Cory GravesGive Austra The Creeps at Trees.
Aside from maybe KISS, is there an entity that's more shameless than the folks behind the Sanrio company? Seriously, they'll license out and/or otherwise plaster their Hello Kitty icon's mug on just about any product you can imagine. After a quick web search, we've found sites selling all manner of Hello Kitty clothing and home decor items, as well as more unusual fare , such as false teeth, urinal cakes, bongs, guitars, Kotex pads, toilet paper and even condoms.
Now, it seems, they're taking things a step further — in Japan, at least — by selling Hello Kitty beer. In true Hello Kitty style, they've made the beers more kid-friendly to boot, producing flavors like peach, lemon-lime, passion fruit and banana, and at just half the alcohol content of typical American beers, too.
But, while Hello Kitty beers may not be available in the States just yet, KISS' Destroyer beer very much is. Interested in giving it a try? Make it your mission to find some tonight.
Think of the events listed below as, sort of, your jumping-off point.
Vinyl Thoughts 4 at Quixotic World
Better start lining up early if you plan on making it into the fourth Vinyl Thoughts art show. The custom vinyl toys made and displayed by this year's 60 participating artists are all available for purchase — and buyers just get to walk right out with them on the spot. It adds another level of urgency to the event, for sure. Free beverages from Deep Eddy and St. Arnold's are just added bonuses. — Cory Graves
Elm St. Tattoo Music and Tattoo Convention Kickoff Party at Three Links
The Riverboat Gamblers remain one of the best live bands you'll ever see. On a recent trip through town, frontman Mike Wiebe proved as much by scaling the balcony at Trees, climbing onto the second-story handrails and posing before descending back to the floor, unhurt. On this night, they'll help kick off the first ever Elm Street Music and Tattoo Festival along with The American Fuse Mothership, and The Hanna Barbarians. — Pete Freedman
Lucinda Williams at Strauss Square
You'll be hard-pressed to find an artist more well-respected among her peers than Lucinda Williams — although, admittedly, it did take the general public a bit longer to catch on in that regard. Tonight, at this BYOB affair, Williams will celebrate the 25th anniversary of her breakthrough self-titled LP. — CG
Fun. and Tegan & Sara at Gexa Energy Pavilion
Either of these acts alone are totally worth seeing. But together? Mind. Blown. They're both known for talented singing skills and intriguing lyrics. And, boy, can that guy from Fun. belt the high notes. The Most Nights tour will be, well, fun. Sorry. Couldn't resist. — Jessica Petrocchi
Austra at Trees
Austra is an interesting proposition. The band's music is beat- and synthesizer-heavy, but it's so dark it's difficult to dance to. Singer Katie Stelmanis' classically trained vocals add still more layers, and the whole sound is paced by Maya Postepski's driving drums. When you unpack the whole thing, you're left with a decidedly interesting package. Long story short: This band was outstanding opening for The xx at the Granada in January, so you'd be well served checking this show out. — Stephen Young
King Dude at Bryan Street Tavern
Punked-out folk revivalist King Dude's output leans much closer to the goth-tinged Americana of Denton's New Science Projects than the '90s beach bum/surfer dude persona such a moniker might otherwise imply. In fact, Stereogum recently described the band's latest single as, “the sort of drinking song that the Misfits' pirate ancestors might've written if the Misfits had pirate ancestors.” — CG
AT&T Patio Sessions with Kristy Kruger at Sammons Park
Looking for a free date idea for this evening? Pack a picnic and enjoy free, outdoor performances by local treasure Kristy Kruger and singer-songwriter Nicholas Altobelli. You're even allowed to bring your own wine and/or beer to this one. — CG
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus at Curtain Club
Sometime between the original release of Don't You Fake It in 2006 and its re-release in 2007, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus took off, earning a Gold Record designation and playing with some of the most popular bands of the time (read: Taking Back Sunday, Saosin, The Used). With its current tour, the band is celebrating that album's tenth anniversary, and you can bet there will be a lot of early twentysomething girls (and a few boys, too) excited for tonight's nostalgia trip. — Jordyn Walters
Vanilla Ice at Grover's Bar & Grill
The former R. L. Turner High School dropout is always good for a couple of local gigs per year, although, typically, they've all mostly been at Trees, which Ice's former touring drummer, Clint Barlow, owns. According to a quote from general manager Dakota Stermer we found on the Grover's website, the bar's “demographic tends to be middle-age but not square.” To the extreme, indeed! — CG
To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.
