Photo by Lauren Lakis
EXOTIC FRUITICA
Thursday 20, Mohawk
Before showcasing at ever-bustling festival South by Southwest, Austin’s EXOTIC FRUITICA brings their own frenetic energy to Mohawk, shedding shards of punk with echoes of art rock cut to tape on August’s distortion-heavy self-titled LP. Joining the bill are the sonically akin Shysters, whose October single “Sick” opens with a propulsive hi-hat beat before launching into guitar chugs, and indie rock sixpiece CorMae, whose January release “Hipsters in <3” dabbles in mid-song conversations and carries an upbeat disposition. – Catalina Perez
Courtesy of Austin Symphony
American Splendor
Friday 21 – Saturday 22, Austin Symphony
Though a night at the symphony may call to mind mostly long-dead German or French names, the (comparatively young) good ol’ U.S. of A. has its fair share of legendary composers as well. The Austin Symphony pays tribute to those greats of jazz, classical, and the musical with American Splendor, a showcase that begins with Duke Ellington’s Three Black Kings, followed by the world premiere of a new American soon-to-be classic, Sam Lipman’s Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra. Leonard Bernstein’s On the Town: Three Dance Episodes follows, and the evening culminates with George Gershwin’s beloved An American in Paris. As a bonus, the latter will feature 112 bars that have never been heard before. – Lina Fisher
Photo by Matt Lanke
Los Lonely Boys
Friday 21 – Sunday 23, Various locations
After a 23-year run catapulted by Grammy-winning single “Heaven” and decorated with a Willie Nelson collaboration, CMT spotlight, and World Series National Anthem performance, the self-defined “Texican Rock & Roll” trio took five. The pandemic-extended bench break broke with an invite to open for the Who in 2022. Now, dusting ashes with Resurrection, Henry (guitar), Jojo (bass), and Ringo (drums) reunite with a 10-track melt of Tejano rhythms, country-blues grooves, Spanglish wordsmithery, and brotherhood bonds fortified over time. The band plays Antone’s Friday, the Paramount Saturday, and an acoustic 04 Center set Sunday. – Amber Williams
Anastasia Hera (Courtesy of Juice Consulting)
Austin Hip-Hop Awards
Saturday 22, Vulcan Gas Company
Come suited and booted for the 11th annual Austin Hip-Hop Awards, hosted by Papi Cannon and featuring performances by several local acts. Among them, Voultron will reform, and multi-AHHA winner Anastasia Hera promotes her 2024 release, Way Outside. LiljayFromDaO’s “Blessed,” featuring Chingo Bling and Bunz, arranges an interpolation of “La Bamba” with a mix of Texas trap and Jersey club. YOSO and College of Hip Hop Knowledge, celebrating 10 years of existence, stack the deck. Fashion Rebel isn’t here for playtime, and Zoe Gabriel is a soulful vocalist on the rise. – Kahron Spearman
Photo by Zhamak Fullad
Soccer Mommy
Saturday 22, Radio/East
Though the dark electronic textures of 2022’s Oneohtrix Point Never-produced Sometimes, Forever offered a welcome detour, Sophie Allison’s latest album proves that Soccer Mommy’s indie rock bread and butter is truly Evergreen. There are threads connecting the 2024 LP to each release in the artist’s discography, but Evergreen’s pastoral acoustic guitar best recalls the youthful ballads of Clean, the 2018 debut that made Soccer Mommy an indie superstar. Sweet strings boost melancholy lead single “Lost,” an ode to the artist’s late mother, like a mature – but not hardened – follow-up to the lovelorn tracks she broke out with years ago now. Time passes, but earnest guitar music endures. – Carys Anderson
Photo by John Anderson
BodyRock ATX’s 15th Anniversary
Saturday 22, Regal Rooms
Back in 2010, DJ Chorizo Funk and husband-wife hip-hop duo Riders Against the Storm launched BodyRock, an old-school monthly dance party meant to take you back to the block parties hip-hop originated from in the Seventies. In the decade and a half since, these throwdowns have outgrown original host venue Plush (now Chess Club), tried out events at Sahara Lounge and Empire, and even won a Best of Austin Award. Hosted Saturday at Menchaca space Regal Rooms, this anniversary party taps DJs Kay Cali, Cortez, Kick It, and Jamie Dred to warm up the stage for Grammy Award-winning DJ Jazzy Jeff. – Carys Anderson
Javier Santiago Trio
Sunday 23, Monks Jazz
L.A.-based keyboardist Javier Santiago has charged down the mountains alongside a squadron of notables in his time, from veterans Herbie Hancock, Sheila Jordan, and Azar Lawrence to young guns Terrace Martin, Theo Croker, and Louis Cole. He’s also pounded plastics for Ms. Lauryn Hill. The range of creative minds he’s supported points to as much experience as a beatmaker and producer as a piano-wielding jazz artist. Though last year’s Warrior Energy joyously celebrates electronic funk, Santiago hits Austin in piano trio mode, with locals Sam Pankey (bass) and Adam Jackson (drums) in tow. – Michael Toland
