Envy any San Antonio music fan trying to figure out what show to catch this weekend, because the choices are going to be tough. Fans of metal, retro soul, noise rock and alt-country all have can’t-miss options.
Read on and choose wisely, dear readers.
Thursday, Jan. 23
Atmosphere, Sage Francis, Mr. Dibbs
Minneapolis hip hop-duo Atmosphere, comprised of rapper Slug (Sean Daley) and producer Ant (Anthony Davis), has drawn praise for its introspective rhymes and the throwback sounds of its classic production. Slug’s strength as a lyricist is the vulnerability and truth at the heart of his rhymes. Founded in 1996, Atmosphere dropped its 13th studio album, So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously, in 2023. $41.25-$83.80, 7:30 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com. — Danny Cervantes
Saturday, Jan. 25
Broken Teeth, Agony Column, Simulation Theory, Scotty Karate
Austin metal acts Broken Teeth and Agony Column appear to be co-headlining this stacked Southtown bill. Founded from the ashes of Dangerous Toys by vocalist Jason McMaster and guitarist Paul Lidel, Broken Teeth specializes in a two-fisted brand of hardscrabble rock worthy of fist pumps. Meanwhile, the reformed Agony Column emerged as a solid Texas draw in the 1990s thanks to its wryly humorous blend of thrash metal and tongue-in-cheek Southern rock. Song titles like “66Six Guns for Satan” and “God, Guns & Guts” tell you all you need to know. Show up early by all means, because singer-songwriter, traveling minstrel and raconteur Scotty Karate is not to be missed. $15, 7 p.m., Gimme Gimme, 803 S. St. Mary’s St., instagram.com/bargimmegimme. — Sanford Nowlin
Lee Fields with Monophonics
Retro-soul vocalist Lee Fields is blessed with a set of pipes that can coax you to sleep or peel the paint off the walls. Fields’ tour-de-force performances have led to frequent comparisons to James Brown. Indeed, he even provided vocals for the Brown biopic Get On Up. Fields’ five-decade career has included collaborations with anyone from Kool & the Gang and B.B. King to French house DJ Martin Solveig. Joining Fields for this tour is Monophonics, dubbed the “top psychedelic soul band in the world.” For fans of groovy music, this performance is a must. $37, 8 p.m., Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry St., thecarver.org. — Bill Baird
Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, Trash Dragon
Austin-based Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol may have an unwieldy name, but the band’s taut blasts of fuzzy noise rock are anything but unwieldy. Revolver Magazine called the trio “epically catchy,” which isn’t always easy to pull off with such a pile-driving sound. SA’s own masters of noise and sludge The Grasshopper Lies Heavy make a distinctive racket of their own, making them one of the top bands in town — if not the top. Fellow hometown heroes Trash Dragon will bring their own fuzzy, noisy approach, making this one stellar bill for fans of big ugly riffs. $15, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — BB
Droptines, Henry Merchant
Frontman Connor “The King of Concan” Arthur established alt-country outfit The Droptines in 2019 in the Hill Country enclave that figures in his nickname. Although classic country is at the root of its sound, the band capably draws from a variety of other genres to enhance Arthur’s storytelling lyrics. The driving but moody “Raining Where You Are” from the Droptines’ self-titled 2024 album offers a good overview of the band’s strengths. $20, 8 p.m., Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, (830) 606-1281, gruenehall.com. — DC
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This article appears in Jan 8-21, 2025.