Music Features (Free Press - Houston)

7 Inches of Buxton

2009-07-10T04:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday night at Mangos Buxton will deliver a 7" slice of prime USDA Grade HPOP - on Vinyl no less. If you haven't already heard Feathers or Flint yet, you're in for a treat. Feathers alone is my call for song of the year. The intro is better than any cup of coffee with Justin Terrel's drums pounding your skull as guitarist Jason Willis does more with one note on the guitar than most guitarists do with a whole fretboard before leading into a lovely guitar line that ebbs into Sergio Trevino's soft spoken and emotive voice as bassist Chris Wise rolls softly in back. The song continues through soft quiet breezes and hurricane like furies. It's a shining example of HPOP at it's best. Great dynamics, smart instrumentation, addictive hooks, and the bright upbeat shit we love here in Houston. It's the stuff that will get you dancing and will take your darkest days and make them bright and joyous. I cann't speak any higher of a band who can do that. So pick up your dancing shoes as tomorrow night they play with the Wild Moccasins (triumphantly returning from tour) and Ghost Mountain. Because we're so excited, we asked the guys a few questions this week and here's what they had to say...

FPH: Why is vinyl relevant?

Justin: Vinyl is relevant because it's stylish and sounds the best. If your band doesn't have at least one vinyl then you're not a real band. We're almost a real band.

Jason: Putting out an actual vinyl record was something we had always wanted to do. We were excited about these two songs in particular, and wanted to get them out in a tangible form one way or another. We could have just put them in the internet and that be the end of it, but we were excited about the songs and wanted other people to get excited about them as well. That, and the idea that a CD with 2 songs on it is just ridiculous.

Sergio: In my opinion, it kinda it's just kind of a milestone. Like 4 years ago we were happy to have written an album. 2 years ago we were happy to get on a label. 1 year ago we were happy to get a nod with the Houston press. This year ...vinyl.

FPH: Why were these songs not held back for a full album and how did you come to select these two as 7" worthy?

Sergio: These are meant to be fun songs, Sometimes we write something with the intention of sticking it within a "bigger picture" not so much the case with these songs.

Jason: These songs didn't exactly fit in with a lot of our newer material we had been working on. There was a lot of debating about what to do with all of these different songs and in the end we decided to put out a series of EPs. The first is the 7" Feathers / Flint. After the 7" we're going to focus more on a very stripped down acoustic gospel / folk EP com

prised of songs written by Sergio and his wife, Amanda, that will be called Morning Saints. Then we plan to put out another EP of the songs by Bjork that we covered at the Twotenany. As for why we decided to put Feathers and Flint on a 7", .... why not?

Justin: We wrote both of these songs after I joined the band and they were a result of Buxton getting a full time drummer, I suppose... rather than just adding drums after the song was written. These songs are very energetic and fit really well together because they were written at the same time but it wasn't necessarily the direction we were going in for a full length, i think. It just makes sense on a 7".

FPH: Feathers brings in a lot of HPOP to your sound. How much have bands like Young Mammals and Wild Moccasins bored their way into your skulls and affected your songwriting or general approach to music?

Jason: They've bored the hell out of us. Those two bands have to be the most boring bands in Houston, if not Texas. Actually it was our drummer, Justin, who has made the biggest impact on our songwriting. Before he joined, we always wrote songs acoustically, then added drums later, if any. So we never really had the option of dynamics while writing. Now that he has joined, we can experiment with those dynamics and apply them to the writing process. It's been fun. But just for the hell of it, I'll go ahead and say that Cody from Wild Moccasins' mustache, and the curly hair of all of the Young Mammals, have been the ultimate influence on us when it comes to songwriting, playing tennis, and overall being a good human being.

Justin: Musically, i haven't let either of those silly bands affect my writing style. I'm just kidding about the silly part, I love both of those bands and every member in them.

Sergio: HPOP!!! Yeah, you know that song does feel communal with the likes of the Mam's and the Moc's. Nice to be a part of that.

FPH: How did the songs progress from raw idea to final arrangement? Where was the 7" recorded? Who engineered it? How much did the studio environment come to play in the arrangement and writing of the song?

Jason: Both songs started off with us goofing around and jamming. Usually Sergio will write the basic structure of the song and the rest of us will add to it but we wrote these two together from the ground up. We also had a set practice space with a nice setup, so that helps as well.

Sergio: They were really the 1st songs we wrote with a drummer, and actually allowing the drums to shape the songs. The songs before that we would write, and then add drums to it.

Justin: The songs were pretty much written [before the studio] but we had a few ideas for an intro to feathers that Jason pretty much made up on the spot. We also had some basic horn ideas that we sort of let our two friends, Aaron and Nicholas, sort of build on.

Jason: We were lucky enough to record the 7" at Sugar Hill Studios with John Griffin. Recording in that studio was a dream come true. We have never recorded anything that went so smooth. A lot of that has to be credited to John who was very professional and a great guy. We were usually on the same page when it came to what we each wanted so it was easy and quick to get things set up and over with. Not only that, but they had some great studio equipment that we had no hesitation to take advantage of. Hammond B3, a Fender P-Bass from the 60's, a grand piano, things like that which we all used on Feathers.

Justin: It was really chill working with John and the whole experience was super relaxed. We all loved it.

FPH: Y'all have had these tracks completed for quite some time. Was there any strategic reason for waiting until July to release it?

Sergio: Yeah Chris!?

Justin: We recorded the two songs much later than we wrote them and after we recorded them it took time for Chris to figure out exactly who we were going to use to press and all of that. And of course, it took a while for everything to actually be pressed. I think that's all true.

OH, we were shooting for a March release but it took a while to get everything figured out and then we wanted to find a good weekend where nothing else was going on. And THEN, of course, our dear friends The Young Mammals decided to have their tour kickoff at the same place two days before so we hate them now.

Jason: We really just wanted to give ourselves plenty of time and not rush a release. We've learned the hard way that if you set a date for a release show too early, it can be lame. With our last full length, 'A Family Light', we had received the CDs a week before the release show and the artwork and text was blurry and pixilated. There was nothing we could do. So this time around, we tried to give ourselves plenty of time in case something like that were to happen again. The weird thing is, we still got the final copies of the 7" in about a week ago as well, so it's a good thing we did set the release for a later date. Getting vinyls pressed is a lengthy process. We're also just really lazy.

FPH: Why do those publicity shots of you guys dressed like orderlies freak me out so much? Also, is it true that those same shots are stills for a remake of the Fat Boys' 1987 classic film Disorderlies?

Justin: I don't know; I love them. Don't you, too? And yes.

Sergio: I saw that movie at my cousin’s house when I was 7...Going on the queue.

Jason: Ramon, they freak you out because they turn you on and you're just not used to it yet. As for a remake of Disorderlies, I herein am not able, with legal representation or authorized liberty, through a clause of exclusivity, to disclose of any such information of any progression or contractual obligation of said production, herein known as "Disorderlies". Sorry :(.

Buxton on Myspace ( Link )
Buxton Orderlies photo by James Dillon

Interview: Geoffrey Mueller

2009-07-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

By Omar Afra
Photo by Cecilia Johnson

Geoffrey Mueller is a musical chameleon having mastered several instruments such as banjo, guitar, bass, saw, voice, and whatever else you stick in his hands. Playing in such notable bands as Sideshow Tramps, I am Mesmer, Grandfather Child, Chase Hamblin’s band, Perfect Penis, and more, Mueller manages to be everywhere yet not spread himself thin. Frankly, if you spend any night of the week watching live music in this town then you are surely to run into this local musical treasure. In the 90’s as an adolescent he was well known as an amazing pop-and-lock break-dancer and as the front man for local metal band Lower ( I shared a studio with him more than a decade ago when I played in a similarly mook-ish band) . The SceneWiki says “He's embarrassed about this so be sure to ask him about it.” But Geoffrey is one of those rare hyper-talented performers that are just straight up nice guys. He brings smiles wherever he goes and we here at FPH are just smitten with him. He was also gracious enough to answer a few probing questions.

What motivated you to pick up the saw as an instrument?

Like most things in my life it was pure impulse. I never heard a saw in person, but I knew they could be played, so I made a bow out of fishing line and a ruler, bought a saw from Southland and got to work. It took me a month of experimenting before I could get a good sound (this was pre youtube DIY days). Now it seems to be the instrument I'm most closely associated with. I love the saw. I still give free lessons to anyone interested in learning. Contact me here - cajunbanjo@gmail.com My goal is to create a full saw orchestra.

I am Mesmer is such a 'supergroup'. Tell us how that came to fruition.

Ha ha ha, that's funny, yeah, I've heard that term thrown around a few times. It's like the "We are the World" USA for Africa group of Montrose with Kelly Doyle and Whitebread as Hall and Oates, Robert Ellis as Lionel Richie, and Jo Bird as Cindy Lauper. I'll let you fill in the rest, Omar, well, except for Lukas Aberer, he's obviously Dan Akroyd.
I don't know how we formed really, It's not like I woke up one day and said "I think I want to put together a 9 piece string band to play insanely fast apocalyptic gypsy music right here in Houston, Texas," but it happened and I'm glad it did. We just all found our way to that first rehearsal, and now everyone is a vital member. The line up is Kirk Suddreath, Hilary Sloan, Young Will, Mike Whitebread, Lukas Aberer, Jo Bird, Robert Ellis, Kelly Doyle, and myself. These are some deeply original and talented musicians, I'm happy to be the weakest link in the group.

Is there anything you can't do?

Tell Karen Carpenter how much I love her music. Besides that, the list is far too long to mention.
When you are alone at home in front of the mirror, do you ever catch yourself practicing your old break-dance moves or zipping through some rhymes?

My moves are too powerful; I won't even let the mirror watch. As for rhymes, I composed a new routine for I am Mesmer. It's really just an excuse to get Jo Bird and Hilary Sloan to rip on the mic.
What local musicians 'flabbergast' you?

My biggest influences have all been from Houston. I love Little Joe Washington. He absolutely rips on the guitar, charms any crowd in the first ten seconds, passes the hat, and takes off on a little girl’s bicycle. When I see him at gigs he's always encouraging and usually drops some Yoda like wisdom on me about playing music. I like Greg Harbor and the Gypsies. Kelly Lancaster, Ferrence, Richard, Vladymir, Julia, and all the rest. A while ago, Greg had triple bypass surgery or something of that caliber. I saw him the next week throwing back cocktails at a tango event. There's also Kelly Doyle - Everything I know about guitar I stole from him. Doug Kosmo, Rodney Elliot, and all of J.W. Americana - The most entertaining band in recent Houston history. Two Star Symphony, Sabra Laval, Clouseaux, Space City Gamelan, Hilary Sloan, Bill Miller, Nick Gaitan, Robert Rodriguez and that whole crew, Wayne "The Animal" Turner, Blarin' Aaron. Pretty much anyone I'm playing with or have played with over the years. This list could get very long very fast, so I'll just say I love the musicians in this town. I'm also very impressed with the new bands of late: The Ton Tons, Buxton, Wild Moccasins, NOTM, etc. Looking forward to what they'll all do.
What instrument is next?

The Cajun Accordion. I've always wanted to play one with the Sideshow Tramps. I bought one in Dallas a few months ago, named it Yves Dupree after my Mom's Dad.

Are there any festivals on August 8th and 9th at Eleanor Tinsley Park that you are looking forward to?

