Anyone who complains that San Antonio doesn’t attract a diverse array of live music options should check out this week’s lineup to have their head set straight.
From subtle folk and rousing R&B to good-timing ska and satirical heavy metal, this week offers a broad sampling of genres and approaches. Let’s check ’em out.
Wednesday, Jan. 15
X-Cops, Belushi Speedball, U.S. Bastards, Inner Self
If anyone can be trusted to fuse bruising metal and razor-sharp satire, it’s the folks in costumed shock-rock outfit Gwar. For those who just can’t get enough of the cheeky combo, Gwar spinoff the X-Cops is back on the road after a 25-year hiatus. As the band’s name suggests, the group’s schtick revolves around mocking corrupt and thuggish members of law-enforcement while delivering a particularly brutal — see what we did there? — brand of molten riffage. Your call whether it’s a smart move to slap an X-Cops sticker on your bumper and risk being pulled over. $18-$20, 7 p.m., The Rock Box, 1223 E. Houston St., (210) 255-3833, facebook.com/vibesunderground. — Sanford Nowlin
Thursday, Jan. 16
Charlie Wilson
Having racked up a BET Lifetime Achievement Award, a Soul Train Icon Award and countless other recognitions, it should be clear that Charlie Wilson is a straight-up icon and one of the definitive voices in R&B. After beginning his decades-long career as lead vocalist for The Gap Band (“You Dropped a Bomb on Me”), Wilson struggled with drug addiction and homelessness before going clean and launching a successful solo career. Nicknamed “Uncle Charlie” by Snoop Dogg himself, Wilson has collaborated with an impressive array of artists including Bruno Mars, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake and Tyler The Creator. $39-$299, 7 p.m., Majestic Theatre, 224 E Houston St, (210) 226-3333, majesticempire.com. — Bill Baird
Friday, Jan. 17
The Pietasters, Madaline, Spies Like Us
The 1990s ska revival was perfectly timed for the rise of The Pietasters, a DC-area party band that went on to tour with the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and grab a supporting slot with the late Joe Strummer. While the lineup has changed over the years, The Pietasters continue bring all the fun and nostalgia that’s a hallmark of those lively days. $20, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — Danny Cervantes
Saturday, Jan. 18
Buddha Trixie, Sports Coach, Telebastards
San Diego’s Buddha Trixie plays a psych-kissed brand of indie-pop that is nothing crazy or new, but the band gains points for its fun and over-the-top visual aesthetic. Meanwhile, Ojai, California-based tour mates Sports Coach craft indie-pop with a late-night aesthetic. Houston’s Telebastards will open the show with tight, melodic post-punk guitar rock. $16, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — BB
Amanda Pascali
Texas singer-songwriter Amanda Pascali will bring her subtly rendered folk tunes to the inside of Boerne’s Cave Without a Name. The exquisite stalactites and stalagmites promise to provide an intriguing backdrop for Pascali’s songs, which speak to the experience of growing up a first-generation American. $37, 7 p.m., Cave Without a Name, 325 Kreutzberg Road, Boerne, cavewithoutaname.com. — BB
Sunday, Jan. 19
The Panhandlers
The Panhandlers are a supergroup of acclaimed West Texas singer-songwriters united in their desire to deliver on a rugged brand of homegrown country music. Josh Abbott, John Baumann, William Clark Green and Flatland Calvary’s Cleto Cordero partnered to track their album live to tape, recalling the bygone era of their ’60s and ’70s influences, including Terry Allen and Waylon Jennings. After dropping a self-titled debut in 2020, The Panhandlers released the follow-up Tough Country in 2023, which built on the members’ incredible storytelling abilities. $29-$99, 8 p.m., Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway, stablehall.com. — DC
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This article appears in Jan 8-21, 2025.