Don’t miss these Reverb shows

It's just like one of those hot dog eating contests, but with bands instead of dodgy meat products of questionable origin.

The Neon Reverb music fest, which enlivens downtown every March and September with more music than any of us deserve, is a twice-a-year endurance test to see just how many groups one can take in over the course of four days.

With more than 75 acts, ranging from hip-hop to punk, folk to electronica, performing at six venues downtown, Neon Reverb is a sleep devouring, booze slicked, Yeti-sized marathon of bitchin'-ness (for a complete schedule of bands and ticket info, go to www.neonreverb.com).

You won't be able to see everything, but here are five shows in particular that aren't to be missed:

Tippy Elvis, 11 p.m. today, Artifice. Polka is a music of the people, the original proletariat jams. It's a natural antecedent of punk rock, which has long boasted of its blue collar bona fides. Still having trouble connecting those dots? Don't worry about it, 'cause Vegas' reunited Tippy Elvis does it for you, tuba in hand, tongue in cheek.

Halloween Town, 10 p.m. Friday, Beauty Bar. Halloween Town is the haunt of Vegas native Ryan Pardey, whose songs are by turns dusky, dramatic and porcelain delicate. He's dropping his anticipated new record on this night, joined by free range indie popsters A Crowd of Small Adventures, 100-proof Americana quarter The Clydesdale and others on a bill as loaded as you'll be come the end of the night.

OLI, 7 p.m. Saturday, Gypsy Den. Another day, another CD release show, though OLI (Outside Looking In) is not just another hip-hop collective. The trio pairs cutting, hyperventilating wordplay with equally frenetic and free-form beats that ricochet through the group's topsy turvy tunes. Don't think this promising group will be able to live up to their name much longer.

Hyena, 10 p.m. Saturday, Beauty Bar. What is it with San Diego bands named after animals coming to Neon Reverb to kick truckloads of arse? Awhile back there was Crocodiles, whose guitars packed as much bite as the group's namesake. And now comes indie electro pop troupe Hyena to anchor the fest's staple Saturday night dance party at the Beauty Bar with buoyancy and bombast to spare.

Atari Teenage Riot, 10 p.m. Saturday, Royal Resort. Ever whip a brick at a wasp's nest then stand by and get swarmed by a buzzing wall of menace and pain? Well, getting bludgeoned by Atari Teenage Riot's barely controlled chaos is the next closest thing. First, there's the beats, which come at grindcore velocity. Seriously, Chuck Yeager's all like, "Damn, that was fast." Combine 'em with bellowed, sore throat vocals, cacophonous electronics and the volume of a jet fighter at takeoff and you won't know whether to dance or duck and cover.

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476.