The Hold Steady, George Strait and drinking at Mangroves

Here's what I have running in the new issue of Creative Loafing:

• The Hold Steady, Capillary Action and Patty Larkin are coming to town.

• George Strait, Sharon Jones and Foo Fighters also perform locally this week.

• Tool's Maynard James Keenan bricks with Puscifer (scroll down).

• Concert reviews of Galactic and Dresden Dolls.

• BAR TAB: All the pretty people. Friday Night at Mangroves.

"I return to my stool feeling only slightly bad about stiffing the restroom attendant and notice the crowd at Mangroves has suddenly swelled. Gaggles of sexily clad young women fill the place with their comely giggling. I fix my gaze on a boxing match shown on one of the flat-screens strategically positioned above the bar. The TV I'm watching happens to be just over the service station frequented by the hot blond waitress. Every time she passes by, it looks as if I'm gawking at her. Or does it? Does she think I'm watching her? For some reason, this concerns me."

This article appears in Jan 16-22, 2008.