Direct from the self-proclaimed “Live
Music Capital of the World” comes Austin’s roots-music darling
Elizabeth McQueen for a one-night stand at Underground City Tavern (700 E.
Adams St., 789-1530) on Friday, May 6. McQueen’s band, the
Firebrands, is stacked with glorious Austin musicians who help support the
roots pop diva on her latest Freedom Records release. The recording, Happy Doing What We’re Doing, pays homage to Rockpile, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Graham
Parker, and other lesser known British popsters who helped create the
English pub rock scene of the late ’70s.
Mighty SideShow got its show
on the road in Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1998. By 2003 the band was bounding
up the Active Rock record charts with the song and album Part of Something. Now they’re
back on tour in support of a new disc, Dare You
to Think. You can hear them on WQLZ and you
can see them at Buster’s (1120 Sangamon Ave., 522-0552) this Sunday,
May 8. Joining the traveling band in concert are local rock scene climbers
Facelift and Ivory Rust. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. There is a $5 cover.
Believers in rock & roll
should plan ahead for the May 21 Underground City Tavern appearance of
living legend Link Wray. All lovers of guitar power chords owe Mr. Wray a
debt of gratitude for his innovative approach to the electric six-string
back in the mid-’50s. Almost a half-century later he’s still
playing Rumble,Rawhide, and Jack the Ripper to a new
generation of fans fond of distorted guitar sounds.
It’s Josh
Catalano’s turn to play for the masses of downtown shoppers flooding
Recycled Records (625 E. Adams St., 522-5122) during their evening live
music series. The venerable venue is staying open until 8 p.m. every
Wednesday through the summer, in order to feature local musicians from 5:30
to 7:30. Catalano, the former lead singer and songwriter of Mugshot has
been lying low lately, no doubt sitting on a pile of new songs and
preparing to unleash them upon some lucky listener. Show up on May 11 and
you could be the one.
With plenty of open mics on
the market for guitar-bearing singers, it’s nice to see one
specifically oriented to hip hop isn’t it? Capcitill Promotions heads
up the all-ages show on May 7, at Two Olives & a Pepper (107 W. Cook,
241-1027), from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. You can sign up at the show or online at
www.capcitill.com
This article appears in May 5-11, 2005.
