Welcome to Thursday! Fear not, for the weekend is just around the bend and there’s plenty of great shows to take your mind off the daily grind. I’m rhyming today, apparently. Onwards and upwards:

Thursday 1/24
Through the Sparks / Kristy Kruger @ Bottletree
Admission: $8		Go Time: 8:00 p.m.
		Through the Sparks are one of the few bands signed to local label Skybucket Records. They are a constant presence at the clubs here in Birmingham, so chances are you’ve already seen a show of theirs. If not, you’re missing out on the goods. These guys intertwine hazy organs and honky-tonk keys with indie style guitars and end up with a brew all their own. It’s hard to pigeon-hole, but easy to listen to.
		Kristy Kruger sounds like she should be coming through the tinny speaker of a gramophone. She plays lonesome music, the auditory equivalent of a storm gathering. Just when I think I’ve got her figured out, she slips in a devious little change. She’s channeling Tom Waits a bit, and she’s surrounded herself with the same apocalyptic jug band feel that a lot of his work has in spades.
Friday 1/25
Roman Gabriel Todd’s Beast Rising Up Out Of The Sea / Baak Gwai @ Bottletree
Admission: $9		Go Time: 9 p.m.
		It’s hard to tell if Roman Gabriel Todd’s Beast Rising Up Out Of The Sea is pulling a fast one on us all. This music would be hardcore if it wasn’t completely amorphous and sung by a guy who could be my grandpa. This is noise rock at it’s most unapproachable core. I could probably make something comparable by going into my garage and having a violent epileptic fit, but somehow it wouldn’t catch quite the same level of structured cacophony. This band is worth catching for the novelty alone, but they might just rearrange your entire DNA structure, who knows?
		I’ve only been doing this column three weeks, and this will be the second time I feature Baak Gwai. Did you go last time? If not, make sure you get down there this time. These guys are some of the best rock to be had ’round these parts, and every show you miss will be one for which you kick yourself later. I ain’t lying.
Saturday 1/26
Sorry Lee Harvey @ Gable Square Saloon
Admission: FREE!		Zero Hour: 8 p.m.
		I may be going out on a limb here, because Sorry Lee Harvey are as rough around the edges as it comes. They’re about as genuine a garage band as I’ve heard in a long time, and that includes a certain level of slop, but as I sat there listening to them I kept wanting to hear just a little more. That’s a remarkably good sign, for those of you keeping score, so up they go. These guys are playing Workplay in a little while, and that show is gauranteed not to be free, so take advantage now.
Honorable Mentions:		Punkfest 2008 @ Cave 9
		NoJaboinga @ The Nick

Alright, alright! I’ll see you folks out and about. Until then…

This post was written by Sam George and brought to you by r3vrb.com and the quadratic equation.