Centro-Matic, Sleepercar, South San Gabriel

Will Johnson's two bands, Centro-Matic and South San Gabriel, celebrate the release of their 2-cd set on Misra Records with a co-headlining show with Sleepercar, the new altcountry band of Jim Ward of Sparta/At the Drive In.

CENTRO-MATIC
"There's no mistaking [Will Johnson's] gravelly vocals, his rummage sale lyrics, or his rusted-out guitar tone. Each of his groups defines itself by how it deploys these signature elements: Centro-Matic grind out weathered but tightly wound indie rock, treating Johnson's sometimes indecipherable lyrics as fever dreams brought on by exposure to the sun and distortion. South San Gabriel, which features all of Centro-Matic plus a revolving line-up of friends, dresses Johnson's vocal in strings, drum loops, and off-kilter sounds, their ornate arrangements favoring ambience above all else. ... Johnson still comes across as a desert romantic on par with Calexico or Howe Gelb." --Pitchfork
myspace.com/centromatic

SLEEPERCAR
Jim Ward and his El Paso pals trade the loud rock of Sparta for the altcountry swing of the Old 97s and Ryan Adams. "The down home-flavored, campfire-ready tunes that Ward offers up here are some of his strongest. ... It's a perfect album for a hot, summer evening." --Ink19.com
myspace.com/sleepercarwesttexas