Parquet Courts Fitzgerald's, June 2
Since their 2010 debut, Parquet Courts' have been frequently branded with variations of "slacker-rock '90s revivalists," a description that really pisses the Brooklynites off. While their music does bear a striking likeness to at least the spirit of golden-child '90s bands like Pavement, transplanted Texan Austin Brown and his bandmates abhor such language as "lazy." See what else the Beaumont native had to say, besides ""I lived in Texas for 22 years...and that was long enough for me," in last Friday's interview with Brown. Parquet Courts' second album, Sunbathing Animal, is in stores tomorrow. NEPH BASEDOW
John Egan The Big Easy, June 2
Solo bluesman John Egan sings in a tone that suggests someone is constantly walking over his grave, and his lyrics are loaded with bad mojo like nature gone haywire and apocalyptic visions. All he needs live is his National Resonator, one of those shiny silver guitars that sting and snarl, which has allowed him to advance to the semifinals of the International Blues Challenge's solo competition for two years in a row. The release of Egan's followup to 2012's spare and sinister Phantoms is imminent. CHRIS GRAY
Paul Ramirez Band Continental Club, June 4
Versatile Houston blues-rockers the Paul Ramirez Band's sets are mellow enough for a late-night lounge vibe, only pocked with heavier, Cream-like moments of pure jam and sometimes a cover of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In the Wall, Part 2" that heads straight to the planetarium. Now working on a followup to 2012 debut Sex With a Dragon, on which the Santana-esque "Gypsy Woman" was a highlight, the group balances a keyboard-heavy Latin-jazz groove with Ramirez's probing guitar solos, some of which can get pretty far out there. CHRIS GRAY
More shows on the next page.