Hot Summer Nights: The Austin Chronicle party w/ Moody Bank$, Daniel Fears, David Shabani, DJ Kay Cali [garage]

Free local music festival Hot Summer Nights boasts plenty of mosh pits and dance parties, but The Austin Chronicle’s kickoff party starts things slow with a showcase of Central Texas R&B. “Hip-Soul” artist David Shabani anchors his chill rap flow with sultry guitar and melancholy piano, while Daniel Fears backs his soulful croon with classical strings (check last month’s Close to Home EP, recorded by a BIPOC orchestra at the Draylen Mason Music Studio). On latest track “Love Me,” meanwhile, Moody Bank$ trades her smoky alto for a playful Erykah Badu homage. Austin Music Awards-nominated DJ Kay Cali kicks off the show. – Carys Anderson