Thursday, December 17
Sandpaper Sally and The Sandworms
The driving blues instrumentation of Sandpaper Sally keeps you from missing the vocals. Surf the crimson waves of a hellish sci-fi soundscape with The Sandworms. Free, 10pm, The Mix, 2423 N St. Mary’s St., (210) 735-1313
Friday, December 18
Antique Sunlight
The brush-drummed, honky-tonk house band of whatever hip-ass parlor Lou Reed attended when he visited the Southwest. With Collective Dreams, Elena Lopez and Austin Jimison. $5, 8pm, Imagine Books and Records, 8373 Culebra, (210) 236-7668
Friday, December 18
Cas Haley
“The runner up on Season 2 of America’s Got Talent” is a depressing thing to read on so many levels. Cas Haley is best known for this designation, but his voice and reggae vibe are beyond a pedantic prime time talent show. $10-$45, 8pm, Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830
Friday, December 18
Gay Sportscasters
Fronted by Dwight Yoakam’s darker, punker, younger brother, Gay Sportscasters is Jeff Smith’s ticket off the farm. He ambles over the cattle guard of The Hickoids and settles into a gas-guzzling landboat next to a bee-hived tranny. With Harvey McLaughlin & the Bottomfeeders. Free, 11pm, The Mix, 2423 N St. Mary’s St., (210) 735-1313
Friday, December 18
Metal Shop
If reruns of Rock of Love starring Bret Michaels and his weave aren’t enough to assuage your hunger for teased hair, oddly shaped neon guitars and dudes in poorly applied makeup, Metal Shop will make you regret those expensive Rock of Ages tickets. 9pm, The Falls, 226 W Bitters Rd., (210) 490-5553
Friday, December 18
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Get the Soul Train-line together for NOLA’s pop king of the bone. I’m dancing in bed as I type this. Sold out, 8pm, Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene, (830) 606-1281
Saturday, December 19
Basketball Shorts
Basketball Shorts’ “Magic Legs” could be an undiscovered Adolescents B-side; the anthem of a pop-punk pep rally in which the cheerleaders all look like Paul from The Wonder Years. With the Be-Helds. $5, 10pm, Hi-Tones, 621 E. Dewey, (210) 785-8777
Saturday, December 19
Girl in a Coma and Alyson Alonzo
The star of Open Mic Monday at Limelight moonlights in some little group from around the way. SA’s chanteuse-for-your-caboose preps herself for bigger things under the wing of one of our most SA successful bands. With The Bolos. $15, 7pm, Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St.
Saturday, December 19
Televangelist and Levees
SA/ATX act Televangelist blends post-rock and a light hue of emo with progressive guitar shredding. Levees combine booming, blues riffs with sultry pop sensuality. With Sunrise & Ammunition, Sioux & Fox, Ion, Cliffside. $7, 7pm, Jack’s Patio Bar, 3030 Thousand Oaks, (210) 494-2309
Sunday, December 20
The Band of Heathens
The transformation of Austin from “weirdest” big town in Texas to perpetual corporate retreat is made manifest in the city slicker country music of The Band of Heathens, to me. $12-$80, 7pm, Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830
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This article appears in Project Censored 2015.