Heading into December, San Antonio music fans couldn’t ask for a more diverse array of sounds to choose from.
Hometown yacht-rock favorite Christopher Cross will perform with the San Antonio Philharmonic while vintage LA punk outfit Black Flag will deliver the musical antithesis of Cross’ middle-of-the-road approach. Meanwhile, critically acclaimed blues singer Shemekia Copeland and melancholy lo-fi act Mountain Goats offer an even wider selection of ear candy.
Wednesday, Dec. 4
Christopher Cross with the San Antonio Philharmonic
San Antonio native Christopher Cross is returning to town to perform at the sadly neglected — and totally badass — Sunken Garden Theater. The singer-songwriter dominated the early ’80s soft-rock sound with classics including “Sailing,” “Ride Like the Wind,” and “Arthur’s Theme,” the latter penned with none other than Burt Bacharach. However, his Alamo City connections go way further back. Born Christopher Geppert, Cross played at the legendary Teen Canteen, fronting Flash, a shit-hot electric psych-rock act, and he even filled in on guitar with Deep Purple for one of that band’s early U.S. gigs. The San Antonio Philharmonic will accompany the prodigal son to celebrate the 125th birthday of Brackenridge Park. $40- $150, 7:30 p.m., Sunken Garden Theater, 3875 N. St. Mary’s St., majesticempire.com. — Bill Baird
Thursday, Dec. 5
Black Flag
Iconic LA punk outfit Black Flag is back in town for its First Four Years Tour, albeit in a radically different form than the one that recorded the songs the road dates celebrate. Founder and guitarist Greg Ginn is the only original member, and none of the singers featured on the absolutely crushing 1983 compilation album that lends its name to the tour are anywhere to be seen. However, current Black Flag vocalist Mike Vallely has done several stints with the band since 2003, so there’s that. Alas, no matter. This is Black Flag. Bow down to punk rock royalty. $27, 7 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — BB
Friday, Dec. 6
Shemekia Copeland, Mark Searcy
The Washington Post has called dynamic blues vocalist Shemekia Copeland “the greatest blues singer of her generation,” and that, friends, isn’t just wild hyperbole. Copeland, who draws frequent comparisons to the likes of Etta James and Koko Taylor, has the ability to transform casual listeners into longtime fans with a versatile approach that veers between rough-and-rowdy shouts to soulful and subtle slow burns. She’s touring behind her latest album, the three-time Grammy-nominated Blame It on Eve. If you’re a fan of blues, soul and Americana, this one is not to be missed. $30-$115 (table), 7 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — Sanford Nowlin
Why Bonnie, Skirts
Singer-songwriter Blair Howerton’s Why Bonnie musical project made a name for itself in the Austin music scene before relocating to Brooklyn. The group specializes in Americana touched with the atmospherics of late-’80s Britain guitar pop, and it’s both a potent combination and a popular one. Why Bonnie has released work on venerated indie labels Fat Possum, Keeled Scales and Fire Talk Records. $16, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — BB
Harvey McLaughlin Band
Keyboardist-and-more Harvey McLaughlin is one of San Antonio’s finest journeyman musicians, drifting from project to project with aplomb, equally at home in country, rock, the West Side sound and all points in between. Currently a member of legendary cowpunk group Hickoids, McLaughlin is set to release another album of barnburners on that Hickoids frontman Jeff Smith’s Saustex Records. For this show, McLaughlin and company will entertain the Blue Star First Friday crowd. Expect a party. Free, 7 p.m., Blue Star Arts Complex Outdoor Stage, 1414 S. Alamo St., bluestarartscomplex.com. — BB
Friday, Dec. 7-Saturday, Dec. 8
The Story So Far, Superheaven, Koyo
California-based The Story So Far will bring its brand of infectious pop-punk with emo flourishes to town for a two-night stand. The band released its latest album, I Want To Disappear, this past June, building on its catalog of guitar heavy-anthems with more of singer Parker Cannon’s emotionally resonant lyrics. The signature sound of The Story So Far will have a grungy lead in with Superheaven. $39.50, 7:30 p.m., Boeing Center at Tech Port, 3331 General Hudnell Drive, (210) 600-3699, boeingcentertechport.com. — Danny Cervantes
Sunday, Dec. 8
Sunjammer, Jerry David DeCicca, Styrofoam Winos
The name of San Antonio band Sunjammer fairly well sums up its vibe: sun-kissed jams a la JJ Cale, 1973-era Neil Young or psych legends Relatively Clean Rivers. For this show, Sunjammer is paired with Jerry David DeCicca, another local — well, he’s from Bulverde — who’s crafting some of the most thoughtfully crafted Americana out there, period. Aside from his own music career, DeCicca has produced albums from forgotten legends such as Christ Gantry and Will Beeley, and he possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of music. Nashville’s Styrofoam Winos, meanwhile, craft melodic indie-rock in the classic fashion of Yo La Tengo. $10, 7:30 p.m., The Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St., thelonesomerose.com. — BB
Monday, Dec. 9
Mountain Goats, Anna Tivel
Singer-songwriter John Darnielle formed lo-fi indie outfit the Mountain Goats in 1991, and was its sole member, despite the pluralized moniker. During those early years, he used a boom box to record many of the Mountain Goats songs on cassette. The Mountain Goats has since evolved into a Durham, North Carolina-based band with permanent members. The act has also evolved away from lo-fi tech recording and released its 23rd studio album, Jenny From Thebes, in 2023, chronicling a character featured in many songs over the years. $46, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — DC
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This article appears in Nov 27 – Dec 10, 2024.