Felix Peralta’s Gato Malo

“Damn right I have the blues,” proclaims singer/songwriter/guitarist Felix Peralta in a burst of enthusiasm about his new, almost solo CD, Gato Malo, Acoustic Blues for the Grave, Volume 1. The front man for Felix y Los Gatos, Peralta is better known for the consistently upbeat dance music that band pumps out. But he has another side, one he’s been more in touch with recently.

The consumerist orgy that annually masquerades as Christmas is upon us and—maddeningly awful Mariah Carey Christmas songs aside—preparing to exchange gifts can be a hassle monetarily and sentimentally. Luckily there is some consolation to the annoyance summoned by this spending spree. If you're reading this, chances are you have a few musically inclined folks on your list: Enter the vinyl record, the X-mas shopping fun-maker.

Southerly Sounds

This endearingly crude handmade flyer is one in a series of four announcing a performance by Alabama pop punk band (I’m hearing emo, but that’s a dirty word nowadays) Heroes For Tonight. The four-piece headlines at REVLIS (712 Central SE) on Tuesday, Dec. 14. Show starts at 6 p.m. and is opened by The Ill Motion, Emergency Ahead and Doomed to Exist. Five dollars gets you into the (not emo) show. (Jessica Cassyle Carr)

Matthew Ezzard is the upright-bass player for Swingin’ Meat, purveyor extraordinaire of Albuquerque-based alt.country. Let’s find out what kinds of ditties dwell in Mr. Ezzard’s music library, shall we?