Escuela Grind
Sunday 23, Come & Take It Live
When Nile erects death metal’s Great Pyramid of Giza here on Riverside this Friday, they’ll represent three decades of OG extremity. Yet Escuela Grind, stapling “core” to their name on the same stage some 48 hours later, unleashes contemporary fission. Katerina Economou expels nuclear energy on any platform, kicking and jumping like Uma Thurman starring in Kill Bill. Ithaca-born but now split between Pittsburgh and Massachusetts, the grindcore quartet tapped third full-length Dreams on Algorithms last October, another gut pummel of protean modernism sure to bend-n-bounce Escuela Grind’s local stage of choice. Decayer, Living Hollow, and Conjured support. – Raoul Hernandez
Twin Peaks Night
Monday 24, Hotel Vegas
This Feb. 24 tradition feels heavier following the loss of the late, great David Lynch, but if you take one message away from his beloved series Twin Peaks – and there are many – it’s that no one ever really dies; their souls linger, change form, and maybe take the body of a tulpa or two. Candy Whiplash, Past Model, haha Laughing, Queen Serene, and special guests Hell God Baby Damn provide the music at this costume party, which promises coffee and donuts, a Twin Peaks-themed photo booth and cocktail menu, vendors, and even a damn fine pie baking contest. Give yourself a present by coming out on a Monday – it’s what DKL would’ve wanted. – Carys Anderson
Photo by Ben Roan
ladyluck
Tuesday 25, Hotel Vegas
For San Marcos-based shoegazers ladyluck, the hazier the distortion, the better. On their reverb-drenched December EP head light, the band’s electric Nineties melodies (“hazel”) swirl amid a feedback-flooded wash of static (“luck in 3’s”) and vocalist Allison Jones’ ethereal hums. The trio has amassed a devoted audience since their 2023 inception with a saturated, droning sound and captivating stage presence. For the final date of their February Hotel Vegas residency, they will be joined by alt-rock quartet Stab and noisy grunge fourpiece Witches Exist. – Miranda Garza
Grace Bowers
Thursday 27, Continental Club
Earlier this month, Grace Bowers joined Chris Martin onstage at the Grammys to play “All My Love,” a well-earned spotlight for the 18-year-old artist who has garnered accolades and awards in recent years as the next great guitar slinger. Her debut album, Wine on Venus, unloads incredible riffs that smoke burning blues and jam wicked funk from her band Grace Bowers & the Hodge Podge, but it’s her live performances, folding in subtle jazz tones and roaring rock, that has set the Nashville guitarist in elite company, including a current slot on tour opening for Gary Clark Jr. – Doug Freeman
Courtesy of ACL Live
Bright Eyes
Thursday 27, ACL Live at the Moody Theater
Omaha’s kings Bright Eyes have kept a steady touring schedule since reuniting in 2020, but this round is prompted by a new album, Five Dice, All Threes, the band’s 11th full-length. With 30 years of material to draw from, Conor Oberst and company’s set lists strike a balance between new material and the songs that elder emos have cried to for years. Onstage, even those standards feel fresh – the band pours the same level of raw emotion into songs debuted in September as ones they wrote a lifetime ago. – Abby Johnston
by Derek Udensi
La Murga de Austin (Photo by Jana Birchum)
Verde Verde Verde Fest
Friday 21, Meanwhile Brewing
¡¿Estás Listos?! Before another Austin FC season commences this Saturday, head over to South Austin for a free party thrown by ATXFC house band La Murga de Austin. Other performers include the Tiarras, R&B artist Nubia Emmon, and Daphne Falls. Vendors such as Los Verdes Supporters Club and In the Crew 512 will be on-site.
The WRLDFMS Tony Williams
Friday 21, the Pershing
Known for valued contributions to the discography of his first cousin, Kanye West, on albums like The College Dropout – and other features, like his great appearance on “Bonjour,” off an album many Nas fans have probably forgotten about by now – singer-songwriter Tony Williams brings his band to support THEBROSFRESH. Last December, Williams released the deluxe version of his most recent full-length, A Fish Without a Bicycle.
Mama Duke
Saturday 22, Continental Club
Saturday night hip-hop on South Congress! Mama Duke reemerged earlier this year (see last week’s Qmmunity for more) with pop-heavy new album You Can Open Your Eyes Now, which is her first full-length since December 2020. She opens a bill featuring Geto Gala and Kalu James with his Electric Joint band.
Want to see all of our listings broken down by day? Go to austinchronicle.com/calendar and see what’s happening now or in the coming week.
