Best of the week: Local music

Sunday, June 5  @ The Middle East Upstairs - The School of Rock Presents British Steel: The Music Of Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and others

Considering there was once a time when the PMRC tried to place all of the problems facing America’s disaffected youth squarely on the shoulders of bands like Judas Priest, the irony that Beantown’s School of Rock ensemble is paying homage to black metal overlords, such as Sabbath, Maiden and the Priest is nothing short of sublime. The 2003 Jack Black comedy may always leave the actual School of Rock to toil in the film’s cartoonish shadow, but make no mistake, these kids are for real. The players approach the music with a discipline that far transcends their years, and in this case it will no doubt be worthwhile to watch the youngsters (all band members are under 18) tackle tunes with some edge.


Thursday, June 9 @ Great Scott - Drummers + Sinaloa + Tidal Arms + Grass Is Green

Tapping into the less piercing, more cerebral side of post punk, local three-piece Drummers make good use of their challenging influences. Formed by members of skittering indie rockers Pretty & Nice, Drummers adopts that band’s penchant for mathcore complexity while infusing it with the jerky genius of bands like Drive Like Jehu, Q and Not U, Japandroids and Cap’n’Jazz. The band’s headlining set at Great Scott will no doubt draw heavily from their recently released 10-song self-titled EP, while Brooklyn-based indie psychadelic rockers Tidal Ams will open with Sinaloa and Grass Is Green.


Saturday, June 11 @ The Middle East Downstairs - Akrobatik Benefit Show featuring Mr. Lif + Army of Pharaohs + Esoteric + Virtuoso + Slaine + D-Tension + Jaysaun + Nabo Rawk + Termanology + Masstapiece + Oak Lonetree + The Yukonn MC

Music scenes as tight-knit as the one in Boston exist more as extended families than a loose connection of artists and musicians. So when Dorchester native Akrobatik fell victim to a heart attack in May, it should come as little surprise that Saturday’s benefit show in his name boasts a literal who’s who of Boston hip-hop. Fellow Perceptionist Mr. Lif headlines a dense lineup at the Middle East that includes local heavyweights like Esoteric and D-Tension among others, with all proceeds going to help the fallen MC's recovery. Beyond supporting a worthy cause, you won’t find a better spread of local hip-hop talent sharing a stage.


Saturday, June 11 @ Great Scott - T.S.O.L + Shot Baker + Ashers + War of Words

For punk rock purists, there’s a hard and fast rule of thumb that the louder, grittier and faster it is the better. That said, the denim and safety pin contingent should be out in full force at Great Scott on Saturday, as famed LA shock punk’s T.S.O.L. come to town alongside local punks Ashers and War of Words and Chicago melodic hardcore outfit Shot Baker. Legal wrangling has kept Gentleman Jack Grisham and friends off of the road for a while, but  smart money says never bet against the venerable punk vets.