San Antonio gets a serious dose of heavy music this week, whether your tastes run toward arena rock, shock metal or the noisier fringes of the underground. Guns N’ Roses leads the charge at the Alamodome, while W.A.S.P., Soulfly and a noisy hoedown from Mr. Phylzzz offer plenty of opportunities to damage your hearing elsewhere around town.
Wednesday, Sept. 16
Guns N’ Roses, Pierce the Veil
Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan are bringing the current incarnation of Guns N’ Roses to SA with their legendary catalog in tow. Songs from the groundbreaking debut LP Appetite for Destruction and the acclaimed double album Use Your Illusion make up the bulk of the setlist these days along with a sprinkling of covers. Once a chaotic live act, GNR has evolved into a steady rock juggernaut known for sating fans’ appetites. Don’t sleep on the post-punk energy of opener Pierce the Veil. $39.55-$203.80, 6:25 p.m., Alamodome, 100 Montana St., (210) 207-3663, alamodome.com. — Danny Cervantes
Saturday, Sept. 19
W.A.S.P., KK’s Priest
Those of a certain vintage may recall being mildly frightened by shock-rock act W.A.S.P. and their whole drinking-blood-from-a-skull schtick. Nowadays, it seems pretty tame, but the band’s take on over-the-top, balls-out screeching metal remains a lot of fun. $42, 8 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s, (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com. — Bill Baird
Sunday, Sept. 20
Mr. Phylzzz, Boxcar Satan
Mr. Phylzzz delivers on the kind of noise-rock insanity that could heal the world, or at least help pull its head out of its ass. The Chicago two-piece has released plenty of wild and wonderful records, but it’s really all about the live show. These guys bring both the rock and the ruckus. Also on the bill: San Antonio avant-garage legends Boxcar Satan, who have been delivering on their own brand of roots-informed noise-rock since the ’90s. Full disclosure: San Antonio Current Editor-in-Chief Sanford Nowlin is a member. $10, 8 p.m., Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 455-0233, thelonesomerosesa.com. — BB
Tuesday, Sept. 22
Soulfly
Soulfly may make you “Jumpdafuckup” when it brings its blend of nu-metal and thrash sensibilities to town. Vocalist and guitarist Max Cavalera, best known as frontman for legendary Brazilian metal act Sepultura, recruited peers to play in Soulfly and produced its critically acclaimed 1998 debut album. The band continues to tour, having released a new album, Chama. These days, the band features Cavalera’s son Zyon on drums and San Marcos’ own Mike DeLeon on guitar. $34.51, 7 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — Brianna Espinoza
Wednesday, Sept. 23
Bruno Mars
For those of us who were born too late to enjoy James Brown, Rick James or Little Richard, it’s little consolation that their musical legacies continue without them. But as pop becomes more homogenized, sterile and rife with AI, singer-songwriter Bruno Mars is keeping the art of crafting a classic pop hit alive. Mars clearly takes inspiration from his predecessors in high-energy Motown, doo wop and retro showmanship. Yet “Uptown Funk” sounded like nothing on the radio when it came out in 2014. Nonetheless, it got its hooks in us and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks. Through it, Mars both innovated and returned pop to form at the same time. And to a skeptical musical industry he said “Don’t believe me? Just watch.” $224-$1,132, 7 p.m., Alamodome, 100 Montana St., (210) 207-3663, alamodome.com. — Stephanie Koithan
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