Red Kate

If you're gonna live up to an alias like L. Ron Drunkard, you better play music fit for drinking. Kansas City's Red Kate fits the bill with its accelerate-around-the-curves blend of garage rock and trucker punk. Frontman L. Ron (no relation to the Scientology magnate, we hope) sings with a Parliaments-stained throat that barely needs a microphone. Guitarist Brad Huhmann traces his scene history back to Truck Stop Love, and the band's genealogy also includes townie-favorite acts like Wayback Machine and Gourmet Mushroom X. Tonight the group will raise a can to the release of its introductory EP, Little Red Songbook. You won't have to take a stress test to get in the door.