Growling with desert grit, Lauren Lakis’ Deadlights is a hypnotic punch of alternative rock cut with a synth-riding dancefloor buzz. Out May 1 on Riding Easy Records, the album circles dark emotions through Nineties distortion and emboldened grunge catharsis, offset by Lakis’ ethereally hopeful vocals. To celebrate the release, Lakis is joined by Texas acts well-versed in this musical battle between treacherous depths and celestial heights. Dystopian dancers Jet Cemetery, psychedelic shoegaze benders Queen Serene, and San Antonio’s fuzz-rockers Warstories each bring their paradoxical powers to the stage Friday night. – Caroline Drew