The Mutts, Norman BA$E, Albuterol Baby, Soto the Activist, the Highest Control

Why aren’t more people hanging out at Valhalla? Though a staple of South by Southwest rock & roll showcases, the Red River venue’s been on the market for months now while co-owners Seth Levy and John Wickham cross their fingers for a buyer who will allow the venue to renew its lease. Alongside a killer jukebox, second-story overhang for optimal stage viewing, and beloved in-house Italian restaurant Marinara Miracles, shows like this one – an eclectic blend of the Mutts’ garage growl, Soto the Activist’s conscious rap, the Highest Control’s doomy psych, and Albuterol Baby’s grunge revivalism, topped by local MC Norman BA$E’s old-school hip-hop – make the case for keeping the tavern alive. – Carys Anderson