Wednesday Picks & Sleepers

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Wednesday Picks

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Twin Shadow

8pm, Ironwood Hall
George Lewis Jr., born in the Dominican Republic, raised in Florida, and now Brooklyn-based, rode the chillwave to prominence in 2010, making sparking pop that rose above the crush of bedroom producers. His Twin Shadow arrives at this year's SXSW with third album Eclipse in tow, its previewed tracks demonstrating full embrace of Warner Bros. gloss. With Lewis' croon, you can't go wrong. – Abby Johnston

Shamir

8:50pm, Stubb's
A fresh 19-year-old from Vegas, Shamir blew our minds last year with On the Regular, a cybernetic funk masterpiece that recalled everyone from Antony to Prince. He's only got an EP and a deal with microscopic – albeit tastemaking – NYC label Godmode, but this kid feels like he's next. In a couple of years, you'll want to say you caught Shamir at a South by. – Luke Winkie

Hiatus Kaiyote

9pm, Parish
Interlocking R&B, funk, and jazz influences command attention, but what sets this Melbourne, Australia, quartet apart is the soulful vocal stylings of guitarist Nai Palm pitted against a backdrop of glitches and polyrhythms. The latter introduces a new element of delicious complexity without abandoning the Seventies vanguard. New LP Choose Your Weapon follows up 2012's Erykah Badu-approved debut, Tawk Tomahawk. (Also: Sat., 10:35pm, Bungalow) – Greg Beets

Ghost Magnet Roach Motel

9pm, The Hideout
Mexican, Japanese, and American parts assembled in Tijuana, Ghost Magnet Roach Motel emphasizes the visual as much as the sonic in its percussive, experimental noise. Though the collective counts a self-titled CD as an accomplishment, its real strength lies in performance, an improvisatory audiovisual experience unique to each happening. – Michael Toland

Action Bronson

9pm, Scoot Inn
Bronson's rise from gourmet chef to MC began with a big break – of his leg, while working in a kitchen. During recovery, the Queens native (Arian Asllani) flipped his penchant for weed, women, and high-end meals into a comfortable flow. His upcoming Atlantic Records debut, Mr. Wonderful, as well as his cooking show endeavors, will solidify him in the mainstream. – Kahron Spearman

Courtney Barnett

9:50pm, Stubb's
Melbourne's Courtney Barnett's next. Her debut LP, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit – following sit-up-and-take-note Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas – drops the week after SXSW, and it's packing gems like the infinitely relatable "Depreston." She rains down glow-in-the-dark acoustic warmth, and then you'll register the hilarious, dark, and honest jokes tucked away in the lyrics. Welcome to the cult. (Also: Thu., 12mid, Cedar Street Courtyard) – Luke Winkie

Anthony D'Amato

10pm, The Velveeta Room
Princeton-educated folkie Anthony D'Amato mourns September's tragic Shipwreck From the Shore. The Jersey bard's third LP and first for singer-songwriter beehive New West Records, D'Amato shares his wide-eyed Americana yearning in hoarse harmonica tirades and whining pedal steel. He's one paint smear away from snapping. – Nina Hernandez

Torres

10pm, Central Presbyterian Church
Brooklyn-based songwriter Mackenzie Scott demonstrated a tightly wound intensity, understated but scorched with emotion, on her eponymous 2013 debut. For follow-up Sprinter, due in May on Partisan, the Georgia native recorded in England with former PJ Harvey backers Rob Ellis and Ian Oliver, plus Portishead guitarist Adrian Utley, resulting in an even darker and more heavily riffed sound to match her fierce vocals. (Also: Sat, 1am, Central Presbyterian Church) – Doug Freeman

Jonathan Terrell

10pm, TenOak
Best known as frontman for slash-and-burn Austin rockers Not in the Face, Jonathan Terrell remains a serious singer-songwriter. He returns to that earlier persona this summer with the release of Past the Lights of Town, on which he rides into the darker side of country with naked emotion and stories too good to be solely imagination. – Jim Caligiuri

