AKRON/FAMILY

7th St. Entry

Saturday, April 13

Akron/family is a dynamic, improv-heavy band that combines indie rock, folk and psychedelia with found sound and heavy doses of experimentation. They’re also a band that started in a Williamsburg coffee shop when Williamsburg coffee shops were more original and less “Girls” (read: they don’t suck). Check out their endearingly rough self-titled album from 2005, or try to say their latest album title (Akron/Family II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT) in one breath.

Forecast: Mostly stoned bearded dudes and thrift store dresses with a chance of “cool” dads.

SHABAZZ PALACES

Fine Line Music Café

Friday, April 19, 2013

I don’t have anything snarky to say about Shabazz Palaces or know enough about their fan base to make fun of them, but I do know that Shabazz Palaces is a hip-hop collective from Seattle that isn’t afraid to get a little experimental. They combine pretty, choppy synth with heavy bass—the result is sometimes shadowy and disorienting. They will probably be genuinely good.

TRAMPLED BY TURTLES

Shows at Both First Ave and 7th Street

April 17th, 18th, 19th

Minnesota’s own indie bluegrass firestorm is coming home for their 10th band-iversary. If you can’t match the band to the name, that one friend who lived in the Veggie Co-op probably played “Wait So Long” for you once. Minnesotans get really excited about Minnesotan musicians who are recognized by non-Minnesotans, so all of the dates sold out immediately. If you’re going to scalp for tickets, choose Friday. Traditional folk and blues singer Charlie Parr is opening. Parr wins the award for best self-deprecating First Avenue bio (“A confused and shy individual…Charlie has failed at most things in his life. Music seems to have rendered him unemployable and is the only thing he’s ever done with any confidence”).

Forecast: High flannel index, 60 percent chance one of the artists will drink some form of Summit beer on stage, 100 percent chance of everyone talking about Minnesota a lot

REBELUTION

Cabooze

Thursday, April 18

I can’t say I learned a whole lot in high school, but my peers did a great job of introducing me to bands that I really wish I could un-hear. I thought I was free of pop-reggae nightmare Rebelution after graduation but it looks like they’re going to be within a 50-mile radius of me yet again. If the band’s name alone doesn’t make you cringe, take a second to consider that the tour is called the “Spring Greens Tour.” Seriously. I couldn’t even think up a joke this terrible. The band will urge you to love each other and tell you that the government does bad things (subversive!). And if, somehow, all of these things aren’t unappealing enough: white-guy dreads. Don’t go. Seriously, don’t go. Even if tickets are free. Even if someone pays you to go. It’s not worth it.

Forecast: Hackey-sacks and high school kids who just figured out what 4/20 means.

T.I. ft TRAVI$ SCOTT

Epic Events Center

Friday, April 19

Atlanta born rapper, producer, and all-around mogul T.I. has been called the king of trap and southern hip–hop. Opener Travi$ Scott (who probably doesn’t have many allies in music journalism because remembering the dollar sign and which “S” to substitute it for is pretty bothersome) is an exciting addition to the bill. Scott produces for Kanye West’s label and has been compared to Yeezy himself.

Forecast: People who get bottle service in clubs, people nostalgic for 2009, not me because there’s no way I’m paying $50 dollars for this and T.I. has yet to respond to my tweets begging for free tickets (even though it’s basically my birthday…rude).