Weekender

Guess the post-sxsw gluttony of shows has pretty much calmed down this weekend. There are a few good things going on, however, and here they are:

FRIDAY

Nouns Group/Blank Blank Zero/Death to the Doomriders/Fake Blood/Har Herrar (1919 Hemphill): Blank Blank Zero is an on again/off again group, with obvious grind influences, unexpected rhythm shifts, and ambitiously busy bass-lines. The vocals are always convincingly pissed off, and the lead singer once walked away mid-set to get a slice of pizza and pushed a fan out of the way with a curt "Yeah, right" when asked about "merch." Intense. Har Herrar features a member of Mount Righteous and Blank Blank playing acoustic songs somewhere along the same lines as Mt. Righteous, but with stripped down instrumentation and bombast. Fake Blood is the keyboard and drums duo that shouts beautifully along to their bratty racket.

White Rock Rhythms Presents Image and Imagination (Bath House Gallery, 521 E. Lawther Dr., Dallas,TX): Got wind of this event at the last minute, and since I don't know much about it beyond what I just read anyway, I'll go ahead and post the email I received. This thing starts at 8pm, and you can call 214-670-8749 for more info:

Since 2003 , the White Rock Rhythms concert series has showcased the great diversity of the (mostly underground) Dallas jazz scene, with styles ranging from traditional swing and New Orleans Street beat to contemporary progressive and the Avant Garde.

White Rock Rhythms' Image and Imagination is a multi-media event featuring art and writings from 'Verse and Reverse," the new show in the Bath House gallery.

As the art is projected, writers read their words and musicians Carl Smith from Austin, Aaron Gonzalez of Dallas and Kim Corbet of Dallas interpret what they see and hear as dancers move in shadow play behind an opaque scrim. Subtle shades of light and sound stimulate each observer into absolutely unique interpretations guaranteed to inspire deep atmospheric dreams

Kaboom/Magnum Octopus/Br00takville (J&Js): Check this fuckin' shit out. Dudes are probly gonna rock the fuck out at this shit and go home and party way harder than your dumb ass with way hotter chicks and bongs and crazy ass shit like you don't even know. Kaboom has like this insane fuckin little dude that runs around scaring my boy Howardbobjohnson on some Jesus Lizard shit. Rule. Unless you're too much of a pussy you should show the fuck up at this thing at 9 and fuckin be drunk enough to be all hey lets mosh to this shit before we get laid by those metal bitches that hang in front of that bullshit pizza place. tight.

Sorry. But I really like that flier.

SATURDAY

Dub Assembly Feat. Parson/Mundo and Lifted MC/Keith P/Royal Highnuss (Green Elephant): Chris Parson of Planet Mu Records will headline this month's edition of Dub Assembly, an event that is growing in terms of both attendance and wider cultural relevancy. So I know we've already told you about the praise that Jason Mundo has received from European critics (check Wire and Boomkat for more) for his American brand of dubstep, but as we dig deeper into the press that Mundo and some of the other Dub Assembly crew members have been getting, we find that, along with Austin's Chris Parson, Mundo is being praised not only as a dubstep producer generally, but as one that does something a bit different: namely, incorporating elements of dirty south hip hop into the genre, resulting in something of a unique take on dubstep unique to Texas. Interesting. And with Keith P joining (possibly the best DJ in town right now), we'll tell you again to check these guys out if you have any interest at all in electronic music. Dubstep seems to be a love it or hate it affair, but you really have to hear it live before you can decide which side of the fence to be on.

Two Cow Garage/Brent Best/Swedish Teens/The Heelers(Rubber Gloves)

SUNDAY

Rocket for Ethiopia/The Potetial Johns/The Wax Museums/Koji Kondo/Icarus Crane/Pools (Carrolton Arts Plaza): I'm hard pressed to think of a more perfect marriage than hardcore shows in the suburbs. The backdrop in this instance is Old Carrolton (I thought you knew) and apparently there is one of two record stores nearby, a comic shop, bike shop etc. The show takes place in an old theater that's been renovated and dates back to fairly early last century. The Wax Museums did a terrific job at our show last week, taking their deceptively simple music and showing us what a feat it is to pull off that kind of throwback punk, stopping perfectly on every break, and never sounding like the moronically empty retro retreads of some of their peers. Extra points for the headless bass. Pools play a passionately art-damaged hardcore with screaming vocals and bigger, slower beats dropped throughout as opposed to the tight closed hi-hat sound. Icarus Crane are kind of the odd band out, with a tedious music school virtuosity that smugly winks its way through prog-strumental territory, but at least they don't sing. The Potential Johns have those charming early 80's vocals where you can actually make out the words, sometimes sounding like Angry Samoans or even The Wipers, and fairly melodic overall. Rocket For Ethiopia are fairly sloppy live but it doesn't bother me. You ever heard a Germs live album? It sucks but it rules.

Punk Bunny/Dr. Mobutu/Sticky Buns (Hailey's)