Does anybody remember when January brought a slowdown in shows, especially from touring acts? Well, that doesn’t seem to the be the case anymore.
Is it because bands are touring more to make up for poor record sales? Are more regional acts are flogging the road? Or is San Antonio’s music scene hitting some kind of critical mass?
We’re not sure. But we do know it leaves us with plenty of live music options this week.
Friday, Jan. 30
54 Ultra
Bilingual retro-pop purveyor 54 Ultra’s blend of Latin soul, R&B and smooth synth-driven sounds has caught fire thanks to a string of catchy AF singles designed to get bodies moving. And it appears Saytown is so excited about the nostalgia-tinged music of singer-songwriter-musician John Anthony Rodriguez that his show here is already sold out. If you’re fan, hope you pounced early. But if you didn’t, the consolation may be that tickets are available online for an afterparty featuring a rare DJ set from 54 Ultra himself at the Wav Room, 3000 St. Mary’s St. Sold out, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — Sanford Nowlin
No Love, freund, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy
Some bands eschew labels. No Love is not that band. The San Antonio outfit describes itself as “DIY Alternative Post-Rock Indie Space Grunge made by musicians that grew up on Emo, Punk & Outlaw Country.” It also calls itself “#Seinfeldcore. We’re not sure what that means —aggressively bland dads? — but we’re down. Bring on the Bland Dad Band. Especially because the ambient, reverb-drenched sound, which is anything but bland, is reminiscent of the distorted yet atmospheric Hum, Smashing Pumpkins and stoner emo / shroomgaze band Cloakroom. The band has also released a new single called “Vibes,” streaming now. Joining them on this lineup are The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, arguably the best heavy band in San Antonio, and Austin-San Antonio act freund, who offer a blend of Britpop, shoegaze, krautrock and indie featuring spaced-out vocals over driving rhythms. $10, 9 p.m., Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 455-0233, thelonesomerosesa.com. — Stephanie Koithan
Pink Floyd Concert in the Dark with Will Taylor
Award-winning violinist Will Taylor will reinterpret the music of psych-rock stalwarts Pink Floyd in a historic San Antonio church. Along with Dave Madden on piano and vocals and Tony Rogers on cello and acoustic guitar, Taylor will explore the spacey founds of the iconic rock band, including tracks from its magnum opus Dark Side of the Moon. Expect to find spirituality somewhere in the candlelight during “Wish You Were Here.” $36.64, 7 p.m., Travis Park University Methodist, 230 East Travis St., eventbrite.com/e/pink-floyd-concert-in-the-dark-with-award-winning-violinist-will-taylor-tickets-1450735120799. — Danny Cervantes
Saturday, Jan. 31
Matthew Logan Vasquez, Garrett T. Capps
Matthew LoganVasquez fronted 2000s-era roots-informed indie outfit the Delta Spirit before venturing into solo territory. Where Delta Spirit was moved from an emo-rooted sound into Americana, Vasquez’s solo work ventures fully into Neil Young territory — melodic yet distorted, but always driven by the song. SA ambassador and Lonesome Rose co-owner Garrett T. Capps opens the night.$15, 9 p.m., Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 455-0233, thelonesomerosesa.com. — Bill Baird
Sunday, Feb. 1
Phantomelo, Sex Mex, Primo Danger, Gult
San Antonio’s Sex Mex, led by frontman-songwriter Clark Gray, is hitting the road for a string of dates that will take it all the way to the southern tip of Florida and back. This show is the sendoff party. If you’re familiar with the Sex Mex sound, you probably already know whether you’ll be in attendance. If not, know that Gray and company serve up a sublime mixture of snotty, lo-fi garage punk and catchy-as-hell power-pop. It’s good to see them sharing it with the larger world. $12.21, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger Side Room, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — SN
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