This is a good week to get the most out of your concert dollars, as several concerts featuring multiple acts roll into town.
Wednesday
You can call The Hotel Café tour a collection of singer/songwriters that you may not have heard of yet, but you should. Led by Cary Brothers, whose claim to fame so far is a song on the excellent Garden State soundtrack. Other up-and-comers include Chicago native Rachael Yamagata, Joshua Radin, Tristan Prettyman and Jim Bianco.
8 p.m. at the Meridian | tickets and info
If you prefer a more twangy grouping of artists, you may want to check out this year’s KILT Ten Man Jam (don’t let the title fool you, women are included). Several Texas artists (Jack Ingram, Lee Ann Womack, Randy Rogers) join veteran artists John Anderson and Jo Dee Messina, and bring some newer musical friends with them.
7:30 p.m. at Verizon Wireless Theater | tickets and info
Thursday
Even though MTV’s sister station M2 is phasing out music videos, just like they’ve done with all of their other stations, they’re at least bringing some newer alternative-rock artists to town tonight. Headlined by 30 Seconds to Mars, the MTV2 show also features Rock Kills Kid, The Receiving End of Sirens, Head Automatica, and more.
7 p.m. at Verizon Wireless Theater | tickets and info
Austin’s The Boxing Lesson melds moody melodies with old new wave and modern rock. Lead vocalist Paul Waclawsky reminds us of early Elvis Costello. Two Houston bands making a name for themselves on the local indie-rock scene will be performing, too – Stare Decisis and Tzar Bomba.
8 p.m. at Rudyard’s | info
Friday
Finally, one of our favorite live acts from Austin is making a new CD. The latin-fused rock band Vallejo has been around for almost ten years now, but haven’t released a CD in almost half that time. Speaking of new albums, we still love Houston’s Tody Castillo’s (who also plays tonight) debut disc, but eagerly wait for new material from him, too. Both play tonight.
10 p.m. at the Continental Club | tickets and info
Saturday
Chicago’s Wax on Radio has the honor of having their music compared to everything from Pink Floyd and Yes to Mars Volta and Bright Eyes. Passionate lyrics with drawn-out music progressions – time will tell if they’ll ever be able to even match the success of any of their influences.
8 p.m. at Walter’s on Washington | tickets and info
Alejandro Escovedo has been a major force in alternative country since the whole genre started twenty-something years ago. After taking off a few years because of an illness, he’s finally’s back, disease-free, and with a new album. Interesting note: “Glamorous Life” singer Sheila E. is his niece.
8 p.m. at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck | tickets and info
Pictured L to R: Jack Ingram; Vallejo; Cary Brothers.
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