Rockshows to Know will be our attempt to regularly list shows that are of interest to us and probably you as well, mostly in and around the Louisville area, and will often be accompanied by sample MP3s. Let’s get started with the most time-sensitive gig, which is tonight… make plans…

Tonight at Skull Alley (1017 E Broadway), get meditative with a solo show from Grails’ multi-instrumentalist Zak Riles. Essential listening for followers of Important Records who favor the likes of Grails and James Blackshaw, not to mention Popol Vuh. Heavy-hitters David Daniell and Douglas McCombs offer some live improvisation. For the unfamiliar, Daniell boasts a serious CV, collaborating with the likes of Loren Connors, Rhys Chatham, Tim Barnes, Jeph Jerman, Thurston Moore, Greg Davis, and Jonathan Kane. McCombs pioneered the mighty Tortoise and Eleventh Dream Day. They will be joined by Tim Barnes, no lightweight himself, who recently served as drummer for the revamped For Carnation, and hit skins for Jim O’Rourke, Niel Michael Haggerty (Royal Trux/Howling Hex), and The Tower Recordings (MV+EE/Page Six) prior to that. Four serious musicians, only six measley dollars.

Really excited to find out that Indian Jewelry hits up Cosmic Charlie’s (388 Woodland Ave. Lexington) with my pals Tiny Fights and Idiot Glee on Sunday, October 24. I had the pleasure of seeing Indian Jewelry on their first tour back in, I think, fall of 2005. You’ve gotta see these dudes live. I’ll probably make this trip myself. They wear tunics, adorn the stage with animal skulls, tin foil, and a Texas state flag, blast flood-level strobe lights everywhere, and keep things evil at all times. The live show is epileptic and pummeling.

Iceland’s Olof Arnalds, who recently supported Blonde Redhead and crafts beautifully minimal and skewed, slow-burning ornate pop comes to Louisville, alongside the haunting folk stylings of Cheyenne Maire Mize and Torontoan and No Quarter family member Doug Paisley this Saturday, October 16. Arnald, I think, gets unfair comparisons to Bjork just because she’s from Iceland. To me though, I hear a new version of Sandy Denny in her voice. Judge for yourself, though. This special showcase happens at an equally special venue – the gorgeous Christ Evangelical United Church (1228 E. Breckinridge St. Louisville), which will soon become a music venue of sorts, much like Austin’s First Unitarian Church downtown. Tickets are $10, and will be available at the holy door.

Our Bloomington friends…. Expo 70 at Rachael’s Cafe (330 E. 3rd St.) this Saturday, 8 p.m. You know what to do. Speaking of Bloomington, boognish has two opportunities to see a rare solo acoustic offering from Gene Ween – November 12th at Bloomington’s Bluebird Theater, or the following evening at Cosmic Charlie’s in Lexington.

Louisville’s Headliners (which was recently acquired by Production Simple, rousing speculation of what changes we may see at the venue) hosts The Black Angels on November 9th (previously reported here) and Tim and Eric’s Awesome Tour Great Job on December 4th (previously reported here). I’ll be front and center for both, and possibly wasted to ensure blurriest photos possible.

Entrance Band… Tuesday October 19th at Newport’s Southgate House (24 E. 3rd). These guys were doing some pentecostal shit at their SXSW gig at Red7. Highly recommended. The next night, Louisville’s Parlour plays in support of their latest, Simulacrenfield. They will be playing the room known as the parlour (upstairs), so that’s a bit of a mindfuck, yes? If The Books and Black Heart Procession show on November 3rd didn’t fall on a school night, I’d be getting experienced with you all there as well. Work sucks. Also, don’t be a shithead and not vote the day before. Just sayin’.

Despite last year’s tragedy when drummer Jerry Fuchs suddenly passed away, Maserati fords onward, returning to Louisville to play Zanzabar (2100 S. Preston St.) November 18th. Show them some love! Zanzabar also recently announced psych-twang thrashers Futurebirds headed our way November 20th.

Did I miss something of revelance to y’all? Lemme know: kb (at) thedecibeltolls.com

MP3 :::
Indian Jewelry – Lesser Snake
Olof Arnalds – Innundir Skinni
Expo 70 – Outside In
Ween – Among His Tribe
The Black Angels – The Sniper
Parlour – Simulacrenfield
The Books – I Didn’t Know That