Funny you should ask that. I was just sitting in my favorite vegetarian restaurant Mango’s, drinking a Robert Ellis, when I saw an ad in my favorite monthly publication the Free Press for that very festival and all my favorite bands are playing you shameless self-promoting bastard. Too bad I have to work those days.

I love you Geoff, Do you love me?

Yes. Sorry if I don't always show it, I'm just slightly autistic.

Anderson interviews Herndon

2009-06-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

Tortoise has an album called “Beacons Of Ancerstorship” on Thrill Jockey Records. In celebration of this event , I called a member of the band, John Herndon, who, apparently pumps gas during a hail storm, to discuss the latest Tortoise album, the current state of the music industry. However, since I did not have questions, per se (it was more of a casual conversation), I thought I’d just make up questions that may or may not relate to the answers and present it as the intentional piece. See Omar, I make you wait a day for this. (Writer’s note: This isn’t our actual conversation verbatim, the quotes are real, but I know John, so this is sort of culled from our conversation, which pertained to the album).
FP: How’s the weather in Chicago, enjoying the pre summer days?
JOHN H.: Watching this storm fromm underneath this over pass, and it’s got some hail, that’s the size of golf balls.
FP: Your album is fabulous.
JH: Thanks a lot. Are you calling to interview me?
FP: I think it’s cool how the album is available in multiple formats, other than, illegally downlaoded. I noticed that this record is like Tortoise’s return to beats…
JH: It wasn’t premeditated, we didn’t really talk about, like “Let’s get back to beats.” It just seemed like it was where a lot of people’s heads were at. A lot of it, for me, was like trying to discover where people like(hip hop producer, genius) Jay Dee were at, and Mad Lib, and I think Jeff and I have been listening to Jay Dee stuff a lot but I think everybody wanted to make something that was reflective, or what was happening in our own spaces…
FP: When you bring a song to the band, before it is completed to be illegally downloaded, how does that work in terms of the democracy of the band, how each member’s song ideas get incorporated into the boullibaise that is a Tortoise album?
JH: You’re asking like how you present a song to Tortoise, and have a everybody agree to work on it? Well I just kind of collect stuff, I’m really good at starting shit, but I aint great at finishing it, so I have like a bazillion little scraps of ideas on my computer, or on the MP (360, a sampler beat machine thingy), and I’ll just bring in everything, I’ll play 27 beats that I have, and just sort of wait until something catches people’s ear, and then it’s obvious and we’ll work on that (on the other hand) you play something and you see glassy eyed stares, people starting to look away, and awkward silence, and you’ll be “Oh well let’s play the next one…”
FP: I like the length between the records, it gives you a long time, to make sure it’s sank in, like your last album (It’s All Around You) took five years to sink in…
JH: I don’t know why it takes us so long, we never have the intention of waiting so long between records, if someone had told me it was gonna be five years between when this record came out after the last one, I would have said you’re shitting me. I would like to start working on a new record now, and have it come out next year, but I don’t think that that’s gonna happen. I don’t know why it is, but we work really slowly. We all havde things we like to do, as much as Tortoise, we put a lot of energy into other projects. With this record, I could say that my oldest son just turned five, so that might have something to do with it.
FP:The other day I downloaded the new Liberace album, it was OK, Lil’ Wayne has a verse on it.
JH: That’s where things are at, people are not buying records. I’m curious to see…I downloaded Beacons Of Ancestorship a month ago, I was looking around to see if it was anywhere, and I found this blog sight, and they had a Rapidshare address, I went there, click, download, and I download the whole thing.
FP:Mos Def’s new album it’s being sold on a T Shirt with a downoad code on the tag and the songs on the back of the shirt, I’m thinking of doing the same thing with a toilet paper, but putting the download code on the cardboard roll, wipe your ass, while you jam my shit.
JH: It’s almost like people don’t even have a CD player anymore, if you’re a nerd or something you have a record player, downloads and vinyl are where things are going now, and most people don’t even have a record player, so there’s a few people that would buy a CD, a few people will buy the vinyl, but most people are downloading it.
FP: But look on the bright side, people rob other people during a recession, they don’t pay so you can’t get paid, but they think you’re awesome.
JH: Yeah, it’s interesting, I don’t expect anybody to buy a record really, but hopefully we’ll play some shows, we’re gonna be busy through the summer and hopefully that’s gonna be able to help me with making a living.
FP: Making a living…
JH:But whatever, I don’t wanna poo poo this shit, and beat beat (into the ground) this “making a livng” shit, because the bottom line is that regardless if I’m making a living or not music is going to be my prority, and if that I have supplement my income doing something else, then I’ll just do that.
TORTOISE’S NEW ALBUM BEACONS OF ANCESTORHIP IS IMPECABLY INCREDIBLE. IT’S OUT RIGHT NOW! “IT’S LIKE MAX ROACH DOING LOW END THEORY”- John Herndon

Punk This: Double Dagger at SHFL 6/23

2009-06-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

Brigitte B. Zabak

I know what all you folks out there in the Houston music scene must be thinking right about now. It probably involves something along the lines of – “What the hell does she know about punk music when all she writes about is indie this and indie that?” Well, while my knowledge of punk, post-punk, and pseudo punk is limited in scope, I am still fairly confident in my ability to know when music is good and when it ranks up there with American Idol rejects.

In recent weeks, I have had the good fortune of discovering the existence of a trio from Baltimore that makes lots and lots of noise without all the bullshit. Double Dagger is a three piece ensemble that utilizes drums, bass and vocals to create more volume than should be possible when using so little instrumentation. The nerd-centric crew has an impressive background in graphic design and has channeled their inherent visual creativity into its very geeky and loud auditory counterpart.

What is even more appealing about Double Dagger is the high praise they have been receiving for their live performances. They are a band who has mastered the ability to translate their erratic, improvised live goodness into the more structured medium of recording and still manage to maintain a high level of quality on both fronts. And while it’s awesome to be able to have the Double D with you wherever you go – it is really in their live performance that you get to experience the layered texture and sheer volume of their music.

Double Dagger has embarked on a pretty extensive summer tour and will be stopping by ye old Houston to share the stage with two of the city’s loudest and rowdiest bands. Muhammid Ali is quickly becoming one of Houston’s favorite new acts. Their live shows are energetic and fun and their music is a sort of power punk/pop hybrid that is hard to stop listening to once you’ve started. Black Congress is comprised of some of Houston’s most influential veteran musicians and rounds out this trifecta of sound with their cacophonous clusterfuck of infinite proportions.

Combining Double Dagger’s stinging punch with the riotous roar of Black Congress and Muhammid Ali will probably result in night filled with drunken, garbled mayhem – most likely perpetrated by the bands themselves. It should be a night to remember, assuming you don’t drink yourself into an alcoholic stupor at some point during the event.

Double Dagger and company will be performing on Tuesday, June 23rd at the new and improved Super Happy Fun Land now located at 3801 Polk. In addition to the already awesome lineup, the show will be the official kick-off for Muhammid Ali’s summer tour. The show will start promptly at 9 p.m. and should end close to midnight. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $7.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Tolerate the Funk

2009-05-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

Man, you go out of town for two weeks and it takes you six weeks to get back on track. Seriously. So, now maybe I can get my priorities back intact and start talking at you about local music the way I should. So while everyone is reviewing Elaine Greer's release (which I'm sure is great, I've loved her since back in the Holly Hall, but I unfortunately have not heard note one of) I'm going to tell you about another release going on this weekend, Electric Attitude's Laser Laser Laser Beams. And after that, this weekend's line-up!

When it comes to funk, I usually the wrong person to ask. But when my dear friend Blake told me to take a listen to his bands new EP, no way in hell was I going to say know. I've shared bills with Electric Attitude on more than one occasion and have witnessed first hand the frenzy that the can work a crowd into. Blake is a dynamic frontman and I know of his love of The White Stripes and Franz Ferdinand, and if you throw in a huge heap of funky wah-wah grooves then what he's got your gonna get it put it in you (yes. that was a RHCP reference).

There is a big audience for these party jams and salacious entrities to young ladies (possibly in the audience?) for an after hours good time. Blake often approaches that Jack White yelp in his vocalization but flips things around a bit with the "Take Me Out" style riffage that blasts off into some kind of cosmic funk laser solo...which I think might be the point...to be the first party band in space. Make that the first human party band in space as I believe there's interest from Max Rebo to scoop these guys up to open for them on their intergalactic reunion tour.

My favorite track is "Pistolwhip", and maybe it's cheating because knowing Blake, I'm pretty sure I know what these lyrics are specifically about, and that's always an easy behind-the-scenes thrill. But insider knowledge aside, it's got a killer (Killers? haha) hook and it's a shoe-in for them to win the talent show at Galaxy High. All-in-all this is NOT your father's Solar Samba Rumba what with the binge drinking enabling robots and laser beams flying on the dance floor, but there's no need to fear the Sarlacc, there's only need to dance.

THURSDAY MAY 28, 2009
This Thursday's Cactus in-store is Austin's The Belleville Outfit, they're that right kind of fun and beautiful Americana that surpases the trappings of the genre and crosses over into the indie midset. It starts at 5:30pm and is a great way to get ready for the main event tonight. It goes without saying that the important event is Elaine Greer's CD Release at Mango's. She is one of the city's favorite female singer-songwriters (and there are a lot of great ones here!) and getting ahold of a for-real release has been a long time coming. Galveston friends Darwin's Finches are playing at Super Happy Fun Land and from what I heard The Points after their show there the other night, you might want to bring the band some beer. And a show that Houston is pretty lucky to get (in light of the really cool bands skipping us all the time) is break out popstress Lissy Trullie appearing at Rudyard's with The Virgins and Anya Marina. If you're in the mood for some really nice soul music Anthony Hamilton is playing at Reliant, a big show, but dude is smooth. Over at The Rat's Nest (2305 Lyons Ave) you can loose your mind to Witch Hunt and it's not even the weekend.

FRIDAY MAY 29, 2009
There is always a shit-ton to do on a Friday night but I can only give 100% approval to some of them. At the top of my list is the Ditchwater Records Showcase #1 at Rudyard's featuring the most criminally under rated band in town Dead Roses. Ok, sure people who know them, love them, but get the word out. with or without a drummer they rock harder than anyone. They're doing it up right with The Wrong Ones. But over at The Houston Foundry (1712 Burnett) is a huge all party mess featuring the appropriately rated Muhammid Ali (everyone talks about 'em as they should!) and Death Rainbow Fuck Evil Blood (what?), Balls Deep, ~~Limp~~ Limb and a bunch more. Doors at 7:30pm. Mango's brings you great show #8,262 in the long line of great shows in it's short existance with My Name is John Michael and The Riff Tiffs. And finally, if you want to do it up proper head to the Arena Theater and if there are tickets left you can go see BB King.

SATURDAY MAY 30, 2009
There's twice as much to do tonight, so you better get to decidin'. Hopefully my little look at Electric Attitude's EP might compel you to go out to The Mink for their CD release. They'll be joined by Female Demand and Satin Hooks. But of course, as usually can you can start the party early over at Cactus for the Dexter Romweber Duo instore at 3:30pm, but of course they'll be at Rudz later with Detroit Cobras. Oooooh but a wonderful show is at Mango's! It's The Theater Fire, listenlisten, Sew What (favorite!) and Robert Ellis (another favorite!). For reals, if you haven't had your heart melted by Sew What yet, then stop being a chump and get to it. Longtime local favorite Motion Turns It On are playing to the white shoes over at Notsuoh, Cop Warmth are at The White Swan and (this one's for Jake the Snake) King's X is over at The Meridian. But I gotta say 10th Grade Cutie and The Caprolites at an afternoon matinee might be a perfect way to spend the pre-show hours. That's over at SHFL with a whole mess of other bands.