Speedy Ortiz

10:15pm, Cedar Street Courtyard
A former MFA poetry student and writing & composition teacher at the University of Massachusetts, Speedy Ortiz singer Sadie Dupuis once fronted an all-girl Pavement cover band (Babement). The Nineties slack-rockers' influence is subtly heard on the Northampton, Mass., quartet's grunge-punk 2013 debut, Major Arcana. Follow-up Foil Deer drops in April. – Neph Basedow

Flesh Lights

10:30pm, Hotel Vegas Patio
Austin's most dynamic punk trio crams six songs into the space of two, aptly titling its initial results Muscle Pop in 2011. Like the locally made accessory for which they're named, Cheap Trick-loving vox and axe Max Vandever, drum piston Elissa Ussery, and group Entwistle Jeremy Steen refined that urgency into a DIY success story. Free Yourself, released late last year on Matador head Gerard Cosloy's local imprint 12XU Records, refines. – Nina & Raoul Hernandez

The Damned

11pm, Mohawk Outdoor
Thirty-nine years after beating every other Brit-punk to vinyl with debut 45 "New Rose," manic guitarist Captain Sensible and vampiric vocalist Dave Vanian still helm the rowdiest and most musical punkstitution. SXSW Film premieres new documentary Don't You Wish That We Were Dead, lensed by Lemmy filmmaker Wes Orshoski, and merchandising Another Live Album From the Damned. – Tim Stegall

Protex

11pm, Hotel Vegas Patio
Foundational Belfast punks best known for aggro Buddy Holly 45 "Don't Ring Me Up," a reformed Protex was the surprise of Hotel Vegas' SXSW bill last year. Still no follow-up to 5-year-old archival release Strange Obsessions, but their tight, melodic, pogo-party grooves remain eternally fresh in serving up tangy guitars and crisp drumming. The first of a two-night stand celebrating St. Patrick's Day. – Tim Stegall

Mew

11pm, Red 7
The Danes making majestic prog-pop fell off the radar following the major-label splash of their fourth LP, 2005's And the Glass-Handed Kites. Undergoing immediate personnel changes didn't help. The Copenhagen quartet soldiered on, following up with the pure sugar of 2009's No More Stories..., and today, their five LPs arc audacious. They mark 20 years with a reunited Kites lineup and sixth LP, + -, already being described as "career-defining." (Also: Thu., 11pm, Clive Bar) – Michael Toland & Luke Winkie

Matias Aguayo

11pm, Empire Control Room
Chilean producer Matias Aguayo makes biological dance music. Hand claps, whispers, giggles; his best album, 2009's Ay Ay Ay, boiled down those shivers into a single, unshakable groove. He's perhaps the sole electronic musician who considers his voice his primary instrument. Catch him changing the language of a scene that gets stuck in its ways far too often. – Luke Winkie

The Mastersons

11pm, Holy Mountain
One of Austin's many gifted couples, Eleanor Whitmore and Chris Masterson released their sophomore effort Good Luck Charm in 2014. It's a superb collection of finely honed songcraft put across with deft musicianship and sweet harmonies. As key members of Steve Earle & the Dukes, they also serve as his opening act worldwide. – Jim Caligiuri

Bobby Bare Jr.

11pm, Continental Club
Basking more in the sunshine of his father than any shadow, Bobby Bare Jr. remains his own man – unlike other country sons of iconic dads. A Nashville vet before his teens, he takes the spirit of the Opry and exposes its raw nerves. The 48-year-old pulls no punches on seventh studio LP Undefeated. – Nina Hernandez

DJ Windows 98

11:15pm, Cedar Street Courtyard
Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler sporadically moonlights as a spinner since the Reflektor tour wrapped last year. Last month, the native Texan (and Montreal resident since 2000) flexed his budding DJ skills mashing Kanye West's "Jesus Walks" with Beck's "Loser" after the pair's Grammy run-in. – Neph Basedow

