Country star George Strait will bring his big arena sound to a big arena tonight: the Pepsi Center. Strait came along in a weird time for country music, about three decades ago, when pop-country became one of the most accessible forms of American music. This new sound was more polished than the crackle of Hank Williams or Johnny Cash, and the well-produced records seemed to sell Fords and Chevys quite well. Strait may not fly high on suspended cables like Garth Brooks, but his velvety baritone vocals and tales of lonesome hearts are sure to delight on a warm Friday eve. Reba McEntire will open the show. Tickets are sold out, but try your luck outside the venue.
Wye Oak was one of the most talked- about bands at this year’s South by Southwest Music Festival, and the Baltimore duo is still cruising on a trajectory toward indie-rock stardom following its sprint through Austin. Saturday’s show at the Larimer Lounge, presented by Reverb, is the first in a spring rife with national indie acts swinging through the city’s smaller venues. There’s plenty of fuzz, pounding floor toms, haunting female lead vocals, and just about anything else you’ll need for a super-cool Saturday night in the warehouse district. Tickets, $10-$12, are available through . John Hendrickson: 303-954-1785; jhendrickson@denverpost.com
