FRIDAY
Sideways Grimace, Recovering at Highball. If you dig longtime Austin musician Richard Weiss’ indulgence in creative cover selections, this night’s for you. Highlighted in the middle slot is the Sideways Grimace, the band he formed a couple of years ago to play songs from the cult-classic musical “Hedwig & the Angry Inch.” More recently he started Recovering to tackle some favorite albums from start to finish; early, they’ll reprise their recent run through R.E.M.’s “Lifes Rich Pageant,” before closing the night with a romp through Van Halen’s first album. Free. 8 p.m. 1120 S. Lamar Blvd. thehighball.com. — P.B.
Benefit for George Reiff at Strange Brew. The sudden diagnosis of beloved local bassist and producer George Reiff with cancer last week shook the music community, which responded with a crowdfunding page that raised nearly $100,000 in less than a week to help with medical bills. Early reports from his brother, Michael Reiff, indicated surgery to remove a brain tumor went well, though there’s still a long road ahead. Musicians who have worked with George, including the Mastersons and Charlie Sexton, will take part in this “Get Together for George.” $20. 8 p.m. 5326 Manchaca Road. strangebrewloungeside.com. — P.B.
Also: Big-time eclectic rock band 311 teams with the reconstituted Sublime With Rome at Austin360 Amphitheater. … Local blog Ovrld presents a “Femme Fatale” mini-fest on Sidewinder’s outdoor and indoor stages with local bands featuring women performers including Ruby Fray, Lowin, Boss Battle, KB the Boo Bonic and more. … Empire also spotlights women artists with Body Rock ATX’s “Ladies First Tribute” hosted by Riders Against the Storm and featuring the music of Janet Jackson, Tina Turner, Chaka Khan and more. … Nashville indie-pop band Tristen plays the indoor stage at Stubb’s with Mirror Travel and Ryan Sambol. … Dallas roots-rockers the O’s follow Texas country singer-songwriter Jason Eady at the Saxon Pub, which also features its popular Friday happy-hour show with local guitar ace Denny Freeman. … San Antonio country artist Kimbery Dunn plays Threadgill’s with local opener the Rankin Twins. … Antone’s features a preview of September’s Eastside Kings Festival with Houston singer Diunna Greenleaf. … Longtime local rockers Vallejo team with up-and-coming acts Migrant Kids and Daniel Eyes & the Vibes at the Belmont. … Other top local options include classic blues from the Mike Flanigin Trio with Jimmie Vaughan at C-Boy’s, folk-rock with the Watters at Geraldine’s, and hip-hop byMagna Carda indoors at the Mohawk with Monkier and Boombaptist.
SATURDAY
Ryan Bingham, Shakey Graves at Whitewater Amphitheater. Two of the most successful artists to rise from the Austin scene over the past decade team up for this double bill that may well warrant a drive down to New Braunfels. Though Bingham’s stay in Austin ended up being comparatively short, his rise to winning an Oscar for Best Song started in local venues. Graves, by contrast, was born and raised in Austin, and still calls our city home even though he’s in high demand as a touring act who can fill big clubs and light up festival bills. Shane Smith & the Saints open. $27.25-$360.28. 7 p.m. 11860 FM 306, New Braunfels. whitewaterrocks.com. — P.B.
Also: Back from extensive touring behind their Merge Records debut “Pile,” local indie-punkers A Giant Dog play ABGB with Sealion. … Longtime Louisiana rockers Dash Rip Rock return to the Continental Club with Stompdrag. … New York garage-rockers the Mystery Lights visit the Parish with Annabelle Chairlegs and Ganesha. … Catch British trance-techno DJ Simon Patterson at Kingdom. … South Lamar takes on a Latin flavor as One-2-One Bar presents the Midsummer Mambo Orchestra and Trio Los Vigilantes, while local ensemble Latin at Heart returns from a three-month hiatus at Saxon Pub. … Antone’s takes a break from old-school blues to present rock singer-songwriter Monte Montgomery plus Lisa Tingle. … Honky-tonk the night away with James Handat the White Horse and Mike Stinson at Little Longhorn Saloon. … Other top local options include A-Town Get Down with Wild Now at 3Ten, Blues Boy Hubbard with Miss Lavelle White at the Skylark Lounge, Second Lovers indoors at Stubb’s with Jane Ellen Bryant and Blue Bear, and Walt Wilkins & the Mystiqueros plus Drew Womack at Threadgill’s.
SUNDAY
Dixie Chicks at Austin360 Amphitheater. Tickets went fast for the return to the concert stage of Natalie Maines, Emily Robison Strayer and Martie Maguire for their first U.S. tour in a decade. There’s no new album, but this is a big deal regardless, especially in their home state. Natalie’s father, Lloyd Maines, will sit in with the backing band, which also includes Austin bassist Glenn Fukunaga. We’ll have more about the show in Sunday’s American-Statesman, including an interview with Lloyd Maines. Vintage Trouble and Smooth Hound Smith open. Sold out. 7 p.m. 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd. austin360amphitheater.com. — P.B.
Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines plays at SXSW 2013. Ashley Landis for American-Statesman
Also: Out on the western outskirts of town, catch long-running pop vocal trio the Lettermen at One World Theatre, or watch Beatles and Stones tribute bands Abbey Road and Jumping Jack Flash battle it out at Nutty Brown Amphitheater. … Metal rules at Grizzly Hall with Glassing, Weak Flesh, Body Pressure and more. … They can’t spell very well in Spanish, but Georgia’s Muuy Biien won’t have any trouble cranking out punk noise on the Mohawk’s indoor stage. … Local act The River Has Many Voices plays a record-release show at Strange Brew. … Casper Rawls celebrates the ninth anniversary of his weekly Planet Casper show at 3:30 p.m. at the Continental Club with guests Scrappy Jud Newcomb, David Carroll and Jon Hahn. The show will be a benefit for local bassist George Reiff, recently diagnosed with cancer.
