Having topped nearly every festival bill in the country, Spoon can afford to play Austin on its own terms, a fact reiterated by the sold-out backyard blowout at the Scoot Inn in April. This weekend the locals curate and headline a three-night stand at Stubb’s behind newly minted EP Got Nuffin. The three-song fix, partially recorded at Brooklyn’s Rare Book Room, is classic, cryptic Spoon, led by Britt Daniel’s dagger sneer, with the type of left-wall experimentation not heard since 1998’s A Series of Sneaks. Austin’s Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears turn up the heat early on Thursday, armed with neo-rhythm and soul from the band’s Jim Eno-produced debut, Tell ’Em What Your Name Is!, followed by Portland, Ore.’s indie-rock standard-bearers Quasi. Friday juxtaposes the hardened classic country of local ringer Dale Watson with Low’s intimate restraint, while Spoon flaunts its tastemaking credentials on Saturday with Deerhunter offshoot Atlas Sound and the precocious delinquency of Austin’s the Strange Boys. – Austin Powell
Like Austin City Limits, Antone’s remains a global brand that attracts seekers of (blues) truth and (blues) knowledge from the Mississippi Delta to Mali. While Clifford Antone (1949-2006) remains in spirit and name, this is the week to seek out sister Susan Antone. Friday, longtime club loyalist Robert Cray spins silk, while Saturday the Arc Angels summon the glory days of River City’s guitar gods. Sunday’s fundraiser for local voice Natalie Zoe stars funkateers T Bird & the Breaks, Joel Guzman & Sarah Fox, LZ Love, and more, but save your best psychedelic wishes for birthday boy Roky Erickson on Wednesday, blowing out the candles of his two-headed cake with Riverboat Gamblers and the Golden Boys. Thursday, the Alice Rose follows in his footsteps with a CD release of third-generation acid-pop. Pucker up, Susan. – Raoul Hernandez
Carousel Lounge is the perfect place for this midsummer night’s fever dream of musical oddities. Masked San Marcos barkers Attic Ted headline once again with curious organ-pop, supported by Chicago noiseniks Mayor Daley and budget rock from Preston Dukes. 9pm. – Audra Schroeder
= roadshow 
= all ages venue 
= listen to music
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