Unsurprisingly, reviews of Savages‘ second album, Adore Life, mostly attempt to pigeonhole the mood and style with huge contrasts against their first release, Silence Yourself. Where the first was colder and icy, crushing with its dogged fierceness, the other has been tagged as slightly warmer, moodier, perhaps more vague in subject matter (read “tracks about love and sex”). Both albums are, of course, immediately branded as “post-punk” – whatever that means – and all the Siouxsie comparisons one could muster come to the surface.

Fair enough, if that’s all the listener relies on. However, even if it’s not immediately apparent, their confrontational energy and unapologetic fearlessness celebrate the uncertainties of vulnerability. Songs about love come in all forms. Adore Life happens to have powerful, explosive, tumultuous, even restless songs charged with a hunger for more.

This is one not to miss. See Savages tomorrow night at Emo’s, 2015 E. Riverside Dr., with special guest Angus Tarnawsky opening the show. Doors at 8 p.m. Recommended.

-Photography by Richard Dumas.

East Cameron Folkcore and their friend and fellow musician/songwriter Ben Ballinger hit the road late last month for a brief West Coast tour, ending on a lovely note with their final stop in Albuquerque, NM. They’ve just returned to Austin, but perhaps with a few bittersweet thoughts lingering in the heart and mind, and not about their tour; today marks the five-year anniversary of the release of their first album, Sound and Fury: Songs In the Key of Life and Death, a powerful and moving musical homage to their late friend and collaborator, Jon Pettis.

As ECF says, it’s time to hit the pause button on this crazy world and simply enjoy a night of great music and friends, and that’s exactly what they’re doing tonight. See the band perform tonight at the Hard Luck Lounge, 3526 E. 7th St., along with tour mate Ballinger and His Mentors, and garage folk hoodlums the Madisons.

It’s a celebration tonight. Recommended.

-Photography by Cease and Desist Productions.

Even after Zykos decided to call it a day in 2008, there was no stopping Michael Booher from his true calling. The Austin-based songwriter continued to perform with friends’ bands and was involved in numerous musical projects, all while crafting his own songs that would eventually wind up on a new album. It was just a matter of when, not if.

That “when” happens to be now, and Booher got a band together to get these songs out to the ears of eagerly-awaiting fans. And what better name for his band than his own? This year marks the release of Booher‘s debut, Funny Tears, with Zykos producer Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Heartless Bastards) at the helm. There is no mistaking the heartfelt vocals of Booher delivering solid rock ‘n’ roll, and an unflinching earnestness in his confessional lyrics. You’ll also hear friends Will Sheff (Okkervil River) and Michael Kingcaid (What Made Milwaukee Famous) making guest appearances on vocals.

Booher is on the line-up of another killer show tonight at the Swan Dive, 615 Red River, featuring My Golden Calf, All In the Golden Afternoon, and The Cuckoos. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. Get there early to see them all. Recommended.

-Photo courtesy of the artist.

Magna Carda hit the road last month to shake things up in the West Coast with their mad mix of hip-hop, old school R&B, soul and funk from their latest album, CirQlation. Now it’s time for hometown vibe-out at their show tonight at the Parish, 214 E. 6th St.

Joining them on the bill are synth-soul trio Keeper, LNS Crew front man Tank Washington, and hip-hop trio The Bishops. All local line-up, all good, and all going down tonight. Doors open at 8 p.m. Excellent. So recommended.

-Photography by Hakeem Adewumi.

Austin-based trio The Wheelwrights are relatively new to the local scene. However, Seth Grueneberg, Jon-Michael Rogers and Anna Larson intend to make a grand debut with a wonderful project combining their passion for music and art.

A Forest In the Trees officially kicks off this week, with the band pairing the release of a new single with a new original art piece, each month for the remainder of this year. Each featured artwork will be created in collaboration with various artists and studios around Austin, and there are plans for a big end-of-the-year vinyl release to bring all the songs and artwork together.

The first Wheelwrights release show is tomorrow night at Lambert’s, 402 W. 2nd St., featuring their new track “Ante Meridiem” and their first art piece in the form of a video installation. The bill includes sets by folk duo Beth//James and Delta/Texas blues artist Haydon Hoodoo. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. Recommended.

-Photography by Celena Heart.