A week on the scene
Holiday fare
Pop iconoclasts Buttercup will ring in Winter Solstice with characteristic good cheer when they play a special holiday Grackle Mundy at the Wiggle Room (2301 S. Presa) on December 19. The show, dubbed “Celebration of Annual Gift Man,” will feature a choice selection of secular carols, gift exchanges, and a steady stream of eggnog. Opening the gig will be the thoroughly excellent Exploding Sex Kittens. Showtime is 9 p.m.
This week will also see two notable visits from Austin performers. Patricia Vonne brings her bilingual, castanet-powered roots-rock to Jack’s Patio Bar & Grill on Friday, December 16. Vonne, a San Antonio native who happens to be Robert Rodriguez’s sister, is fresh off a highly successful European swing, and will be celebrating her birthday this week. That same night, maverick Austin bluegrass combo the Grassy Knoll Boys will invade Casbeers. Their show runs from 8:30-11:30 p.m.
Tiger men
As Los Tigres del Norte, San Jose’s Hernandez brothers have been perfecting the norteño sound for more than 30 years. Taking the craft of the corrido to new realms, Los Tigres have delved into topics ranging from immigration to assimilation to the drug trade with enduring, cathartic ballads that are known to pack a dance floor. In 2000, the group took home the award for Best Norteño Performance at the inaugural Latin Grammy Awards with the album Herencia de Familia, and last year’s No Tiene La Culpa El Indio hit a high mark for melodic Chicano social commentary.
More recently, Los Tigres have garnered acclaim for Cumbias y Algo Mas. This latest CD/DVD combo capitalizes on the modern cumbia craze with the lyrics and storytelling fans have come to expect from the group.
Los Tigres del Norte visit Freeman Coliseum on Sunday, December 18, with Duelo and Los Traileros. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $35.
Compiled by Gilbert Garcia and M. Solis
