Before we get into this week's picks, I'd like to report back on last week's "pay" suggestions. M83 was a sensational show and it truly was the ideal time to see them. Even their opening band, I Break Horses, was worth seeing on their own. There were monsters, a brilliant light show, champagne and a whole lot more you can read about in OUR REVIEW of the show. As for the Sigur Ros vinyl, the listening party was sparsely attended, at least at Waterloo, but that just meant it was easier to win the test pressing vinyl! Now on to this week…

Pay:
Reggie Watts (Concert) at the Scottish Rite Theater Saturday May 26th or Sunday May 27th for $25:
This musician/comedian is getting to do it all recently, from recording with Jack White to providing theme songs for podcasts and TV shows, to guesting with LCD Soundsystem and getting parts in Steven Soderbergh movies. He's everywhere, and thankfully he's back in Austin after being in town for Fun Fun Fun Fest and SXSW. He's in the middle of his own solo tour and, due to popular demand, has a pair of Austin dates this weekend. I was lucky enough to see him open for Jack White at SXSW with his wildly inventive brand of vocal looping and beat boxing. After running into him in the bathroom and then sitting near him at the LCD movie, he became my SXSW spirit animal. He's the hippest dude rocking the sweater. Make sure you see at least one of his shows, if not both.

TUnE-yArDs at the Mohawk Wednesday May 30th for $17 adv/$20 day of show:
I just realized that both of my top picks for the week are loop-heavy. That's just a co-incidence. I wouldn't have told you to see Keller Williams. Anyway, tUnE-yArDs is a delightful live performance. Merrill Garbus is the genius behind this skyrocketing indie act. Even though Chuck Klosterman might have misconceptions as to what tUnE-yArDs is or will be, having seen them one and a half times (I left early to see some Donald Glover stand-up the first time), I'm positive they are well worth your $17. Buy these tickets in advance.

Play:

Comedy Bang Bang TV show featuring Reggie Watts:

Can't get enough Reggie Watts? Me either. He's the bandleader and co-star of the brand new "Comedy Bang Bang" show that comes out in June on IFC. You can watch an entire show (the second of the series) for free and Reggie just kills it, along with Amy Poehler and host Scott Aukerman. If you have any interest in absurdist sketch comedy or Reggie Watts doing his full array of comedy and music, you're in for a treat. It's free. What do you have to lose?

The Darkness (Concert) at Stubbs on Friday May 25th for $25:
I seriously considered putting this in the "Stay Away" section until I checked out their new single and found myself nodding along uncontrollably. I couldn't get enough of "I Believe In a Thing Called Love," and the new stuff sounds like they're still trying to be a poor man's Queen, but a poor man's Queen isn't a bad Friday night. I wouldn't willingly pay $25, but if I happened to be walking by Stubbs and someone was trying to unload a ticket for $15, or I could just stand nearby and hear that hit single, I'd consider it. Again, this is one of those "If your friends all want to go and you have nothing else to do" scenarios. Don't be the friend who suggests this as the plan.

Stay Away:

Skrillex (Concert) at Whitewater on Saturday, May 26th at the Horseshoe for $117+:
I didn't know the worst thing to happen to popular music this millenium was even going to be in town (OK, a little outside of town) until my ab class instructor invited me to go with him. Thankfully I didn't have to make up an excuse, since I'll be out of town this weekend. Also, this show is sold out and the cheapest ticket I saw online was $116, which is surprisingly not the amount they're paying you to see this nightmare. I'd rather watch this .gif of a cartoon bee chasing him around for the full hour:

Let’s leave it at that. Cheers!

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