For Your Ears

Aug. 27 at 9 p.m.
Alibi Group Hug presents: Factory Party with Low on High, Manby’s Head, The Dirty Novels, The Scrams and DJ Cassyle
The Launchpad
21 , $5

Think of this show more as a social opportunity than an entertaining music event. My ears tell me only The Dirty Novels and The Scrams have found the fine line between delivering loose and dirty indie rock without the sloppy execution many fall prey to, punctuated by vocalists who know how to really spit gravelly lyrics. Low on High and Manby’s Head have a long way to go with their weak vocals that verge on caterwauling in the latter’s case and shallow in the former. DJ Cassyle has no online music to break the tie, so to be safe and optimistic, do go at least for a taste of the local hipster scene these indie shows inevitably attract.

Aug. 28 at 7 p.m.
*Atmosphere, Evidence, Blueprint, DJ Babu and Prof
Albuquerque Convention Center*
All ages, $25

Can anyone listen to the bull-honky plaguing the mainstream without needing a hot shower to steam out the filth? I’m not opposed to utilizing some harsh language to drive the point home where the heart is. Peppering tales of your 24-hour party life with details like “I’m a venereal disease like a menstrual bleed” is a clearly gratuitous abuse of language and listeners.

Fortunately, we have the Internet, and with it we can discover hidden gems with real talent. Slug’s painfully candid lyrics are both provocative and entertaining, proof the combination is possible.

Sept. 2 at 9 p.m.
Beefcake in Chains, The Big Spank, One More Round and Domestic Violence
The Launchpad
21 , $5
Since my first experience at a Big Spank show, I have come to expect any show henceforth to be the equivalent of the ball pit for kids. Adults want to have a silly good time too, and with this kind of punky, fast-paced offering, the balls are really going to fly. They’ve established an enthusiastic local fan base and are adept at riling up their audience. While you probably won’t be subjected to bloodbath moshing, expect some old-fashioned roughhousing.

Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Pepper with The Expendables and Ballyhoo!
Sunshine Theater
All ages, $20

Those familiar with the sounds of Sublime will take to these folks easily, even if they haven’t heard of any of them. Simply sub out the vocals and you’ve got essentially the same beachy vibe perfect for cruising with your buoy or gull. While not exactly ground-breaking, bashing them on those grounds alone would be like criticizing vanilla — how can you condemn something with such a solid fan base? So listen more closely, and you’ll discover these groups have a soft spot, not just for reefer and veg sessions, but for cutesy lyrics for the ladies in their lives.

Sept. 7 at 8 p.m.
Bassnectar
Sunshine Theater
16 , $30

Some might say there’s no soul in electronica. A quick glance at the blank faces worn by X’ed-out, candy-flipping ravers is compelling evidence to the contrary: Indeed, the genre has plenty of souls, stolen from its mesmerized listeners. The music is hypnotic, but tends to blend together without lyrics or other signs of life woven throughout. Bassnectar has found another way to instill life into his listeners with grinding beats that chop up the song, characteristic of dubstep. In theory, this should work, but there’s no stopping them from losing their own minds.