For live-music fans, the month of March is like Christmas.
Thanks to a pair of high-profile festivals, 35 Denton and Austin's South by Southwest, the sheer number of bands making their way to our region in the coming days and weeks creates a spike in shows worth catching on North Texas stages.This year, more than in the past couple years, the SXSW overflow is pronounced, resulting in a concert calendar that boasts a little something for everyone. (The music portion of SXSW gets going in earnest Tuesday.)Here's a roundup of what concertgoers can expect to see and hear in North Texas over the next few weeks.Bronze Radio Return at Prophet BarThis Connecticut sextet is becoming one of the year's fast-rising acts, thanks to a fistful of placements on TV shows like American Idol and in commercials for Nissan and the PGA. Bronze Radio Return is touring in support of its 2011 sophomore effort, Shake!Shake!Shake! (which was recorded with producer Chad Copelin in Oklahoma).8 p.m. Saturday. Prophet Bar, Dallas. $10, $13 at the door. Little Barrie at Lola's SaloonA London trio whose sound blends rock, R&B and funk, Little Barrie has spent more than a decade in the music business. The band's most recent LP, 2010's King of the Waves, was co-produced by Edwyn Collins.10 p.m. Saturday. Lola's Saloon, Fort Worth. $10, $12 over-21s, $16 under-21s.Ivan & Alyosha at Prophet BarThe irresistible harmonies of this duo (aka Tim Wilson and Ryan Carbary) give wings to its latest long-player, All the Times We Had. Burnished by folk-flecked instrumentation and poetic lyrics, this is music that sticks with you.8 p.m. Saturday. Prophet Bar, Dallas. $10, $12 at the door. Royal Teeth at Cambridge Room at House of BluesThe New Orleans six-piece classifies its sound as "indie dance pop," and it will have its full-length debut later this year. For now, the curious can seek out an EP, Act Naturally, available digitally.8 p.m. Sunday. Cambridge Room at House of Blues, Dallas. $10, $12 day of show.Major Lazer at House of BluesMasterminded by in-demand producer and DJ Diplo, with assistance from fellow producer/DJs Walshy Fire and Jillionaire, Major Lazer scorches synapses with its hip-hop/house music fusions.9 p.m. Monday. House of Blues, Dallas. $25-$30.Maserati at Live Oak Music Hall & LoungeThis psych-rock foursome hails from Athens, Ga., long a hotbed for the next big thing in music. Formed in 2000, Maserati released its fifth album, the majestically titled Maserati VII, last year.9 p.m. Monday. Live Oak Music Hall & Lounge, Fort Worth. $10.Flosstradamus at Lizard LoungeDJs J2K (Josh Young) and Autobot (Curt Cameruci) make up Flosstradamus, something of a veteran act in the hip-hop and electronic dance music scenes. Fresh off a trio of EPs last year, the pair is hard at work on a release that features DJ Sliink.7 p.m. Tuesday. Lizard Lounge, Dallas. $20Futurebirds at Live Oak Music Hall & LoungeIts music has been described as "psychedelic country," and during the past half decade, this Athens, Ga. sextet has developed a reputation as a solid live act.9 p.m. Tuesday. Live Oak Music Hall & Lounge, Fort Worth. $10.Mona at Three LinksIn six years, the Nashville-based alt-rock quartet has made quite a noise. It was singled out as a band to watch by MTV in 2011, winning the "Brand New" award, and in 2012, the group released its self-titled debut.8 p.m. Tuesday. Three Links, Dallas. $10, $12 day of show.They Might Be Giants at House of BluesThese quirky pop stalwarts are, incredibly, entering their 31st year in the music business with no signs of slowing down. The duo just released its 16th studio album, Nanobots, which finds it, after a spell entertaining kids, dealing with more adult topics.7:30 p.m. Tuesday. House of Blues, Dallas. $23-$45. Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band at Granada TheaterIdaho native and singer-songwriter Ritter has been making music since his childhood, and his latest, The Beast in Its Tracks, is another in his series of finely wrought albums.8 p.m. Wednesday. Granada Theater, Dallas. $24-$41.The Zombies at Kessler TheaterThe English rockers -- best known for classic singles like Time of the Season and She's Not There -- still have a pair of founding members (Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent) actively touring, and have remained prolific, releasing Breathe Out, Breathe In in 2011.7 p.m. Wednesday. Kessler Theater, Dallas. $20-$50.The Dear Hunter at Club DadaThe Rhode Island prog-rock foursome, a side project for the Receiving End of Sirens' Casey Crescenzo, will release its fifth album, Migrant, next month.9 p.m. Thursday. Club Dada, Dallas. $15-$17.Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at McFarlin AuditoriumThe Australian music legend took a breather from writing bleakly beautiful screenplays to refocus on music, which resulted in the just-released (and fantastic) Push the Sky Away. His return to North Texas for the first time in eons, unsurprisingly, sold out quickly, but the more enterprising fans may find a way in.8 p.m. Thursday. McFarlin Auditorium, Dallas. Sold out.Bajofondo at Kessler Theater"Neo-tango" collective Bajofondo counts among its members Oscar-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla, and it has been active for more than a decade.7 p.m. March 15. Kessler Theater, Dallas. $17.50-$30.Alt-J at Granada TheaterThe foursome hails from Leeds, England, and its widescreen, folk-pop sound has earned loyal fans -- and critical acclaim. The band's debut LP, An Awesome Wave, won Britain's prestigious Mercury Prize last year.8 p.m. March 16. Granada Theater, Dallas. Sold out. Local Natives at South Side Music HallGorgeous, sparkling harmonies, Afropop melodies and exuberant songs like 2010's Airplanes helped make this Los Angeles quartet an almost instant favorite, and stoked anticipation for the group's second album, Hummingbird, released earlier this year. With Superhumanoids.9 p.m. March 16. South Side Music Hall, Dallas. Sold out. Spillover at Sandbar Cantina and Double WideThose looking to re-create the SXSW experience will get the biggest bang for their buck at this three-stage extravaganza, which features a staggering selection of national acts -- Zechs Marquise, Pallbearer and Ducktails are among the headliners -- and plenty of locals as well.1 p.m. March 17. Sandbar Cantina and Double Wide, Dallas. $20.Dawes at Good RecordsThe Los Angeles country-rock outfit is preparing its third album, Stories Don't End, for an April release, and to stoke interest, the Taylor Goldsmith-led crew is performing free shows at indie record shops across the U.S.7 p.m. March 18. Good Records, Dallas. Free.The Relatives at Kessler TheaterIt's taken the better part of three decades, but this Dallas-bred "psychedelic gospel" group has finally released its debut LP, The Electric Word. Led by the charismatic Rev. Tommie West, this album release will be glorious in every sense of the word.7 p.m. March 22. Kessler Theater, Dallas. $15-$22.50.Preston Jones, 817-390-7713Twitter: @prestonjonesHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
