Yr. Weekend, Pt. 2: Mills-McCoin Rock ‘N Roll Circus + Skate & Rock + Bootsy Collins + Record Store Day + More

Holy freaking wow. Today, Saturday, April 20th, is looking like a bona-fide red letter day — there’s a crap-ton of stuff going on, including the International Festival and Record Store Day. There’s so much going on, in fact, that I’ve gotta be real brief about it. Here goes:

2nd Annual Mills-McCoin Rock ‘N Roll Circus, featuring Craig Kinsey and the Bare Knuckle Gospel Jelly Merchants (Sideshow Tramps), Eddie Sussex (Tyagaraja), Dwight’s Carousel (Finnegan), Vockah Reduy, & Bootown Puppet Theater @ The Orange Show (7-11PM; $10)
This one tops my list, absolutely — the first installment of the Mills-McCoin Rock ‘N Roll Circus looked like it was completely awesome fun, and I’m kicking myself now because it looks like I’m going to have to miss this one, too. Argh. Go, go, go, and catch out the carnival/party/whatever it is, complete with performances by {The Sideshow Tramps}, {Tyagaraja}, & {Finnegan}, all disguised as their “rock circus” alter egos.

Skate & Rock, featuring Sanctus Bellum, Omotai, & Sleeping Ancient @ Lee & Joe Jamail Skatepark (110 Sabine; 7PM, free!)
I was never a skater as a kid; combination of an over-protective mom and a complete lack of coordination. Even still, I’ve always been amazed by people who can skate, and so I always like seeing events at the Lee & Joe Jamail Skatepark on the edge of Buffalo Bayou near Downtown. To make things even better, today’s Skate & Rock include doom-crushers {Omotai} and the similarly-cool {Sleeping Ancient}…

Crystal Castles/Doldrums @ House of Blues
I remember I got excited the first time I heard of Crystal Castles, mostly because I freaking loved that video game when I was a young’un. After hearing the actual band, though, I’m almost as impressed with their dark, murky, slinky, electro-pop sound. Recommended.

43rd Annual Houston International Festival, featuring Bootsy Collins, Diogo Nogueira, Carnaval Brasiliero, Stooges Brass Band, Forro In The Dark, David Grissom, Flow Tribe, Brazilian Arts Foundation Band and Dancers, Crying Monkeys, Paula Maya, Luther and the Healers, Morena Flor Dancers, Austin Samba School, & more @ Downtown Houston
Alright, so I’ve got no clue what he’s got to do with the country of Brazil, but still: Bootsy. Collins. Yes, Bootzilla himself is in town for Ifest today; don’t miss out.

Record Store Day, featuring The Virginmarys, John Egan, & The Mighty Orq @ Cactus Music (2-6PM)
Record Store Day, featuring Come See My Dead Person & The Tontons @ Heights Vinyl (1-4PM)
My two favorite installments of today’s Record Store Day festivities are over at Cactus Music and Heights Vinyl this afternoon; the Heights Vinyl shenanigans include ever-awesome psych-soul band {The Tontons} and down-south strange-os {Come See My Dead Person}, while Cactus has performances by {The Mighty Orq}, {John Egan}, & The Virginmarys (who’ll also be playing at Buzzfest today, which I think is sold out), and a book signing and talk about David Ensminger‘s latest book, Mojo Hand: The Life and Music of Lightnin’ Hopkins. Damn cool, all around.

Plus, make sure you hit up Sound Exchange & Vinal Edge, while you’re at it…

Bazile/Andy McWilliams/The Brazos River Marsh Monkeys @ Khon’s ($5)
I haven’t had a chance to listen to self-described “space-folkie” Bazile yet, unfortunately, but he sounds promising, and hey, it’s been a while since I’ve seen ex-Scattered PAGES member {Andy McWilliams} on the bill anywhere, so I’m glad to see it.

