Weekend Music Preview: Red Sparowes @ Red 7 [Friday]

Austin has nurtured its fair share of stellar instrumental rock bands in the recent past. Explosions In The Sky is probably the best known of these local post-rock connoisseurs, having furnished the soundtrack to the 2004 movie Friday Night Lights. The band taped an edition of Austin City Limits in 2007, and the following year, curated All Tomorrow’s Parties in the U.K. The Calm Blue Sea is another Austin act adept at producing sonic eruptions of the highest caliber.

And My Education, first on the bill at Red 7 tonight, has been crafting epic soundscapes in town for nearly ten years. The experienced outfit, expert at utilizing a wide array of instruments for its brilliantly arranged compositions, will release Sunrise, the aptly titled score for Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans on April 27th. The band plans to execute the new record in conjunction with the 1927 film at its official release party on April 25th at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz. Next up this evening, Salem’s Doomriders, spearheaded by Converge and Old Man Gloom’s Nate Newton, deliver blistering metal jams that inject some vocals into the mix.

Headliners Red Sparowes hail from Los Angeles and were in Austin as recently as last November, performing at the beloved Fun Fun Fun Fest. Sometimes considered a side-project, an erroneous detail refuted during our pre-Fun Fest interview with members of the band, Red Sparowes is comprised of respected veterans such as Bryan Clifford Meyer (Isis), Greg Burns (Halifax Pier), Dave Clifford (Pleasure Forever), and Andy Arahood (Angel Hair). Meyer’s fellow Isis band mate Jeff Caxide and Neurosis’ Josh Graham were both a part of the original lineup as well; guitarist Emma Ruth Randle joined the band last year following Graham’s exit. Red Sparowes’ two full-lengths adroitly package controlled chaos into stirring doses of euphoric rock. The band’s third LP is due next Tuesday so expect plenty of new material this evening at Red 7.

[Red Sparowes MySpace]
[Doomriders MySpace]
[My Education MySpace]

Scoot Inn is the place to be the rest of the weekend. Foot Patrol offers up its trademark funkoctions on Saturday, and on Sunday, Clown Dog Bikes (2821 San Jacinto Blvd., 78705) celebrates its ten year anniversary at the venue. The Sunday shindig (doors at 4 p.m.) features the somewhat forgotten purveyors of belligerent rock ‘n’ roll Free Range Bastards (first show in town since 2007), along with Woodgrain and East Side Alcohol. The event serves as a benefit for Austin Yellow Bike Project so feel free to dish out $5 at the door.

Flip through the Austinist Weekend Music Preview Slideshow after the jump for information on a number of events in town this weekend.