Recommended Live Music for the Weekend

Today's a good weekend to ease your way into the upcoming summer heat. Quirk rockers Primus, riot grrrls FEA, and Kid Koala's vaudeville show help you get out of the house and into the heat.

FRIDAY

FEA, Go Fever

Barracuda
Fri., May 11, 9pm

Girl in a Coma’s Phanie Diaz and Jenn Alva lead San Antonio riot grrrl quartet Fea with fiery Chicana punk. 2016’s self-titled bow, co-produced by genre godmother Alice Bag and Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace, debuted brutally melodic bilingual anthems like “Mujer Moderna.” Go Fever’s sharp local pop supports, as sustained by Aussie Acey Monaro’s big voice. Sleek synth from Shy Beast and chiming indie by Lola Tried begins. – Rachel Rascoe

Primus, Mastodon

Circuit of the Americas
Fri., May 11, 7pm

The art of being quirky while still rocking the hell out is a fine one, but funk-metal weirdos Primus have struck that balance for 30 years. The bass-fronted San Francisco trio keeps the schtick strong on The Desaturating Seven, inspired by a children’s book. Bolstering 2017 double shot Emperor of Sand and Cold Dark Place, Atlantan prog metal eccentrics Mastodon co-headline. Nashville power rockers All Them Witches open. – Michael Toland

Dweezil Zappa

Mohawk
Fri., May 11, 8pm

Frank Zappa (1940-1993) cemented his connection to Austin at the Armadillo World Headquarters. Recorded live, 1975’s Bongo Fury preserves the summit of the Baltimore-born guitarist and Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart. If you missed it, hearing six-string scion Dweezil Zappa plumb the FZ catalog is the next best thing. The eclectic “Choice Cuts” tour spans decades, from Freak Out! standout “Trouble Every Day” through “Cocaine Decisions” off 1983’s The Man From Utopia.
– Greg Beets

SATURDAY

Kid Koala's Vinyl Vaudeville: Floor Kids Edition

3ten Austin City Limits Live
Sat., May 12, 9pm

Turntablist behind hip-hop supergroup Deltron 3030, Vancouver’s Eric San curated the soundtrack to breakdance video game Floor Kids. Now follows the spectacle with feathered dancers, giant spiders, penguins, space cadet robots, and brass-playing ants. Driving three steel wheels, he’ll dig through classics as the crowd participates in giant paper airplane fights.
– Alejandra Ramirez

Dr. Dog, Son Little

ACL Live at the Moody Theater
Sat., May 12, 8pm

On last month’s Critical Equation, Dr. Dog continues to unleash cosmic jams filtered through a pop-centric Beatles lens. It’s a sound chronicled by the Philly outfit since jangly 2002 debut Toothbrush. The kaleidoscopic synth crescendos of “Night,” rich acoustics of “True Love,” and the lush lull of “Coming Out of the Darkness” recall their indie-pop charm. – Alejandra Ramirez

Tokimonsta

Kingdom Nightclub
Sat., May 12, 10pm

Jennifer Lee reaches a state of tranquility and visceral soundscapes through her psychedelic, electro R&B rhythms. 2017’s Lune Rouge injects features by Isaiah Rashad, Yuna, and Joey Purp that were prompted by the L.A. producer being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. She temporarily lost her ability walk, speak, and understand music, but after two surgeries, her lush, silky, and loopy beats survived intact.
– Isabella Castro-Cota

SUNDAY

Charlie Parr, Possessed by Paul James

Mohawk
Sun., May 13, 8pm

A brilliant pairing of sit-down acoustic carolers so spiritually eruptive they defy that mundane designation singer-songwriter. Charlie Parr, hailing from Spam homeland Austin, Minn., channels pre-war folk with the plunky resonator guitar and hovering vocal moan of last year’s 14th LP Dog. Kerrville schoolteacher Konrad Wert stokes a free-form emotional purge of viola, banjo, guitar, stomping, and closed-eyed wailing to evangelize education as PBPJ. – Kevin Curtin

Leonard Zen Smith Lucid Dreaming Memorial

The Sahara Lounge
Sun., May 13, 6pm

Austin’s psychedelic/industrial/art-rock community honors trumpeter Leonard “Zen” Smith, who passed last month. A member of near-legendary local experimental combos Liquid Mice and Gherri Signfeldt’s Atrophied Sac, Smith also frequently sat in with ST 37 and most recently performed with acid duo Abigail und Hansel. All four acts pay tribute to their friend, joined by fellow travelers Book of Shadows, Alma Lee Cameron, the Early Stages, and Aurora Plastics. – Michael Toland