The Silos -- Walter Salas-Humara, leader of the semi-legendary Silos, might be the Stephen Malkmus of the roots country set, featuring cut-and-paste wordplay and low-fi settings for real high-fidelity emotions. Shows are rather loose and ragged, but for this kind of music, it works fine. Depending on the night, the lyrical and emotional ground the band covers isn't polished, but then again, affairs of the heart never are. Double Door Inn (Davis)
Steve Kimock Band -- Kimock, sometimes guitarist for The Other Ones (The Dead) or Phil & Friends, is still using the same hybridized guitar style he brought to the above bands, albeit with a little more jazzbo flair. Muscular rhythms and spin-o-riffic musical curlicues are both par for the course with Kimock, who Jerry Garcia once called his "favorite unknown guitar player." His band, which included Alphonso Johnson on bass and Rodney Holmes on drums, set Kimock off nicely with their session player-slick low end. Visulite Theatre (Davis)
THURSDAY 3.6
The Grandsons -- An interesting band partial to roots rock, swing, New Orleans R&B and country two-step, the combo makes for a lively show as the recent disc, Live At the Barns, reveals. The horn is as important as guitar in the sum. The live disc pumps out hip shakers one after the other, as they roll through witty originals and old-time covers like "One Mint Julep" and "Scotch and Soda." Double Door Inn (Shukla)
Guy Clark -- While others (Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill) have had bigger hits with his songs than he has, Guy Clark still has maintained his status as one of Texas' strongest songwriters, an opinion bandied about widely ever since his seminal first record, Old No. 1. Though sometimes roped into the "Outlaw" crowd, his records were always more in line with his late pal Townes Van Zandt, marrying the wide open space of the landscape around him to those of the heart. Guy's latest, The Dark, is his strongest contribution in years: spare, smoky and spirited. With Mary Gauthier. Neighborhood Theatre (Davis)
FRIDAY 3.7
Chubby Carrier -- You gotta give props to New Orleans, perhaps the only city in America where a musically inclined kid is as likely to pick up an accordion as an electric guitar. And why not? This is party music, doubly so when Carrier's name is on the bill. Chub's one of the preeminent zydeco musicians alive, and the Bayou Swamp Band, his funked-up backing band, lay the necessary musical roux for Carrier's spicy squeezebox fireworks. Double Door Inn (Davis)
Mama Said -- The trio of Mama Said are multi-instrumentalists plugging their wares as "rural alternative" and deliver an assorted sound in the confines of said catchphrase. All three sing lead and harmony and have a clean and unpretentious sound hinting at, but not limited to, Cajun, Tex-Mex, folk and grass. Check their solid recent effort, Runnin' With Scissors, for more references. Sylvia Theater, York (Shukla)
Two Dollar Pistols -- You Ruined Everything, the second full-length Pistols record, is centered around the same thing their hotshot debut was a few years back: John Howie's powerful voice, which has a low, rumbling quality that one might more easily identify with a vintage Indian motorcycle than a youngish alt.country artist. In addition to the voice (let's just say it's no coincidence the Pistols have a fair amount of female fans), the group boasts one of the best rhythm sections in the area and the frequently head-shaking licks of guitarist Scott McCall. Sa-lute! The Evening Muse (Davis)
SATURDAY 3.8
Angwish -- Led by songwriter Brian Bielanski, Angwish sound like they were teethed on Nirvana's Bleach and fed a big bottle of latter-day Foo Fighters to settle their unruly stomachs. Their new one, 485, is heads above their last release, showcasing Bielanski's improving songwriting chops (i.e., not every line rhymes this time around) to fine effect. Catchy, and one to watch; while lacking pro polish, the songs are at least as good as most of those played on local "alternative" radio. With Fat Tortoise Butcher. Fat City (Davis)
Mindspill -- Local Deathcore specialists are releasing a new disc, Rise of the New Machine God, and have invited a posse of comrades to help loosen the foundation. Expect plenty of guttural howling with rat-a-tat drums and guitars mimicking urban warfare for this CD release event. Pals riding shotgun include 3 Quarter Dead, Astrid Heaven and Myndflow. Tremont Music Hall (Shukla)
Sabri Brothers -- Qawwali is a centuries old form of devotional music evolved from the Sufi Muslim traditions of India and, later, Pakistan. Qawwali combines classical structures of Hindustani music and traditional Muslim recitations, creating a trance-like aura through soaring vocals, scats and rhythm provided by harmonium, tablas and percussive clapping. The Sabri Brothers, legends in South Asia, were the earliest proponents of the form in the west, though it was the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan who broke it on the mass level, recording with everyone from Eddie Vedder to Peter Gabriel. Qawwali and its uniqueness lie in the mix of devotional music of Hindus (bhajans or congregational hymns) and Muslim poetry knotted into a powerful proclamation of peace and brotherhood. The Sabris have generally remained more traditional than Nusrat, who had a flair for experimenting with rock stars, jazz players and remix artists. For more info on the Sabri show, call 704-907-0820. UNC-Charlotte (Shukla)
TUESDAY 3.11
Benna -- Though she's signed to Adult Swim Records, the label headed by former Minor Threat drummer Jeff Nelson, Benna Cohen's no Ian McKaye. No, the New York songstress is a sort of pop/punk lush and boasts a big ol' voice that excites at all decibel levels. Earnest stuff, but in a realistic, low-fi kind of way that doesn't scream, "Look at me!" Rather, it just makes eyes at you from across the bar. The Evening Muse (Davis)