††† (Crosses)
Does Deftones frontman Chino Moreno—as the rumor rounding the music blogs a few years back claimed—actually have a witch-house band? If you’re referring to the strain of ambient techno music made by young molly-poppers with DJ Screw fixations, then not really. Look past those witchy-looking unicode crosses (a tall order considering they stand in not only for the band name but for every “T” in every song title) and Crosses, which includes Far founding member/guitarist Shaun Lopez and producer Chuck Doom, has about as much to do with micro-genre-bandwagon-hopping as Adore-era Smashing Pumpkins or as the Deftones had with the dreadful nü-metal label slapped on them. This year’s self-titled full-length debut is the sound of Moreno giving his scream-box a rest and, as longtime Defotnes and Team Sleep listeners know, that’s when things really get interesting. $18, 9:45pm, Backstage Live, 1305 E Houston, (210) 802-7655, backstagelivesa.com. —Jeremy Martin
Mon 3/17
Dark Sister
Identifying as both “spiritual feminists” and “nü-metal priestesses of Kali,” Tennessee-born, Brooklyn-based vixens Jessi Wade and Tiffany Nicole are Dark Sister, an unsigned act with two EPs—2011’s Swag Hag and 2013’s Darkest Lipstick (in the Drugstore). Drawing inspiration from the likes of Britney Spears, Tori Amos, Aaliyah and Hole, the gals create a DIY strain of occult-inspired hip-hop that plays out in songs with titles like “Supermodel Terrorist” and “Alien Ankh.” Ghostpizza brings the dynamic duo to Hi-Tones for an unusual evening with Beautiful Lou, Spokesmodel, Hypeheadz, Creepside, Idotsdot and Blues, “plus special guests and Fart-Radio.com live.” $3, 9pm Monday, Hi-Tones, 621 E Dewey, facebook.com.
Tue 3/18
Against Me!
Against Me! has broken every single rule in the punk-rock handbook. That’s probably the reason why, more than a decade after the band’s first release, they’re still thriving. From humble beginnings in guerrilla laundromat shows to a stadium tour opening up for Foo Fighters, Against Me! has certainly moved into the rock elite. Nevertheless, the quartet continues to churn out punk classics and social justice anthems, including a recent focus on gender identity and transgender rights, unusual in this male-dominated musical niche. While the music has morphed from catchy distorted melodies to produced rock balladry, the intensity behind every song remains the same. Singer/guitarist Laura Jane Grace leaves everything out on the table as she belts songs of political fervor, social alienation and tongue-in-cheek stabs at punk ethics. Say what you will about their major label record deal, that won’t stop Against Me! from rocking your face off. $16, 8:30pm, Backstage Live, 1305 E Houston, dinproductions.frontgatetickets.com. —Erik Casarez
Wed 3/19
‘Samson ? Delilah’
ART
With its themes of seduction, betrayal and superhuman strength, Samson and Delilah is perennially ripe for adaptation and has inspired films (including Cecil B. DeMille’s 1949 Oscar-winner), a famous Rubens painting, a lyric from Leonard Cohen’s oft-covered song “Hallelujah” and even an episode of The Simpsons. Held in conjunction with Contemporary Art Month and Vacancy Projects (a series of single-night events that pop up in non-art spaces), video/computer animation artist Guy Hundere’s “Samson ? Delilah” puts a conceptual spin on the biblical narrative with a video installation that presents long-locked Israelite hero Samson as a utility pole and deceitful temptress Delilah as gold chains. Worth the visit alone, the location—the ruins of historic Hot Wells Hotel—should make for an interesting parallel with the Dagon temple Samson destroyed after being blinded and imprisoned by the Philistines. Free, 8-10pm Wednesday, Hot Wells, 5503 S Presa, contemporaryartmonth.com. —Bryan Rindfuss
Wed 3/19
Contemporary Art Month Happenings
Autumn Wanderer
Blue Star screens Nathan Sutton’s award-winning film about a man who meets the woman of his dreams just as he’s beginning to worry about inheriting his father’s schizophrenia. A Q&A with Sutton follows the screening. For more about Autumn Wanderer and its local ties, check out Callie Enlow’s interview with Sutton here. $8-$10, drinks at 6pm, film at 6:30pm Wednesday, Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum, 116 Blue Star, San Antonio, (210) 227-6960, bluestarart.org.
Autumn Wanderer Movie Trailer from Nathan Sutton on Vimeo.
Jessica Garcia: “Practice Makes Perfect”
Artist Jessica Garcia offers a “combination of sugar and spice and everything nice mixed with a dose of reality” with an exhibition encompassing installation, photography and video. Free, 7-9pm Wednesday, Plazmo Contemporary, 1101 W Woodlawn, San Antonio, (210) 837-0561, facebook.com/PlazmoContemporary.
Marilyn Lanfear: “New Works”
Richard Teitz curates this exhibition showcasing Corpus Christi native Marilyn Lanfear, who works between painting, drawing, prints, sculpture, fabric, found objects and performance. Free, 6:30-8:30pm Wednesday, Hausmann Millworks, 925 W Russell, San Antonio, (210) 884-6390, hausmannmillworks.com.
“30th Student Art Exhibition”
UTSA’s 30th Student Exhibition includes works that represent all media, ranging from traditional techinques to new, interdisciplinary methods. Free, 6-8pm Wednesday; UTSA Art Gallery - Main Campus, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, (210) 458-4391, art.utsa.edu.
“Fred Reads”
Bihl Haus GO! Arts creative writing teachers Jim Lavilla-Havelin and Amanda Flores and their students the Goldens read from their poetry in conjunction with the 7th Annual On & Off Fredericksburg Road exhibit. Free, 7-9pm Wednesday, Bihl Haus Arts, 2803 Fredericksburg (inside the gates of Primrose at Monticello Park Senior Apartments), (210) 383-9723, bihlhausarts.org.
For details and a complete schedule of Contemporary Art Month events, visit contemporaryartmonth.com.
—BR