This Friday in Memphis at the Hi-Tone there'll be a soirée featuring some of the most interesting hometown acts the city has to offer. As a town known for being the birthplace of rock'n'roll, and a modern hotbed of jaded, serrated, and volatile discord, where bands smash their own tonal fingerprint into more traditional sounds, Memphis produces a consistent collection of acts like nowhere else. Is there a theme for Friday's shindig? Well, sure: “Things your Granny Likes!” Though, the cute little wrinkly bag of sweetness that smells like mothballs and calendula might not be totally down with your sweaty friends and their snide stares, she loves Antique Curtains, they're all over her house. Their twisted and rollicking dins meld post-punk builds, solid bass underscoring, and vocals that go from soft and trustworthy to dangerously deranged yelps within a couple of bars. Antique Curtains' perfectly Wire-d songs fill out with an arty, angular approach that will leave you panting for more. Another thing your granny likes is Dutch Masters, she smokes them all the time. Whether they're named after the classic painters or the brand of cigars, these Memphis staples kick out tunage that's as smooth as smoking notebook paper. Frontman Eric Freidl, the original Goner, helped reshape the Memphis twang sound in the 90s with his now legendary band, The Oblivians. The aural stamp they left has carried over not only to the Dutch Masters, but countless bands since. Where the Dutch Masters depart from their predecessors is with gruff and manic tunes that plow through without the soulful downtime, and stand up on their own, no matter what bands their members were in previously. The opening act, Noise Choir emotes a surfy, southern-fried landscape of instrumentals that will ease you into a night of irresponsible behavior that would make your grandma proud.
