Did everyone survive Record Store Day weekend? Between the deluge of live music and the generous amounts of free beer -- not to mention the throngs of people -- we can understand how one might be tempted to take it easy this week. Please remember, though, that taking it easy is for square nerd losers, especially when this week has so many shows worth checking out. Don't fall into that trap.
On Tuesday Sup Pop's weirdo hip-hop group Shabazz Palaces will be playing the Luminary Center for the Arts; Wednesday will see a performance by the not-so-weirdo underground hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse (featuring Joe Budden, Royce Da 5'9, Joell Ortiz, and Crooked I) at the Old Rock House. Baroness will bring their scorching riffs and intense live show to the Firebird on Thursday -- metalheads and fans of intensity take note. Shows not listed below but still worth mentioning are the Midnight show and the Social Distortion / Toadies show -- both are on Saturday. Check out our concert calendar for further info; read below for the rest of our picks for the week.
Ezra Furman & The Harpoons Mon., 7:30 p.m. April 23 @ The Firebird - $10 By Liz Deichmann Ezra Furman & The Harpoons immediately brings to mind a youthful, rollicking Ryan Adams combined with the sharpness of Adam Green. The songwriting is colored with a quirky sense of humor commonly bestowed upon the young and artistic, making it enjoyable and suitable for the next big young-adult-indie film. Songs such as "Take Off Your Sunglasses" certainly point out that these neighbors to the north are capable of turning out wandering, punk-inspired gems.
Shabazz Palaces Tue., 8:00 p.m. April 24 @ Luminary Center for the Arts - $15 By Josh Levi As the current state of commercial urban radio remains dominated by Lex Luger production and the boisterous gnarl of thugged-out rappers, collective hip-hop heads everywhere are shaking theirs. Longing for an electric awakening, those in search of the unpredictable have found a savior in the esoteric wonder Shabazz Palaces. Having garnered the attention of Sub Pop, SP offers radical lyricism and ancient instrumentation on 2011's Black Up. Echoing with downbeat jazz, funk, hip-hop, and dubstep, the duo's sound transcends rudimentary rap through its cosmic embrace of forward thought and inventive production. For the Heads: Shabazz Palaces features talented lyrcist Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler, formerly of Digable Planets.
Slaughterhouse Wed., 8:00 p.m. April 25 @ Old Rock House - $20/$25 By Calvin Cox From this 2009 review: Has balance returned to hip-hop? Judging by the music that's been coming out for the past twelve months, it appears that there is hope! 2009 lacked a major release on the scale of Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III, which may have given the underground an opportunity to make a comeback. One of the year's most anticipated rap albums was Slaughterhouse's self-titled debut. The underground supergroup favors hard-edged lyricism and slick wordplay over catchy hooks and club music. Joe Budden (who also released Padded Room earlier this year) and Royce da 5'9" are the standouts, but Joell Ortiz and Crooked I hold their own as well.
Baroness Thurs., 8:30 p.m. April 26 @ The Firebird - $12 By Daniel Hill Formed in 2003 by childhood friends from Lexington Virginia, the now Savannah Georgia-based metal outfit Baroness has been blowing minds with its punishing riffs, blistering leads and surprising versatility ever since. After releasing its critically acclaimed sophomore LP, The Blue Record ― named 2009's Album of the Year by Decibel magazine and hailed on top ten lists by Pitchfork, Revolver, and dozens more ― the band has seen about as meteoric of a rise as a still-underground metal band could possibly imagine. They've toured Japan with Isis, the U.S. with Mastadon and the Deftones and even Australia opening for Metallica, winning over a legion of die-hard fans all along the way with its intense live shows. ROY G BIV: In 2006 Baroness released the Red Album, followed in 2009 by the aforementioned Blue Record. July 2012 will see the release of the band's hotly anticipated third album, Yellow & Green. Fans should expect to hear some new jams at this show.
Back to Rockville: A Tribute to R.E.M. Fri., 8:00 p.m. April 27 @ Off Broadway - $10-$13 By Ryan Wasoba When I was in seventh grade, before I knew anything about indie rock or Athens, Georgia, or Reagan-era politics, R.E.M. was my favorite band. I'm certainly not alone; the band was a landmark in many lives for both the music it created and the doors it opened up for young listeners. And like many, the band's breakup hurt more than it probably should. As a thirteen year old, I assumed that by the time R.E.M. broke up (or, worse, if Michael Stipe passed away), I would be a famous musician and would cover "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" for the inevitable tribute album. Apparently the bands playing KDHX's Tribute to R.E.M. had similar aspirations - The Dive Poets, Finn's Motel, Half Knots, The Love Experts, Palace, Scarlet Tanager, Spectator, and Via Dove will re-imagine many R.E.M. classics this Friday.
