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Monday, March 30
Chris Cornell
 Chris Cornell with producer Timbaland
Rock
Former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell pretty much finalizes his evolution from fierce grunge and punk to sappy pop with his new album, inappropriately titled Scream. Still, with a back catalog as impressively intense as Cornell’s, there should be plenty of memorable moments for the night. As a bonus, with each ticket purchase you receive a digital copy of the new Scream album when it is released March 10. Saves you the trip to the used CD store to trade it for Ultremega OK. (Look it up. And you call yourself a Soundgarden fan.) Tickets.
March 31 (Tuesday)
Neko Case
 Stubb’s (outside) / 7:30 / $21
Americana
It’s impossible to ignore the fact that Virginia-born, Vancouver-based chanteuse Neko Case possesses one of the most powerful voices in modern music. Bits of Appalachia and California folk rock imbue her style, but it’s her enveloping voice—haunting, mystical, penetrating—that carries Neko Case to incomparable status. Touring behind a new album, Middle Cyclone (released earlier in March) that picks up the pace a bit from her stunning Fox Confessor Brings The Flood. Tickets.
Saturday, April 4
Jerry Jeff Walker Annual Texas Bash
 Paramount Theatre / 8:00 / $34-$60 ($258 opera box)
Country, Singer-Songwriter
A tradition for 20 years, the party was formerly known as Jerry Jeff’s Birthday Bash. (Is someone getting a little wary of their age?) Regardless, the show is a consistent great time, with many folks making it a staple to their annual calendar. The fan club sets up shop at the Driskill Hotel Lobby Bar throughout the weekend, including the after party Saturday night. The Sunday Gruene Hall show is already sold out. You shouldn’t wait much longer for this one; it will sell out too. Tickets.
 Saturday, April 4
Clem Snide, Broken West, The Heligoats
Mohawk (outside) / 9:00 / $12 / All Ages
Indie, Art-Country
Finding fans in the indie rock and folk worlds simultaneously is no easy feat. Clem Snide has pulled it of for more than a decade. New album Hungry Bird is a new step while familiar with art-country (yes, art not alt) quirkiness and entrancing melodies.
 Photo: Jeremy Coward
Blue October, Ours
Stubb’s (outdoor) / 7:30 / $35 / All Ages
Alt-Rock
From their Houston origins, Blue October has found worldwide mainstream success via four Universal Records releases. Touring behind a new album, Approaching Normal (3/34/09), Blue October’s live sets have been likened to a cross between latter day U2 and The Who. Tickets.
 Saturday, April 11
Pat Green, Randy Houser
Nutty Brown Café / 8:00 / $31 / All Ages
Country
Pat Green’s Texas country continues to get the Nashville makeover, but Green and his fans seem very happy with the results, including a debut at #2 on the Billboard Country chart for his new effort, What I’m For, released in early February. Tickets.
Saturday, April 11
Leo Kottke, Idgy Vaughn
 Paramount Theatre / 8:00 / $29-$42 / All Ages
Acoustic
Guitar maestro Leo Kottke returns for the 25th year for a performance at the Paramount. Few guitarists of Kottke’s technical skill and peer-praising are equally as successful with general audiences. A mix of jazz, blues, folk, and classical permeate his signature style of fingerpicking. Typically good-natured with comical rapport, it’s no wonder Austin audiences love Kottke’s annual sojourn to the Lone Star State. Local opener and rising folk star Idgy Vaughn will be accompanied by Will Sexton on guitar. Tickets.
 Photo: Martyn Fenwick
Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Flavor Crystals
Emo’s / 10:00 / $15 / All Ages
Rock, Psychedelic
San Francisco’s Brian Jonestown Massacre was early to the psych-folk revival thing, as early as 1995’s Methodrone. Always expanding their own horizons while evoking Velvet Underground and even the Byrds, in a shoegaze sort of way. No telling who’s in the band now, save for founder and lone mainstay Anton Newcombe. Tickets.
April 25 (Saturday)
Los Lobos
One World Theatre / 7:00 & 9:30 / $58-$98
 Rock, Tejano, Americana
Hopefully this band needs no introduction. Unlike nearly every crossover Latin rock stars, Los Lobos never cast aside pure traditional music, frequently including straight-up conjuntos and norteno music in their albums, as well as whole releases dedicated to their musical heritage. But their greatest achievement is probably the ability to create a new musical language that simultaneously embraced their East L.A. and Mexican roots with mainstream rock ‘n’ roll. If you still need introduction to Los Lobos, we recommend There Goes The Neighborhood (1990), Good Morning Aztlan (2002), and especially Kiko (1992), which often finds itself on Greatest Albums of All Times lists. Tickets.
 Tuesday, April 28
Mates of State, Black Kids
La Zona Rosa / 9pm / $25 / All Ages
Keyboard Pop
Everyone’s favorite married piano/drum duo, Mates of State, bring us another collection of their unique pop sound with Re-Arrange Us. The more mature sound of their new songs should mix well with the up-in-coming Black Kids, whose danceable beats and fun-loving style is the ultimate opener for the great concert in store. Tickets.
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