Once you get past the warbled Tom Waits-isms of lead singer Osei Essed, this NYC experimental blues set is already full tickle under your ass with everything from bayou, accordion-jazzed hop to country-punk throwdowns. The collective rolls anywhere from seven to 20 musicians deep, and a guiding, usually mandolin-led catharsis is always lurking. Think Lightspeed Champion, or Elvis Perkins, with whom they've toured. (Gavin Paul).
Friday, March 12 at 10pm Venue: Morseland Tickets: $5
Sub Pop labelmates, Sollee and Moore, are two Kentuckians crafting different kinds of bluegrass and folk with quirks from '50s R&B to backwoods banjo. They're calling it the Dear Companion Tour, which makes sense when Sollee cites Bela Fleck as equally influential as Sam Cooke, or Moore's fondness for Chet Baker. The two have released an album of the same name, meant to help raise awareness of the careless coal-mining practices that are destroying Appalachian landscapes and water streams. (Gavin Paul)
Friday, March 12 at 10pm Venue: SPACE Tickets: $10-$18
Can’t make it to Austin to see all the Chicago acts playing South by Southwest this year? At least you can help fund their trip at this fourth annual concert. Eleven local artists, including Hollows, The Hood Internet, Tom Schraeder, Mittens on Strings, Waco Brothers, Tyler Jon Tyler and Plastic Crimewave Sound will take the stage for a full day of music.
Saturday, March 13 at 3pm Venue: Hideout Tickets: $10
After a few questionable career moves (his stint as a bandleader for one), DJ/producer extraordinaire RJD2 has come to his senses and returned to what he's good at, which is laying down soulful vocals over slamming breaks. For his newest album, The Colossus, he conjures up all the familiar sounds of his heyday, but extends his style a bit further with a heavy dosage of synthesizers and slashing guitar licks. Featured on the album are lyricists Phonte Coleman (Little Brother, Foreign Exchange), Illogic and The Catalyst. But the definitive songs on the album (and the ones that show where RJ's head has been these past couple of years) are "Games You Can't Win" featuring Kenna (Star Trak) and "Giant Squid," which both have a Hot Chip-meets-Ratatat feel. Whether you look at it as trend-hopping or progressive growth, RJD2 is certainly operating at a high level - so much so that he's claiming this project as his triumphant return to the underground. It's hard to pinpoint what his stage show will entail at this point, but for this show it's more than likely he'll perform with drummer Break Science and guitarist Happy Chichester for one of his classic live band/live DJ collaborations. (J. Min)
Saturday, March 13 at 9pm Venue: Metro Tickets: $25
It may have started as a chance encounter at a thrift shop, but after a handful of successful remixes, collaborations and a highly touted full-length, the infectiously charming trio The Very Best (Esau Mwamwaya, Johan Hugo and DJ Tron) have established themselves as darlings of the global music scene. The London-based trio tastefully mixes traditional Malawi rhythms with modern-day hip-hop beats, reggae and, well, pretty much everything else to create the sunniest Afro-pop you'll hear. If you tried to catch them in October you probably were met with a disappointing cancellation notice, but don't let that deter you from this one because Esau Mwamwaya has officially cleared his visa and has promised to deliver a show that's well worth the wait. (J. Min)
Tuesday, March 16 at 8pm Venue: Bottom Lounge Tickets: $15
YahZarah is the type of soul singer that has everything it takes to make it big — from the sensuous voice to the starlet looks — but is just too strong of an individual for the mainstream to latch onto. Her two solo albums are reflections of her refined talent, as she's able to evoke the intimate pillow banter of a Minnie Riperton one moment and the powerful ballads of a Chaka Kahn the next. And although her voice is her bread and butter, it's her commanding stage presence (a hard thing to have when you're barely five feet tall) that certifies her as a top-billing artist. Her performance at the Shrine will be a precursor to a later show with the Foreign Exchange (Phonte and Nicolay), so this will be a perfect way to get acquainted with a budding R&B star before she hits a bigger stage. (J. Min)
Wednesday, March 17 at 9pm Venue: The Shrine Tickets: $10-$15
With a fanbase that's been steadily growing for the past couple years, P.O.S. has been dubbed by many critics as the savior of hip-hop. It's a tremendous title to bestow on a guy whose humble attitude is his most endearing quality, but it isn't totally off-point especially when considering his huge crossover appeal. P.O.S.'s hybrid of punk and rap is stylistically comparable to two trains colliding head-on at 100 MPH, which in this case isn't a bad thing at all. In fact his no-nonsense, aggressive style is exactly what rap needs right now and it's nice to know that Rhymesayers has allowed this guy to grow without restriction. Dessa of Doomtree will open along with Astronautalis. (J. Min)
