Hot Sounds, Summer in the City

The Church of Philadelphia opens for Canada and the Papermoons Sunday, July 1, at the Proletariat, 903 Richmond, 713-523-1199.

The Octanes
Lucky Seven
www.theoctanes.com

This trio of local roots-rock all-stars (guitarist Adam Burchfield, drummer Steve Candelari and either of the two upright bassists Buddy "Demon" Bradley or Nick Gaitan) have the cure for the high gas price blues — revved-up, rockabilly-tinged hot rod rock. After stints backing Sonny Boy Terry, Snit Fitzpatrick, Tony Vega, Dave Nevling and Kim Carson, Burchfield steps front and center in this seven-song collection. Burchfield's fat hollow-body guitar tone, musical interests, pompadoured black hair and general appearance, and even his voice (a little bit), put me in mind of a younger Dave Gonzalez of the Paladins, and Lucky Seven reminds me a bit of that group's first album, which came before they truly learned to swing. Not to say the Octanes can't swing — "Brandin' Iron Blues" is exhibit A for the defense against that charge — it's just that few roots-rock bands did it as well as the Paladins circa Years Since Yesterday. Burchfield's singing is serviceable; his lyrical skills better than that. "Life Sol" and "Something's Gotta Change" both show a knack for penning memorable choruses.

The Octanes perform Sunday, June 24, at Blanco's, 3406 W. Alabama, 713-439-0072. They are also playing Tuesday, June 26, at the Continental Club, 3700 Main, 713-529-9666.

KB Da Kidnappa
Spittin' Venom
www.myspace.com/kbdakidnappa

Sick of shallow, cartoonish rap about candy paint, Vogues and drank? Want to hear cerebral lyrics delivered with 100 percent conviction, lived-in and lived-out ghetto tales with a moralistic bent over innovative beats? Look no further than Galveston-born, Trinity Gardens-bred KB da Kidnappa, a K-Rino protégé and a former member of the Street Military clique. KB has a distinct voice/delivery — he enunciates crisply, and his sheer volume has earned him the nickname "Thunda Lungz." "Wood Grain Grippin'," a collaboration with Z-Ro and Trae, charges like a rhino — it'll make you want to smack your granny. Big Doc slangs a mess of interesting beats — "Wood Grain" and "Go Grind" are intricate tapestries of fire, while "Don't Be a Slave" features synthesized steel drums in a milieu that is far, very far, from Margaritaville.