The 3rd Annual SouthEast 420 Festival, featuring AF the Naysayer, Austin Smith (A Sea Es), Bloody Knives, Come See My Dead Person, Contortion Session, Cosmic Bug Loaf, Devil Killing Moth, Disfrutalo!, “Downer”, FLCON FCKER, InZurgo, Jon Black, The Journey Agents, Keno Sims, Kumquat, Mad Joy, MarcD, Meta the Man, Muddy Belle, Nikkhoo, NotLando, Second Lovers, Sunrise & Ammunition, Yoko Mono, & Zoofelia @ Numbers/Avant Garden (3PM)
Homegrown 420 Music & Art Festival 2013, featuring Torrid Complex, PowerRage, The Lotus Effect, Dani Vargas, ZYNC, Vestibule, J Phoenix the Experience, Fighting with Silence, Knocturnal Maddness, Courtney LaChausse, Brownies for Breakfast, Robin Kirby, Lluvia Dreams, Daphne, Tanner Hearren, High Toned 2, Steve Straker, C4, Jesse Weaver, & Guitar Clone Odyssey @ The Compound (2305 Wheeler; 12PM, $5)
Yes, on top of everything else, today is 420 Day, maaaaan. So go celebrate your favorite stoner holiday with some awesome music, including {Come See My Dead Person}, {Jon Black}, {The Lotus Effect}, {Vestibule}, & {FLCON FCKER}, among others.

Houston Rap/The Houston Rap Tapes Roundtable Talk, featuring music by DJ Chill @ Houston Museum of African American Culture (4807 Caroline; 4PM)
Got to talk a little bit with Houston Rap/The Houston Rap Tapes co-author Lance Scott Walker (along with photographer Peter Beste) about this roundtable over at the HMAAC this afternoon, and it sounds very cool — lots of hip-hop luminaries talking about the history of rap in H-town, plus beats by DJ Chill.

Full Circle 2013: SDC’s 17 Year Anniversary & Mr. Peabody Freedom Fest…A Benefit for the “Free Mr. Peabody Fund,” featuring Mama Tried, Grahamaphone, Mr. Peabody, Hold Fast Fables, Idiginis, Jeff Skott, Space Madness, Event Horizon, Beatnik Strollin & Mudflap Vinyl, Kid Murdah, Funky Jesus, Sage, Wasi & Madlove, Psillysubin, I Come Alive, & more @ The Silo (4601 Clinton Dr.; 12PM-4:20AM, $20)
Cool-sounding EDM-centric benefit for DJ Mr. Peabody, who was busted a while back on what sure sound like trumped-up charges; he’s out now, thanks to the diligent work of his lawyer, but now he’s got a big pile of legal expenses. Go help him out, and hey, dance while you’re at it…

Runners-Up:
The Lovable Old James/Technicolor Hearts/Cozy Blankets/Modern Explorations @ Dean’s
2013 Menil Community Arts Festival & Houston Indie Book Fair, featuring Line Upon Line & The Thomas Hulten Hot Viking Dixieland Band @ The Menil Collection (11AM-5:30PM)
BuzzFest XXX, featuring Shinedown, Bush, Stone Sour, Papa Roach, P.O.D., Sick Puppies, Hollywood Undead, The Dirty Heads, Oleander, IAMDYNAMITE, A Silent Film, The Virginmarys, Beware of Darkness, & Youngblood Hawke @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (12PM)
Gritsy, featuring Vivek, Gracie Chavez, Nava, Knome, Suraj K, Nonstopp, Nick E Lights, & Full Effect MC @ Walter’s
Texas Crawfish & Music Festival, featuring Robert Earl Keen, The Departed, Thieving Birds, The Trishas, Crooks, Brant Croucher, & The Grievous Angels @ Old Town Spring (Spring)
The Ugly Beats @ The Big Top
Soul Sessions, featuring A Fistful of Soul @ MKT Bar (1001 Austin; 8-11PM)
H.O.D./Warmaster/Demoniacal Genuflection/Brimwylf @ Fitzgerald’s
Lords of the Universe (Black Sabbath tribute)/Bowel @ Rudyard’s
420 Fest, featuring D.R.U.M., Second Hand, AGRO, From Guts To Glory, JFK Suicide, Pimpadelic, Easy Jesus Coe and The Southern Devils, & Brothers Grymn @ Smoke Alley (4602 Dacoma; 2-10PM)
Do You Feel Lucky Punk? (tribute to The Clash/The Ramones/etc.), featuring DJ Big E @ The Continental Club
Crystal Castles After Party, featuring Ceeplus Bad Knives, Mr. Castillo, & Damon Allen @ The Dirt (1209 Caroline; 6PM-2AM)
ForTwenty: 420 Party, featuring Six Gun Sound, Hold Fast Fables, & The Medicine Years @ The Scout Bar (Clear Lake)