- Opening for Mall McCartney
With a smartass name like Gringo Star, you’d probably think this Atlanta quartet churns out archly ironic post-punk. But Gringo Star explode with a sound similar to the stripped-down bluesabilly rave-ups that horrified adults and adrenalized teens within earshot of the Animals and Kinks’ stomping grounds in the ’60s. They were originally known as A Fir-Ju Well — a phonetic reading of frontman multi-instrumentalist Nick Furgiuele and his guitarist brother Peter’s surname. They thankfully changed their moniker in 2006, a year before their debut EP came out. Their first album, 2008’s All Y’All, was packed with lightly polished gems of raucous Americana and psych-garage-rock goodness, referencing their love of Sun Records, Sam Cooke, Buddy Holly, and British blues translators of the ’60s, but without the kitsch most bands bring to these retro sounds. So far, 2010 has been a big year for Gringo Star: A pair of Dallas filmmakers followed them on their European tour with ... And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead for the documentary Hurry Up & Wait, which premiered at South by Southwest, and All Y’All is prepping for its European release. Gringo Star, with Imitating Sounds, play the Beachland Tavern at 9 p.m. Tickets: $7. —Brian Baker
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