I guess things are ramping up for New Year's Eve, 'cause tonight's pretty stacked for a Wednesday, y'all...
The Adolescents, Lower Class Brats and The Scandals at The Loft
Back
in the American punk rock heyday of the early '80s, The Adolescents were
one of the most important bands to rise out of the L.A. area. Along with
Fear, the Dead Kennedys and Black Flag, Tony Cadena and the rest of The
Adolescents blazed a trail of hyper-aggressive, hardcore noise that
still sounds fresh some 30 years later. The Adolescents have broken
up and reformed three times at this point, and this most recent incarnation of the band
includes three original members. Incredibly, the band is said to be
working on new material, some of which may show up on tonight's set
list. Austin's Lower Class Brats and Garland's own The Scandals add
(quite) a bit of youth to this solid punk rock triple-bill.
Devin the Dude, Dem Southernfolkz and DJ Love at The Granada Theater
If
leather-clad misfits and skinheads aren't exactly your thing, this
solid bill of hip-hop should present a quality alternative to tonight's
show at The Loft. For almost 20 (!) years now, Devin Copeland, aka Devin
the Dude, has been one of Houston's greatest rap exports. Sure, Devin
tackles rap's usual material -- sex, weed and unrepentant braggadocio -- but
he does it in a fun way that somehow comes off as almost charming.
Dallas' own Dem Southernfolkz has no problem in the charm department themselves -- in
just a few short years, the group has become one of the city's most
popular and best purveyors of hip-hop. Tonight's show should be a nice warm up for the partying yet to happen
in the coming days.
Shinyribs and Greg Schroeder at The City Tavern
If neither punk nor hip-hop thrills you, head downtown and
catch two prime examples of prime alt-country. Austin's Shinyribs is
the side project of Kevin Russell of Gourds fame, and, unlike most side
projects, Shinyribs is actually really good. His recently released Well After
Awhile even made it onto some crazy critic's list of top ten CDs of
2010, go figure. Add in local country singer-songwriter Greg
Schroeder, and this
double-bill of hayseed splendor is not to be missed.
Sir Silky at Renfield's Corner
In real life, Cheyenne Schweitzer may be the greatest karaoke singer that Dallas has ever scene. But, every now and then, he eschews the comfort of The Goat and other various karaoke hubs, calls together a backing band and strikes out on a real stage, just as he'll do tonight at Renfield's Corner as part of the Uptown bar's free Wednesday night concert series. Thing is, Schweitzer's live display is worth paying for. Clad in spandex and fishnets and performing under the name of Sir Silky, Schweitzer comes across like an NSFW crossbreed between Prince and Justin Timberlake. It's worth seeing -- and listening to, as well.
