XL

Music: Recommended gigs

Thursday, February 02, 2006

THURSDAY

Adrian Legg. One day, someone will figure out if this guy is a folk artist in chamber-jazz drag or a master-class finger-picker with New Age-y taste in cover art. Either way, his fans — and that includes a legion of Guitarist magazine readers, who voted him guitarist of the decade of the 1990s — think he's the best in the world. Cactus Cafe. 24th and Guadalupe streets. University of Texas campus. 475-6515. — Joe Gross

Ozomatli. It's as if Austin can't get enough of this band of Latin-funksters after the city threw a couple of its members in jail during South by Southwest two years ago. Doors at 7 p.m. Paramount Theatre. 713 Congress Ave. 472-5470. — J.G.

Attack Formation vs. Nervous Exit. The 'versus' tag means the bands may combine to form some mutant beast to assault us with grimy noise. Like that Japanese robot Voltron, but much louder. With Oh Beast! and Tuxedo Killers at Beerland. 711 1/2 Red River St. 479-ROCK. — J.G.

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

Spoon. Now that Britt Daniel is a full-time Portland-ite (Portland-er?), can we still call these guys one of Austin's finest local bands? Why not? With I Love You but I've Chosen Darkness Thursday and Sons of Hercules on Friday at La Zona Rosa. 612 W. Fourth St. 472-2293. — J.G.

FRIDAY

Brothers and Sisters. This rising Austin alt-country band has a rich, homey, melodic sound, all camaraderie and bro hugs without the frat guy chest-bumping. This is a party and show celebrating the release of the band's excellent new CD. With Quien es Boom! and Lomita at Beerland. 711 1/2 Red River St. 479-ROCK. — J.G.

Tribute to Handsome Joel. This concert benefits the Handsome Joel Foundation, which in turn funds the SafeRide program, which lets you get home safe — thanks to taxicab vouchers — when you've had too much to drink. Joel Svatek, an enormously popular bartender, booker and Red River fixture, died at 33 on Jan. 27, 2003, after his car was rear-ended by a sport-utility vehicle. With Suplecs, Dixie Witch and more at Elysium. 705 Red River St. 478-2979. — J.G.

'Lacie-palooza.' This is a fundraiser for local musician Lacie Taylor, a member of the acoustic duo Fine Fifteen. She is undergoing treatments for severe chronic back pain. Featured performers include Bruce Robison, Earl Poole Ball, Ethan Azarian, Jerm Pollet, members of Li'l Cap'n Travis, Darling New Neighbors and more. Hole In the Wall. 2538 Guadalupe St. 477-4747. — J.G.

SATURDAY

Matthew Shipp. Jazz fans who look to this New York pianist for a high-energy fix or some electro-acoustic genre-breaking will probably have to adjust their ears for his latest record, 'One.' It's a piano recital of all-original tunes, with an emphasis on slowly evolving structures and modest dissonances — when there are any dissonances at all. He will, presumably, be in a similar mode for this solo appearance. The local ECFA Trio open at Ballet Austin. 3002 Guadalupe St. 220-8889. — Jeff Salamon

Pearls and Brass. Sadly for this Nazareth, Pa.-based band, Nazareth was already taken as a band name. Which is too bad, because Pearls and Brass' vision of heavy could support such a weighty, loaded moniker. The band's Drag City Records debut, 'The Indian Tower,' is crunchy and loose without ever being clichéd, which is not easy for blues-metal-boogie revivalists. High modernist hard rock for devout low-brows. With the High Tension Wires, Pudding and more at Emo's. 603 Red River St. 477-EMOS. — J.G.

David Grisman Quintet. A huge figure in the blending of modern bluegrass with jazz and folk rhythms and style, Grisman is the mandolinist's mandolinist. With former Austinites the Greencards at Paramount Theatre. 713 Congress Ave. 472-5470. — J.G.

SUNDAY

Brujeria. Rumor has it that this death metal supergroup may, could or might contain members of such legendary grinders as Carcass, Napalm Death and everyone's favorite death metal Egyptologists, Nile. What we do know is that Brujeria is led by Fear Factory members Dino Cazares on guitar and Raymond Herrera on drums. The rest of the lineup has included members from Faith No More, Down by Law and Napalm Death, among others. With Cephalic Carnage and local noisemakers Steers. Emo's. 603 Red River St. 477-EMOS. — J.G.

MONDAY

Carolyn Wonderland. She cuts her blues with swing, surf and country moves. You never know exactly what you're going to get from Wonderland and her guitar, but you know it will be soulful and rich. With Matt Hubbard at Ruta Maya. 3601 S. Congress Ave. Suite D-200. 707-9637. — J.G.

TUESDAY

D-Madness. Is there anything Dwayne 'D-Madness' Jackson cannot do, any groove he can't play, any beat he can't make swing and bounce and move like the one-man funkster he is? The answer — as many an Austin hip-hop and jazz and funk act who have relied on his skills can tell you — is no. Whisky Bar. 303 W. Fifth St. 481-8599. — J.G.

WEDNESDAY

Anthony B. This veteran of the conscious reggae movement and devout pan-Africanist knows from influencing the masses. His single 'Nah vote again' has been cited as a factor in the Jamaican elections of '97, the most peaceful in years. Doors at 8:30 p.m. with Catch a Fire Soundsystem featuring DJs RJ, JahRay and Q45. Flamingo Cantina. 515 E. Sixth St. 494-9336. — J.G.