Dirty Dancing Dirty Dancing Milwaukee, Austin, Minneapolis The words "Dirty Dancing" don't necessarily conjure up the sounds of jagged guitars and post-punk rhythms, but Dirty Dancing, the Austin-based dance-rock duo, is trying to change that one shaking hip at a time. With singer Eric Schoen's Ian Curtis-on-uppers vocal delivery and Velvet Underground-inspired guitar freak-outs, the band can switch from sulky to sexy in a matter of seconds, often building on a skeletal guitar riff or a repeated phrase to create a feeling of anxiety and, eventually, euphoric release. Though the band can be dark and gloomy—perfect acid-rainy-day music—it is not afraid to pepper its songs with jittery handclaps or shout-along choruses. The ability to waver between apocalyptic despair and dance-party ebullience makes the group both versatile and unpredictable. Don't put this band in a corner. In the band's propulsive dance track, "Right Place And Right Time," Schoen yelps, "It doesn't matter what you do/Lightning strikes where it wants to." True words, but it feels like Dirty Dancing is doing all the right things at the right time and storm clouds are starting to gather. Fame could strike soon. -CMJ.com