Sharon Van Etten’s “Tramp” is one of the strongest releases of the new year, and the Brooklyn-based folk singer was the talk of the town at last week’s South by Southwest festival in Austn, Texas. In contrast to some of her contemporaries (Feist, Regina Spektor, Ingrid Michaelson), Etten’s lyrics, cadences and inflection contain a welcome pain and sincerity that takes many aspiring female singers years to learn. Give a listen to “In Line” or “All I Can” on YouTube and see for yourself. Van Etten headlines the Bluebird Theater on Wednesday night with Reverb favorite the War on Drugs as support. Tickets, $15, are available through .
Sometimes Nada Surf feels like the last remaining alt-rock band in an era when the once all-inclusive genre has been segregated into radio-ready “modern rock” and more obscure “indie-rock.” Nada Surf’s songs are melodic and poppy, guitar-driven and nostalgic, smart and highly accessible. This year’s “The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy” is the band’s first album of original material since 2008’s fantastic “Lucky.” Expect to hear a mix of both on Thursday at Summit Music Hall. Tickets, $16-$18, are available through Ticketweb.
John Hendrickson: jhendrickson@denverpost.com or
