He tutored Joni Mitchell, collaborated with Eric Clapton, wrote for Donovan and sang back-up for the Beatles, but singer-songwriter Shawn Philips remains under the radar. Born in ’40s-era Fort Worth, Phillips developed his own brand of progressive folk in the clubs of New York’s Greenwich Village and San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury, ditching a leading role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar to tour England and France before settling in Italy. Credited with introducing the sitar to pop music, Phillips earned critical accolades in the ’70s with his resonating lyrics, four-octave range and mastery of the 12-string guitar (an era anthologized in The Best of Shawn Phillips: The A&M Years). The South Africa-based musical enigma plays Sam’s in support of his 25th release, the new double CD Persepctive. $20-$25, 8pm Monday, Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E Grayson, (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com.
2. Wolverton EP Release
Wolverton will release their Horse Head Dawn EP with a show Tuesday, the first in a September residency at Liberty Bar. On that first Tuesday, the show will be called E A and D are The Foundation of The Earth and will feature guest appearances by Kim Hubbeling and Joe Reyes, the latter also the band’s producer/engineer. The live EP is the first with the full band: Hills Snyder on guitar and vocals, Caralyn Snyder on vocals, Kate Terrell on keyboards and vocals, and Jeremiah Teutsch on bass, violin, banjo and vocals, with additional guitars by Reyes. You can hear songs from the EP at soundcloud.com/wolverton. Horse Head Dawn is an enjoyable ride filled with the band’s ’60s and ’70s-inspired harmony-laden folk, and the intimate Liberty Bar an ideal venue for it. Free, 7:30pm Tuesday, Liberty Bar, 1111 S Alamo, (210) 227-1187, liberty-bar.com.
3. Jazz’SAlive Market featuring David Villanueva
Kicking off the San Antonio Parks Foundation’s Month of Jazz events, the Jazz’SAlive Market provides a taste of things to come when the Jazz’SAlive festival takes over Travis Park with two full days (on September 21 and 22) of live jazz showcasing big names like Hiroshima and Spyro Gyra. A talented local saxophonist, David Villanueva has performed with the likes of Patsy Torres, Glen Miller Orchestra and Raulito Navaira. After years of working as a sideman, Villanueva took a “leap of faith” in 2004 and formed DVJazz, a band with more than 40 years of experience between its members. (You can catch Villanueva as a solo artist performing regularly at Kirby’s Steakhouse; DVJazz plays regular gigs at the Worm Tequila & Mezcal Bar.) As an added incentive to attend the lunchtime concerts series (which continues with The Armin Marmolejo Quintet on September 10 and Midtown Jazz on September 17), the Jazz’SAlive Market features food truck fare and unique shopping from local arts and crafts vendors. Free, 11am-2pm Tuesday, Travis Park, 301 E Travis, saparksfoundation.org.
4. Blood on the Dance Floor
In six years, Blood on the Dance Floor has survived as much drama as one might prescribe for a flamboyant emo-electronica outfit formed by a former hairdresser named Jesus. With five albums to their credit—including 2012’s Evolution, featuring collaborations with Deuce and Joel Madden—the Orlando-based band comprised of founding frontman Dahvie Vanity and rapping/screaming sidekick Jayy Von Monroe is set to drop Bad Blood—a loaded LP Vanity describes as an “open confession.” Whether Vanity’s coming clean about his online nemesis Jessi Slaughter, cross-dressing frenemy Jefree Star or former bandmate Garrett Ecstasy, count on the ravenous young fan base Slash Gash Terror Crew and a fearless crew of haters (check out Encyclopedia Dramatica’s entry for BOTDF) to fuel the viral wildfire. Also on the bill: Heavygrinder, Farewell My Love, the Relapse Symphony and Haley Rose. $15-$17, doors at 5pm Wednesday, The White Rabbit, 2410 N St. Mary’s, (210) 737-2221, sawhiterabbit.com.
5. ‘What Is Important Is’
Looking at possessions with hope and humor, UTSA’s Fotoseptiembre offering rounds up a quartet exploring “contemporary engagement with objects.” Waco-based Susan Mullaly’s What I Keep, Portraits and Choices introduces members of a multicultural church that’s been meeting under I-35 for 17 years. Mullaly’s life-size portraits gain deeper contexts from statements about what each individual holds close and why it’s valued. Working as a team, Kurt Gohde and Kremena Todrova photograph discarded pieces of furniture with their former owners. Based in Kentucky, the duo continued their project Discarded here in San Antonio. In her wry series Desperate Signs, Cleveland’s Liz Maugans appropriates text from Craigslist to find “new owners” for such unwanted items as a “crappy loveseat.” Free, 6-8pm Wednesday, UTSA Art Gallery, Main Campus, One UTSA Circle, (210) 458-4391, art.utsa.edu.