Doughbeezy

11:50pm, Palm Door on Sixth
This Cleveland-born, Houston-bred rapper, a frequent collaborator with fellow Texans Slim Thug and Bun B, returns his Southern hip-hop to South by Southwest for a third consecutive year, having played last spring's Welcome to the South showcase at Scoot Inn. The 28-year-old's third and latest mixtape remains 2013's fierce Footprints on the Moon. – Neph Basedow

Fallujah

11:55pm, Dirty Dog
Hailing from the Bay Area, though they take their name from an Iraqi city where the burned bodies of ambushed Blackwater contractors got strung up for the whole world to see, technical death metal quintet Fallujah has been ripe for a breakout since 2011 debut The Harvest Wombs. That came in July when they released Billboard-charting The Flesh Prevails, an atmospheric patchwork of melodic interludes between roars from power-throat Alex Hofmann. – Kevin Curtin

2 Chainz

12mid, ACL Live at the Moody Theater
Rappers usually peak early and then fade into statesmanship. Atlanta's 2 Chainz did the opposite, catapulting himself into mainstream ubiquity at the brisk age of 35, and eventually hooking up with tastemakers like Kanye West. 2013's B.O.A.T.S. II bangs, but he's best known for his guest verses on "Mercy," "Talk Dirty," and practically everything else in the Hot 100. – Luke Winkie

Tokimonsta

12mid, Highland
At the forefront of L.A.'s electronic scene, Tokimonsta (Jennifer Lee) ventures deep into texture with dub and jazz-influenced beat forays. Debut release on the label Young Art, her mini-album Desiderium found Lee implementing unusual time signatures and diverse grooves among softer R&B combining soulful vocals/samples and trunk-rattling bass. – Kahron Spearman

Cazzette

12mid, the Gatsby
Clubbing rarely gets as sweaty as Swedish two-pack Alexander Björklund and Sebastian Furrer have made it, loops of fury et al. Entrancing single "Beam Me Up" groks an elated EDM vibe. Their chart-topping "Blind Heart" lays house grooves atop Terri B!'s swaggering vox. – Marc Savlov

JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound

12mid, Continental Club
A trained actor who once appeared in the musical Ragtime, the pompadour-wielding Brooks transfers his charisma onstage, fronting a Chicago neo-soul quintet whose third LP Howl dropped in 2013. Mayfield meets Iggy, the group's as punk as they are sincere, bridging wide-ranging influences with their funky cover of Wilco's "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart." – Neph Basedow

Doug Seegers

12mid, St. David's Historic Sanctuary
His life story might be the best bit of redemption you've ever heard. It involves Long Island, having top hits in Sweden, sleeping on Buddy Miller's couch in Austin during the Seventies where he performed as Duke the Drifter, and finally ending up homeless in Nashville. Last year, at the age of 62, Seegers released Going Down to the River, his debut, wearing his Hank and Gram influences proudly. – Jim Caligiuri

Thee Oh Sees

12mid, Mohawk Outdoor
Jon Dwyer's untamable garage psych gang went through major personnel changes last year, shedding the long-established quartet for a tight trio with drummer Nick Murray and bassist (yes, actually a bassist) Timothy Hellman. That's the touring lineup, but keyboardist Brigid Dawson and Chris Woodhouse reconvened to record the Californians' newly announced ninth LP, Mutilator Defeated at Last, coming May 18. (Also: Fri., 12:10am, Hotel Vegas) – Kevin Curtin

Ringo Deathstarr

1am, Valhalla
These Austinites secured an opening slot on the Smashing Pumpkins' 2012 tour and thus began disseminating accolades nationally. The trio's shoegaze psych-pop remains quick to recall influences including My Bloody Valentine with fuzz-crunched guitars and honeyed his/hers vocals. The South By vets are currently readying a follow-up to 2013 EP God's Dream. – Neph Basedow

Broncho

1am, Bungalow
Broncho's 2011 debut, Can't Get Past the Lips, delivered a blast of bratty basement rock on which you could practically smell the stale beer. The Norman, Okla., trio's sophomore effort, last year's Just Enough Hip to Be Woman, eased the rowdiness in favor of a lighter pop shimmer and tighter production, but still bristled with a lackadaisical slacker vibe and tongue-in-cheek humor. (Also: Fri., 9:30pm, Bar 96) – Doug Freeman

