Dancing puppets, homemade instruments, and plenty of Southern rock-and-roll should make for a lively party this Sunday night as New Orleans natives Quintron and Miss Pussycat return to the Hi-Tone Café.
Using instruments like the Drum Buddy (a light-activated analog synthesizer that creates murky, low-fidelity rhythmic patterns), Quintron crafts a whirlwind of off-kilter rock-and-roll, often sounding like the physical embodiment of a Pee Wee’s Playhouse soundtrack. Quintron’s longtime collaborator, Miss Pussycat, is more than just a hype woman for the group, incorporating dance moves, percussion instruments, and even puppet shows into the chaotic carnival that is their live show. Before performing on Sunday night, Miss Pussycat will premiere her new film Mystery in Old Bath. Playing both Friday and Saturday night at Studio on the Square, Mystery in Old Bath features Miss Pussycat’s handmade puppets but also comes with a PG-13 rating.
Also on the bill is John Wesley Coleman, who’s released a handful of solo albums in addition to his work with the Texas band the Golden Boys. Wearing his love for whiskey and Warren Zevon on his sleeve, Coleman’s albums capture a songwriter equal parts goofy and heartbroken, all while being consistently wasted. And while any of the Golden Boys’ past Memphis performances can attest to the levels of inebriation musicians can reach while performing live, Coleman usually puts on a rousing show, blasting through one honest but damaged song after another.
Starting the evening off is local punk act Sharp Balloons, whose “Evening News” single from last year received a lot of critical acclaim despite the band only playing outside of Memphis a few times. Featuring members of Final Solutions and True Sons of Thunder, Sharp Balloons sound a lot like the strange post-punk bands coming out of England in the late ’70s, before bands like Siouxsie & the Banshees and PiL made that genre a household name. With only three songs from their catalog pressed onto vinyl, it seems like Sharp Balloons are due for another single soon. Doors for Sunday’s show are at 9 p.m. Admission is $12.