Five Bands Hit San Antonio
Performances range from deathcore at Rock Box to organic beat music at Stable Hall this week.
By Adriana Abebe ·
Tomar and the FCs will perform at the Crystal Ballroom at The Gunter Hotel on Friday, Nov. 13.
The group combines horn-driven soul with deep rhythms that require standing. Tomar Williams learned to sing on the Chitlin' Circuit in the late 1980s while fronting his family's band. He worked as a producer and sideman for decades before linking up with the Austin instrumental outfit the FCs in 2015. The pair has released three albums since then, including Soul Searching in 2025. NPR selected the act to represent Austin in its Tiny Desk contest. Tickets range from $39 to $99, and the show starts at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, Nov. 14, Makaya McCraven plays Stable Hall. The Chicago drummer and producer records improvised live sets, then cuts, loops, and overdubs them in the studio. He calls the result organic beat music. McCraven has remixed Gil Scott-Heron's final album and spent seven years making In These Times, which released in 2022. His newest record, Off the Record, collects four EPs released last fall. The performance begins at 8 p.m., with tickets priced between $18 and $43.
We Are Scientists and Sean McVerry appear at Paper Tiger on Friday, Nov. 13. The indie-rock band formed in Berkeley and later based itself in New York City. It is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its debut album, With Love and Squalor. The group has released eight additional albums since 2006, including Qualifying Miles in 2025. The concert starts at 8 p.m., and tickets cost $23.68.
Suicide Silence performs at Rock Box on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The Californian deathcore band formed in 2002 and is considered one of the Big Four of the subgenre. Eddie Hermida took over vocals after original singer Mitch Lucker died in 2012. Hermida previously sang for All Shall Perish. The show begins at 7 p.m., with tickets ranging from $40.60 to $121.27.
Stinking Lizaveta, Deathbird Earth, and Syr play at Hi-Tones on Sunday, Nov. 15. The Philadelphia trio has performed instrumental doom-jazz for more than 30 years. Brothers Yanni and Alexi Papadopoulos play guitar and bass, respectively, while Cheshire Agusta plays drums. The band is touring behind its 10th album, Cassandra, Prophet of Doom, which released in September on SRA Records. San Antonio prog-metalers Syr will play tunes from their forthcoming LP, In the Orbit of a Dead Star. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets cost $10.
The Deslondes, Kristina Murray, and Nicky Diamonds perform at The Lonesome Rose on Sunday, Nov. 15. The New Orleans group plays country soul with gospel harmonies. Sam Doores, Riley Downing, and Cameron Snyder all write songs and take turns singing. The trio performs after a set at Honky Tonk Fest in Austin the previous night. The show begins at 7:30 p.m., and tickets cost $10.
