Fiesta is looming like a heavy cloud about to burst and flood the streets of San Antonio with Bud Light drinking, chicken-on-a-stick-eating folk who are looking to get puro AF.
Which, is great if you want to partake. But some of us would rather get pushed into the murky waters of the San Antonio River than endure the clusterfuckery of Fiesta. This time of year becomes a good time to do something else — like, well, checking out live music that's not performed by mariachis or cover bands.
If you're eager to catch some shows and avoid the insanity, here are several we recommend.
Of Montreal
Tuesday, April 23
Escape your own personal Fiesta nightmare and head down to the Paper Tiger for what promises to be one of the best indie-rock shows of the year. Of Montreal are adept at sweeping up audiences with psychedelic spirals of danceable weirdo pop music, and their return to the Alamo City may be just the thing to help you forget about all the insanity downtown. $16, 8pm, Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 841-3771, papertigersatx.com.
Tank and the Bangas
Thursday, April 25
Hailing from music-rich New Orleans, Tank and the Bangas won the NPR Tiny desk contest a few years back and have continued to blow up internationally. Let their blend of funk, hip-hop, soul and jazz take you to another place like, well, New Orleans, until Fiesta's over. 9pm, $18-$20, Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 841-3771, papertigersatx.com.
Lady Starbeast + Wayne Holtz + D.R.O.
Thursday, April 25
Limelight is serving up this eclectic show that puts local and regional talent front and center. The soulful indie-pop musings of Austin’s Lady Starbeast, the punk aesthetic of local pop star Wayne Holtz and the left-field hip-hop stylings of rapper/producer D.R.O. make this night of original music far superior to one of drinking overpriced Bud Light Lime. $5-$7, 10pm, Limelight, 2718 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 735-7775, thelimelightsa.com.
Greenbeard + Lucid Furs + More
Friday, April 26
Rock 'n' roll will meet psychedelic insanity at the Limelight on Friday when Austin desert-psych band Greenbeard, Detroit rockers the Lucid Furs, Houston stoner-doom act Doomstress and Jimi Hendrix-inspired San Marcos outfit Bogan Villa convene to tear shit up. $5-$8, 10pm, Limelight, 2718 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 735-7775, thelimelightsa.com.
FieSKA w/ The Skajects + Rat King Cole
Friday, April 26
Most Americans got their first taste of ska when it was adopted by the underground punk scene in the '90s, only to be molded later into pop by bands like Sublime and No Doubt. Local ska-influenced bands the Skajects and Rat King Cole will keeping the spirit of skanking and checker pattern-everything alive and well with a free show at Rosella. Free, 3-6pm, Rosella Coffee Co., 203 E. Jones Ave, Ste. 101, rosellacoffeeco.com.
We Came as Romans
Sunday, April 28
Metalcore has gotten cheesy of late, with a lot of bands riffing the same ‘ol riffs, screaming the same 'ol screams and breaking down the same ol' breakdowns. Somehow, though, Michigan’s We Came as Romans have managed to contribute some freshness to the genre, adding unexpected textures and dynamic to their brutal compositions. With Crown the Empire, Erra and Shvpes. $23, 7pm, Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 841-3771, papertigersatx.com.
Henry + the Invisibles
Thursday, April 25
OK, his one is a Fiesta party, but it’s an unofficial event, so it will be way lower-key than NIOSA. Taking place at The Good Kind’s new brick and mortar location in Southtown, the event dubbed "Fiesta in the Garden" will feature music from soul singing multi-instrumentalist Henry and his esteemed Invisibles. Free, 5-9pm, The Good Kind (Southtown), 1127 South St. Mary's St., (210) 801-5892, eatgoodkind.com/southtown.
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