He’s only visiting for the weekend, but Guy Clark could play Austin every night, and it would never get old. The singer-songwriter’s latest, Somedays the Song Writes You (Dualtone), maintains a masterful touch, shedding light on the human condition with a crooked smile and glint in the eye. Get there early to experience the down-home wit and beauty of Nashville songstress Elizabeth Cook. – Jim Caligiuri
A two-night gathering of bands from Texas, Mexico, and beyond, Dias de Destruccion is sort of like a U.N. summit of Latino punk. Friday, San Antonio’s Piñata Protest throws accordion into the pit along with Mexico’s no-wavers XYX and pop-punkers Porkeria, plus studded riffs from Chicago’s Ultratumbados, L.A.’s Poliskitzo, and locals the Young. Saturday, Eighties-bred headliners the Brat return from east L.A., supported by Mexico’s noise excavators Ratas del Vaticano, locals Deskonocidos, and more. – Audra Schroeder
Lyle Lovett and Neko Case belong together, even if it’s only on consecutive nights. The long, tall Texan comes off amorous enough on new album Natural Forces, choking his chicken (“Farmer Brown/Chicken Reel”) and panting in the “Pantry.” Tuscon, Ariz.’s shit-kicking neo-yodeler Neko Case would take him down like the killer whale of her Middle Cyclone’s “People Got a Lotta Nerve.” Her show’s a benefit for the Austin Food Bank. Kismet. – Raoul Hernandez
Lyle Lovett and Neko Case belong together, even if it’s only on consecutive nights. The long, tall Texan comes off amorous enough on new album Natural Forces, choking his chicken (“Farmer Brown/Chicken Reel”) and panting in the “Pantry.” Tuscon, Ariz.’s shit-kicking neo-yodeler Neko Case would take him down like the killer whale of her Middle Cyclone’s “People Got a Lotta Nerve.” Her show’s a benefit for the Austin Food Bank. Kismet. – Raoul Hernandez
Nothing feels better than undoing that top button and breathing through your mouth after Thanksgiving dinner. You’re an American, right? In Austin, however, the live music doesn’t stop, and there are several ways to ward off the looming anxiety of Black Friday. Honorary Austinite Wayne Hancock keeps his boots shined for the annual Turkey Trot at the Continental Club, with locals Shotgun Party. Blues-soul collective T Bird & the Breaks gets down with next generation R&B cabal Blues Mafia at Momo’s. East Cameron Records, local incubator for y’alt.country, hosts a Thanksgiving Throwdown at Hole in the Wall, and Two Hoots & a Holler at Trophy’s takes it real easy down South. – Audra Schroeder
