Music Recommended

Bates Recital Hall (UT), Saturday 23

If Texas Folklife Resources had only brought in former Texas Playboy Johnny Gimble to play solo, this would be a don't-miss show. But having him share the bill with fiddle masters Claude Williams (jazz) of Kansas City, Brian Marshall (Texas-Polish), Rufus Thibodeaux (Cajun), Jose Moreno (Mexican-American) and Norman Solomon (Texas-style) requires new superlatives that haven't yet been invented. Sell your children if that's what it takes to get to this show. - Lee Nichols

MISS UNIVERSE

Hole in the Wall, Friday 22

Austin's Miss Universe are at two different stages in their development. On the local level, they're well above the fledgling stage, yet still not packing 'em in like some of those Trance bands. On a national level, the band is still working on their touring circuit, and there's no better booking tool than the band's debut on Rise, Duh!, which should help take the band to the next rung. Magneto USA, and Hot Wheels Jr., give Miss U., a leg up here.

SOULS OF MISCHIEF

Catfish Station, Friday 22

Souls of Mischief are a three-MC crew out of Oakland, CA. In '93 they dropped their debut '93 til Infinity which still represents the Hieroglyphics crew's finest moments on wax to date. They came with ballistic lyrical and freestyle skills, and managed to translate their raw rhyme weight into a solid vinyl product that appealed to hip-hop connoisseurs from coast to coast to third coast. While their effortless sounding style has influenced hordes of new groups, Souls have wisely bided time, and are poised to drop what will probably be another bomb, boyeee! Heads & Dreads, and Shabazz 3 open. - Ben Plimpton

FRINGE FEST X/XX5

Electric Lounge, Friday 22 & Saturday 23

Though Sheela Murthy and Liquid Mice are no longer the flag-wavers of this annual union of performance art and music, the Electric Lounge has taken the fallen standard, and set up three separate stages. Friday features, among others, Lump, Brown Hornet, and the Gourds. Saturday, look for Starfish, Moist Fist, Enduro, and many others. Multimedia blitz.

THE BRAMHALL BOYS

Antone's, Saturday 23

In its 20th year, Antone's has set aside one weekend of every month to continue the party. On Friday 22, ex-Gear Daddy Martin Zellar kicks things off with an early show, followed by Marcia Ball and special guests such as Doyle Bramhall, Jr. And it's the pairing of Doyle Jr., and his father big Doyle on Saturday that has us the most interested. With those family veins pumping blues blood, the Bramhall boys should be cooking up a storm.

THE DELPHINES, LUCKY

Continental Club, Sunday 24

What she really wants, Kathy Valentine says, is to not be remembered as just one of the Go-Go's. And with a string of exes behind her - Textones, Blue Bonnets, World's Cutest Killers - that were as glittery as they were short-lived, Valentine may well have finally hit her groove with The Delphines. The trio includes fellow Bonnet vocalist Dominique Davalos on bass and drummer Paul Crowder, who cross-breed tough L.A. rock with brawny blues. Look for them with Will Sexton at Steamboat Saturday 23. - Margaret Moser

KILLDOZER

Emo's, Sunday 24

Blackjack rock. Beats you silly. Slow, grinding riffs with Danzig-brutal vocals. Blues of the afflicted for nearly 10 years now. The world is still a sick place, and this Madison trio will grind it into your eye with a stilletto heal on their new Touch & Go bucket of slop, God Hears Pleas of the Innocent. ...Not if you go to a Killdozer show. Daddy Longhead and Nipple 5 open. Thwack. Ugg. Thud.

JON BLONDELL

Cedar Street, Tuesday 26

Jon Blondell has been Austin's most consistently tasteful session bassist and trombonist for so long that he's become all too easy to take for granted. His new quartet and popular Cedar Street Tuesday residency is busting jazz boundaries on both the spectrum's traditional and avant-garde ends. But it may be Blondell's flair as a fireball frontman, and incorporation of rock & roll grooves that makes even his most oddball funk/fusion attempts musically worthy.

- Andy Langer

ADRIAN LEGG

Cactus Cafe, Wednesday 27

This bespectacled leprechaun spins instrumental tales on his blue acoustic that takes you deep into the forest, and enchants you like a Tolkien story.

BO BUD GREENE

Flamingo Cantina, Thursday 28

Quietly, quietly bo bud greene landed themselves a label in SoCal's Backyard/Scotti Bros., the latter label half being the famed house that Eddie & the Cruisers built. They have money, and several good bands (Truck Stop Love, Naked Soul). And who better on whom to spend said cash than an Austin band like bbg, whose debut, Whatever, can definitely find a home on the embattled radio format of the moment amidst all the rest of the hard swirl and lurch. Better still, the band keeps improving their live show, which here is free.

BURNING SPEAR

Liberty Lunch, Thursday 28

In a recent record review, I wrote that Ziggy Marley was better than 90 percent of rastas out there. Meet the top 10 percent: Winston Rodney and Burning Spear. Helps to have your own horn section. Friday 29 is night two for the Spear.

ALSO PLAYING

Friday: Ed Hall, Horsies, T.I., Los Pinkys, Liberty Lunch

Saturday: Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys, Continental Club; Santiago Jimenez, Jovita's

Sunday: Ballet Folklorico, Backyard

Monday: Boy's Life, Mineral, Boiler Maker, Blue Flamingo

Tuesday: Lucky Strikes, Mangia

Wednesday: Dale Watson, Babes

Thursday: Willie Nelson & Family, The Backyard