Tonight's hump day musical experience offers up a few varied and talented options -- especially if you're into massive metal bills.
Death Angel, Lazarus A.D., Early Man, Bonded by Blood and Hexen at Trees
If you caught my earlier Q&A with Death Angel's Mark Osegueda,
you know that his band is one of the most diverse acts to emerge from
the initial onslaught of '80s thrash metal outfits. Death Angel's 2009
effort, Relentless Retribution, features an unlikely
collaboration with Mexico's Rodrigo y Gabriela, an acoustic duo not
known for its metal aspirations, so these guys are clearly still
progressing. Plus, tonight's hefty bill features Brooklyn's Early Man, a
talented three-piece of punk-metal aggressiveness that is out
supporting Death Potion, one of 2010's best metal albums. Take your earplugs, and call in sick tomorrow. This is going to be a hell of a show.
Kristopher Roe, Electric Touch and Visceral at The Loft
Kris Roe is the leader of Indiana's The Ataris,
a hit-and-miss pop-punk outfit that is best known for their cover of
Don Henley's "Boys of Summer." Such does not a career make, but Roe is a
fairly talented songwriter who brings a more acoustic and somber
approach to things as a solo act. Austin's Electric Touch and Dallas'
own Visceral will certainly add a bit more electricity to tonight's
proceedings.