For a genre with immense impact on pop-music history, rockabilly doesn’t get a whole lot of play from modern acts, and if some indie band does decide to trudge its bluesy territory, it’s usually with an obvious wink and a large heaping of kitsch, so as to say, “Don’t worry: this is ironic.” Not so from Heavy Trash, the rockabilly project from Jon Spencer (of his similarly nostalgic Blues Explosion) and former Madder Rose bassist Matt Verta-Ray. For these dudes, old, goofy rock ‘n’ roll is serious business. It’s loud, amusing, demonstrative and often funny, however not a joke. The duo’s spanking new album, “Midnight Soul Serenade,” is gimmicky, sure, but it’s a gimmick founded in unmitigated love, with Spencer and Verta-Ray blistering through eleven dusty and bluesy tracks, making every possible allusion to Elvis’s showmanship, and throwing in enough spacey studio tricks to keep the recording relatively current. Best yet, the two just plain rock their balls off, showcasing the same ambivalence towards hipster coolness that made the JSBX so badass. Some may think Spencer has made a career out of loyal adherence to the classics, but Heavy Trash proves it’s better to be belligerently loud about that loyalty. (Andy Seifert)
November 15 at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, (773)525-2508, at 8pm. $15.
Heavy Meta: Daniel Knox Goes Beyond the Concept Album Knox is charting an emotional and aesthetic landscape across his recorded output. He’s playing a very long game, one that—with this new album—has begun to pay off.
Brutal Finesse: A Preview of King Crimson at Ravinia There have been few new compositions from King Crimson these past two decades, but the live arrangements of songs from its catalog are often strikingly different than the recorded versions.
Cooling It: A Preview of Colleen Green at Cole’s Bar When Green strums power chords or chiming notes on top of her backing track, you might think you’re at Ramones karaoke night and Madonna is taking her turn.
