Earthquake Relief Concert for Mexico
Sanchos Cantina will host a relief concert benefiting victims of the September 19 earthquake that shook Central and Southeast Mexico. The 2017 disaster struck on the anniversary of the 1985 Mexico City earthquake that shattered many parts of the city. In San Antonio, Jorge Canavati, host of KRTU 91.7 FM’s Jazz de Mexico program, organized an international effort to support those in need. “I just thought, I have to do this,” Canavati told the Current. San Antonio’s NATIAO Latin Jazz Ensemble will be featured along with Ruben V., Los Sancheros, and Natalia Guerrero (Miss Nat-G), a special guest funk vocalist based in Mexico City performing with the Odie Wallace Band. $30, 5pm-midnight, Sanchos Cantina, 628 Jackson St., (210) 320-1840, mxreliefconcert.org. – JJ Lopez
Wed 11/15
Brujeria + Piñata Protest
While “mojado-punk” might not be the most politically correct term — certainly uncomfortable for a gringo como yo to commit to print — it’s an apt descriptor of Piñata Protest’s sound, and one that bandleader/accordion punisher Àlvaro Del Norte has frequently used himself to denote the band’s furious, border-hopping, sonic fusion. Regardless of the moniker you give it, Piñata Protest’s Tex-Mex punk music is defiant and full of movement, rage, and instrumental inventiveness. Plenty of folks have taken note, and the band is coming home with metal fan favorites, Brujeria. $22.50-$25, 6:30pm, The Rock Box, 1223 E. Houston St., (210) 677-9453, therockboxsa.com. – James Courtney
Thu 11/16
The Temptations
Before the term “pop music” became synonymous with Madonna and Britney Spears (facts, not shade, hunty), groups like The Temptations (one of the many groups to emerge through Berry Gordy’s Motown Records) were on the forefront of music and were paramount in paving the way for generations of pop stars to come after. Yup, for over half a century now, the group has continued to deliver their smooth stepping, fabulous harmonies and flawless live shows all over the world, which has made them icons in the annals of American music. $49.50-$79.50, 7:30pm, Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-5700, majesticempire.com. – Chris Conde
Fri 11/17
MNDSGN at Odyssey Fest
Probably best known for his collab with rapper Danny Brown “Sweeney Song,” MNDSGN (pronounced Mind Design) is an American hip-hop producer from L.A. who possesses a catalog of beats which likely could turn you into one of his biggest fans. I try not to get too fanboy in these weekly picks ‘cause taste is subjective, but as a person whose spentf the better part of their 31 years on the planet listening to hip-hop, MNDSGN is sick. And it’s no surprise that he’s the headliner for Odyssey Fest, which will include performances from local folks like Femina-X, and Verisimilitude, as well as many other local acts. $16.82, 8pm, Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. – CC
Courtesy of Periphery
Periphery + Animals As Leaders
After being popularized by bands like Meshuggah, the “djent” movement, (which is basically rapid, palm-muted staccato guitar jabs, over heavy-grooving metal beats) sort of peaked around 2011-2012 with bands like Periphery and Animals as Leaders leading the pact. In November, both bands will make an appearance at Alamo City Music Hall. Even though the genre has become less popular over the years, the technicality and musicianship of both Animals as Leaders and Periphery surpasses all those who try and imitate their sound. $25-$27, 6pm, Alamo City Music Hall, 1305 E. Houston St., alamocitymusichall.com. – CC
Fri 11/17
SA Symphony presents “Boléro”
Maurice Ravel’s “Boléro,” easily the French composer’s most famous work, is a roughly 15-minute orchestral piece that was originally intended as a ballet. An exercise in (almost mechanical) restraint and exuberance at once, the piece, beloved by audiences throughout the years despite Ravel’s own tendency to dismiss it as a half-realized experiment, offers little in the way of divergence from its central melodies (passed from instrument to instrument) and a steady, martial tempo. Nevertheless, as “Boléro” builds to final force, the orchestra gets louder and the sound fuller/more complex. Conductor Sebastian Lang-Lessing will lead the SA Symphony in performing “Boléro” as well as other classical favorites from Franz Liszt, Richard Strauss, and Richard Wagner. $25-$96, 7pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, tobincenter.org. – JC
Fri 11/17
Shana Falana
Matching spacey psychedelic over-tones with enough poppiness to be palatable to a broader audience, NYC’s Shana Falana manage to venture into the psych-pop realm without sounding like the million other bands in the genre (it’s not a dig, it’s a compliment, calm down). For instance on “Go,” from the two-pieces’ 2015 album Set Your Lightning Fire Free, the track starts off sounding strikingly similar to The Beatles’ trippy AF track “Tomorrow Never Knows,” and pulls listeners through the swirling corridors of pulsing psychedelia without like, completely losing yourself like the one time you took too many mushrooms. They’re great, as per the majority of touring acts brought here by the folks at K23. Free, 8pm, Lowcountry, 318 Martinez St., (210) 560-2224, facebook.com/lowcountrysa. – CC
Fri 11/17
KSYM’s Alternative 2 Hunger
KSYM 90.1 is an alternative radio station that has been run by San Antonio College students since 1966. Consistently billing itself as “Your Only Alternative” to standard commercial radio, the station offers eclectic musical programming focused on a wide variety of genres. This weekend, for the 20th year in a row, KSYM presents its food drive/fundraiser “Alternative 2 Hunger,” which will benefit St. Peter-St. Joseph Children’s Home (St. PJ’s). This year’s party with a purpose will feature local bands St. Dukes (exuberant and intricate indie-pop), True Indigo (gloriously hi-fi psych-rock), SPACE WLVS (alt-rock), Los #3 Dinners (throwback San Anto rock ‘n’ roll), and The Ghost in the Machine (experimental/progressive rock). Note: If you bring a whole turkey, aside from getting mad props for lugging a turkey to The Strip, you can get five people in. $5 (or five canned goods), 7pm-1am, The Mix, 2423 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 735-1313, themix-sa.com. – JC
