Thursday, February 12
Chubby Checker
Seventy-three-year-old rock and roll pioneer Chubby Checker was just 18 when he released his landmark version in 1960 of Hank Ballard’s song “The Twist.” The song’s chart-topping success catapulted him to superstardom and spawned a whole rock and roll dance movement, which led to hits like “Let’s Twist Again” and “Limbo Rock.” As the 1960s got weird and Checker’s style fell out of vogue, he reinvented himself, as he has countless times over the years. Thursday, catch this legend in action, drawing from his expansive and diverse catalog in the historic confines of Gruene Hall. $35, 8pm, Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene, (830) 606-1281
Thursday, February 12
Crown Video Release, The Bolos
SA trio Crown releases the video for “One Eyed Neal,” off their 2014 achievement Are These the Good Days? On the album, Crown deftly shifts between blues rock and psych, though “Neal” weighs in pretty firmly in the second camp. On their debut EP Booze Blues, The Bolos keep up a hurtling mph, cruising through seven tracks of barn-burning, tallboy-shotgunning blues punk. With Louisiana surf-rockers The Lochness Mobsters. Free, 9pm, 502 Bar, 502 Embassy Oaks, (210) 257-8125
Thursday, February 12
Metalachi
A puro mariachi band at its conception, Metalachi heard Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” spanglicized Ozzy’s creation to “Iron Tapatio” and forever changed the face of music. Well, not really. Somewhere between a novelty act and the realest of deals, the quintet lives up to its bastardized name, taking KZEP hits and placing them in mariachi context. Singer Vega de la Rockha remains faithful to the original metal melodies, while the band, comprised of guitarrón, trumpet, violin and guitar, take it full Son style. Expect Metalachi to pull out all the favorite hair metal hits, while diving into heavier material on occasion. Highlights include Slayer’s “Raining Blood,” Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and Iron Maiden’s “Run to the Hills.” $10, 8pm, 210 Kapone’s, 1223 E. Houston, (210) 279-9430
Friday, February 13
David Sanborn
In his long career as a session musican, alto saxophonist David Sanborn has been all over the place, working with Gil Evans, David Bowie and busting out the cheesy interludes for the Lethal Weapon soundtrack. Though Sanborn has gotten into his fair share of smooth jazz over the years, the alto saxophonist still holds import among straight-ahead fans. In recent years, Sanborn has leaned favorably toward bop and its successors, performing with Joey DeFrancesco and Bob James’ Quartette Humaine. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of his solo debut, Sanborn is one of the pre-eminent saxes of the post-fusion era. $35-$60, 8pm, Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s, (210) 226-3333
Friday, February 13
Blithe, Massiver, Filthy
SA punk quintet Blithe borrows its name from a lovely and overlooked adjective that Merriam-Webster defines as “of a happy lighthearted character or disposition.” This must be an instance where the band name sounds better than its meaning, ’cause there’s little about Blithe’s EP False Sense of Entitlement that feels lighthearted or carefree. The inaugural release reeks of anxiety, pounding over flickering dance-punk rhythms and tightly-wound guitar riffs. Made up of guitarist Cameron Taylor (Ghost Police, Killer Kill), drummer Ethan Campa (Ghost Police,), guitarist Brian Henderson, bassist Jared Flores (The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, The Beers) and frontman Ryan Ward (Selfies, Modern Monarchs), Blithe has certainly put in their collective 10,000 hours in San Anto bars and venues. Out on Crowquill Records, SA duo Massiver creates an overwhelming wall of computer-based drone, crashing over audiences like a tidal wave. Highly energetic at a trap-slow pace, Filthy works in a thick and noisy waveform, as if trapped between the dial on the FM band. Free, 10pm, Bottom Bracket Social Club, 1603 N. Colorado, 267-9160 —Matt Stieb
Friday, February 13
Saakred
SA experimentalist Saakred returns with the ‘Love Me to Death’ fundraising show, raising dough for the debut LP Make Believe. Since returning to the project last summer, Saakred sounds like “Lead Belly and Nina Simone’s child just started a punk band,” as project leader Melissa Ruizesparza Rodriguez previously told the Current.With DJs Tear Drop, Olivia and Miklas of Chulita Vinyl Club spinning. $3, 10pm, Hi-Tones, 621 East Dewey, (210) 573-6220
Friday, February 13
Paul van Dyk
German DJ Paul van Dyk came to prominence in the early ’00s, becoming one of the first superstar DJs of the 21st century (i.e. ever). Since then, van Dyk has put in some impressive work, releasing six albums, selling three million copies and winning a Grammy for his 2008 work on The Dark Night soundtrack. In performance, van Dyk’s sets come in somewhere between ’90s trance and contemporary EDM. $20-$40, 10pm, Club Rio, 13307 San Pedro, (210) 403-2582
Friday, February 13
Octahedron, Fishermen
Shimmering with delicate softness while still maintaining power and strength, Octahedron’s songstress coexists with the tight, indie pop compositions. If indie rock with a distinct luster of bluesy soul gets you into the groove, Fishermen will reel you in and make you love their music like a drunken sailor digs his bottle of rum. Ion’s songbird vocalist soars above the clouds. With an array of quirky horns, pops of ska, Invision Love is your daily dose of happiness. With Sioux & Fox. $8, 7pm, Josabi’s Bar, 17200 Hwy 16 North, (210) 372-9100 —Shannon Sweet
Saturday, February 14
Kat Edmonson
Houston-born singer-songwriter Kat Edmonson makes vintage pop music that includes interpretations of old standards and tightly crafted originals. Though her 2002 American Idol run saw her advance to the final group of 48, her rise to acclaim started with the release of her first album Take to the Sky (2009), and it has accelerated ever since. Her 2014 album The Big Picture, comprised almost entirely of originals that Edmonson wrote or co-wrote, is her strongest effort yet. Fans of timeless pop and pure vocal exuberance won’t want to miss Edmonson’s live show. $37.65 – $49.25, 8pm, Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s, (210) 226-3333
Saturday, February 14
Femina-X, Pop Pistol
Led by multifaceted artists Daniela Riojas, Alex Scheel Chris Cooper and Jeff Palacios . Femina-X is a boundary-pushing pop outfit creating some of the most exciting music available from San Antonio. With guitarist Alex Scheel splitting time between Femina-X, Nina Diaz’s band and Pop Pistol, it’s been a few months since we’ve seen the incantational rock of Pop Pistol. With Fishermen, Sleeping Ghost. $7, 9pm, 502 Bar, 502 Embassy Oaks, (210) 257-8125
Sunday, February 15
Ants, The Freebies, The Beers
If the recent Is That All It Takes to Make a Breakfast Cereal? is the sound of Ants fucking around, who could ever wish the noisy band would get serious? Recorded in October of 2014, The Beers’ six-pack sloppy Drafts demos are but a taste of the live and inebriated shine of the SA trio. On the Freebies self-titled debut EP, physicality dominates in both rock and noise forms. $5, 9pm, The Ten Eleven, 1011 Avenue B, (210) 320-9080
This article appears in The Passion Issue.