Music Recommended

Texas Union Ballroom, Sunday 8

In case you hadn't heard, KUT is thinking of replacing its regular midnight-5am weeknight programming with BBC news feeds, which are about as exciting as watching ear hair grow. So pony up your $13 to see Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Shawn Colvin, Robert Earl Keen, The Austin Lounge Lizards, and Ed Miller demonstrate why Austin is synonymous with singer-songwriters. Should be a great one!

FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS

Backyard, Friday 6

Nothing wrong with either of Kim Wilson's last two solo releases on Antone's records, yet the T-Birds new release, Roll of the Dice, sounds like Austin's heppest harpcat is happier than a pig in shit in the group's latest incarnation. Hard to say, who'll be manning the axes at this gig, which celebrates KXAN's 30th anniversary and benefits Youth Options of Austin, but you can be sure that the blues will cut lean and mean Friday night.

BUFFALO TOM, JENNIFER TRYNIN

Liberty Lunch, Friday 6

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Such has been Buffalo Tom's fate the last couple of times through town when they've opened for lesser talents. Still working their rockin' Sleepy Eyed, this rootsy trio of Uncle Tupelites, should provide a good lesson in the union of rock and roll and great songwriting. Jennifer Trynin supports in a Crow/Osborne manner, and the In-Breds open.

OLD SETTLER'S BLUEGRASS & ACOUSTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL

Old Settler's Park, Round Rock, Friday 6 & Saturday 7

Only 10 miles North of Austin on Hwy79 E, Old Settler's Park is hosting its annual bluegrass blowout with two days worth of talent to make your toes curl. Starting at 6pm on Friday look for: The Austin Lounge Lizards, Erik Hokkanen, The Blazing Bows, and Interstate Bluegrass Co. Saturday at 1pm, you'll find the David Grisman Quintet, Jerry Douglas, and Paul Glasse among many others. Whoo-wee, pass the likker jar.

ODETTA

Waterloo Ice House 38th, Saturday 7

First, the nouns: Singer, songwriter, actress, teacher. Second, the genres: folk, traditional, Broadway, ballads, classical, blues. Third, the details: Odetta, 65, has captivated audiences and influenced perfomers for so long she's often overlooked; Here's the chance to hear a living legend. - Margaret Moser

DIRTY DOZEN

Antone's, Saturday 7

Formerly the artists known as the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, these N'awlins blues 'n' jazzbos always set Antone's alight with their ragtime, R&B brass bawlin', which was last seen entertaining Black Crowes' fans at the City Coliseum. No opener, just the boyz.

WAYNE HANCOCK

Continental Club, Saturday 7

Already the whispers have begun (mostly by me, really) that Wayne "The Train" Hancock's new Dejadisc Thunderstorms and Neon Signs is the Austin release of 1995. In case you missed all those Emo's Monday nights and haven't caught one of Hancock's weekly Jovita's dance riots, this nasally honky-tonker joins Don Walser, and Junior Brown as one of Austin's unique treasures destined for greatness. Hank Wiliams would've been proud o' The Train.

JENNYANYKIND FREE-FOR-ALL

Hole in the Wall, Sunday 8

North Carolina invades (next week Superchunk) when Jennyanykind lather up the Sunday Free-for-All crowd with their everything-but-the-kitchen sink blues of the afflicted. Meat Puppets meet the Allman Brothers, we'll call 'em, but they'll still leave you scratching your head. Besides Paul Minor's Superego houseband, look for Euripides Pants, Sister Run Naked, and Veronica Pope. Still no better place in town to spend your Sundays.

JOHN LENNON TRIBUTE

Steamboat, Monday 9

A Stones town to be sure, Austin, but don't nobody tell that to Steamboat's patron saint and GM, Danny Crooks, who simply says "rock and roll wouldn't exist without John Lennon." Not the first time we've heard that, nor is this the first year for this annual event, which features host and resident Beatlehead Stephen Doster ushering on Steamboat stalwarts like Will Sexton, Johnny Goudie, Richard Weiss, Bob Schneider, Vallejo, and Kris McKay as they pay tribute to the Walrus.

VELVET HAMMER

White Rabbit, Wednesday 11

If women are indeed a musical minority then the gals in Velvet Hammer are alone in the toolbox, as no other local band mixes Led Zeppelin III acoustic and electric diminuendo and crescendo with Celtic flute melodies, and space-agey keys. Lynda Millard and Ginger Doss used to be Dos Millard, and later Avalon, but they've finally settled on the Hammer moniker and the White Rabbit.

PAW, GRITHER, SKILLET

Emo's, Thursday 12

Though they hail from Lawrence, Kansas, Paw have Texas sensibilities. No, it's not just the song "Texas" on their new rawhide rocker Death to Traitors. It's their shit-kicking, mean-ass rock & roll, which smiles twisted blues through a mouthful of blackened teeth as if from some backwoods crazies straight outta Deliverance. Their last pass through Emo's found them playing to an empty, frozen tundra. Let's see that doesn't happen again.

ALSO PLAYING

Friday: Los Straitjackets, Continental Club

Saturday: Gomez, The Chumps, Motards, Satans, Tallboy, Hurtbox, Emo's; Tailgators, Poodle Dog Lounge

Sunday: Tuscadero, Truly, Electric Lounge

Monday: Sarah Elizabeth Campbell, Artz Rib House

Tuesday: Julie Burrell, Ego's

Wednesday: Magneto USA, Hole in the Wall

Thursday: Pocket FishRmen, Flamingo Cantina