MOCKINGBIRD HILLBILLY BAND/ ISAAC ALEXANDER
9 p.m., The Afterthought. $7
It’s no secret that we’re fans of The Afterthought, Hillcrest’s neighborhood jazz bar and one of the most chill drinking holes in town. And now that the Little Rock institution is booking local, folk-tinged rock music, we’re excited to have more reasons to go. This Friday marks the venue’s first experiment in widening its tent to local musicians more likely to set up shop on White Water Tavern or Stickz stages. The Mockingbird Hillbilly Band brings its whacked-out, psychedelic flavor of Holy Modal Rounders-inspired hick-folk to the lounge and prolific local pop brainiac Isaac Alexander breaks out a set full of the hyper-melodic, dry-humored pop earwigs that make him one of the best songwriters Little Rock has to offer. Maybe even a few regular jazz jammers at The Afterthought will join on stage to spice up a few numbers. I tend to doubt it, but there’s always power in suggestion, nudge nudge.