Sunday May 31, 2009
The weekend just keeps going and I know that while my friend who is visiting from out of town will be at No Doubt at Cynthia Woods, I will more likely be at The Mink for The Footsies. I caught them the other night and they definitely grew on my during the course of their set. Good stuff. They're playing with Stallone!!! and Brutally Normal. Over at the
i.am.we.house (819 Land Grant Dr in Richmond) for Joshua English, he was in Six Going On Seven. We all liked that band. And it's a potluck. We all like food.

MONDAY JUNE 1, 2009
Hey! Joshua Englishb is playing again. This time at Mango's! So close to home!

TUESDAY JUNE 2, 2009
Super nice show going on over at The Mink. It's got local folks I love Cedar Boy Bailey(Sergio from Buxton) and sings (now with a full band!) along with other nice people Western Giants(with a new EP!), This Old House and Framework.

Later dudes.

Talking CD release with Elaine Greer

2009-05-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Elaine Greer vs. Bubbles by Jim Dillon

Elaine Greer is someone readers of this newspaper and blog should be quite familiar with (See our profile of her from March 2008). She's one of Houston's best singer songwriters - packing a sharp gift for melody in one holster and strong and distinctive voice in the other. If anyone's work in Houston has been long overdue a proper CD release, it's Elaine Greer's! Thankfully on Thursday at Mango's Elaine is finally letting the hen out and releasing her first proper CD - a six-song EP "Making Plans and Going Places." The songs should be quite familiar to fans who've kept up with her live performances and many will be excited and surprised at how Elaine approached the songs in the studio.

Thrilled about the imminent release we sent Elaine the death metal questions you saw on the homepage (link) then figured - oh, what they hey - we may as well actually ask her some real questions too. Thankfully Elaine was gracious enough to reply to both sets of questions.

FPH: How was this whole process different than the CDRs of your work that you've released before and sold at shows?

EG: Well, I didn't want to stray too far from that and risk the CD not sounding how I'm used to sounding. I think the biggest change is simply the instrumentation. In my past recordings I would add on as much as I could, but a lot of the things on the CD now weren't a possibility. And of course, quality wise, this CD shouldn't even compare to the home recordings, all of which were done with one crappy USB microphone! Process wise, it was initially strange for me just sitting there waiting while someone else recorded parts, but I think I got used to it pretty quickly!

FPH: I really like the production on the album. It’s rich but not overbearing. My favorite example is the string arrangements on Under The Radar they’re just this perfect touch. Who played the strings and who arranged them? Also, where was this recorded? Did you have a Producer? How was the recording process like? Who were the players and what did they bring to the process?

EG: The strings on Under the Radar were played by Gillian Williams (cello) from News on the March, and Brian Howe (violin). The arrangements were constructed by Harrison Speck and myself. For Under the Radar, we sat down with a keyboard and used the fake string sound to figure out something that would sound good, and then he made our dinky keyboard sketch into some readable sheet music! For Wild Things, I have to give all of the credit to him as far as the string arrangement goes. Some of it ended up being cut out in the mixing process. Nearly the entire CD was recorded at Master Bedroom Studios (the studio of Joe Weber from NOTM), but the horns parts were recorded by Harrison Speck (trombone) and Amber Nepodal (trumpet) in Austin and sent to us in Houston. There was no producer; I kind of had rough ideas for how I wanted the songs to sound, but nothing definite. I wanted to ideally reach a mix between the simpler more vocally based home recordings and the more upbeat live band sound we had at the time. All of the different people who played on the CD brought something different to the table and I think that's what really affected the end result. Other than the above mentioned players, there was Travis Smith on bass, Andrew Ortiz on drums, Lucas Gorham on lapsteel, Austin Sepulvado on guitar, accordian, and backing vocals...I played a bunch of piano and keyboardy bits, bells, and omnichord...Joe Weber and Harrison Speck played a couple of keyboardy bits...you get the idea! I went in first to lay down the acoustic guitar tracks, followed by bass and drums, and from there it was just a slow building process to what it is now.

FPH: These songs have been kicking around for a while now and for the most part the arrangements have been pretty set in stone for a while so while recordings don’t vary much structurally, there is a lot more lush palate you are working with in the studio in terms of instrumentation. How did you approach figuring out just what you wanted to add, what you wanted to change, and what was too much?

EG: This was actually something I mulled over a lot before and during the recording process. I knew the kinds of sounds I wanted, but I initially didn't know where or how to incorporate it...which resulted in the recording happening in a system of layers. We would record the parts we already had, and then record new alternatives, and in the end it was kind of a trial and error/elimination process. There were definitely a couple points where things started sounding really cluttered and confusing, but in the end I think it all got sorted out!

FPH: Were there any unexpectedly happy surprises in the process?

EG: Oh definitely. Lots and lots of them. I was super excited about the string and horn parts, and I'm really pleased with the outro of Ancient History and the big build up at the end of Under the Radar. After Lucas recorded lapsteel on Wild Things, we all kept listening to it and being like "Whoa that part's neat!" I was also glad to be able to incorporate some pretty dreamy instruments, and now have a new love for glockenspiel and omnichord.

FPH: How did you approach your vocals on the CD compared to your live performances. Did you find your phrasing change in the studio or was it pretty much just how it came out?

EG: Well, in general I think I tend to sing louder and more enthusiastically in the live setting, especially with the band...mostly to match the volume of the situation. On the recording I wanted it to be more of how I would naturally sing the song, even if only to myself. I get really nervous about recording vocals around other people, especially harmonies and "oohs" and "ahs". So I had to do a lot of those when there was no one else in the room, but I guess in the end however it came out wasn't completely planned. A couple little changes had to be made, such as having overlapping lines on Under the Radar. The reason is that the song is faster now than it originally was when I wrote it, and I had trouble fitting all the words in! Not to mention that some of the songs on the CD were first (home) recorded 6 months-a year ago...sometimes I start singing them a little differently throughout time without even realizing it.

FPH: I see Michael Rodriguez did the cover art. How was it working with him and getting the look that conveyed what you wanted for the CD?

EG: Working with him was great...it went very smoothly and was very easy. We sat down once to talk about ideas for the cover art, and there were a few different directions it could have gone. There were also a couple different stages with different designs. I think what I initially told him was fairly vague, but I wasn't too worried because I've never seen anything he's done that I didn't like!

FPH: Was there anything you wanted to add that just wasn’t able to make it on the CD?

EG: Yes, but I think that would always be the case. I originally had recorded a piano song that was supposed to be on the CD, but it ended up getting ignored and was never finished. I would have liked to have a piano based song, and I didn't quite do as many crazy vocal harmony parts as I would have liked to. But hey, I'll save all that for the full length.

Elaine Greer CD release party with News on the March and One Hundred Flowers. $8 includes copy of disc. 9 p.m. Thursday @ Mango's.

(Note: that digital download version of the EP should be available in about a month.)

The Large-Hearted Girl...Unleashed!

2009-05-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

Sorry I was so negative last week. There has been a lot of good news since last week, so I'm definitely in a better mood. And as a first order of business HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAMON! Alright, now onto an early warning. Ten years ago there was a concert series called Hot Pop City organized by Left of the Dial mag's David Ensminger. To mark the anniversary he is planning Hot Punk City. Two nights of awesomeness and one special event that has definitely eased my return to Houston: LONDON GIRL 10 YEAR REUNION. Whoa. WHAT? STOKED...and yes, I was in London Girl, but suck it, this is awesome and you know it and if you're not coming you are the Kobayashi of eating dicks. Here's the info from the source:

Left of the Dial is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the groundbreaking Hot Pop City series, which took place in 1999 and 2000 and featured iconic alt pop/post-punk bands such as the Rondelles, Red Monkey, and Silver Scooter to performers such as Daniel Johnston and Britt Daniel (Spoon), by sponsoring Hot Punk City at the Mink, another two night event stretched over the exact same time frame as before: July 31st - Aug. 1st.

The shows both honor Randy "Biscuit" Turner of the Big Boys, Cargo Cult, and Biscuit Bombs, who was a 30 year veteran of the Texas punk and outsider art scenes, who died in August 2005, and will attempt to raise money for Peter Case, brilliant godfather of power pop and punk (The Nerves and the Plimsouls), who just underwent open heart surgery. Both Peter and Randy once joined each other on stage to sing a 13th Floor Elevators song! Old school Texas punk pioneers like AK-47 and Mydolls will join new upstarts like O Pioneers! and Guitars, along with the unexpected reunion of grrrl pop punkers London Girl (a 10th year anniversary too!) and friends from afar, like We Moderns from No Idea records in Florida.

During the day, 12- 6 p.m. on Saturday, the Mink will also host a Punk Flea Market, a free event featuring vendor tables full of zines, DIY clothes and fashion, art, books, music (of all stripes and formats), posters, etc. Space is limited, so if you wish to be a vendor, please contact leftofthedialmag@hotmail.com. There is no vendor fee, and we welcome anyone working within the punk and DIY umbrella.

Ok, now that I've got that special announcement out of the way, let's get down to this week...

THURSDAY MAY 14, 2009
The Hollisters are doing the Discovery Green thing today, I'm not sure what time, but I bet it's earlier, so know that, first. Later on tonight Her Space Holiday would be my pick of a good time. He (is he playing alone?) are at Walter's with City Light. If songs about sleepy tigers are a bit too limp wristed for you then get your ass over to The Mink for Golden Axe. Also aboard for the face-smashfest are The Jonx, Stinking Lizaveta and Darsombra. If you're crusing for some lush indulgence then maybe head to Mango's to catch Flowers to Hide, playing with Chris Velan. Sidenote, though it is mindblowingly weird being in the old Oven, the new Mango's is hells of tight. Back to the line-ups. El Ten Eleven are Rudzin' it up with Novox and finally over at SHFL, The Cave Reverend and Generation:Landslide! are doin' their things.

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2009
Far and away the best thing you could Friday night is go to the Rober Ellis album release at Mango's. Robert Ellis is one of the hell of a singer-songwriter, with touchstones ranging from the country soulfulness of Willie Nelson to a quirk-free version of John Darnielle (to me that's a breath of fresh air). And this is going to be a flat-out fantastic show with Buxton and listenlisten as guests. I'm very hesitant to alert you to anything else going on Friday night, but I will, but I won't give much away...Ladyheat are playing their final Houston show (good for them!) with The Watermarks at The Mink. O Pioneers!!! and This Year's Tiger are playing with some other bands, the names of which bring to mind post-post-post-hardcore-emo-pop-punk youths not buying alcohol at Walter's. PLF are kicking of a tour at The Rat's Nest (2305 Lyons Ave) with Nibiru and HRA and a bunch of other brutal outfits. And for the vets there 500 Megatons of Boogie over at Rudyard's with But for real Come See My Dead Person. Oh and The Hangouts from College Station are playing Notsuoh. But for real Robert Ellis.

