Hard Proof Afrobeat, Hundred Visions and More at Red 7 [Free Week Show Preview]

Free Week w/ Hard Proof Afrobeat, Hundred Visions, and more
Thursday, January 5
Red 7 (611 E. 7th St.)
Free, 8pm
[info]

Free Week in Austin tends to lean towards the garagey-est of Red River bands, but tonight’s showcase at Red 7 marches to a different beat. Make that a few different beats: the Austinist’s own Adi Anand and Austin Music Weekly present a bill that features a number of local up-and-comers while spanning the globe musically.

Topping the bill is Hard Proof Afrobeat, who claim the lofty mantle of “sole purveyors of African funk in the state of Texas.” While that might be tooting their own horns a bit, the group knows its way around a polyrhythm, providing the perfect African-inspired counterpoint to other local peers like Brownout or Ocote Soul Sounds. Hard Proof’s conga player Tony Cruz was recently diagnosed with a pulmonary disorder, but the band is selling their debut album on a pay-what-you-can basis to help cover Cruz’s rent.

Hundred Visions marry the sounds of Free Week into one package. While past releases kept the guitars distorted and the drums plodding, last year’s Last Cab From Tunis EP showed off some danceable elements that strangely enough work well with their more jagged tendencies. It’s like they’ve brought late ‘70s New York to Austin, and that’s certainly a good thing (except for the crippling income disparity and rampant heroin use). Meanwhile, Smoke And Feathers will take the night on a trip down the Delta with a heavy mix of Southern rock and psychedelia. No news yet on a new release, so their 2010 debut EP will have to hold fans over.

Zlam Dunk will get pulses quickening with their fiery post-punk. Their debut Noble Ancestry can barely contain their energy, and after a few listens it’s apparent that they’re a band to see live. In the complete opposite direction, East Cameron Folkcore bring a rootsy booziness that should balance out the evening. The giant collective has a kitchen-sink approach to their songs, as evidenced by the expansive arrangements on their debut, Sound And Fury. Kay Leotard (a nod to the late Jay Reatard) opens the night with slow-burning psych-rock pulled from their debut EP, Rituals, which is barely three weeks old.

It’s an eclectic night, for sure, but that’s what free week’s all about. Try on a few new musical hats, and you might be surprised at what you like.

Hard Proof Afrobeat: [official]
Hundred Visions: [facebook]
Smoke And Feathers: [facebook]
Zlam Dunk: [facebook]
East Cameron Folkcore: [official]
Kay Leotard: [facebook]