Future Islands

1am, Mohawk Outdoor
March marks the first birthday of Future Islands' fourth LP, Singles, still in heavy rotation. Its surprise success ushered the Baltimore trio from small clubs to sold-out venues and even an Austin City Limits taping. Crowds are still surprised to discover that the ringleader of one of today's most relevant synth-pop outfits, Samuel Herring, tucks his shirt into his khakis. – Abby Johnston

Riff Raff

1am, Monster Energy Outbreak House
"I'm outside eating fried okra/ (With who?) With Oprah." You don't turn up at a Riff Raff show expecting lyrical gold – or an even flow – but Houston's Horst Christian Simco used social media to change his lot in life from unknown rapping curio to major venue sellout. His undeniably larger-than-life spectacle remains worth seeing – at least once. – Abby Johnston

Real Estate

1am, Cheer Up Charlies
SXSW falls between Australian dates and an early summer U.S. jaunt for these guitar-loving Jerseyites, notching yet another leg in a relentless tour since third album Atlas came out last year. Their globetrotting bridges Eighties indie-isms from admitted influences like the Feelies to Nineties Matador rock with the finesse of singer Matt Mondanile and effortless neo-jam licks from Martin Courtney. – Abby Johnston

Dale Watson

1:15am, Saxon Pub
Austin Music Hall of Fame baritone Dale Watson didn't set out to start a movement when he began calling his hard honky-tonk Ameripolitan. He merely wanted to avoid the meaninglessness of roots genres. Now, with its own foundation and awards, Ameripolitan has evolved beyond Watson through his distinctive low croon and the fearless songwriting found on upcoming LP Call Me Insane. (Also: Thu., 12mid, Holy Mountain) – Doug Freeman

MURS

1:20am, Javelina
"Making Underground Raw Shit," or MURS (Nick Carter), initially appeared in various groups and crews. After a few quiet solo releases, the Los Angeles M.C. broke out with his Definitive Jux debut, The End of the Beginning, pushing into the forefront with consciousness and humor. Continuing his penchant for group work, he's submitted superior MC/duo releases with both 9th Wonder and Felt, costarring Slug from Atmosphere. (Also: Thu., 1:30am, Blackheart) – Kahron Spearman

Freddie Gibbs

1:20am, Roosevelt Room
Freddie Gibbs came into the game with guns blazing, spitting reality raps about the desolate street life of Gary, Indiana. His voice, narrative storytelling, and me-against-the-world swag earned comparisons to Tupac, making an attempt on his life last year all the more chilling. 2014 also saw the Baby Face Killa team up with California beat chemist Madlib, a surprise move that elevated Gibbs' game. – Thomas Fawcett

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Wednesday Sleepers

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Flash Boys

7:15pm, Hotel Vegas
Years and lineups have passed since Dyin' for Somethin to Live For, the last release from these long-running Austin snotpunks. Still fronted by manic Iggy Bators stand-in Frankie Nowhere, Flash Boys now boast the best twin guitar blitzkrieg this side of Thin Lizzy. Pure dynamite. – Tim Stegall

Ryan Culwell

7:30pm, St. David's Historic Sanctuary
He hails from the tiny Texas panhandle town of Perryton, which explains the title of his third and latest disc, Flatlands. Now in Nashville, Culwell's songs resonate with the wide-open spaces he grew up with, a brand of Americana that earns comparisons to spare and haunting works like Springsteen's Nebraska and Jimmie Dale Gilmore's After Awhile. – Jim Caligiuri

Qarabagh Ensemble

8pm, Russian House
The conservatory-trained musicians making up Azerbaijan's Qarabagh Ensemble serve as the foremost practitioners of mugham, their country's traditional folk music, though the group's open-minded enough to collaborate with native rock bands. The 2-year-old quartet spent time in the States last year teaching classes and making music at UT's Butler School of Music. (Also: Sat., 9:30pm, Victorian Room at the Driskill) – Michael Toland

