This weekend's Free Press Summer Fest at Eleanor Tinsley Park is officially (way) sold out, so our readers who don't have passes at this point are sadly now forced to test their skills at the "secondary market." For those of you who are already in, this week Rocks Off will be bringing you our staff recommendations for acts you might consider checking out while you're there. Today we turn our attention to artists whom you may not have heard of just yet, but could well soon. (Note: planets correspond to FPSF stage names.)
SATURDAY
La Catrin I've only vaguely heard about experimental pop diva La Catrin, but I'm excited to her perform her seductive and sensual tunes with Dem Damn Dames. Equally electric and erotic, her voice and energy should prove to be one of the hidden gems of the festival. (1:10 p.m., Mercury) MARCO TORRES
Japandroids One of the bands I'm most excited about this year is guitarist/drummer duo Japandroids. These guys play noisy ass indie rock with the loudest distortion known to man and sweet, nostalgic riffs that remind you of the greatest summer parties. Already critical darlings for a few years now, they're currently scraping just under the glass ceiling of indie super-stardom; one more push and they might break through. (2:10 p.m. Saturday, Mars) COREY DEITERMAN
I have waited patiently for Japandroids to come to Houston ever since I randomly discovered "The House That Heaven Built" one night on satellite radio. On first listen it hit me like a lightning bolt -- it was the rock anthem I've spent the last few years waiting on. The rest of their sophomore album Celebration Rock is great too, but I've been counting the days until I can stand in the sun and finally singalong to one of the best songs to come out last year. CORY GARCIA
Rewind:
Free Press Summer Fest: Our Staff Picks From Close to Home
Brandon West and the Black Hats A greasy, garagey rockin' soul group like Brandon West and the Black Hats belongs in a seedy dive at last call, with longnecks stacked on the amplifiers. So what are they doing outdoors in the middle of Saturday afternoon? Hey, it worked for Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears a year or two ago. The Houston four-piece rocks in a very louche sort of way, without crossing the line into sloppy. Check 'em out on Reverbnation if you want a whiff of Keith Richards' 1988 solo album Talk Is Cheap. (Venus, 4:30 p.m.) CHRIS GRAY