SATURDAY MAY 16, 2009
I can't fight it I know everyone's going to go to the ArtStorm Compilation Release there are a bunch of bands some good some great and it's at The Mink, you already know about this, you already know it's cover songs and you're already pissing your pants. Good on you. But there's also the Heavy Leather Record Release Party with Golden Axe & No Talk at Big Star, despite the controversy regarding the "no shows at Big Star, EVER" thing, I'm glad that the bands that have played there were of the Beaumosexual variety, and not indie-retirement-blues. At SHFL is the Do It Together Fest featuring every loud and grating noise punk in town and it starts at 2pm. It'll probably be awesome, so you should go to that too. Austin psych-dudes Amplified Heat will be at Rudyard's just in case you don't feel like standing around and doing a fest/release frenzy thing. And just in case you missed him last night, Robert Ellis is playing a second release show at The Local in Lake Jackson. (worth the driiiiiiiiiive.)

SUNDAY MAY 17, 2009
It really must be summer, because people are starting to part a little harder on Sunday's. See if you can make it to work Monday morning after hitting the TMMC Warehouse (2305 Lyons) for some more No Talk rock action. And then starting at 3pm you've got the Summer Jammie Jam (I love Jammie Jams!) at Azteca's with a whole bunch of bands, that I swore played there last weekend (ok, correction, the wrong date was originally listed). Finally you've got a really good band that you should be thankful came through Houston, The Dears at Warehouse.

WEDNESDAY MAY 20, 2009
I'm skipping straight to Wednesday because you should probably take a couple days off to assimilate and get geared up for The Vibrators at Jet Lounge. How good is this going to be? AWESOME. That's how good. Whoa.

Events of the Week of My Return

2009-05-06T07:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back from tour. I contemplated doing a post about how great my tour was and all the wonderful things that I learned and experienced. But then I got home and remembered that this is Houston and misery loves company. So here, just read this list of shows and maybe you'll go to one of them, probably not, but I did what I could to spread the word. (If this were a myspace blog post I would have my mood set to "disillusioned".)

WEDNESDAY MAY 6, 2009

Well, I can assume that were anyone to go out tonight it would be to Jones Hall to see Flight of the Conchords. It's music. With jokes. I know you like that. But the real appeal to me of this show is Eugene Mirman. I've been a huge fan of Mirman's ever since my husband and the bartenders and I caught him opening for Langhorne Slim at Walter's years ago. He's the bad guy on Adult Swim's freaking awesome show Delocated. It might just be too late to get tickets to this so what else can you do? Well Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears are being AMAZING at Cactus at 5:30pm for an in-store warm up for their show tomorrow night. And it's kind of awesome that Snoop is at House of Blues tonight, but I don't know what kind of thing he's going lately, so it might be rad or it might be corny. And if none of that sounds good to you, I just check out Once a Pawn on myspace and shit yeah, it's cool. It's a little Discount-y, very 99'. You'd like it. Go see them at Notsuoh. And finally, when I was checking out the line-up at Jet Lounge I was expecting either that weird heavy-prog stuff that had been there before I left or, more likely from the band names some excrutiating black-t-shirt punk, but I gotta say I was surprised when I checked out the bands. No Risk are doing that quirky poppy-punky thing that isn't exactly my cup of tea, but then 13 Black Coffins come out of nowhere with this bombastic rockabilly-punk with a ska-ish edge that really brought me back to the old days when The Abyss was a club and not a description for the city itself. DJ's Ninja Star and Aubrie are sure to bust out with some boot-stompers in-between sets.

THURSDAY MAY 7, 2009
Following up on yesterday's promise to be AWESOME, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears smash it up with alt.country rockers Lucero at Walter's. Way down at the other end of Shepherd Drive at Aztecas you've go the Summer Jammie Jam, with a whole slew of local acts: Spain Colored Orange, (You)genious, Dizzy Pilot, Neon Collars, The Gold Sounds, Ellypseas, Magnetic, Alkari, Cavernous, Las Imagenes Ocultas, The Journey Agents, and Blak Cyence. It starts at 3pm and along with some of the folks that have been around awhile, there's a bunch of new kids to the scene, maybe you'll find your next favorite local. And I mentioned Fitz up there a second ago, and I know there's this current move to take it back and all, and it kind of ties into this whole mid-to-late nineties resurgance that's been going on, anyhow Los Skarnales have been playing out a lot more lately and they're doing it tonight with Zydepunks and The Unzipped. So yeah, it seems like the whole rockabilly/ska scene is making a comeback. I know some people might roll their eyes, but it seems a lot more refined this time around. And well, what do you know over at The Meridian is a psychobilly show of global composition Germany's Mad Sin and the UK's Phantom Rockers. They're joined by local time bombs Blackmarket Syndicate and for some strange reason the pleasantly alt-y Born Anchor. I'm beginning to think that Houston is flying through time like the island from LOST and finally settled in 1997. Black Queen Speaks play at Rudyard's and it's kind of weird because I've seen the name floating around a lot lately but can tell it's a different music circle than I'm used to, and I guess I've considered Rudz as my music homebase for the past couple of years and it just seems like I've come home and everything has changed. Um, yeah, sorry about that tangent. Also going down tonight, The Cave Reverend and Avenger at Super Happy Fun Land.

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2009
There's a lot going on tonight so I'm just going to kind of breeze through this and tell you what I would do, where I in your shoes. Now if I were running the show I go to The Mink for the free show. I'd be there to see Black Black Gold (shame on Jason Puffer for not mentioning this show when we hung out last night) and The Factory Party and Springfield Riots are playing, too. If that didn't pan out I'd check out my first show at Mango's they've got When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, Fat Tony, and Marry Me. And I guess Fat Tony is going for a two-fer, he's also playing this ginormous bash at Fitz where the highlights include thelastplaceyoulook, American Fangs, and Female Demand. If I were still all hung up in my late-nineties fix there would be The Flaming Hellcats at Rudyard's. And then SHFL is serving up their usual batch of weird with The Umoja Orchestra, Free Radicals and The Grass Skirts. Oh and don't be silly, of course I didn't forget the Dr. Know show at Walter's. Showing support are The Chop Tops (more rockabilly), Roots of Exile (a down-right good Oi! band) and The Ghost Stories (down-right weird).

SATURDAY MAY 9, 2009
There's a friggin' lot going on tonight, too, so here's another quick "what I would probably do" rundown...I'll most likely be found at Rudyard's back in my aforementioned "safety-zone" rocking the fuck out to Born Liars and Secret Prostitutes. 747 and Arcane Flowers will be there, too. And I can never resist pimping a charity event, so just know that at Super Happy Fun Land you've got the Escape Family Resource Center Fundraiser with The Electricks, Perfect Pants, Six guns, Evak1, and Lewee Regal. And if I felt like heading down to Galveston, I hit the Opera House for Chubby Checker. How awesome is that? But back in town at Mango's (it feels pretty good typing that as a regular venue) you've got Mechanical Boy, Room 101, and Dirty N Nasty. But back out a bit at Sam Houston Race Park are lovely shoe-gazers The Watermarks with Ghostland Observatory (sorry, I don't get it). Also illiciting a mixed bag of emotion for me is the show at Warehouse, but Young MC how awesome is that?

SUNDAY MAY 10, 2009
How about you just go to The Mink for Fight Pretty, FEED, and Leavers and just pretend that Buzzfest isn't happening and Korn, 311, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Papa Roach, and Hoobastank aren't in your town...among others. And well, I'd say Blue October but we're used to that and this whole mess is probably not worth it to see Toadies which alone could have been the "must-do" event of Sunday.

MONDAY MAY 11, 2009
Looks like those Born Anchor guys will be around all week, they're playing Walter's with Fake Problems and Mass of Men. So you've got to chances to find out about a band you've never heard. (I advise doing things like that, unknown bands APPRECIATE it, and other cities are all about it.) Over at the Monday night Boondocks you've got Mothertone and Mantis. And then Jet Lounge brings you Mobile Deathcamp, Last Rosary, Meanpeace and Battle Rifle.

Take a day off on Tuesday and get ready for a new week of missed opportunities.

YAY!

Interview: Robert Ellis

2009-05-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

By Omar Afra

Robert Ellis is one of those rare confluences of amazing songwriting coupled with masterful musicianship. I know, I am already blowing smoke up this kids ass. But deservedly so. Ellis writes songs you remember, melodies that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, and does it all with shred-tastic guitar playing. His new album Rearranger is littered with Americana love songs and haunting odes to Houston. More importantly, he is the sexiest local musician in town. With long flowing hair, bedroom eyes, and chiseled jaw, Ellis is a heartbreaker. If I only had a vagina.

Tell me about your earliest musical memories.

My mom is a Piano teacher. She taught out of the house, and my room was right next to her office for quite some time. I remember her playing Debussy's Arabesque vividly, and its still of on my favorite pieces. Also, growing up, my grandparents used to take me to bluegrass festivals. That music still has a very dear place in my heart. It reminds me of my grandparents and of my Uncle, who plays Dobro and is also an excellent flat picker and singer.

You got chops. Tell us about your woodshedding routine.

I practice daily and learn a lot from my friends and from the bands I play with. I also spend a good amount of time listening to old recordings and trying to emulate my favorite musicians. (Doc Watson, Jimmie Rodgers, John Hurt, David Rawlings and Gillian Welch)

You’re from Clute, Texas. Do you think developing your song craft in a vacuum outside of scenes and trends has had a large part in your development? Please elaborate.

Yes. There is very little to do in the Clute/Lake Jackson area other than looking for ways to get out. Don’t be fooled, scenes and trends tend to trickle down into that area just about as soon as they are not cool anymore. But there is definitely less of an influence than there would be here.

Tell us about recording this new album and where content and inspiration stemmed from.

Many of the songs on this record are about splitting up with my ex over a year ago, that’s when I began recording. That’s where the breakup songs come from. Also my current girlfriend, Destiny was a big inspiration. Many of the song are about finding new love with her. Other songs are about my childhood, and family, friends and fond memories I have of them. I recorded in Austin with my friend Shawn Jones (The Lovely Sparrows). Between him and my friend Jason cooper I had a lot of support and constructive feedback.

Who are some of your favorite local acts?

Listen Listen! Buxton, Sideshow Tramps, Airon Paul Dugas, Chase Hamblin. Those are the ones I listen to.

What are you reading?

I have not been reading much lately. The last thing I read was A Brief History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.

Springsteen or Dylan?

The Boss Forever! I’m not a Dylan fan.

You are obscenely sexy. In last issue, we explained how Fat Tony is a close 2nd to you being the sexiest musician in town. What can he do to improve his running?

I saw Fat Tony perform last week. I think someone may have us confused.

Robert Ellis has his CD Release May 15th at Mango's..

What you will be doing tonight!

2009-04-21T04:55:00.000-07:00

OK my schedule is such that I'm likely going to miss this but you should totally go. Tonight Mike Watt - one of my musical heroes - is playing Rudyard's. The guy puts on an amazing show and is a sweetheart to boot. It's been decades since The Minutemen but Watt has always kept his cred and never disappoints.

Bonus is I went to Rudz the other day and it actually smelled great! YES the smell, that foul smell that has made your nose shrivel, is gone. Turns out it has been gone for at least a month.

So go, drink, rock, and have a Rudzburger!

It's My Party.

2009-04-08T10:42:00.001-07:00

So, I missed this "oh-so-legendary" Jandek show at Rudyard's thanks to the chain on my husband's bike just not cooperating with us. Well, I HATE funk (not fun), so I don't think I missed much except seeing my friends dance like jackasses (which is always fun). Oh well. Don't miss thing, it makes you sad. Anyhow, a week's worth of stuff not to miss...

