Soundbites

LATE BLOOMER

Jenny Lewis is having a moment right now with her third solo album, The Voyager, out this week, a feature in The New York Times Magazine, and a newish music video ("Just One of the Guys") with nearly three million views on YouTube, so we're catching her at a good time for her show at the Rialto on Wednesday, Aug. 6. For what it's worth, The Voyager is my favorite thing she's been a part of, just super smart and interesting musically with some heartbreakingly open lyrics. It really is one of those records you could picture yourself listening to in a decade or so and the production (by Ryan Adams) suits her songwriting in a way I don't think really connected on her previous work. I know everyone freaked out when Beck and Neutral Milk Hotel came to town earlier this year, but while that's understandable, Jenny Lewis is an artist making her best music right now. This show isn't sold out as of when I'm writing this and I'm a little surprised. Like Conor Oberst (I know, I know) said in the NYT piece "Go see her play ... Because we should all feel lucky to be around while she's doing her magic."

Tickets for the 8 p.m. show with Jenny Lewis are $22 in advance, $24 day of show. More info at rialtotheatre.com.

THE VOYAGER

Two interesting shows at Monterey Court this week, starting off with Los Angeles' Jessica Fichot on Friday, Aug. 1. Fichot puts her French background to good use on her gypsy-jazz/swing/folk influenced music, complete with her charming accordion playing. While she's great at the chanteuse thing, she also mixes in a multilingual aspect to her performances, going from French to English to Chinese (she has a Mandarin-only EP coming out soon) song to song. She's an intriguing artist making truly beautiful music, worth checking out if you'd enjoy a little variety with your jazz. The show starts at 7 p.m. with a suggested donation of $10.

On Sunday, Aug. 3, Mark Stuart, who had performed in recent years with his wife, Stacey Earle (sister of Steve Earle) takes the Court's stage as a solo act. While Stuart's a great guitarist and solid songwriter worth seeing anyhow, the show's also a tribute show to Jonathan Holden, the co-founder of concert series Rhythm and Roots and a man who was responsible for bringing a lot of great shows to this town before his untimely death in early 2012. I'm not entirely clear on what's planned for the evening, but as a celebration of Holden, I'm sure it'll be a good time with some memories shared over the evening.

Tickets are $10 and available at brownpapertickets.com. More info on both shows (and a lot of other stuff on the calendar) at montereycourtaz.com.

LOVE U FOREVER

The Electric Ladyland tour comes to Flycatcher on Saturday, Aug. 2 and while Gram Rabbit frontwoman Jesika Von Rabbit and electro-duo Okapi Sun (although Okapi Sun aren't mentioned on Flycatcher's website, so call ahead if you're a fan) are also on the bill, I'm super-excited for the opportunity to see Maria Del Pilar live. Somehow I missed her opening for Brian Lopez earlier this year (get your act together, Gibson!), but Chilean-turned-Californian Pilar's 2013 solo album (she used to be in the bilingual pop/post-punk act Los Abandoned) is a quirky/sunny sort-of dancey pop record that's perfect for turning your mood around. Should be a fun show, that's all I'm saying. Tickets are $7 for the 8 p.m. show. More info at theflycatchertucson.com.

YOU CAN'T OUTRUN 'EM

This will probably frighten off as many people as it appeals to, but there's something about Dirty Bourbon River Show's take on New Orleans music that reminds me a bit of the Dresden Dolls. DBRS doesn't lean so much on the cabaret feel as Amanda Palmer and co., but there's a bit of the dramatic to what they do, throwing some vaudeville, gypsy jazz (second reference of the column!) and a dash of Tom Waits-style moroseness into the brass-band mix. The show's at Club Congress on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 8 p.m. 21-and-older, and $5.

On an entirely different note, Night Riots play Congress on Thursday, Aug. 7 with similarly-buzzy California act New Beat Fund. If you like really polished synthy alternative rock (think a cross between the Killers and the 1975, maybe?), Night Riots will probably be to your liking. Their 2013 EP, Young Lore, is really slick stuff, but with big sing-along hooks and hip-swaying rhythms. Not for everyone and not likely to preserve your indie cred, but then again, these guys will probably end up blowing up and you'll kick yourself for skipping the show. Tickets are $10 for the 7 p.m. all ages show.