Chikita Violenta

Tre3s (Arts & Crafts)

Don’t let the girlish harmonies airing Tre3s opener “Roni” blow any sunshine under your prom dress. Mexican quartet Chikita Violenta hand claps a tight cell of indie rock scientists, its gang vox consistent with use here of Broken Social Scene knobist David Newfeld, who also produced these muchachos’ 2007 album. High-flying digital cloud seeders with a Built To Spill engine block and new Flaming Lips navigation system, Chikita’s sonic refractions rearrange a stew of Animal Collective sound collages (“The Pause”) that often make perfect sense by the time the song has finally consumed its tail (“Siren”). When a chant-worthy finale hooks a 40-pounder midway through Tre3s on “ATPG” (All the Pretty Girls), the tune’s under-three-minute electro bang – modern drums/rustic strum – begs for another half-LP’s worth. Live, that won’t be a problema. (Wed., Antone’s, 8pm; Wed., 1am, Mi Casa Cantina)

**.5

This article appears in March 18 • 2011.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

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.