WEDNESDAY APRIL 8, 2009
Where I not glued to LOST tonight (and saving up my party points for my birthday tomorrow), the show I'd pick would be at The Mink. You've got Battle Rifle with this week's CD release, the fucking awesome The Takes, B L A C K I E (generally I H A T E rap music, but I L O V E B L A C K I E) and the always scandalous Chocolate Crucifix. Apparently people still like Ratatat, since they're still around and playing at The Meridian with Tussle and Despot. And I know a lot of people care that Bruce Springsteen is at Toyota Center. How big of an asshole am I that I'm all whatevs about The Boss? Pretty big one, so I'm told. Well, I'm even more whatever about New Found Glory at Warehouse. There sure is a lot of "people still care" events tonight. Oh and they're playing with Bayside (never cared) and Set Your Goals and Verse (still not caring). Oooooooh but you know what I do care about? 10th Grade Cutie at Super Happy Fun Land. I really want to see these guys one of these days. They're like the future of music and shit. They're playing with Imari Tones, Bows & Arrows, and Archaic 3. Finally, if none of these appeal to you, you can go to Notsuoh for When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (say it in big epic voice).

THURSDAY APRIL 9, 2009
Hey! Thursday is my birthday and I'm going to be making it happen first at Cactus at 5:30 to get my St. Arnold's fix with T-Bird & The Breaks (it's like Sharon Jones but instead of a sassy black ex-female jailer, it's a white dude from Austin) and then at Walter's to check out Vivian Girls (finally, after missing them due to my asSXasSW ordeal) the added bonus to that of course is Future Blondes. Between you and me, I could take or leave Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. T-Bird is gonna be over at Warehouse later with Greyhounds. The only other thing that I can in good faith recommend is doing the whole butt rock thing over at Boondocks for Camaro, their, well, butt rock DJ night. I mean, you've got Lollipop Factory at Notsuoh which is kind of like if you put Bolt in short-shorts and striped socks oh and top hats and made them play at Scout Bar. I'm trying to place where it was that I saw them before, but I remember being aghast. And I'm just going to shake my head at Plain White T's at Numbers and Forever the Sickest Kids at House of Blues. So, yeah, looks like you'll have to come out to Walter's and say happy birthday to me.

FRIDAY APRIL 10, 2009
I highly advise going out to the Grand Opening of Mango's with Sideshow Tramps, Robert Ellis (favorite!), i am mesmer, and Two Star Symphony. I think having this place back in circulation is gonna be big fun (Omar, please clean the bathroom). Does the venue formallly known as The Oven give you the heebie-jeebies? Might I suggest you go to Warehouse and grab a CD by Spain Colored Orange. They're playing with The Sour Notes, Dizzy Pilot, Paris Falls (another favorite!), and You(genious) (another rapper that is a-ok with me!). Ceeplus and DJ Melodic play musics there, too. The Gary and The Jonx play at The Rudyard's. And I dunno what exactly the Psychedlic Sock Hop is, but it sounds like a good idea. I haven't heard of anyone playing except A Thousand Cranes but anyhow it's at The Tree House (5105 Crawford). Perseph One (yet another Houston rapper that I am not adverse to) brings it to Super Happy Fun Land. And how much hot water do I get in mentioning a show that my band mate's brother is playing? Anyone? Anyhow, Tambersauro is playing at Walter's with The Life and Times and Good Times Crisis Band. If you've got no time for time maybe you'll like the bizarro line-up at The Continental. Ok, Honky and Dixie Witch on the same bill I get, but do Molly and the Ringwalds' crowd cross over with that crowd? Weird.

SATURDAY APRIL 11, 2009
Hey! It's the KTRU Outdoor Show! They've got Ted Leo headlining, but of course, he's always sounded like bagpipes to me. For cereal. I think I might have a filter on my eardrums that turns his music into bagpipes. Boring bagpipes. But that's ok. A few of my local favorites including Buxton and B L A C K I E will be there, too. There's a bunch of folks that have me drawing a blank as well and then a band called The Boat Show, which reminds me of the Showgirls commentary ("Don't go to the boat show Nomi, it's a rape-a-torium!"). But every year the KTRU folks do an excellent job and it's always always always a blast. So support your local college station, they support you. It starts at noon. Oh but Two Star Symphony are doing the in-store thing at Cactus at 1pm and then it's The Stone Coyotes at 4pm! Oh no! Ride your bike so you can go back and forth at will. So, that takes care of the day time, but what will you do that night? I know exactly where I'll be, but where will you be? If you're smart you'll be back at Watler's for mother fucking Leslie & the Ly's. Leslie's opening up for Stereo Total. Ooooooh but Muhammid Ali (HEARTZZZZ) is playing at Mango's! Maybe I can time it right. Also at Mango's you've got Young Mammals and THEART. Man, and there's another good show a few block over at Sedition Books. It's The Caprolites (heartzzzzz, too), Leslie's Dead Friend (Leslie Hall's?) and Rapeworm (haven't heard anything about them in a loooooong time!). Show starts at 8pm. Seriously, everything going on tonight is going to be fun, so here's some more options...That "quite lovely" band that I first heard at the Block Party, Searching For Signal are playing Super Happy Fun Land with The Handshake, Summerside Project, Caddywhompus, and Gamma Ringo. The Born Liars (who are being slowly infiltrated by undercover Homopolice) tear your face of at Notsuoh with Gin Slingers and Flash Boys. And if you're in the mood for boys but not flash, The Strange Boys bring their big time rock and roll to 3910 Driscoll and make it good with The Wols and The Wiggins, who will have a shiny new cassette for you. BYOB, BTW. Oh and some british vegan guy is playing at Jones Hall (hint: It's Morrissey). He's got the very excellent Courteeners in tow, so I hope you bought your tickets.

SUNDAY APRIL 12, 2009
I can't really advise you in good conscience. Find your own way my friends.

MONDAY APRIL 13, 2009
All I have to say about Monday is Blowfly at The Continental. You have no excuse to do anything else.

TUESDAY APRIL 14, 2009
Well, on your way home from work, do the Cactus thing at 5:30pm with The Magpies. And then you've got BoomSnake at Helios. So, Boomsnake is a dude from Say Anything, and I learned from the past weekend's Bat Mitzvah experience, Say Anything is the only thing outside of severely profane and sexually explicit rap music that thirteen-year-olds like. If you're looking for the complete opposite of that head to the Toto Moto Warehouse (2305 Lyons) and see some brutal things like Sacred Shock, Deskonocidos, No Talk (more faves) and Fan Death. Oh and it would be Tuesday without Campfire Stories at Alvin Bowling Center?

See you next time.

tomfoolery down houston way

2009-04-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

Photo by Major Miller

Text by Amye McCarther

[note this isn't a formal review - just an e-mail Amye sent out to her friends overseas. I asked her if I could reprint it here and she gave me her blessing.]

christ, i'm wrekt. jandek played his first ever houston show yesterday at rudyards.

in it's heyday ruds was the scroungy neighborhood dive with cheap pints and regular rock shows. in his heyday jandek was an inscrutable musical recluse with a penchant for releasing records that sound like emanations from my autistic great-uncle's haunted attic. he is renowned amongst the world's music dorks as a sublimely atonal messiah. nuf said.

now rudyards charges $4 for a lone star (think £4 for a bottle of tennents) and decent rock shows are occasional and nostalgic. jandek has shed his hermit's mystique and has now played all over the world with other curious musicians. however, until yesterday he had avoided playing in his hometown, houston, where the whole foods employees stalk him while he buys groceries and his co-workers remain in the dark about his weird musical exploits. (many a well dressed old guy at the show was wondering aloud at the popularity of their friend whilst the young'uns shook their asses up front.)

when i heard about the show i expected anticlimax. finally the houston dorks would get a begrudged peek at their hero now that he'd played all the worthier cities. my friend coach vowed to learn him not to come out of hiding with an asskicking. coach's unruliness has often landed him in jail, so i trusted that there was a measure of truth in this threat, though i suspected it would amount to little more than slurred stageside taunting with annoyed glares from the artsy folks.

anyhow, none of that happened. jandek showed up with a funk drummer and a slap-bassist in a shoulder padded suit. the ensuing hour of funkadelic improv took us so by surprise that we had no choice but to drink up and shake it up front. katie and pookie and i threw confetti eggs and got down with the pasty kids we expected to be heckling. it was hilarious. the bassist later said he thought he was on candid camera or punk'd. he'd never heard of jandek before and never met him until they showed up to play.

pichers: On Hands Up Houston the guy laid out on the stage in the last two shots is coach. jandek is the white guy with the black hat.
coincidentally, the jandek show was at 4pm and i played a show at 8. i was still so dizzy by then that will had to carry me over his shoulder to the car and load all of our gear by himself. he was so blissed out from the afternoon that he didn't mind at all. i had a reverb halo over my head.
so, naturally, i'm still in bed recuperating and sending weird transmissions to my friends who are far away.

later, a

No Foolin'.

2009-04-01T09:18:00.000-07:00

So yeah, it's April Fool's Day. I hate April Fool's Day. Being named April, people think that it's extraordinarily clever to riff on that fact every April 1st of my life. I think it's pretty boring and it makes me pretty grumpy. I've already told someone to go kill themself this morning. So yeah, no jokes, just facts today. Brutally honest facts. That's my AFD contribution.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 1, 2009
Ok, to start off my brutality, I've gotta say that "Poopy Lungstuffing" is a really gross name, I feel kind of sick every time I see. BUT you go over to her myspace page and what you find is actually quite wonderful. It's like what if Joanna Newsome was a character made up by Miranda July and played the ukulele instead of the harp? It would be the kind of thing that you would stay up all night listening to with your secret pot buddy. She's making a racket over at Super Happy Fun Land with Spazzathon (not sure what they sound like), Sievert (Megaman was always my favorite video game soundtrack, but for realies, this is some good 8-Bit noise!), Flakey (SHFL owner playing the Kazoo, perhaps?), The Nonsense Music Band (sorry, too much goofenthal for my tastes...pirates=boring) and Muzak John (yeah, I think he's a wizard and his music is just the sound of him casting, just don't request "Avada Kedavra" and you should be fine). So, that's my recommendation for tonight. It seems like it will be pretty fun. Other goings-ons (was that right?) include Whiskey Boat and Buckshot at The Continental Club. I guess that meets it's like roots-country-americana night or something. Is it just me or does it seem like a lot of the bands at The Continental Club are actually the same band using different names and playing different genres depending on the night/crowd? Oh and then there's Chick Corea at Verison. If you were going to this, you'd probably already have you tickets but just in case. Go jazz yourself. Um, okay, so that leaves Java Jazz. I usually have no idea who the band who play there are and this is no different. The Word Alive have a dude named "Zack Hansen" (who is at Walmart right now according to his twitter-esque thing on the myspace) and are more than likely a Christian Band. Confide all have the same hairdo and might be Christian, too. But they're from LA, so they might not have souls. I dunno. And completing the line-up are November. They're from Montgomery. They're releasing and EP. I hope people buy it from them.

THURSDAY APRIL 2, 2009
So, if I were to actually go out on Thursday night I would probably go to Jet Lounge. Adam Bricks is doing that super sweet little singer-songwriter thing, makin' all the ladies want it. He's joined by Phillip Foshee (also making the ladies want it) and Quiet Life (ladies are still wanting it). Oh and I think Eat Grapes will be there (ladies?). And then there's the show at Notsuoh. Jerkagram sounds pretty good from the one song on their Myspace. Kind of like Besnard Lakes...a little too close if you ask me. Tour mates, Talibam! have got some kind of future space jazz thing going on, you know if you like that. Locals Anquish in Exile (less jazz, more metal) and Stove Blow (sound pretty good for all that nuevo-clatter stuff Hella caused) round out the show. Black Queen Speaks are playing at Rudyard's. They're soul patch rock. There are a few other things like the Reciprocity event over at Avant Garden benefitting the MD Anderson Cancer Center. There will be smooth grooves there. I'm borded. Moving on.

