Austinist Weekend Music Preview: Cruiserweight & Driver F @ Stubb's

Emo’s shakes things up this Friday with RJD2 and dälek bringing the beats and rhymes to what promises to be an innovative evening of hip-hop at the Red River venue. Also in the vicinity, The Ramonahs cover various Ramones classics at the Beauty Bar. The “All Drag Queen” tribute act debuted in Dallas in February to a sold out show and why should Austin miss out on this shenanigans! Firekills at Red 7, Demontuary at Room 710, The Ends at Headhunters, and The Hex Dispensers at Beerland offer further options in the area.

Moving north on Red River, the pop-punk smarts of Cruiserweight will be on display at Stubb’s (Indoors.) The band has been hard at work on their next record -- they spent last summer in L.A. recording Big Bold Letters and are planning a late August release for the album. However, CW8 will put out an iTunes exclusive EP in June consisting of two songs from BBL, a bonus track, and a video for “Balboa.” Check out some some older videos; then head down to Stubb’s on Friday for a fun night, especially since singer Stella Maxwell “will be prepared to challenge anyone to a dance off” -- according to drummer (and sibling) Yogi Maxwell. He also adds triumphantly, “We’ve been patiently waiting for the return of rock. We feel now is our time to shine. Get ready to start the revolution.” Headliners Driver F are celebrating the release of their newest CD, Chase the White Whale. You might have already enjoyed “Every Snowflake is Unique” off their Not Home Yet EP on 101X but take a moment to check out their latest video “Two Words, Mr. President: Plausible Deniability” via their site. Also around these parts, The Mohawk is home to Black Joe Lewis’s blues-rock along with retro sounds of The Carrots and The Strange Boys.

Away from Red River, scope out Lambert’s for the multi-instrumental soundscapes of Til We’re Blue Or Destroy. Awesome Cool Dudes and DJ Mega Gates complete the bill at the “Fancy Barbeque” restaurant. The Rio Rita Lounge presents the latest installment of Ready Steady Go! while Rock City Icehouse showcases the music of Bankrupt and the Borrowers and Meagan Tubb. Also on Friday, veteran country-rock act Southern Culture on the Skids play the first of two shows in town this weekend at the Continental Club.

Image from KOOP 91.7 FM’s MySpace

The Roots’ much-anticipated free show on the Main Mall at UT on Saturday marks another year for the university’s Forty Acres Fest. The Roots are scheduled to take the stage at 8:30 p.m. (following a set by The Octopus Project) while the band’s drummer Questlove will make the short trip to the Whisky Bar later in the evening for a DJ stint.

Khabele School (@ 801 Rio Grande) hosts the The Khabele Jazz Fest with music from The Unbearables and Ari Dvorin, In The Pocket, the Kinktet, and of course, The Khabele Jazz Band! The event kicks off at 4 p.m. and serves as a fundraiser for the Jazz Band II students to raise some dough for a trip to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. A minimum donation of $10 per person is encouraged -- email them for more information or to purchase tickets. The Louisiana Swamp Thing & Crawfish Festival takes place in the parking lot of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum , boasting sizzling funk from George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic along with roots-rock from Cowboy Mouth.

Head over to Emo’s (Lounge) to catch previews from The Dirty Hearts’ upcoming record titled Pigs (tentatively set for a July release); Sally Crewe & the Sudden Moves headline. Afrofreque at Lambert’s, The Flametrick Subs at Beerland, Xiu Xiu at The Mohawk, The Ugly Beats at Club de Ville, Benko at the Hole in the Wall and Casiotone for the Painfully Alone at Emo’s round off a diverse list of live music choices for this Saturday in Austin, Tejas.

A Neutral Milk Hotel Tribute takes place at the Scoot Inn on Sunday with proceeds from the evening going to the SIMS Foundation and Nuçi's Space. The event celebrates ten years of NMH's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea; the classic record will be performed by The Elephant 7 Players. And lest you forget, the legendary B.B. King plays Austin Music Hall on Sunday as well!

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