Austinist Show Preview: Benevento/Russo Duo, Dertybird at the Parish

Benevento/Russo Duo, believe it or not, are made up of two people. They hail from the north. And they can fill a room with noise. But don't you even dare compare them to The White Stripes, because they would probably punch you in the face. Because first of all, Joe Russo's drums serve as a powerful and unrelenting backdrop of technical precision, and, secondly, Marco Benevento's emphatic and and purposeful keyboard--yes, keyboard--stuffs the foreground. And if that isn't enough to distance them from what is perhaps music's most famous duo, with Benevento and Russo, don't expect to find any vocals lying around, and don't expect to see any shortage of energy, as the band pack as much action into two people as possible. And that action you'll be able to find this Saturday night at The Parish Room.

Opening up are Austin faithfuls Dertybird, who bring classic rock flair to the present day, mixing winding guitar and steady drumming with bluesy keys and song structures to build a familiar sound that, despite being familiar, is still really fun to listen to. Toss in Clayton Colvin's unbending vocals, which feel stylistically not far from a higher-pitched Hendrix, and you have the perfect beginning for a show that will close with two guys pounding away on their instruments like crazy people.