Friday April 3, 2009
If I wasn't obliged to go to this Notsuoh show already, I'd go of my own volition. You've got Lisa's Sons kicking off their tour. You've got Fucking Theif, not getting things stolen, Muhammid Ali continuing to be the best band in town, B L A C K I E making and then keeping it real, Limb...I'm not sure what they do, Balls Deep rapping about hurricanes (likely) and dumb ol' Guitars, that is, if they can fit their big dumb heads through the front door. Oooooh but at The Artery sweet ol' Domokos and his Future Blondes are threatening to make it a last show. I optimistically call bullshit. The wonderful Balaclavas are joining them. Over at The Meridian there is this Indie Artists Music Festival. Feel free to go look up the listing, I'll wait here. Have you heard of any of those people? I think it might be some kind of R&B deal. It's confusing when people use the word "indie" sometimes. Each morning you can wake up not sure what it's going to mean. Sadistic Intent are being all thrashy and violating Photobucket terms of service over at Walter's. My oldest friend in the world will never come out to see my band, but I bet if we were playing with Woolgather, Fear of the Known, Skepticynic, 5 Fathoms, and Shattered Display at Jet Lounge she would (her favorite band is Disturbed, btw). Oh and there's two parties: Glow in the Dark Party at Boondocks and a "sun's still up, let's drunk now" type party at Cactus it's the Pocket Full of Soul Party. Oooooh but here's the biggest bummer...Salim Nourallah, one half of Dallas's Nourallah Brothers is playing at Rudz with Vanessa Peters & Ice Cream On Mondays and The Dragliners. Bummer for me because I'm a fan of the Nourallah Brothers.

SATURDAY APRIL 4, 2009
Tonight things are happening. I know a friend of mine is having a birthday party. I'll be there. But where will you be? Well, there's a MDA Crawfish Boil Benefit at Warehouse that would be a nice thing to go to. A few blocks over at Jet Lounge (boy they sure do have a lot of shows lately!) are The-Front, The Ginslingers and Burn the Boats. It's all that crunchy-dressed-all-in-black-covered-in-tattoos kind of stuff. You know what I mean. And if you are what I mean, you will like this show. Oh and there's Two Star Symphony with Chiara String Quartet at Avant Garden. That there is some music to drink wine to. But probably red, not white. And then at SHFL I call an embargo on all badly named things. It's the Lazy Squid Rekkids Showcase. I really hate when people spell "records" like that. A lot. Rudyard's has an Austin thing going on with Lick Lick, Inivisible Czars and Opposite Day. So if you like to keep it weird, that's the place for you. And all-in-all you could do a lot worse that the Strangefeather and Tod the Fox show at Notsuoh. Alot worse. In fact, maybe do that.

SUNDAY APRIL 5, 2009
There are only two things that I'm going to bother with for Sunday. Jandek at Rudyard's at 4pm. And then at 7pm at Avant Garden, Sandy Ewan of Weird Weeds (very excellent, and she tells good jokes as well as makes good music) headlines a great little "ladies can do it better" fest with Houston's own Wols and Dogebbi. And this is all brought to you by your friends at Signal to Noise and Sound Exchange.

MONDAY APRIL 6, 2009
Jet Lounge is really coming on strong with all these shows and Monday is no different. You've got Shayna and the Bulldog and The Small Sounds. One time this guy got really mad that Small Sounds don't receive as much attention as Wild Moccasins. It was kind of funny. Then at SHFL you can go see Realicide (not Alan Vega), Yatagarasu (not the Jewish rapper guy), Dog Shit Taco (not a good dinner), and We Both Know (that a dog shit in your taco). And then the weekly free show at Boondocks with Hueman and Espantapajaros (it means "Scarecrows" and they kind of have a Brian Jonestown vibe but in Spanish!).

TUESDAY APRIL 7, 2009
Chiara Sting Quartet are making the rounds, maybe you can catch their awesome Prince cover at The Menil. The opposite of chamber music is going on at Walter's. It's MDC (millions of dead chamber ensembles?), Embrace The Kill, Final Conflict, Blackmarket Syndicate and HRA. Wear your helmet and knee pad. It'll get ouchie. Oh and this week Campfire Stores are back at the Alvin Bowling Center with After Time Has Passed and The Fuct. I know a lot of time has passed, but do you remember that brand Fuct? Yeah, me neither.

Alright, I'm done here until next week. I've gotta go close my blinds. There's some creep staring in my window and I can't see where his hands are. YIKES.

2009-03-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

This is how I feel today.

Holy cow. Lock in your votes now, because ain't no festival gonna top this year's Westheimer Block Party. While I've been lucky to have participated in some major fun over the past year or so, this past Saturday topped it all. So many good bands, so many good friends, why did it have to end? So there were a bajillion things to see and do, and all I can do is tell you about the things I took in, so here goes...

Just like last time, I was pretty much anchored to the Secret Saturday stage over at the Austin Layne hotel. And real quick, let me just express my gratitude to Carl (Karl?) and the rest of the folks at Austin Layne. You guys rule. You're the best. Anyhow, I had a couple of errands so I missed the very first hour or so of bands, so sorry if I missed you.

The first band I caught (ok, I admit there was another band but I don't remember their name and they were not what I would classify as "good" so let's just skip over them) were Searching For Signal on the outside Mango's stage. Dear Searching For Signal, I have never heard of you, and for a second I thought you were The Eastern Sea because you kind of have that sound and your singer kind of looked like Tomas Garcia-Olano. But you are Searching For Signal, and you were really quite lovely. Thank you.

A search for my band mate, Stacey, led me to to the Avant Garden parking lot where her brother's band Tambersauro were solving some quantified omega equations or something. My AP Calculus helped me enjoy Tambersauro while the jumpsuits helped them keep things (co)efficient.

Before I left that stage I was approached by Andy from our Austin friends Your Kisses Cause Crashes (I'm so sorry I missed you guys!). Ruby from The Pons was short one bass amp. Don't you worry other Austin friends, april5k's got you covered. After a very disconcerting (and concert-dissing) power outage The Pons made it happen. Jesus Christ, I love The Pons! Not only did they make like Willie Mays when I ate it off the Co-Lab stage last weekend, they are the sweetest, sugariest, most teeth-rottingest power-pop band this side of the Mississippi. You melt down all your Matthew Sweet and Superdrag albums and somehow they'll turn into The Pons CD. It's not lies, it's science.

The early afternoon proved to be very hectic. I was rushing back and forth trying not to miss my favorite acts and in all the chaos totally missed Airon Paul Dugas (not a good day for APD/Guitars relations but we'll survive). But I DID catch some of Sew What's set. Cory's new accordion made my day. And I did get to hear my favorite song and humbly admitted to Stacey that their "we had a short hello, let's have a long goodbye" song makes me tear up each and every time I hear it. I'm sew glad that I didn't miss their whole set. (Boooooo, that was a bad joke.)

I scrambled outside, trying to soak in all the awesome possible, and who did I stumble upon, but Dead Roses. Even with an iPhone on the drums, they're still better than your band. Probably the most rock & roll band in town...that actually sounds like rock & roll.

Alright, and now here's two pleas for understanding: Dear Desmond Zavala, if you are going to break up, how about you do it AFTER the block party, or how about at least you give the poor dude running the stage a heads up. And hey, Cry Blood Apache, how about at least giving the aforementioned heads up that you'll be a no-show, too. WEAK. Anyhow, it wasn't too big of a disappointment because we were all treated to a little A Thousand Cranes action (is that what it's called when it's just Domokos? Or do I just say Domokos made some sweet noise while Coach Springer yelled and KinKaid put on a fashion show?)

Thankfully, American Sharks helped pick up that two-band slack by rolling up a bit early. And I'm surprised that I was surprised that the Sharks' new drummer is none other than Mr. Jeoff Johnson. Seriously, I should have just known that. Anyhow, I really hope that Mike's big woolly sweater was a cover-up for a catsuit for his Bolt set later on. Did anyone catch Bolt? I was sad to miss them.

It was during the Wild Moccasins supes-crowded set that I learned a neat trick for my camera. My viewfinder flips up, but if you turn the camera upside down you can hold it over your head and take pictures. Take that teeming masses! And I'm pretty sure that anyone who would read this was probably there checking out the Jonas Brothers poster on Andrew's kick drum, so what else can I say?

So I was setting up my biz for the Lenny Briscoe set and Mr. Cody Swann was tearing down his when homedude wanted to do a little guerilla set of his own. While Cody and I were both doing our best to pretend it wasn't happening, JD handled shit. Thanks JD. You tell that guy where to go. Ok, since I was on stage for Lenny Briscoe the most I can tell you is that there were some punks skanking, Rad Rich was rocking, and I bass-humped Little John of Muhammid Ali's head. (BTW - Thanks for taking the pictures Shannon Snot!)

Surprise! I was still on stage when Guitars played. I can report that singing and dancing and clapping and maybe even some shucking and jiving took place. And a whole heap of merch sales. Thanks WBP attendees, our new tour appreciates the fiduciary support. (I just wanted to use the word "fiduciary"...goods were exchanged after all.) (And these photo creds go to Andrew "Red Rocket" Keith.)

Spicing things up next were The Mathletes. A funny thing that happened earlier was that Joe Mathlete was selling drawings at the Austin Layne stage and Dan the Bother (of Hands Up board fame) showed up with his daughter, Emma, who, taking a cue from Joe, made a KILLING selling her own art. Truth.

I only caught a tiny bit of the always wonderful listenlisten, as I had been pinned down to the same stage for far too long and variety was calling.

I ran across the street to catch a little bit of Sideshow Tramps, desperate not to miss Muhammid Ali at Mango's. I got a little bit in pre-sunset and post, and was lucky enough to catch the part where Scott Snot breaks it down (my favorite part).

I know, I know. Buxton had sparklers. I missed it. It was a tough call. Muhammid's my favorite thing going on these days and I couldn't miss it, man. I just couldn't. Though I love Buxton, I think it might have been worth it.

Maybe I should mention the reason Muhammid is my current favorite local band is because I haven't seen Homopolice live in MONTHS. So uh, yeah, now I'm stuck between a rock (...& roll) and a hard place (HINT: THE BONE ZONE). Who's my favorite now that I've seen them both back-to-back. Too tough to answer my friends. But Homopolice were joined by Rusted Shut and Concrete Violin and there was so much writhing and touching and bleeding I started wondering about the price points on straps-ons. By and large, dudes stole the show. I was beaten and battered so hard that I had no choice but to head straight home. Nothing could have topped that. Anyhow, you should check out all the Homopolice pics HERE.

So yeah, um, best day ever. Thanks.

Saturday is "No Duh"

2009-03-25T07:59:00.000-07:00

Hey. The Block Party is this weekend. Ride your bike. You can use your car the rest of the week.

WENDESDAY MARCH 25, 2009
Oh my what do you do when pretty much the only thing going on is a Wednesday night is your own show? Yikes. Well, yeah, so my band is playing tonight (that's Guitars) and we're playing with The McKenzies and Hypernova. Hypernova rocks in the face of death. For serious. Dudes are from Iran. They've got a bit of an Interpol vibe...if Interpol were fun. Doors at 8pm at The Meridian.

