Porttia Portis
Have Bizarre Celebrations With of Montreal at Trees.
Talks of adding a 51st state to the union come in and out of the media all the time, with Puerto Rico obviously leading the way as serious candidates go. But what if every place that wanted its own state got its way? The U.S. would be be 66 states deep.
We'd definitely need a new flag to accommodate all those extra stars.
Fortunately for all of us, we won't have to worry about memorizing a new map — or state capitols — any time soon. None of these places are likely to earn statehood any time soon.
But, while we're on the subject, how many of the current 50 states and capitols can you even still name? Sounds like the world's nerdiest drinking game — not that this should stop you from giving it a shot tonight.
Ray Wylie Hubbard's Birthday Bash at The Live Oak
If you've managed to go through life without ever hearing this elder statesmen of Texas' rich music scene, here's your chance to make up for it: Tonight, Ray Wylie Hubbard will celebrate his birthday by performing his always charming his mixture of country, folk and blues. — Porttia Portis
Flux Pavilion at South Side Ballroom
This English dubstep producer has been a growing force in mainstream music over the past few years having been sampled by artists such as Kanye West and Chiddy Bang, as well as getting featured in the 2012 video game Need for Speed: Most Wanted and the 2013 version of The Great Gatsby. He's one of those artists that you've probably already grown to love without even realizing it yet. — PP
of Montreal at Trees
Longtime of Montreal fans are well aware of how drastically the band's sound changes between each album and tour. It's no different with their recently released 12th studio effort, Lousy with Sylvianbriar, which harkens back to the grooving '70s-era sound and features some almost country influences, as well as nods to Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. Frontman Kevin Barnes has said that this move away from the band's previous dance-oriented efforts is due, in large part, to his having spent so much time cooped up and reading Sylvia Plath poems while writing the album. Don't fret, though. For all the allusions to the suicidal poet, there's still plenty of upbeat vibes to this newest batch of tunes. — Jordyn Walters
George Willborn at Arlington Improv
The former Showtime at the Apollo host and Def Comedy Jam veteran brings his no-holds-barred tactics and hilarious observations to the masses tonight. With more than 25 years of comedic experience, it's a guaranteed laugh. — PP
Portugal. The Man, Shakey Graves at Granada Theater (Free)
Yes, Portugal. The Man and Shakey Graves are performing a free show at the Granada Theater this evening. The reason? Not sure. It's a shared promotion between Myspace and Cadillac, though. And, I imagine, it's pretty much all the info you need; the most popular Alaskan psych-tinged of all time (which blew minds at the House of Blues back in June) and a rugged, folk-tinged up-and-coming singer-songwriter will be performing a free show in exchange for their fans being bombarded with corporate promo. If you want in, you've got to RSVP in advance — and before the RSVPs outweigh the venue's capacity. — Pete Freedman
Charlie Shafter at Sundown
The gritty brand of Americana offered up by Denton's Charlie Shafter would make a fitting late-night show and/or after-party for tonight's Shakey Graves' performance next door at the Granada. — Cory Graves
Dax Riggs at Wit's End
Riggs, who refers to himself as “the fool in your tarot deck,” is known, as you might expect given his chosen nickname, for his often witty lyricism. There's always a hidden meaning at play that requires a thorough dissection in order to translate what he's saying. If you're a word-play fan, like me, stuff like this is should be right up your alley. People like us find a sick amount of joy in finding a way to give a song a different meaning than simply surface emotion. We also find music with open interpretation easier to relate to. Screw you, story-songs! — JW
The Outfit, TX (Album Release) at The Travis
Dallas natives Mel Kyle, JayHawk Walker and Dorian Terrell may have made their name down in Houston while studying at U of H, but these days, the crew's back in the D, just waiting for locals to take notice. Well, we should: This trio's simply one of best groups in all of hip-hop right now. Their 2012 release, Starships & Rockets: Cooly Fooly Space Age Funk, is a must-listen, a triumphant take on the classic Texas sound made famous by DJ Screw. But tonight's release party for the two of its members' new releases, Cognac/Four Corner Room, are interesting in their own right. And you can celebrate these albums' release at Sober's weekly Big Bang event tonight. — Mikel Galicia
Peter Case at Dan's Silverleaf
Case has had a long history of songwriting and music-making, most notably with '70s power-pop trio The Nerves. Even so, Case has often said he doesn't like to pigeonhole any of the music he listens to into any one genre. It's a courtesy we'll extend to Case, too: While his music is a tad hard to define, it's certainly not easy to forget; he was ahead of his time in the '70s and now that it's 2013, he's ahead again. — JW
To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.