Aisha Burns

8pm, Lucille
In her solo work, Aisha Burns evokes the same opulence she picked up from her other gig as a violinist for Balmorhea. Burns, however, isn't as verbose in her efforts, primarily relying on acoustic guitar and an effortless alto to get the point across. Her 2013 debut, Life in the Midwater, entranced. (Also: Sat., 9pm, TenOak) – Abby Johnston

Obscured by Echoes

8pm, Trophy Club
Texas' proud tradition of mindbending psychedelia reigns supreme in Obscured by Echoes. The young ATX quintet wallows as much in six-string and synthesized textures as in sharp melody and dramatic delivery, moving from the Paisley Underground aesthetic of debut Black Matter Manifesto to the Floydian waking dream of the new Avidonia Part 1: The Escape. – Michael Toland

Él Mató a un Policía Motorizado

9pm, North Door
The sound of Nineties indie rock clearly translates across cultures, as evidenced by the noisy jangle of this band from La Plata, Argentina. Though formed in 2003, its heart lies in 1993. Fifth LP La Dinastía Scorpio could slot between Pavement and Yo La Tengo with no dissonance. (Also: Fri., 1am, Red Eyed Fly) – Michael Toland

Rainy Milo

9pm, Red 7
London's Rainy Milo delivers moody soul and chill vibrations. Cool and jazzy with a dark edge, the young R&B songstress floats atop hazy down-tempo beats, throwing shade at an ex on "Don't Regret Me" and turning up the swagger and cockney accent on latest single "Bankrobber." No official full-length yet. – Thomas Fawcett

Ronnie Fauss

9pm, The Velveeta Room
Drawing comparisons to Steve Earle and Gram Parsons? Nothing new. Ronnie Fauss ups his bona fides by also claiming friendship with the Old 97's Rhett Miller, who appears on the Dallas country rocker's second disc, 2014's Built to Break, via trucker anthem "Eighteen Wheels." His loud and proud self can be impressive, but Fauss' gentle and poetic side makes him noteworthy. – Jim Caligiuri

Luke Winslow King

9pm, Continental Club
Given the wide swath of Americana and roots styles that Luke Winslow King lays down, it's not surprising the singer-songwriter hails from New Orleans. On last year's fourth LP Everlasting Arms (Bloodshot), his gently roughened voice drifts through jiving rockabilly, classic pop swing, delta blues, loping jazz, gospel, and even calypso rhythms. Feels like the French Quarter on a Saturday night. – Doug Freeman

Kill! Kill! Pussycat

9pm, BD Riley's
The Swedes make rock & roll cliches seem brand new, especially if those tropes originated in Detroit. The latest heir to the tradition of the Hellacopters is Ånge's Kill! Kill! Pussycat, a 4-year-old quintet fronted by Victory Awesome and making its U.S. debut. The band follows up Death From Above this year. – Michael Toland

A.Dd+

9:05pm, Palm Door on Sixth Patio
Paris Pershun and Slim Gravy possess the chemistry and counterbalance to stand as a great hip-hop duo. That arena naturally breeds comparisons; A.Dd+ (pronounced "Aye-dee-dee") is regularly likened to Outkast for their charisma and UGK for a Texas strut, but throw in Black Star to reflect the lyrical intricacy. Last summer's Nawf EP shouted out to their Dallas Northside. (Also: Fri., 10:20pm, V Lounge) – Kevin Curtin

Cairo Knife Fight

10pm, BD Riley's
Kiwi Nick Gaffaney's rock & roll overdose remains a thunderously good way to die. A madman's mash-up of throbbing guitars, swirling loops, and in-your-face vox, CKF single "No Longer Silent" hammers a final nail in the former Brit colony rock's coffin. Peter "Epic" Jackson would agree. – Marc Savlov

