Social Distortion, Hells Belles, Scott Kelly of Neurosis, Mickey Avalon and more this weekend

By Team Backbeat Fri., Dec. 2 2011 at 12:07 PM

Categories: Best Concerts

Continued from page 1

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3

BEATS ANTIQUE AT THE FILLMORE

Beats Antique, a trio made up of producer and show-stealing belly dancer Zoe Jakes and a pair of classically trained multi-instrumentalists, David Satori and Tommy Cappel, has crafted a sound that has roots in dubstep, hip-hop, indie rock and even Middle Eastern music. The act's often primal show includes Jakes and fellow belly dancers wearing animal masks, gyrating and seducing festival crowds across the country.

SCOTT KELLY OF NEUROSIS AT THE HI-DIVE

As the vocalist and guitarist in the foundational, experimental metal band Neurosis, Scott Kelly's influence has been deep and far-reaching, even outside the realm of heavy music, and that's probably because Neurosis wasn't really part of a metal scene. The band's members came up through hardcore and pushed that sound into more adventurous directions without losing any of the visceral intensity of the genre. Plus, the subject matter found on every Neurosis album was more in line with the likes of SWANS and Einsturzende Neubauten in fusing the personal with the mythical. As a solo performer, Kelly has often opted for playing acoustic guitar instead of the seething yet haunting electric style he helped to pioneer. But this doesn't exactly mean he's mellowed out. Rather, it proves Kelly can electrify with inspired simplicity, as well.

MICKEY AVALON AT THE BLUEBIRD

Just because a star was bred in Hollywood doesn't necessarily mean he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Just take Mickey Avalon, the unlikely king of Los Angeles's swanky clubs. He came from beginnings far beyond dubious and well into deranged, a fact he's celebrated in his music. His unique glam-punk take on hip-hop features lyrics forged of the most brutal honesty you've ever been bludgeoned with.