Concert Picks: Very Be Careful, Tall Tall Trees, Weird Owl…

The most important gift you can give yourself as a music lover is a live show on the cheap, not a cheap live show. Quality acts, reasonable prices, full-on enjoyment – that’s our gift to you this holiday season. Check out our picks below:

• Very Be Careful | Friday, December 18 | 8:30 pm | 18+ | $10 | The Echo, Los Angeles, CA – Map | Referred to as Los Angeles’ “vallenato veteranos” (namely, from the Valley),VBC’s  rhythms and sway-inspiring melodies know how to reach across multiple across generations, and from varying locales and backgrounds with an undeniable urban feel. Outside of all that, anyone that can include an ice cream truck as a featured player in one of their songs (“La Communicacion”) successfully deserves attention from us. With Sergio Mendoza and Y La Orkesta – Buy Tickets (admission is free with CD purchase)

• Tall Tall Trees | Friday, December 18 | 9:00 pm | 21+ | Union Pool, New York, NY – Map | In homage to Alan Jackson’s single of the same name, the New York-based foursome’s  folk-rock approach prominently features a banjo as their go-to instrument of choice; fitting old-school style harmony, and an all around mellow arrangement rounds out a charming style, as can be heard on their self-titled debut, released earlier this year. With Horse’s Mouth, The Armchairs, and The Rich Get Richer – for more information, call (718) 609-0484.

• Weird Owl | Saturday, December 19 | 9:00 pm | 21+ | $7 | Glasslands, New York, NY – Map | The New York-based band’s interpretation of seventies classic rock is a seamless operation driven by mainly by formula, rhythm, and melody than lyrics alone – but no one ever said that was a bad thing. With Nightmare Air, Family Band, and Violent Bullshit – tickets at the door; for more information, call (718) 599-1450.

• Record Low | Saturday, December 10 | 10:00 pm | 21+ | $5-$8 | The Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL – Map | The unassuming, unpredictable (in a good way) local to Chicago, IL-based band is very to the point with its dreamy, carefully calculated, but not over thought musical approach. Something tells us that in 2010 (heck, even now) these guys will be  a worthy band to watch. With Bully in the Hallway and Mr. Gnome – Buy Tickets

• The Arms | Sunday, December 20 | 8:30 pm | 21+ | Free | Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA – Map | This “free” business comes with a catch: must wear formal wear. Of course, you never “must wear” anything, but consider that (1) it’s a “holiday party” and (2) these are hard times, and anything free is fabulous. Especially when it comes to a concert line-up that will keep you out to the wee hours of the morning – early enough to get to your next party, perhaps?  With Cobalt Cranes, 60 Watt Kid, and Moses Campbell – for more information, call