Looking for the best shows happening in Austin this week? Check out the Chronicle music team’s handpicked “Crucial Concerts” below or in the paper every Thursday. And for our complete listings of upcoming live music events around town, head to Chron Events.

Keep Austin Cheer’d

Continental Club, Thursday 7 – Saturday 9

Launched with one sold-out night on South Congress, the third year of Keep Austin Cheer’d rightly ups to triple dates of next-gen acts brightening the Continental Club’s hallowed halls, specially decorated with vintage Christmas kitsch. Underneath their sequined dirtbag style (aligned with July record American Drip Pt. II) homegrown duo Me Nd Adam pack hearts of gold in fundraising for Casa Marianella, which has provided shelter and support for migrants since 1986. The organizers close out nightly with rising capital acts like TC Superstar, THEBROSFRESH, Ellis Bullard, the Past Lives, and Lady Dan lighting up each evening. $5 from every $15 ticket goes directly to Marianella.  – Rachel Rascoe

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Queens of the Stone Age, Spiritualized

Moody Center, Friday 8

First time yours prog-ly witnessed Spiritualized, they turned Liberty Lunch into a Rush arena show. A decade later, their dusk spellbinder at ACL Fest reverberated bandleader/Spaceman Jason Pierce’s Roky Erickson worship. His 33-year-old UK explorers opening for QOTSA at Moody parallels Joan Jett once warming up the Who next door at the Erwin Center. Headliner meet headliner. Josh Homme’s high desert marauders will still dominate nevertheless. June’s eighth long-player In Times New Roman…‘s shuddering post-rock goth grunge pierced the dark heart of contemporary end-times with a million riff shards from their shattered hall of mirrors.  – Raoul Hernandez

Boiler Room: Austin

The Concourse Project, Saturday 9

Expanding on last year’s raucous reggaeton showcase, Boiler Room’s third-ever Austin appearance marks a new pulse-pounding pre-Christmas tradition. Returning to the Concourse Project’s rave-ready halls, the popular broadcasting platform joins forces with local Latinx collective Perreo Club, co-hosting an impressive bill of Texan and worldwide turntable talent. Standouts include dancehall innovator Ape Drums and high-energy música urbana mixer Rosa Pistola, while local powerhouses p1nkstar and Suxxy Puxxy flex Austin’s pop talent. Friday’s festivities are sold out, but $50 tickets remain for Saturday. Alternatively, livestream select hip-shaking sets at boilerroom.tv.  – Genevieve Wood

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Blues Benefit for Sarah Barlow

Antone’s Nightclub, Sunday 10

In October, beloved local blues guitarist Sarah Barlow’s dog Lucky was attacked by two pit bulls. Caught in the crossfire to save her pet, Barlow’s left index finger was severed, and faced necrosis following emergency surgery. An upcoming party at Antone’s – whose late founder Clifford Antone acted as Barlow’s manager – raises money to cover the musician’s medical bills, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy she hopes will prevent amputation. The event promises performances from Kathy Murray & the Kilowatts, Bear Ryan, Elijah Zane, and Matthew Brodnax. Not yet ready to return to guitar, Barlow will provide vocals. Hear more from Barlow on our Daily Music blog.  – Carys Anderson

Tahree-Amir Quartet

Monks Jazz, Thursday 14

Inspired by everyone from Chet Baker and Louis Armstrong to Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis, Houston trumpeter K’vhondre Tahree-Amir Tinner makes it his business to push his instrument into another dimension. Calling his vision psychedelic jazz, the Honolulu native pulls funk, psych, hip-hop, free improv, and spiritual jazz into his orbit, spinning out an acid flow from some other quadrant. In H-Town he’s known for his lunar eclipse concerts, performing brand-new tunes under the aura of the titular phenomenon. Digital EP Synesthesia Live, showcasing at this special Monks show, will enlighten the masses.  – Michael Toland

Spaceflight Records Holiday Party

Radio/East, Thursday 14

Austin’s most eclectic imprint, Spaceflight Records, cues up a free holiday party at the new Radio/East, with plenty to celebrate. The nonprofit, which took home Best Record Label at the last Austin Music Awards, has built cornerstone local releases ranging from Nemegata and Die Spitz to Lesly Reynaga and Croy & the Boys this year. Heartless Bastards’ Erika Wennerstrom headlines behind the powerful vocal punch and emotional rescue of her searching psych-laced rock, while Black Joe Lewis rips his trademark gritty blues and funk-fused soul. Jank Sinatra (T-Bird & the Breaks’ Tim Crane) spins a DJ set.  – Doug Freeman

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Music Notes

by Derek Udensi

Hot Chip

Superstition, Friday 8

British electronic band best known for their catchy, Grammy-nominated 2008 single “Ready for the Floor” offers a DJ set. Admission is free with RSVP.

Bill Ball 6

Radio/East, Saturday 9

Radio Coffee & Beer’s new offshoot continues its impressive run of shows as punkers Big Bill throw the sixth edition of their ball. Hip-hop duo Geto Gala and Farmer’s Wife are among the supporting acts.

Rod Wave

Moody Center, Sunday 10

Pain chronicled over soulful trap beats remains a wildly successful formula for this 25-year-old crooner; 2023 release Nostalgia earned him a third chart-topping album. Openers include Dreamville’s Ari Lennox.

A Fat A** Rap Show

Antone’s Nightclub, Tuesday 12

Antone’s, iLL Manner Shows, and the Smoke Out team up to showcase some of Austin hip-hop’s finest talent. Deezie Brown, Malik Baptiste, Blakchyl, and more perform.

This article appears in Gift Guide 2023.

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San Francisco native Raoul Hernandez crossed the border into Texas on July 2, 1992, and began writing about music for the Chronicle that fall, debuting with an album review of Keith Richards’ Main Offender. By virtue of local show previews – first “Recommendeds,” now calendar picks – his writing’s appeared in almost every issue since 1993.

Carys Anderson moved from Nowhere, DFW to Austin in 2017 to study journalism at the University of Texas. She began writing for The Austin Chronicle in 2021 and joined its full-time staff in 2023, where she covers music and culture.

Michael Toland started writing about music in 1988 on the Gulf Coast, moved to Austin in early 1991, and has inflicted bylines upon the corporeal and digital pages of Pop Culture Press, The Big Takeover, Blurt, Amplifier, Austin.citysearch, the Austin American Statesman, Goldmine, Sleazegrinder, Rock & Roll Globe, High Bias, FHT Music Notes, and, since 2011, The Austin Chronicle.

Doug Freeman has been writing for the Austin Chronicle since 2007, covering the arts and music scene in the city. He is originally from Virginia and earned his Masters Degree from the University of Texas. He is also co-editor of The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology, published by UT Press.

As the Chronicle's Club Listings Editor, Derek compiles a weekly list of music events occurring across town. The University of Texas alum also writes about hip-hop as a contributor to the Music section.