The Gooch Palms

10pm, 720 Club Patio
Newcastle, Australia's Gooch Palms squeeze extra mileage out of their minimalist fuzz-punk by slathering on garish, John Waters-style cultural detritus. The video for new single "Trackside Daze" casts the duo as slumber party superheroes in shoulder pads and colorful Underoo get-ups. Guitarist Leroy Macqueen and drummer/theremin player Kat Friend maintain outsized stage presence with raw power and occasional strategic nudity. – Greg Beets

Daddy Long Legs

10pm, Hotel Vegas Patio
Stalking the streets of NYC since 2012, Daddy Long Legs calls the North Mississippi Hill Country its spiritual home via raw-throated harmonica riffs that cruise stripped drums and bottleneck guitar. Hooked up with famed roots/punk label Norton and Heavy Trash's Matt Verta-Ray as producer, the band squeezed Blood From a Stone onto its second album last summer. (Also: Sat., 7:30pm, Hotel Vegas Patio) – Michael Toland

Heeney

10pm, Lamberts
Pity the fool who slotted this melodic punk foursome into tony Lamberts. Who's gonna pay for the damages after these Brooklynites set the roof on fire? The only water flowing at this gig will be down people's throats and off their sweat-soaked limbs. Dammit, another reason to move to Brooklyn. – Marc Savlov

La Sabrosura Dura

10pm, North Door
Recalling a time when "dance music" meant sounds created by people using actual instruments, Bogotá, Colombia's La Sabrosura Dura brings its contemporary salsa Stateside. Folding in wrinkles from funk and hip-hop gives the 5-year-old sextet a modern sheen not unlike that of their heroes Los Amigos Invisibles and Calle 13. (Also: Thu., 12mid, Speakeasy; Fri., 12mid, Half Step) – Michael Toland

Diwan Saz

10:15pm, Russian House
Based out of Israel, the nine-member strong Diwan Saz puts its peaceful ideals into practice by merely existing. The Middle Eastern music ensemble consists of members drawn from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths working in harmony, a radical concept in these conflicted days. The band currently runs an Indiegogo campaign to help produce its first album. (Also: Thu., 9pm, Flamingo Cantina) – Michael Toland

Beacon

11pm, Swan Dive
Brooklyn's Beacon (vocalist Thomas Mullarney and producer Jacob Gossett) take the blue-eyed soul of the Eighties back to the future, adding a dark and futuristic element to straightforward R&B. Armed with echoed falsettos, and barrage of bouncy electronic fills and anamorphic beat patterns, Beacon is built for the angsty slow grind of too many late nights in the city. – Kahron Spearman

Ben Arthur

11pm, Stephen F's Bar
Boasting two novels and six albums, and hosting video series "SongCraft Presents" in which he cowrites songs with diverse artists, Ben Arthur explores multiple creative terrains. Likewise the New York crooner's upcoming release, Call and Response, a collection of songs written in reply to other songs and short stories, highlighted by Arthur's mellow pop style and literary sensibility. – Doug Freeman

Andrew Duhon

11pm, Departure Lounge
Hailing from New Orleans, don't expect any overt jazz influences from Andrew Duhon. A singer-songwriter mining the same vein as Todd Snider and Ryan Bingham, his second effort, The Moorings, was nominated for a Grammy in 2014 for Best Engineered Album. On tour with a trio, Duhon brings stories of American history vividly to life. – Jim Caligiuri

Lilly Hiatt

11pm, The Velveeta Room
That Lilly Hiatt's a gifted songwriter comes as no surprise. Her dad, John Hiatt, remains a master craftsman. The Nashvillian's brand-new second album, Royal Blue, possesses just a hint of country and folk, however. It's more a scramble of rock influences offsetting some delicious poetry, reflections on a breakup that are at times humorous and at others deftly vulnerable. – Jim Caligiuri

Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires

11pm, Trinity Hall @ Old School
Ex-Dexateen Lee Bains III and company ply pegged-out roots-rock with no smooth edges. Dueling electric guitars threaten to drown you, but Bains' soulful bellowing blasts through the buzzed barroom squall. The Birmingham, Ala., quartet explores familiar Southern imagery on tracks like "The Kudzu and the Concrete" from 2014's Dereconstructed. – Greg Beets

