“From the inside room when the front room greeting/ Becomes your special book, it was simple then/ When the party lulls, if we fall by the side/ Will you be remembered? Will she be remembered?/ Alone in a crowd, a bartered lantern borrowed/ If I’m to be your camera, then who will be your face?”—“Camera,” by R.E.M., from the album Reckoning.Ah, the eternal question of hoped-for permanence in an observationally impermanent world. These days, a year goes by in a blink, a dozen shows launch their Facebook events pages, march forward into a town’s consciousness and then disappear back into obscurity—well, maybe sometimes fame—with each passing issue. I’ll tell you what; I’ll remember to keep being your camera as long as you keep going to gigs in the greater Albuquerque area. That sounds heavenly and it’s all about now. And maybe that way, the party won’t lull after all.
Show Up!: Thursday
Weedrat
Courtesy of the artist
Thursday Night Girl Fight! has become a regular feature of the Burque music community, giving a clear edge to certain segment of the town’s rock-making population. The club-based concert series presents the best in female-created rocanrol and a multitude of variations served up in loud, brain-wrecking portions. Additionally, the folks behind the events are hooked up with a plethora of community causes that reflect a progressive political bent. This week’s iteration of the dangerously danceable and thoroughly thrashed out fight at the Moonlight Lounge (120 Central Ave. SW) on Thursday, Nov. 30 features punk rock powerhouse Weedrat, the lush and languid Lilith as well as indie provocateurs Bella Trout, Eileen and the In-Betweens and TJ Foxglove. The funds raised from this performance will benefit the Transgender Resource Center’s campaign to support transwomen ICE detainees. $5 minimum donation • 8pm • 21+
Show Up!: Friday
The Talking Hours
Via Facebbook
So, Friday, Dec. 1 marks the release date of a local recording titled Golden. It’s by a band called The Talking Hours. And it’s totally true, damn thing is golden. From the title track all the way through the brutal precision of compositions like “Fizzle” and “Noose,” this is one hell of a rocanrol record. I’m saying you ought to go out and celebrate this particular record’s release with a concert given by Karie Morgan and Mauricio Paez—otherwise known as The Talking Hours, themselves. They’ll be gigging at Sister (407 Central Ave. NW) in honor of the LP on Friday night. In my review of Golden, I wrote, “this album takes naturally uncomfortable musical moments and lovingly crafts them into deadly nocturnes to nothingness.” I’m sticking with that and you should too, but check it out live, homies, live! Rock Jong Il and Fire To The Rescue open. $5 • 8pm • 21+
Show Up!: Saturday
Lil Keke
Ray Tamarra
Back when the Jam Spot (415 Central Ave. NW) was up on San Pedro, by the fairgrounds, I rarely went to shows up there because I was like, isn’t that a sketchy part of town? But now that the all-ages heavy metal and hip-hop club is smack in the middle of Downtown, I don’t have an excuse anymore. And neither should you, dearest concert-goers, that is if you want to witness the cutting edge in youth-oriented rock concerts, the youngified version of the otherwise and inevitably aging rock scene centered on Central Avenue between First and Sixth streets, some would say. On Saturday, Dec. 2, the venue features legendary H-Town rapper Lil Keke—yes, he of the Screwed Up Click—in performance. That’s because kids today are listening to hip-hop and this guy’s got serious multi-generational cred; the chopped and screwed version of “Southside” dropped 20 years ago, but new new work like 2014’s Money Don’t Sleep has a sludgy edge that still sells. Local gangsta rapper Kevin Garner, AKA Smokie G will provide, umm, smoky support before the main act. $20 to $40 • 6:30pm • 13+
Show Up!: Monday
Supersuckers
Courtesy of the artist
My favorite Supersuckers album is the country-Western extravaganza that came out—like lot of things in my life—in 1997, an album called Must’ve Been High. That isn’t to say other works by the ever-evolving stalwart country-rock band, including Motherfuckers Be Trippin’, The Smoke of Hell and The Evil Powers of Rock ’N’ Roll aren’t also works of genius; they are. And as proof of that transcendence, I offer readers the following: Supersuckers will be playing at Albuquerque’s hipster central, Sister (407 Central Ave. NW), to what will presumably be a sold-out, mostly under-40 audience, on Monday, Dec. 4. Of course Eddie Spaghetti will be smashing up the bass while Chango bangs on the drums and “Metal” Marty Chandler rips it the fuck up. The BellRays and The Bombpops provide support. Just like I said at the beginning of this tirade, heaven’s yours. $15 advance, $20 door • 8pm • 21+
