XL Music

Music: Recommended

THURSDAY

Mojo Nixon. Two years to the day after performing his, um, final show, Mojo and the Toadliquors are touring in support of Kinky Friedman's gubernatorial bid. Each show will be an official Kinky 'signing station' manned by campaign volunteers collecting signatures on petitions to add Friedman to the ballot. But will Michael J. Fox, the man Mojo said had no Elvis, lend his support? Continental Club. 1315 S. Congress Ave. 441-2444. — Joe Gross

FRIDAY

Sound Tribe Sector Nine. Part dub reggae throb, part jam band abstraction, part acid jazz breakbeat science, STS9 emanates from a planet in the jam-band galaxy very close to Sun Ra's Saturn, the Jerry Garcia nebula and whatever black hole Lee 'Scratch' Perry hails from. Stubb's. 801 Red River St. 480-8341. — J.G.

The Arm. The show celebrates the release of 'Call You Out' (Indirect), the Arm's second album of explosive post-punk thunder. With Single Frame, Faceless Werewolves and Lomita at Emo's. 603 Red River St. 477-EMOS. — J.G.

Helios Creed. When he's not on tour, the acid-noise guitar legend spends a nice chunk of his time in and around Austin. With Dresden 45, Castle Siege and Condemned Unit at Room 710. 710 Red River St. 476-0997. — J.G.

SATURDAY

Stephen Stills. You might remember him from such profoundly influential '60s folk-rock titans — Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash. This performance, entitled Keeping the Beat, will benefit the Austin Heart Foundation, and is designed to raise awareness about Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). Riverbend Centre, 4214 N. Capitol of Texas Highway, 469-SHOW.— J.G.

SUNDAY

Zykos. This Austin indie rock juggernaut, led by the ripped 'n' emotive voice of Mike Booher, sounds better than ever, as a powerful South by Southwest day party set at Emo's recently reminded everyone. But when can we expect album No. 3? With Maria Taylor and 13 Ghost at the Parish. 214 E. Sixth St. 478-6372. — J.G.

MONDAY

Sad Wings. There are far worse ways to start off your week than with a good tribute band. Sad Wings, as fans could probably figure out, is a Judas Priest tribute band, named after 'Sad Wings of Destiny,' one of the band's very best albums. Redrum. 401 Sabine St. 275-6575. — J.G.

TUESDAY

Black Novas. High energy rock 'n' roll is what they call what these guys do, which means a hard rock alloy equal parts AC/DC riff-o-tronics, the skuzz an' trash of mid-'70s New York punk and Austin garage stumble. With Black Eyes and Neckties at Room 710. 710 Red River St. 476-0997. — J.G.

Fruit Bats. On his third CD, "Spelled in Bones," Eric Johnson (not, no that Eric Johnson) pulls off the neat trick of making an album's worth of country-pop-rock that sounds at once summery and autumnal. And the guy has a better way with a left-field hook than anybody this side of The Shins. With Amandine and Sam Jayne (of Of Love and Laughter semi-fame) at Emo's. 603 Red River St. 477-EMOS. — Jeff Salamon

Neko Case. See CD review here.

WEDNESDAY

Chris Gates & Gatesville. After the Charter Bulldogs folded last year, rock 'n' roll lifer Chris Gates (ex-Big Boys, Poison 13, Junkyard, etc.) started this band, his first real solo outing, part gritty roots rock in the Austin tradition, part modernist Southern rock in the Drive-By Truckers traditions. With Lonesome Heroes and an 8 p.m. set from Bearded Clam Diggers at Room 710. 710 Red River St. 476-0997. — J.G.

Holland Hopson. 'Jazz' is what most folks call what this fellow does, but it's more along the lines of 'electro-acoustic computer music the sources for which were generated live as part of a sound installation toes the line between composition and improvisation.' Which why jazz does nicely. With the Downtown Grapeshot Jazz Band at 8 p.m. at the Parlor. 100 W. North Loop Blvd. 454-8965. — J.G.