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Pop/rock spotlight: Heartless Bastards

By Chris Riemenschneider

October 23, 2012 at 8:32PM

Heartless Bastards at South by Southwest. (Tony Nelson/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

HEARTLESS BASTARDSSunday: When these rockers from Austin, Texas, sold out First Ave in February, they hadn't even released their latest and best record, "Arrow." Fans have been champing at the bit to hear "Got to Have Rock and Roll" and other new songs live. Frontwoman Erika Wennerstrom comes off as an enduring songwriter on the album, and indeed she survived the breakup of an earlier, Cincinnati-based lineup of the band (and from her then-boyfriend) to come out stronger. Her band is highly recommended for anyone looking for a hot indie-rock act with more rock than indie flavor. Psychedelic Athens, Ga., twangers the Futurebirds open with Dana Falconberry. (8:30 p.m. Sun. $17. First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls. 612-338-8388, or first-avenue.com.)

about the writer

Chris Riemenschneider

Critic / Reporter

Chris Riemenschneider has been covering the Twin Cities music scene since 2001, long enough for Prince to shout him out during "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)." The St. Paul native authored the book "First Avenue: Minnesota's Mainroom" and previously worked as a music critic at the Austin American-Statesman in Texas.