Four Bands Take It to the Streets at Fall Brawl—Holiday Sail didn't get asked to play Fall Crawl. Again.

The Asylum Street Spankers

In the business of music writing, it’s easy to get inundated with information. CDs are shipped in, electronic press kits arrive for bands passing through town on tour and publicity reps clog up the phone lines with requests for review. Whether the music is any good, though, is anyone’s guess. Last week, someone plunked a DVD on my desk, ready for my viewing pleasure. The accompanying press kit was my first introduction to the Asylum Street Spankers.

We Can Be Heros

... Just for one day. Saturday, Aug. 26. See this week’s feature for the full story. (LM)

Cruces sextet is hungry for more

It’s easy to see how bands from Albuquerque, and bands in general, can fall into a niche and stay there. Like contented fish swimming in a sea of local talent, they keep their day jobs, practice on weekends and play the bars when they have a free night.

Sunday, Aug. 27, Bandito Hideout (all-ages); 8:30 p.m., $6: Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers are a band because, plain and simple, they enjoy each other's company. "You can hear that we like each other and that we’ve been working together for a long time," says Ruby Dee. She and the Snakehandlers have been playing roots, rockabilly and genuine country for the past four years. Ruby may write all the lyrics, she says, but the band is what really makes the songs come to life. "We all add something to the mix, and that's important," Ruby says. For this quintet, the "and" might be the most significant part of their name.

with June and Dan Melillo

Monday, Aug. 28, Launchpad (all-ages); $8-$10: You needn't throw out your conceptions of emo, screamo and pop-punk when attempting to comprehend what Seattle's The Classic Crime brings to the table ... but your definitions might need some updating.