Casper Allen will bring his jailbird blues to Lonesome Rose this Saturday. Credit: Instagram / @lilcaspermane

Live music shows in San Antonio this week offer a chance to look back.

From the hip and brassy sounds of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass to the ’90s radio rock of Counting Crows to the celebration of Led Zeppelin’s music by Jason Bonham, the son of the hard-rocking quartet’s legendary drummer, this week’s critics picks celebrate music of bygone eras.

Let’s delve in for further details.

Friday, Aug. 1

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass

Sure, unless you’re over a certain age, you probably know Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass less for their music than for a certain album cover. You know the one: Whipped Cream and other Delights, which features a naked woman clad only whipped cream. That said, Alpert and his crew are accomplished musicians, who deliver brass-fueled tunes with an irresistible swinging ’60s vibe. Later, they even cranked out a few disco-ish tunes too. Expect dancing in the aisles and lots of smiling Baby Boomers. Especially if Herb and the gang play the iconic track “Rise,” sampled by countless hip-hop artists but most famously by Notorious B.I.G. $63, 7 p.m., Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle, tobincenter.org. — Bill Baird

Friday, Aug. 1

Johnny P. & The Wiseguys

As any good child born into a New York Italian family, Johnny Panzarella was raised on the popular standards of the Rat Pack era. Now as leader of The Wiseguys and rechristened Johnny P., he croons and brings his trumpet to bear with a mix of original songs and a litany of classics such as “The Lady is a Tramp.” Grab your favorite dance partner, have your drink poured neat and get ready to enjoy either of his two performances. $28.49, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., JazzTX, 312 Pearl Parkway, (210) 332-9386, jazztx.com. — Danny Cervantes

Saturday, Aug. 2

Counting Crows, Gaslight Anthem

It’s hard to believe how much time has passed since “Mr. Jones” catapulted Counting Crows into fame as a counterweight to the grunge rock that dominated rock airwaves in 1993. Frontman Adam Duritz has had an on-again, off-again relationship with fame over the years, and the band has done the same, famously shuffling setlists and ignoring the conventions of “playing the hits.”. $72.59-$294.50, 7:30 p.m., Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-5700, majesticempire.com. — DC

Never Say Die! A Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne

For those still grieving the Prince of Darkness, sleazy Government Hill biker bar Slow Ride is hosting a tribute to Ozzy this weekend, with a roster of all-vinyl DJs. Bar patrons will gather just like witches at black masses to hear needle-in-the-groove goodness selected from iconic albums including Master of Reality, Vol. 4, Paranoid, Sabotage and, of course, the band’s seminal self-titled debut. All will be proffered like dark offerings by faithful acolytes DJ Plata, DJ Kelmis, DJ Evil Dave and DJ Sal. Who knows, they may even summon The Great Ozz himself. Free, Slow Ride, 1524 E. Grayson St., instagram.com/slowride_sa. — Stephanie Koithan

Casper Allen, David Miner

Austin-based singer-songwriter Casper Allen follows an American roots tradition at the intersection of jailhouse blues and outlaw country which, because it’s 2025, is being dubbed “alt-country.” But really, singing about drugs, dice and pawn shops speaks to something fundamental that transcends trendy labels. Perhaps it’s his tattooed mug putting a new face on old trouble. Maybe it’s the healthy dose of sun-soaked surf rock and Roy Orbison. Or maybe it’s because, as a redux of the true Texas outlaw, you can support his legal defense fund after his latest bout in the clink through his Linktree. Five years, four arrests and three bail bonds later, the marijuana charge that won’t go away is an unfortunate saga that’s, well, totally on brand. Allen’s raspy, howling vocals lend further credence as he testifies from the gutter. New Braunfels troubadour David Miner opens the evening. $10, 9:30 p.m., Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 455-0233, thelonesomerosesa.com. — SK

Sunday, Aug. 3

Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening

Even if tribute nights aren’t your thing, it may be worth making an exception here. Jason Bonham is the son of legendarily hard-hitting Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, and he’s definitely paid his dues as a musician. San Antonio is a hard-rock town, and nobody did it better than Zep. By all accounts, Bonham puts on a wonderful show and a worthy tribute to his father. So much so that when the band’s surviving members played their final gig in London, he was the guy they called to handle the sticks. $50-$240, 8 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., theaztectheatre.com. — BB

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This article appears in Jul 23 – Aug 6, 2025.