The past 12 months or so have been pretty great for local musicians’ recorded output. Just look at all the albums and EPs on our 2012 Music Awards ballot. There were, like, 900. And a few of them (Burning Hotels, Some Easy Magic, Pinkish Black) are groundbreaking. What explains the cornucopia? Well, for one thing, recording technology has progressed to the point that, well, everybody’s got it. For another, Fort Worth rules. In this otherwise brutal month of August, specifically this weekend, there’s not one, not two, but three CD release shows going on. On Friday at Magnolia Motor Lounge (3005 Morton St., 817-332-3344), two outstanding Fort Worth rock ’n’ roll outfits –– Quaker City Night Hawks and The Apache 5 –– will help celebrate the release of The Viper Sessions, the long-awaited solo album by Fort Worth Americana singer-songwriter Kevin Aldridge, who –– with his backing band, The Appraisers –– will headline. Two more CD release shows are happening Saturday. The hyper-melodic and occasionally hard-charging KatsüK will celebrate the release of Zero Point, the band’s first album in years (maybe ever; I forget), with two Fort Worth openers: legendary ’80s-monster-rockers Goodwin and groove-giants Neptune Locals. Location: The Where House (2510 Hemphill St., 817-913-7777). Back at Magnolia Motor Lounge (3005 Morton St., 817-332-3344), St. Louis’ loud and cranky Kentucky Knife Fight and loud and cranky Fort Worth super-group The Longshots will help celebrate the release of Gold Yeller, the fantastic and dynamic debut album from Oil Boom, one of whose three members hails from F-Dub. Anyone remember a weekend when three major bands released new albums at the same time? Pretty cool, but I bet it won’t be the last multiple-CD-release weekend. Coming soon are new records by some of the biggest names in not just the Fort but all of North Texas: The Orbans, Quaker City Night Hawks, The Hanna Barbarians, Stella Rose, and The Theater Fire, among others. Look out, 2013.
Some great local acts are gathering this Saturday at The Aardvark (2905 W. Berry St., 817-926-7814) to help raise funds for Cambri, a 16-month-old girl born with a rare liver disease who’s awaiting a transplant. Fort Worth cowpunks Holy Moly are headlining, preceded by Poo Live Crew, Brandin Lea, Steve Ramsey, and Matt Stapp. All donations are welcome, but the cover will be $10. All proceeds will go to Cambri’s Quest, the name of her campaign. (Checks can be made out to simply “Cambri.”)
This Friday, two spectacular Fort Worth bands –– Telegraph Canyon and EPIC RUINS –– will play the massive stage at Magnolia Green Park (the 1100 block of Lipscomb Street between Rosedale Street and West Magnolia Avenue on the Near South Side) as part of Friday on the Green, a free monthly outdoor concert series brought to you by Fort Worth South Inc., Comerica Bank, and the Weekly. Both bands are working on new albums, so if you keep your ears peeled, you might catch some new stuff. The music will get rolling around 7 p.m. Admission is free, but bring some foldin’ money for frosty beverages and food-truck fare. You’ll also want to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets. Leave the coolers at home, as always.
Contact HearSay at hearsay@fwweekly.com.
Quaker City Night Hawks are headlining the Magnolia Motor Lounge show. The Appraisers & I are in the middle around 11:30.