Reduxion Returns Next Wednesday With Tax The Wolf

Michelle Tovar/ Tax the Wolf on Facebook

​We're baaaaaaack!

After a couple of months off - hey, things happen - Reduxion, Rocks Off's monthly series of local bands covering their biggest influences, returns just in time to get you nice and hung over for Thanksgiving dinner. (Kidding... we think.)

This month we're proud to welcome the reigning Houston Press Music Award winners for Best Progressive Rock, Tax the Wolf. After some early talk of Radiohead, Tax the Wolf - who released their trippy psych-rock palette of a full-length debut, Hold the Sun, this summer - surprised us a little when they announced their intention to cover the Velvet Underground's Loaded.

​Released in 1970, Loaded turned out to be Lou Reed's last album with the seminal New York art-rockers, and got its name when an especially clueless Atlantic records exec told the band he wanted the album to be "loaded with hits."

It didn't exactly turn out that way, but Loaded is probably the Velvets' poppiest album, with "Sweet Jane," "Rock and Roll" and "Who Loves the Sun" alongside the proto-punk "Head Held High" and Dylanesque double shot of "Lonesome Cowboy Bill" and "Train Round the Bend."

How Tax the Wolf fits the album into their Syd Barrett/Mars Volta headspace ought to be interesting, but we're guessing closer "Oh! Sweet Nuthin" might stretch a little longer than its seven-minute running time.

Joining Tax the Wolf are DJ Dirty Feet from Mixxwell Audio Labs and local hip-hop duo Juzcoz. Juzcoz and the Wolf promise some sort of onstage team-up, but are keeping mum on the details.

Guess you'll just have to come out and see for yourself. Stay tuned to Rocks Off for updates. Free show.

8 p.m. Wednesday, November 24, at Walter's on Washington, 4215 Washington, 713-862-2513. Free... did we mention that already?