Austinist Weekend Music Preview: Bob Mould Band, Masonic, & The Black

SXSW is done and dusted and we had a blast. But normal service is resumed this weekend in Austin with a number of appealing shows. Melodies and (so-called) punk go hand in hand these days in mainstream America, with Warped Tour fervor influencing one new generation of mall-punks after another. Bob Mould shaped at least a segment of the sound of pop-punk to come during his Hüsker Dü and Sugar days, and has churned out a versatile solo career as well. His performance at the 2005 Austin City Limits Music Festival was epic and you can witness the magic first-hand, up-close this Thursday when the Bob Mould Band takes centre-stage at Antone’s. Mould’s new record, District Line can be purchased here.

Beerland has picked an interesting time for their own version of “free week”; the lovable pop sounds of The Carrots and the intriguingly named Shitty Beach Boys provide the entertainment on Thursday evening. Alternatives this night include Tycho and Rae Davis at The Mohawk, and Muchos Backflips and Bee vs. Moth at Room 710.

Friday night, Beerland hosts a punk rock assault courtesy of The Teeners and Total Abuse while Emo’s Lounge is home to melodies from Popup and Pataphysics. Cavedweller at Carousel Lounge and Basic at The Parlor offer options away from downtown.

Two of our town’s finest acts, Zookeeper and Til We’re Blue Or Destroy support a third, extremely talented outfit Masonic at The Mohawk. The show marks the release of Masonic's fourth album -- you can buy Things I Am Guilty Of here or better yet, at the show! Eryn Gettys’ voice is as soothing as it is captivating, and the rest of the band expertly complements the vocals with pretty soundscapes of pop melodies and comforting instrumentation. You might even hear their stellar cover of Del Shannon’s “Runaway” at the gig.

The Parish also boasts an excellent line-up of local acts on Friday, with The Story Of, Peel, and The Black on the schedule. This event (titled An After SXSW Decompression Party) is presented by Navdo who has a number of shows coming up at the Parish next month including {{{ SUNSET }}} on back to back nights (10th and 11th April) and a set of psychedelic music showcases on the 17th and 18th of April. Acts such as Ringo Deathstarr and The Boxing Lesson are set to be featured at Psychedelic Shack Night One and Psychedelic Shack Night Two respectively. The Black’s “Eshu Blues” (off the Donna EP) is featured on Austin Sound’s Sound Advice Vol II along with likes of Brazos, Balmorhea, Haunting Oboe Music, and White Denim. You can download the entire mix here.

Round off your weekend on Saturday night at Emo’s with Diagonals, at The Parish with White Ghost Shivers, or at the Hole In The Wall with Black Panda. The Mohawk brings us Experimental Aircraft while Beerland’s free night features The Crack Pipes. Or check out Guitar Women at Antone's; the showcase spotlights the music of Sue Foley, Carolyn Wonderland, and Sarah Brown, among others.