Weekend Music Preview: Wax Fang @ Emo's & Sunset Rubdown @ The Mohawk

The 2008 Austin City Limits Music Festival is finally here! We hope you’ve been enjoying our various stage previews. Even if you’re not attending the day time revelry at Zilker Park, there are plenty of options to choose from during the evening hours. (Read our ACL Fest after-shows roundup here.) Most weekend live music activities will probably revolve around the plethora of acts in town for the fest but there’s so much more going on; a couple of shows definitely merit a quick mention.

The Mohawk is home to two of the finest late night efforts in town this weekend. On Friday, Rolling Stone, Transmission Entertainment, Rhapsody, and Sprint present a stellar bill for our merriment -- Illinois’ The Cool Kids headline with local favorites Voxtrot and Belaire opening. Sunset Rubdown is the featured band at The Mohawk on Saturday; spearheaded by Spencer Krug (of Wolf Parade, Frog Eyes, and Swan Lake), the Canadian band released their third full-length Random Spirit Lover last year. (Read our review here.) We’re already licking our chops eagerly in anticipation of live renditions of the intricately textured compositions contained in this very impressive album. Brilliantly cacophonous at times, deftly euphonic at others, when Sunset Rubdown holds court, we shall all be mesmerized by the melodies. Grand Ole Party (from San Diego) and Hospital Ships (featuring Jordan Geiger from Minus Story) open.

Emo’s also boasts quite a collection of quality live shows over the course of the next few days, starting on Thursday with Paste Magazine’s “ACL Kick-Off Party” featuring music from the likes of Mates of State and What Made Milwaukee Famous, among others. (RSVP here.) Wax Fang at Emo’s (inside stage) on Friday is another show worth noting. Scott Carney started Wax Fang all by himself in 2005 but has since added drummer Kevin Ratterman and bassist Jake Heustis to the line-up. The band’s layered concoctions incorporate glistening six-string wizardry, garnished with doses of distortion and reverb, as well as touches of theremin output. It should make for quite a spectacular live show, we think.

Follow the jump to view the Austinist Weekend Music Preview Slideshow for details on some more events in town this Thursday through Sunday.