Nightmare Air

11pm, Valhalla
A 2011 offshoot of early Aughties shoegaze outfit Film School, L.A.'s Nightmare Air buoys icy guitar distortion with warm but driving grooves on its debut album High in the Lasers. Hard touring with the likes of Smashing Pumpkins and the Jesus & Mary Chain and song placements with Suicide Girls leads into the recording of album No. 2 later this year. – Michael Toland

The Mystery Lights

11pm, 720 Club Patio
Though they now call NYC home, the Mystery Lights can't shake their northern California pedigree. The quintet's overdriven trash-psych falls squarely within the fulcrum helmed by Thee Oh Sees and Ty Segall. Guitarist L.A. Solano's soaring vocals provide the mark of distinction. Equal parts Saxon and Erickson, Solano embodies the sneering drama of perennial dissatisfaction on the band's new EP, At Home With the Mystery Lights. – Greg Beets

The Bad Lovers

11pm, Hotel Vegas
Practically the flagship act for Hotel Vegas booker Ben Tipton's Burger City Rock N Roll label, Austin's Bad Lovers may have put out the world's first outlaw biker power-pop album in 2013 disc Wild Times. Driving, melodic rock & roll à la the Flamin' Groovies at their most British Invasion-damaged, it arrived dressed in surplus colors and facial hair from Sons of Anarchy's wardrobe department. – Tim Stegall

Kode9

11:15pm, Barcelona
All about that bass, pioneering Glasgow native turned South Londoner Kode9 (Steve Goodman) founded low-end driven indie giant Hyperdub. Holder of a Ph.D. from the University of Warwick, his manifold brand of dubstep uses elements of drum and bass, old-school jungle, dub culture, and two-step garage. An academic steeped in memetic philosophy, postmodernism, and Afro-futurism, Goodman teaches the effects of sound on society. – Kahron Spearman

1001 Nights Orchestra

11:30pm, Russian House
Austin's longest-running Middle Eastern music collective traces back to informal gatherings started in 1987 at long-shuttered folk venue Chicago House. Principal vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Kamran Hooshmand proves particularly adept at Persian folk, but other members extend the group's reach into the Caucasus, the Balkans, and beyond. Their first album in 13 years, the dance-oriented Live From Austin, Texas, arrived earlier this month. – Greg Beets

Deadman

12mid, Lucky Lounge
Fronted by singer-songwriter Steven Collins, Austin's Deadman has gone through many changes since its 1999 inception. Absent from the scene for several years, Collins recently resurrected the group as a fourpiece with the urge to explore Western culture. Impending release The Sound and the Fury promises more rock than Americana and "a cry in the wilderness of complacency, affluence and post-modernism." – Jim Caligiuri

Sophie

12:15am, Vulcan Gas Company
Sophie is the anonymous moniker of a Brit in a fitted shirt with curly hair. I know because I caught one of his rare live shows at Fun Fun Fun Fest last year. It's hard to explain. Responsible for only a handful of singles – a bizarre, hyperkinetic, candy-coated aesthetic that draws a distinct futuristic hope – they might teach your computer to dance ("Bipp," "Lemonade"). – Luke Winkie

Christy Hays

1am, TenOak
Originally from a small town in Illinois, Christy Hays now calls Austin home. Her new EP O' Montana finds the singer-songwriter all over the roots music map including accordion flavored Tex-Mex. Leading her band, Caliche, featuring guitar stylist Lauren Gurgiolo of Okkervil River, Hays covers even more ground while sounding like a latter-day Lucinda Williams. – Jim Caligiuri

Juce

1am, Red 7
Take a thin slice of Haim, a dash of disco, and a cup of TLC and you end up with a delicious recipe for Juce, the London trio of Georgia, Chalin, and Cherish known for "making champagne out of lemonade." Girl group with a Nineties throwback vibe, they squeeze out catchy earworms like "Call You Out." (Also Fri., 9pm, Latitude 30) – Thomas Fawcett