“Sitting in the stand of the sports arena/ Waiting for the show to begin/ Red lights, green lights, strawberry wine/ A good friend of mine follows the stars/ Venus and Mars are alright tonight.”—Paul McCartney, “Venus and Mars/Rock Show”Rest assured, Macca gets it right, down to the outrageous costuming and drug-fueled anticipation that precedes many a rock show. Yet as is his sodden trademark, he isn’t afraid to wax sentimental either. He goes on somewhat mysteriously about fruit-flavored wine and the stars and then talks about the planets; this, just before blasting off on a tirade about the concerts he’s seen. That just goes to show you what a bottle of Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill is capable of engendering.We’ll follow the stars, drop in on celestial objects floating around town as the search for concerts that define the Land of Enchantment continues in print and online at alibi.com.
Show Up! Thursday
Eric McFadden
Courtesy of artist
The sky is filled with stars. They’re mostly hot and sometimes very heavy; some are brighter than others. The really shiny ones, sometimes developed in our midst, often gravitate toward the larger universe. Windswept arroyos, balloon-filled morning skies and gloriously sunny winters can’t keep such brightly burning objects in orbit about space station Albuquerque for long. Such is the case with Eric McFadden, who plays Low Spirits (2823 Second Street NW) on Thursday, Oct. 16.McFadden spent much of his youth in this town, bringing notorious punk rock outfit Angry Babies to the fore of the early ’90s Burque scene. After relocating to The City by the Bay in 1994, McFadden went on to front two influential bands, Liar and Alien Lovestock, ultimately using his formidable chops to become a noted session and touring player for bands as diverse as the P-Funk All-Stars and Eric Burdon and the Animals.McFadden’s numerous recording projects continue to demonstrate his mastery of the guitar, and his live performances are the type that can be considered industry-dominating. Within a complex tangle of flamenco roots, hard-rocking funk and deep, smoky vocal intonations, experiencing McFadden’s work in a concert setting is a quintessentially Burque experience. Another local legend, singer-songwriter Kimo, kicks off this starry evening’s proceedings. The price of admission is $8. The doors swing wide at 8pm, and the stars come out around 9:30pm, so gaze while you may.
Show Up! Friday
Primarch
Courtesy of artist
Tortuga (901 Edith SE) continues to house heady, extraplanetary music events in our humble burg. On Friday, Oct. 17, Tortuga plays host to Psylent: An Experimental Electronic Music Exposition. Featuring the glitchy, ambient melodicism of David Jio (performing as Primarch), the rattling, ghostlike vibrations and Euro-trance admonitions of Yokudan Savage (Drake Lauscher and Lucifer Vishnu), and the bright, post-industrial wanderings of Lysism (Eligh Heaven), Psylent aims to present youthful, up-and-coming electronic and visual artists in a performance environment that invites discourse and participation. The mysterious Ryjal, DJ Zen and Cinimo Narude add evocative sets to the evening’s explorations.Besides music, this event includes visual art by freshly minted members of the local avant garde, including Kokoro Way, Kai Mei and Cosmastly. Tickets are $5 in advance. For more info, text 514-3483 or 553-3694. Or they’re $10 at the door, which begins receiving fans at 6:30pm. Terraforming commences at 7pm.
Show Up! Sunday
The Body
Courtesy of artist
Launchpad (618 Central SW) always provides convenient access to planets, stars and the darkness beyond. On Sunday, Oct. 19, said venue welcomes sludgy, US black metal (USBM) by The Body, Sandworm, Bathhouse and Distances.The Body and Sandworm are both metal duos from Providence, R.I., whose forthcoming split EP on Thrill Jockey Records drops Oct. 21. Both ensembles rely on careening, guitar-accelerated collision with heavenly bodies to make their dismal, destructive rock declarations incarnate. Guitarists Ben Eberle (Sandworm) and Chip King (The Body) conjure some seriously beautiful, bleak riffs. Drummers Pat Reilly and Lee Buford are both brutal brain-busters. Local chingasos Bathhouse and post-metal power trio Distances begin this expedition into the land of dark matter.If aged 21 or older, find out what’s at the black heart of the galactic maelstrom, a place sans planets and stars. It’ll cost you $7, but you’ll be forever changed. Doors are at 8pm, and the concert starts at 9pm.
Show Up! Tuesday
Crosss
Courtesy of artist
Celestial objects from all over the continent and our town collide on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Burt’s Tiki Lounge (313 Gold SW). Canadian dark-psych and futurist grunge adherents Crosss (Andy March, Nathan Doucet and Ryan Allen) bring their autumn West Coast tour far inland to Burque along with Denverite art and music project Homebody. Crosss makes swirly yet gritty psych rock, while Homebody (Michael Stein, Morris Kolontyrsky and Carson Pelo) embodies a lighter, popified approach to the post-punk aesthetic that both bands share. Local anomalous sonic intrusion Blique, featuring members of Train Conductor, Gusher and Young Lungs, plays in prelude to the collision of Crosss and Homebody with Time Parents, a Burque collaborative effort that includes members of Fort Hobo, Nose Blonde and Night Snake. Time Parents begins the evening’s ascent to the impossibly vast sky and nearby satellites of love. As of this report, there is no cover for this cosmic quest, and it begins at 9pm.
Show Up!
As night repeatedly threads its way through town, it’s always brightened by certain things. The stars, the planets and the music in the air all around this settlement on the Rio Grande provide all the light necessary to navigate autumn. One night you may see a star. On another evening you may pass into a singularity … only to return home safely at dawn. I’m obliged to remind you to leave your strawberry wine at home during all interdimensional travel.
