Pop Music

Skid Roper, local rocker Mojo Nixon’s bohemian sidekick and percussionist, is fronting his own band these days as a side project. Roper, just home after an extended tour of Australia with Nixon, was feeling a little restless so he put his own country band together, the Whirlin Spurs, and is performing standards, obscure country tunes and some originals in local clubs.

“This is a real band,” Roper said, jokingly. “This project has a different flavor to it than what I do with Mojo. This could be something serious. We might even make a record as long as it doesn’t interfere with me and Mojo.”

Roper and Nixon will take their outlandish blues on a monthlong U.S. tour in two weeks, and Roper’s country combo will go on vacation. The four-piece group will be the headliners at Rio’s on Saturday. San Diego country-roots band the Sidewinders will open the show at 9 p.m.