TCB

101X Smackdown!

Spring is radio-station festival time, and the first big one, 101X's Springfest, hits Friday afternoon in Waterloo Park. Blur, the White Stripes, and the Donnas may be on the station's playlist, but obviously it's still nü-metal that pays the bills. A brief guide:

RUBBERHED: Rubberhed represents Austin with a coarse, infectious sound that splits the difference between Bad Religion and Agent Orange, as heard on their new EP, Throw Your Voice. (4pm)

SEETHER: South African trio Seether wants you to believe everything will be "Fine Again," but after spending time with songs like "Fuck It," "Broken," and "Pig," that may be something of a hard sell. (5pm)

TRAPT: Californians Trapt hit it big with "Headstrong," which melds the belligerence of Disturbed with the radio-ready heavy hooks of Linkin Park or Alien Ant Farm. (6pm)

EVANESCENCE: Arkansans Evanescence are early front-runners for Newcomer of the Year, thanks to their haunting, inescapable single "Bring Me to Life." But how long before vocalist Amy Lee goes solo? (7pm)

GODSMACK: Pierced in all the right places, the Bostonians' third CD, Faceless, is currently getting mucho airplay due to gut-wrenching single "Straight Out of Line." (8:30pm)

Gates open at 3pm; tickets $30 in advance or $34.50 day of show. Afterparty at the Vibe with Smile Empty Soul and Cold; free with ticket stub. (11pm)

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