Currently in the midst of planning a reunion with her former Babes in Toyland bandmates (details are still TBA), Lori Barbero has also been active on the music front in a different way in her new hometown of Austin, Texas.
The veteran drummer has started a new label with other folks at the city's cowboy punk bar the White Horse Saloon. She will escort their three flagship acts to Minnesota this weekend: warm-voiced alt-twang tunesmith Ben Ballinger, who sounds part Father John Misty and part Townes Van Zandt; gritty guitar-licking blues-punk Mrs. Glass, and teen indie-folkie Carson McHone. They play: Palmer's Bar on Friday (10 p.m.), Hell's Kitchen for Saturday brunch (10 a.m.-1 p.m.), the Roots Rock & Deep Blues Fest later on Saturday, Harriet Brewing on Tuesday (7 p.m.), Kathy's Pub in Rochester on Thursday and 7th Street Entry on July 25. ...
After kicking off its 40th-anniversary concert series with a bang last weekend with Greazy Meal, the Cabooze had to find a late replacement for Ipso Facto on Saturday: Duluth area alt-folkies the Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank will fill in (9:30 p.m., $7). Other local acts in the 40th series include a Lamont Cranston Band "and friends" show on Sept. 13 and the Butanes Revue and Big Wu on Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving, respectively. …
In other replacement news: The 4onthefloor will take over the Aug. 31-Sept. 1 slot at the State Fair for Sturgill Simpson, who dropped out to open for Zac Brown Band's tour instead. … Kitten Forever lost its 7th Street Entry slot Sunday when headliner the Julie Ruin canceled, but they still get to open for MC/VL there Thursday (9 p.m., $7). The kitschy bro-rap duo's first show in three years could also be its last, as David "Vicious Lee" Hanson is moving to St. Louis. …
A newish crop of heavy groovers take over First Avenue on Friday for the so-called Funk on First show, including Afrobeat big band Black Market Brass, organ-and-guitar grinders New Sound Underground (8:30 p.m., $10). … The R&B/funk big band formerly known as BoomBox — with Mint Condition drummer Brandon Commodore and some Sounds of Blackness members — MPLS hits Bunker's on Friday fresh off releasing its debut album, "Hello" (7 p.m., $10). … A few local music critics, including myself, discuss our picks for the best Minnesota albums already issued this year on 89.3 the Current's "Local Show," airing Sunday, 6-8 p.m.
