Nick Shoulders and the Okay Crawdad will appear this Sunday at Paper Tiger. Credit: Nick Futch

Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect the postponement of Death From Above 1979’s San Antonio show.

Unorthodox approaches appear to be a running theme with San Antonio’s live music highlights this week.

We’ve got an all-tuba band rocking Krause’s Cafe, a vibraphone-fueled tribute to San Antonio’s musical history and a former crustpunk turned yodeling folkie. Let’s run down the details, which — don’t worry — also include some more … ahem … conventional options.

Wednesday, Jan. 29

The Tubameisters

Heavy metal of the bass clef variety reigns when The Tubameisters hit the stage. The quartet employs the low-end brass of tubas and euphoniums to bring to life the music of Germany, Austria and Mexico. The group recently hosted its 44th Annual Tubameister Christmas at Arneson River Theatre, a holiday concert open to tuba and euphonium players of all ages. Free, 6 p.m., Krause’s Cafe, 148 S. Castell Ave., New Braunfels, (830) 625-2807 krausescafe.com. — Daniel Cervantes

Thursday, Jan. 30

Toro Flores

Toro Flores, a master percussionist specializing in vibraphone, has assembled a special performance called “A Love Letter to San Antonio,” which offers a tour of our city’s diverse musical history. Expect stops in the blues and jazz of the East Side and the conjunto and brown-eyed soul of the West Side along with country and rock. This show seeks to educate us on the Alamo City’s singular and often overlooked musical legacy. $25, 7:30 p.m., Jazz TX, 312 Pearl Parkway, jazztx.com. — Bill Baird

Cast of Thousands, Powdered Wig Machine, Eastern Condors

Austin’s Cast of Thousands cranks out power-pop of the highest order. You can hear the influence of Big Star, Guided by Voices and other masters of the craft. Which is to say the band is capable of hitting emotionally, melodically and lyrically, while chiming guitars and propulsive rhythms draw listeners in. San Antonio’s Powdered Wig Machine are a powerful live band with bizarre theatrics that bring the feeling of a surreal TV show come to life. Eastern Condors, another SA act, play high-energy, post-punk noise rock. $10, 8 p.m., The Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St, thelonesomerose.com. — BB

Sunday, Feb. 2

Nick Shoulders and the Okay Crawdad

Nick Shoulders is at the forefront of an emerging scene that blends folk, DIY punk and country into something that feels both classic and fresh. In the tradition of folk figures like Jimmy Driftwood, the fiddle-playing Shoulders taps into American roots music and makes it new again. A former crustpunk, Shoulders brings the DIY ethos of years of hard travelin’ into his gritty eccentricity as an artist and promoter of other equally talented musicians. Through his label Gar Hole Records, Shoulders has presented an insanely strong roster of artists representing this new/old permutation of country, including Creekbed Carter, Two Runner and other stellar acts. With Shoulders, you get honesty and authenticity. But you also get a yodel that could strip the paint off a shed. $20, 7 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — Stephanie Koithan

This article appears in Jan 22 – Feb 4, 2025.

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