THURSDAY MARCH 26, 2009
I've heard the clock is ticking on Teenage Kicks, and I really hope this isn't true, because these guys are just plain too good. They're releasing their 7" for "Electric Girl" at The Mink. And if you didn't get enough Middle East rock last night, Secret Prostitutes are breaking all the Sharia. And as if this show wasn't international enough, You've got Masshysteri from Sweden. Or perhaps you miss keeping it weird in this post SXSW clime, then get your beeps and boops in at Super Happy Fun Land with enough ambiance to choke a horse. You've got To-Night Golden Curls, Lonely Procession, Chin Xaou Ti Won, Modulation Hertz, and The They. Rounding out the night is Austin's Sideshow Tragedy and Jeremy Nail & The Incidents roll into town singing 'bout whiskey and cocaine and making friends with Arthur Yoria at Rudyard's.

FRIDAY MARCH 27, 2009
Holy sweet goddamn, she left her cello in the basement. We can literally party like it's 1999 at Rudyard's Friday night. You've got the everlovin' Drunks and Flamin' Hellcats. Pour one out for Hunter Ward and get to it. Or maybe you like more eyeliner and leather pants. Well then you can go to Walter's for Childman, Morgue City, Anguish in Exile, and Novox. And Walter's means the girls are younger. Well, maybe you want your eyeliner sans-leather pants. Warehouse has you covered with a big ol' show featuring thelastplaceyoulook, Mothers Anthem, Lockehart, Mechanical Boy (someone please tell me who they are, they play like every week), Goodnight Goddess and Another Run. And in a surprise move Jet Lounge has Silence Amonst Chaos. Surprising because 1 - For some reason I thought Jet Lounge closed, and 2 - Silence Amonst Chaos claims they're going to save rock & roll. Them's mighty claims. And I call a big "WUH!?" on Super Happy Fun Land's "6th anniversary show". Um, I recall sneaking beers in the adjacent lot as far back as 1999. Was it called something else back then? Maybe it was. Either way. I'm glad it's still around and you can go see The Wrong Ones, Heptic Skeptic (4th wave ska is reaching the shores, brashe), Dim Hearted and per yooj Organ Failure.

SATURDAY MARCH 28, 2009
Free Press Houston Block Party. All day dudes. Just click on the schedule and choose your own adventure. Everyone will be there. But if you're looking to get away from the crowds you can head to Notsuoh for The Goods, Ladyheat and my current favorites Muhammid Ali.

SUNDAY MARCH 29, 2009
Oh come on, like I'd actually tell you to go see Chris Cornell. Phhhhhht.

MONDAY MARCH 30, 2009
Alright, so I goof on Campfire Stories every week, but they've actually got quite a lovely sound and they're actually not playing Alvin this week. They're supporting Little High Little Low at Super Happy Fun Land. If you liked Ghost Mice at Amy's then this is the show for you. Rounding out the bill are Litost and Aunt Belle. Ozeal & The Eulypians and Free Radicals are doing the free show thing at Boondocks. Oh and dude. Britney's sliming the Toyota Center with the Pussycat Dolls. I need a shower.

TUESDAY MARCH 31, 2009
If you somehow find yourself in Tomball tonight, do some local boys a favor and see Bayou Monster with Weird at Gary's Spot. Bayou Monster has the young dude from Fuller's in it. That reminds me, I want to a musician's "best of", like "best guitar shop", "best sound guy". Maybe even "worst of", too. If you've got any suggestions for categories, let me know!

Alright, that does it for the next week or so. See you at the Block Party.

Thursday in Austin: SXSW Day 2

2009-03-24T15:48:00.000-07:00

I had been looking forward to seeing Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down last April at the Orange Show, but it was not to be thanks to rain, so I was glad to finally catch her at the NPR party at the Parish. It was rather strange walking into a dark club at noon and being handed a PBR, but the low lighting must have tricked Thao into thinking it was a regular old night show, cause she sure rocked like it.

Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down

Next up was the Rhapsody party at Mohawk for Wavves. I've talked to a lot of people who saw them in Austin and the reviews have been mixed. A lot of people seem to prefer the record to the live show, but I really appreciated seeing the backbone of the songs without all the fuzz. If you like the recordings, Wavves is worth seeing, but I don't expect the live performance will win over those who have not already heard them, though I doubt that was an issue in Austin.

Wavves

Some bands' on stage performance and demeanor can make them seem like they might be a blast to hang out with, while others', not so much. The next two bands I saw were examples of both ends of the spectrum. School of Seven Bell's dreamy pop tunes didn't lead me to expect a joyous live experience, and although it does fit with the theme of the music, I was surprised at how distant the lead singer often looked. At least guitarist Benjamin Curtis (formerly of Secret Machines) seemed to have a little more fun.

School of Seven Bells

The Wrens on the other hand seem to have the time of their lives each time they perform and play their hearts out like it could be their last show. Yes, they are older than most of the other bands at SXSW, but you'd never guess that based on the energy of their performance. Everyone in the packed tent seemed to agree as the Wrens brought forth the loudest cheers I heard all week.

The Wrens

After that I headed back to Mohawk for a few songs from Trail of Dead before going to Red Eyed Fly for Viva Voca, Loch Lomand, and another killer show by Port O'Brien.

Viva Voce

Port O'Brien

Bounced around to a few other shows not worth mentioning, saw Tricky at FADER Fort, and then over to Club 1808 for Ponytail in probably the smallest space they have ever played. Stuck around for the Strange Boys, Crystal Antlers and then left to try to get into the Playboy party.

The Strange Boys

Crystal Antlers

I'd heard plenty of rumors that Jane's Addiction was the surprise guest but still wasn't sure until I heard the opening notes of Three Days. It was great to finally see the original lineup and they appeared to be happy to be together again, or maybe just happy about the money they'll be making on the NIN tour, who knows, but I'm glad I got in to see it.

Bunnies

Jane's Addiction

Wednesday in Austin: SXSW Day 1

2009-03-24T12:44:00.000-07:00

I've been attending SXSW for about the last 8 years and have purchased a wristband for about the last 5. With the abundance of free un-official night shows this year, I chose not to get a wristband and I'm happy to report that I still managed to see the majority of the bands on my list. While I may purchase one again in the future, at least I now know that it isn't a necessity.

Wednesday began at the Austinist party with Telekinesis at the Mohawk at 11:45am. As their new record was produced by Chris Walla, it's not surprising that they channel a lot of Death Cab for Cutie, and that was fine by me.

Telekinesis

With some free BBQ and free absinthe, things were off to a great start. Next up was Here We Go Magic, which is Luke Temple's new project. He recorded the recently release debut album alone in his bedroom, but is touring with a full band and while I dig the record, I loved the live versions of the songs.

Here We Go Magic

After that it was off to the Radio Room for the Paste party and Port O'Brien, one of the bands I was most looking forward to and they did not disappoint.

Port O'Brien

I stuck around for a few songs from Heartless Bastards, decent for straight-ahead rock, but wasn't really feeling it. Next it was over to Maggie Mae's where I stumbled into Yelle and walked out after a song, watched a bit of Cut Off Your Hands and then headed to Emo's annex for Deer Tick. Jana Hunter had raved to me about him a couple years ago, but I had only recently given him a listen. What a fool I was for not doing so earlier, this was another of my favorite performances of the week.

Deer Tick

Then we went to Peckerheads (what an awful name) and saw a bit of the Phenomenal Handclap Band, they weren't, so it was off to the Levi's/FADER Fort for Micachu and the Shapes who were indeed phenomenal. With grimy beats constructed from drums, synthesizer, and the often percussive use of guitar, this performance was one of my highlights.

Micachu and the Shapes
(a picture of Mica Levi at Levi's by Levi)

For the evening it was back to Ms. Bea's for another Todd P event with Pete and the Pirates, Here We Go Magic, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and Telepathe before heading back downtown to the 508 House for a drink and a few moments of A-Trak.

Telepathe

A-Trak

At Paradise I spotted MTV News' John Norris checking out the Harlem Shakes and then went to the Red Bull Moon Tower party for I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness, Shepard Fairy, and Monotonix. If you've seen Monotonix you know how they do it, if not, the pictures speak for themselves. Not a bad first day.

Harlem Shakes

I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness

Shepard Fairy

Monotonix

Two Things To Tell You Today

2009-03-24T07:22:00.000-07:00

First off a big ol' congrats to our dear, dear friends Something Fierce for landing themselves on Dirtnap Records. They'll be doing an LP release of There Are No Answers, so that will be the nation's feel good summer jams for 2009. Read their Hands Up post HERE and tell them how proud you are of them.

The other thing is that Iranian ex-pats Hypernova are playing tomorrow night at The Meridian. You can read a very lovely write-up by my husband HERE. And um, yes, my band is playing, but pay more attention to the part about these guys risking their lives for rock & roll and that The McKenzies are playing as well.

Tuesday in Austin: SXSW Day (-1)

2009-03-23T15:38:00.000-07:00

I suppose if you are reading this you are already aware that every year SXSW seems to get bigger and bigger, this year bringing in massive acts like Metallica, Jane's Addiction and Kanye West. (I missed Metallica, but pics of JA and Kanye are forthcoming) The increase in overall scope has led to more shows on the Tuesday before the official music portion of SXSW and at the end of SXSW Interactive, and as such I've been heading to Austin a day early for the last couple years. This year The Western Civilization set my new record for earliest band seen at SXSW, playing @ 4pm @ Gruv as part of the Matthew Wettergreen curated Houston @ SXSW event. I caught a bit of Wayside Drive and Benjamin Wesley before heading off to BMI's Howdy Texas party at Stubb's for some free BBQ and my first free beer of the week.

The Western Civilization

Benjamin Wesley

Next up was Daniel Francis Doyle at NYC DIY show promoter extraordinaire Todd P's Tejas Means Friends party @ Ms. Bea's. Only a few hours in and I had already found one of my favorite surprises of the week. As part of his live show every song seemingly has two parts, the first in which he plays a series of guitar riffs, recording a few moments of each with a delay pedal, and the second in which he plays drums and sings while rapidly triggering the guitar fragments with his left foot. It is truly incredible the way he puts it all together, I suggest you catch him at the FPH Westheimer Block Party on Saturday. While he is from Austin, his sound was much more in line with the stuff coming out of Houston in recent years and I expect many of you will love him.

Daniel Francis Doyle

Not sure if they were security or just enjoying the jams, thankfully this was no Altamont

Next it was back to Gruv for a few songs from a stripped down version of Tha Fucking Transmissions featuring Fat Tony and then off to the IFC Crossroads party for Gomez and The Decemberists.

The venue for the IFC party was Pangaea, a plush Austin nightclub that I doubt I will ever step foot in outside of SXSW, but with a capacity of about 400, a terrific place to see a show like this. I liked Gomez's first few records but haven't followed them since. They did put on a great performance and I'm sure the open bar didn't hurt.

I'm a huge fan of The Decemberists first three records but was a bit afraid they were going to lean towards their new record as they were playing it in its entirety the following night at Stubb's. I was quite happy when Colin Meloy announced at the beginning of the show that they would be playing nothing off the new record. The Decemberists are definitely a band some love and some hate, Colin Meloy's goat-boy wail isn't for everyone, but for those who had stood in line for hours (even over night I heard) at Waterloo Records for the free tickets, the show was superb.

After the show I raced back to Gruv to try to catch B L A C K I E at 1am, but was too late and decided to call it a night early as I knew that option would probably not present itself again for a while.

