SAT APR 20 James McMurtry (AMERICANA) The Texas native long has been known as an astute, clear-eyed observer and concise, no-holds-barred chronicler of the human condition, but a growing socio-political edge fairly exploded just prior to the 2004 elections when his scathing, palace-rattling "We Can't Make It Here" was made available online as a free download. The seven-plus-minute diatribe against social injustice and the Administration's hypocrisy and deceptions repercussed wildly across the Internet and the airwaves, igniting a grassroots firestorm that has brought legions of new fans to the singer/songwriter's work. In his regular column for Entertainment Weekly, noted author, passionate rock 'n' roll enthusiast and Skipper's patron (no, really!) Stephen King cited McMurtry as "the truest, fiercest songwriter of his generation." jamesmcmurtry.com w/Jonny Burke (AMERICANA) Performing from an early age. Jonny Burke grew up in New Braunfels, a small Texas town between San Antonio and Austin that's home to the famous Gruene Hall. His dad, who had played in bar bands, taught him his first chords when he was a little boy and Burke would listen to albums like Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" and Townes Van Zandt's "Flying Shoes" over and over again. By the time Burke was 15, he was already performing in bars. He formed his first band, the Dedringers, with his school friend Sean Faires, and it became a popular regional band while they were still in their teens. The Dedringers were named Best New Group of 2008 by the Austin American-Statesman while their R.S. Field-produced "Sweetheart of the Neighborhood" garnered a 3-star Austin Chronicle review. After seven years together, however, Burke and Faires decided to part ways, with Faires starting the soul-infused garage rock band The Happen-ins while Burke followed his own creative muse. In 2009, he released a 5-song EP ("The Long Haul") that attracted attention in the blogosphere with songsillinois.net praising its "Pettyseque rockers (and) Townes-influenced gently picked tales," while Radio Free Americana's Warren Catlett heralded it as a "miniclassic." Burke has spent the last couple of years crisscrossing the country playing music, either solo or with his rhythm section. jonnyburke.com 8PM $20