THE BITCH IS BACK
Bring on the power chords and the dancing girls. It's been a full year and a half since the members of Whiskey Bitch last converged to induce you to throw the devil's horns, bob your head 'til you get a case of self-induced whiplash and rock out with your cock out. Admit it: You've missed 'em.Well, miss them no more. This week, Whiskey Bitch once again reunites to feed you a dose of the dirty rawk you so long for. Catch them at the Surly Wench Pub, 424 N. Fourth Ave., on Saturday, May 19. L.A.'s Jason and the Punknecks open the show. For cover info and starting times, call 882-0009.
PREMATURE RELEASE
The very same night, the young'uns will gather at Skrappy's, still at its 201 E. Broadway Blvd. location--with a possible move to La Placita still pending--to celebrate a new CD by locals The American Black Lung. Sort of.While the show is being billed as a CD-release party for the band's sophomore album, Sudden Departure of Vultures (Uprising), the actual release date for the disc is July 10. But with a summer chock full of touring planned--first opening for fellow Tucsonans The Bled, then as part of the Warped Tour--we're guessing they just wanted to celebrate the new album with locals while they've still got a moment to spare.
Longtime fans won't be let down by Sudden Departure, which comes hot on the heels of the band's August '06 debut ... And They Rode Their Weapons Into War. With only eight tracks that clock in at less than a half-hour, it's a fine merger of '80s hard-core punk vocals and beefy '60s rock-inspired riffs, with elements of garage rock, blues and metal.
The American Black Lung perform at Skrappy's on Saturday, May 19. The Cargo and at least one more band TBA open the show. For further details, call 358-4287.
INDIGO ATTACK
There's only one answer to the question "When are the Indigo Girls gonna play in Tucson again?" On Sunday, May 20, the female folk-rock duo comprising Emily Saliers and Amy Ray take over the Rialto Theatre. Though their mainstream star may have faded a bit since 1989's megahit "Closer to Fine" was ubiquitous on radio stations far and wide, the pair have consistently pumped out album after critically acclaimed album in the years since. (Even if you haven't been paying attention, you can bet their faithful fan base has.) Their latest is 2006's Despite Our Differences, which marked a label change for the group (after nearly two decades on Epic, they're now on Hollywood) as well as some deeply personal songwriting that largely eschews the duo's past political leanings at a time when many are doing the opposite.The Indigo Girls perform at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., on Sunday. Terry Hendrix opens the all-ages show at 8 p.m. General admission floor tickets are $31 in advance, while reserved seats in the balcony are $36. You can pick them up at the venue's box office, at rialtotheatre.com or by calling 740-1000.
POLTZ PERFORMS
The consistently engaging singer/songwriter Steve Poltz has been around the block a few times. Prior to his current solo career, he fronted the rootsy guitar-pop band the Rugburns, who imbued their catchy-as-hell tunes with wit and humor while managing to avoid the trap of novelty. But Poltz is perhaps best known as the guy who co-wrote Jewel's "You Were Meant for Me," which holds the record for the longest-running song on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. His resume is further bolstered by the fact that he was awarded the title of San Diego's Most Influential Artist of the Decade at the San Diego Music Awards.Catch Steve Poltz live when he performs at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., on Saturday, May 19. Doors for this early show open at 7 p.m., and admission is $7 in advance (get your tickets at virtuous.com) or $8 at the door. For more info, call 622-8848.
SUBLIME LOVIN'
The world of tribute bands is a weird one, and here's one of its weirder stories: Badfish, a band that performs nothing but the songs of the mid-'90s group Sublime--despite the fact that during their existence, Sublime released only two studio albums--are quickly becoming one of the most surprising success stories among grassroots touring bands.Formed in spring 2001, Badfish performed their first show at the Ocean Mist, on the shores of Matunuck, R.I. (aka the middle of nowhere), to a sold-out crowd of 500. Since then, the group has taken the act on the road, and the results have been similar no matter where they go: Lovin'--or, at least a close approximation--is what they get.
Celebrate the Sublime days of yore when Badfish perform at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., next Thursday, May 24. The all-ages show starts at 7:30 p.m. with opening sets from Kool Shades, Hilldales Finest and Shotgun Royale. Advance tickets are $14, available at the venue's box office, online at rialtotheatre.com or by calling 740-1000. They'll be $2 more on the day of show.
ON THE BANDWAGON
Locals the Due West Trio celebrate the release of their third CD, Ten Winters and Ten Springs (self-released), this week. The threesome--Rena Randall, Dave Gibson, and Dave Bertoglio--play bluegrass-inflected country that seeks to preserve the traditions of the Old West, which translates to lots of songs about ponies and cowboys. They'll perform at Old Town Artisans, 201 N. Court Ave., on Saturday, May 19. Jon Richins opens at 7 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 623-6024.Last time we checked, nobody was surfing in Russia, but that won't stop Moscow's Red Elvises from treating you to a night full of rockabilly and surf-rock tunes this week. They'll be at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St., at 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 19. Admission is $10. Call 798-1298 for details.
