to this show.
Sick Puppies, Cult to Follow, Madam Adam and Fantasma at Trees
For
the better part of 14 years, Australia's Sick Puppies have always
succeeded in never living up to their name. Although obviously
influenced by bands such as Alice in Chains and Tool, Shimon Moore and
crew never really made any music that felt disturbing in any way. That's
not to say that the trio hasn't made good records. 2007's Dressed Up as
Life featured some cool pop and post-punk that showed the band capable
in a variety of genres. It's just that, with a name like Sick Puppies, the
expectations are for something, well, sick. And most of what these guys
(and gal) deliver is decidedly healthy.