Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week
A BLK REVOLUTION, Channel Tres, Smashing Pumpkins, the Austin Record Convention, and more local music related shows worth seeing
By Christina Garcia, Gary Lindsey, Raoul Hernandez, Abby Johnston, Michael Toland, Julian Towers, and Derek Udensi, Fri., Sept. 30, 2022
The BLK REVOLUTION Tour
Antone’s, Monday 3 (w/ BLK ODYSSY and Eimaral Sol)
Plunged into the pandemic, Austin's Juwan Elcock – formerly Sam Houston – let his Americana act wash away. Immersed in funk as a youth, the singer took his hard-rocking musical partner, Alejandro Rios, back home to Plainfield, N.J., for a baptism into the genre. He emerged with a new musical direction, which in hindsight seems preordained, if not consecrated. The unforgettable debut of dense soul, funk, hip-hop, and R&B production carries echoes of Kendrick Lamar and Anderson .Paak. Motifs of light and dark, dance and unease, plus sky-aimed falsetto matched with vocals so low you'll see them in hell, ultimately highlight tragedy, hope, love, and loss on BLK VINTAGE. As if foretold, the 2021 record, whose guiding influence was Plainfield native George Clinton, would end up with a feature from the Parliament-Funkadelic leader himself on this year's deluxe edition. "Benny's Got a Gun" matches the godfather of psychedelic funk with the Austin breakout, wrapping his multicity BLK REVOLUTION Tour in Austin. – Christina Garcia
Channel Tres
Emo's, Friday 30Following opening R&B from Toronto's Rochelle Jordan, the untz starts early with self-described "Compton house" creator Channel Tres, who leans deep and funky. The producer warms up his first headlining international tour and works out debut full-length Real Cultural Shit, trying a more enclosed setting relative to the festivals he's been cruising lately. With big name collaborations in the bag from Tyler, the Creator; Disclosure; Toro y Moi; and the late Mac Miller, Californian Tres arrives with cachet. – Christina Garcia
Mr. Lewis & the Funeral 5, Desplantes
Valhalla, Friday 30Bandleading Mr. Greg Lewis and his noted Funeral 5 always deliver the perfect eulogy for a slow-death lifestyle. Dark melodies, in a range of rhythms, hold your soul and gently guide it to the other side, while simultaneously comforting your relatives with a good story and great toast. The punk-positive, skank-inducing Desplantes from Chihuahua, Mexico, also cross Friday's marquee, rounded out by Austin's raw, jangly post-punk quintet Die Hard Habits. – Gary Lindsey
Austin Record Convention
Palmer Events Center, Friday 30 – Sunday 2Begun in 1981, the ARC syncs up hundreds of sellers – records, CDs, posters, T-shirts, books – with thousands of live music capitalists twice annually. Homegrown institution? Consider that vinyl-friendly storage purveyor IKEA here co-signs two lounge areas, free music totes, and demos their new turntable. ARC scion Nathan Hanners emails: "My favorite compliment is, 'I used to come to this with my mom/dad as a kid, and now I'm able to bring my own kid and continue the tradition." Enter for $5 Saturday (10am-6pm) and Sunday (10am-5pm), plus $30 for early Friday shoppers, at austinrecords.com. – Raoul Hernandez
Carson McHone
3ten ACL Live, Saturday 1The delayed homecoming of Carson McHone finally arrives. The Austin native, who decamped for Canada during the pandemic, pushed back an intended March kickoff to make her reentry into touring "the right way" after a two-year COVID hiatus. The expansive Americana artist returns seasoned from recent time on the road supporting new Kinks-esque album Still Life, drawing heavily on playful Sixties guitar pop and Southern bayou soundscapes. McHone's husband/bandmate, Canadian musician Daniel Romano, and revelatory Austin singer-songwriter Ben Ballinger join the bill. – Abby Johnston
Margaret Slovak Trio CD Release
Draylen Mason Studio, Sunday 2Ballad for Brad – Margaret Slovak's new album – includes compositions written in support of her husband, the journalist Brad Buchholz. Penned during his battle with cancer, a prior Chronicle review noted the record "pulls beauty out of tragedy." The Austin-based jazz guitarist finally brings those tunes to life on stage at classical station KMFA's Eastside Draylen Mason Music Studio. Accompanied by Ft. Worth's Paul Unger on bass and Austin's own Masumi Jones on drums, Slovak will weave a potent spell with shimmering melodies and impressive technique. The trio follows Ballad for Brad's live debut with a Waterloo Records in-store, Monday at 5pm. – Michael Toland
Smashing Pumpkins, Jane's Addiction
Moody Center, Wednesday 5Groan, roll your eyes, bitterly list your Adore (Super Deluxe) boxset on eBay – these reactions are fair. The decade-plus deluge of nü Pumpkins material has been exhausting. But 2022 is not the year we start questioning the glorious, try-hard purity of Billy Corgan's artistic impulses. Thirty-three-song rock operas simply aren't the domain of bands in "as long as there's some money" mode, so Moody audiences should have no reason to anticipate anything less from this Nineties-sandwiching arena run with Jane's Addiction. Still, don't be shocked if the Alt-Rock Overachiever of the Night Trophy goes to the opener: endlessly prolific concept-rocker Poppy. – Julian Towers
Stomp Your Feet for SIMS
Thursday 29, the ABGBAn all-star lineup, tributing late blues harp player Gary Primich, features Ted Roddy, Willie Pipkin, and Randy Glines in support of the SIMS Foundation. – Derek Udensi
Westside Boogie
Friday 30, Empire Control RoomThe Compton-born, Shady Records emcee's adept pen clearly unwinds as he tackles his emotions. – Derek Udensi
Symba
Sunday 2, Empire GarageHailing from Oakland, Symba gained buzz in recent months thanks to performances like Jimmy Kimmel Live! and monster freestyles on the national radio circuit, and now opens for Joyner Lucas ("I'm Not Racist"). September release, Results Take Time, offered a Gangsta Grillz tape "hosted" by DJ Drama. – Derek Udensi
Karol G
Tuesday 4, Moody CenterThe Colombian international superstar, who enchanted ACL Fest goers last year with two stunning reggaeton performances at Zilker Park, returns with support from her DJ, Agudelo 888. – Derek Udensi