Music with Jameson & Lone Star: SXSW 2009 Recap - Saturday (April 21)

2009-03-23T14:56:00.000-07:00

Well here we are now at the end of our tale. We close with three excellent shows of hallowed awesomeness and one that was just, eh, OK:

King Kahn and the Shrines

First up was King Kahn and The Shrines at Waterloo Park. Now I don't know how but somehow from our Motel to the park it went from chilly and cool to hot as hell. But no matter, we got there just in time for King Kahn to be introduced and watched from the back only to realize very quickly that this was better experienced up front. So we made our way to the front and sure enough the experience was night and day. Instead of distant and pleasant the band ripped up with a Otis Redding inspired craziness. Fun stuff to be sure and aces moves from the guy in the bari sax but in the end I think everyone agreed that the club is the better place to experience this kind of band. Big stages like this just never do the trick.

Rusted Shut

We'd planned on seeing Explosions In the Sky but that was sidetracked along the way. I also missed Tara Jane O'Neil so, like many things, at SXSW you take what you can and don't sweat what you missed. But after a lot of hanging around in Austin, we finally got back on course with Rusted Shut and holy shit the motherfuckers delivered. Kill Kill Kill hell yes! My chimp brain needed some ass whoopin' and Rusted Shut was just the ticket. So after screamign and shouting to Rusted Shut I asked Don what he was on and he replied "On? Motherfucker I haven't touched a gotdang drop all day!" snarled Don. Well, if that don't beat all.

Box Elders

We then headed over to Red 7. The Box Elders were playing. It was nice 60's inspired power pop and the guywas wearing a nice combo of a gold suit and black shorts but while pleasant, not very much to write home about. After all we were there for...

Jack Oblivion

Now the Oblivions are a great band, but while I was aware of the Reigning Sound and Greg Oblivion's solo stuff, I had to plead ignorance to Jack Oblivion's solo stuff. Thankfully from the first ring of his guitar and the rough and energetic sound of the band it was probably the most fun show I saw at SXSW - a perfect way to close up. Dancing our asses off to a fine example of American Rock and Roll with a band that was tight as hell but loose enough to convey all the chaotic energy that many Americana bands often forget is core to rock and roll. That's not to say that these guys were hanging from the rafters to get the crowd riled up. They didn't need to - the music did it for them - well, at least for me and my friends. When SXSW ends with drunken dancing, I think we done good.

Rock and Roll, Motherfuckers.
See you next year. that's a wrap.

My SXSW 2009 Posts:

Jameson and Lonsetar SXSW 2009 Part I: (Link)
Jameson and Lonsetar SXSW 2009 Part II: (Link)
Jameson and Lonsetar SXSW 2009 Part III: (Link)

Also,

April's recap (Link)

Suck by Suck Weiners

2009-03-23T08:08:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm going to be forthright and let you know that I am not the biggest fan of SXSW. I had avoided the stress, anxiety, sunburn and shin splits of this music festival for 28 years before finally giving in...and that was to watch the Monocles in front of a comic book store far, far from 6th street. Oh and watching the Night Marchers from on stage was pretty fun, too. I had no idea who else was playing so what you don't know can't bum you out, right?

Yeah, well this year I made this great big itinerary to maximize the fun that Guitars would be having this past weekend. Well, we took a wrong turn on the way (why did we take I-10? we ALWAYS take 290!) so there went our first chance to catch Handsome Furs. SUCK. So we park the car and head out to see The Uglysuit. Google maps gave me directions to WEST Cesar Chavez. Thanks. So by this time we're hungry and thirsty. Well, we don't have time to make it to see Those Darlin's, they start in 10 minutes and they're 20 minutes away from where we are. Oh, and Quinn Walker is playing at Waterloo, so we know that's impossible. And forget about DeVille and the Mohawk. All the good bands are playing there and the line is two blocks long. So Red Eyed Fly it is for Horse Feathers.

Harry Potter is in Horse Feathers. That's all I've got to say about that.

We step out a bit before they're done and optimistically head to the French Legation Museum for Wavves. I'm stoked. I love Wavves. I can't wait to see them. We wait for the previous band to pay their Death Cab fare and let the party begin. Oh but wait, apparently there was some problem and Marnie Stern says "this is take two" and she's playing. Insert frowny emoticon here. I call bullshit on Marnie Stern. Everyone talks about how she's this great guitar player but she plays the lick a couple times through and then loops it. Now, I know I should be all stoked about a female shredder but she's totally cheating, which might be ok if the songs were really kick ass.

So we missed Wavves and were now 5 miles away from where Herman Dune was playing. So I've missed 5 bands that I really really wanted to see, so far. But things definitely took a turn for the better when we went to the Scoot Inn for No Bunny. No Bunny was far and away the highlight of my weekend. He was all New York Dolls (hose and heels) and Ramones (riffs) and Iggy (he picked a scab and rubbed the blood on his chest) and enter-fucking-tainment. And we could smell his balls from the audience. Pretty punk.

Outside at the Scoot Inn were Peelander-Z. Everyone where I work LOVES Peelander-Z and I always feel guilty that I never go see them when they come to Houston. I watched a bit of their set. Sorry. Don't get it. It's kooky. I get that. Maybe I'm too jaded. Oops. And their drummer causes androgyny boners, which I guess is ok.

And even though we were stoked on good times we gave up on the idea of seeing Handsome Furs at Waterloo (BIG MISTAKE, PROBABLY COULD HAVE MADE IT) and headed to the Moose Lodge to definitely catch Kurt Vile. Well, we get there and Ducktails were supposed to be playing. They weren't. They weren't even on the schedule. WTF? Some fake-fur white boy group that think "pimpin' is HI-LARIOUS" hooked up their turntables and we tried to head to Trailer Space, but couldn't remember the cross street. So we head back for Kurt Vile as he played to us, Indian Jewelry and some dorm dudes in "I <3 Ska" t-shirts. Oh, and Pas/Cal was supposed to play afterwards. They weren't even on the schedule either. The highlight of our trip to the Moose Lodge? When we saw Kurt Vile's band loading in I said "Court is now in Hessian" and made people laugh really hard.

At this point we were starving and went to a virtually empty Kerbey Lane and then went to check into the hotel and meet our other two band mates. There was a lot going on Friday night, but after walking forever I was beat. We intended to take naps and find the bridge show, but we decided to rest for our show on Saturday and we would get to see the Vivian Girls with our VIP passes to Don't Mess With Texas. YAY.

So, it's Saturday morning, we do breakfast at Mother's and head over to Co-Lab where our show is going to take place. We find out that everything is running an hour and half late due to a hungover sound man. Um, ok. We go to get coffee at Spider House where I am offended by the over-PCness of Austin presented to me on the flyer for the Spider House shows. It's that famous Lester Bangs picture only they blacked out that last word on his t-shirt (which in the picture only says "igge" pretty much) and then to top it off, compltely blacked out all the words on the smaller flyers and then put that on top of the words on some of the bigger posters. Austin, you are a bunch of hippie dorks. Way to "keep it weird".

Spider House was a bust so we went across the street to Antone's where I called double bullshit on Marnie Stern. Eve and the Exiles we're playing there and were the other great band we saw over the weekend. Eve could play the hell out of the guitar and was like 30 years younger than everyone else in her band. Very nice.

Alright, so we head back to Co-Lab and are told that we've been moved to 5:15. Um, ok. Um, I really wanted to see the bands playing between 3 and 6 at Mess With Texas. And now we're missing ALL OF THEM. VIP BRACELETS BE DAMNED. Oh 5:15 came and went. Our new set time was 6:45, but it was between a band that shares management with the Killers and a big label band. We played at 8:30. And I think this is the order it went in: I twisted my ankle, fell off the stage, busted my knee and kept playing. I didn't even realize how much pain I was in until an hour later. At least we didn't stop the song. Then we watched Gliss, the band after us. And they're very lovely. Oh, and there was a mini pony named Cool Whip that I should have gotten a picture of and I'm sad now that I didn't. Oh and we were paid in bottles of vodka and iced tea.

So, now that I can't walk and we've been waiting around all day with no food we go eat. Cause some scenes, tell SXSW to suck it, having missed every cool thing that we wanted to do and head back to the hotel to get all Brtish rock band about it. Party.

Music with Jameson & Lone Star: SXSW 2009 Recap - Thursday and Friday (April 19 and 20)

2009-03-23T07:06:00.000-07:00

Yes, you've probably been wondering where our posts have been over SXSW. Well, first off, only I was supposed to to do daily blogging; Levi and April were going to do theirs this week as recaps. So why no posts? Well, lets just say that the rest of my posse showed up Thursday and when you are in the middle of a hurricane you just try to make it through alive.

See here is the thing about SXSW, sure you have all the issues revolving around this big overblown marketing beast where small independent bands scream to be heard above the fray, but forget that. Put that aside and what you have at SXSW is this crush of humanity descending on our proud state capital every year to hear some great music and have a great time. I mean look at this fellow below.

Chris Gray - Responsible Writer
Yes, that's our dear friend Chris Gray of the Houston Press working hard like the excellent writer he is. He's got his press badges, his wristbands, and he blogged extensively throughout. Well, not us. No sir we are down in the trenches with you plebeians. While Chris was jumping from show to show in the evening, we had to pick our shows*, pay for each one, and drink like fishes at our homebase bar on 7th. While Chris was blogging extensively we were either too hungover to type in the morning or threatened with death for typing too loud at the early hour of 1PM. While Chris was bringing you the latest and greatest bands, we were discovering new uses for Guideon's Bible that probably would fall under sacrilege in most denominations. So, no, you are not going to get the full SXSW musical experience here. Neither will you get a run down of all the silliness, weirdness, drama, and genuine party call me insanity of the weekend - this ain't no personal blog. But here is a quick recap of what I got to see from Thursday and Friday. Blogger is being weird right now so Saturday's recap will have to wait.

Thursday 19 April

Consider this a stand-in for all lame SXSW bands
Let this band take the place of all awful and middling bands of SXSW. Ya see, for all the good that you can find at SXSW, you can find something terrible. Now granted, the "Texas Rock" stage on 7th street is the worst crap you will ever hear at SXSW no matter what year it is and even these guys above couldn't hold candle to that shit but in their own bar band/blues rock tropes kind of way they were pretty unbearable.

The Gary

The reason though I'd gone to Ms. Bee's was to see Austin's The Gary whose little CD I really enjoyed. The set was pretty good but hampered by the sound. I actually picked up one of their CDRs last time they came to Houston and really dug songs like Confusion and Damn Machines so I was able to fill in the gaps where the sound failed them but, hey, you know, it's a free show; outdoor sound is always dodgy but the band still played with some great verve - tossing out aggressive bass and some sweet guitar lines. Fun and good to see these guys again.

Elaine Greer's death metal set at Casa de Gallo
Next stop was Casa De Gallo and when I got there I had JUST missed Giant Princess play. The setting was pretty nice - a small little home in an obscure street on the east side and there was a good representation of all your music friends relaxing while enjoying some food and music. Elaine Greer played a great set with Travis on bass being his usual jovial self and Austin lending his skills on guitar, accordion, and backing vocals. The room sounded great, the band delivered, and Elaine's voice carried all the melody, wit, and intelligence of her songs with a charming grace. Of course, if you've read my columns or blogs, you'd know that this is nothing new. Buxton was to follow Elaine Greer but I had to leave to catch an old friend from Austin. No worries, you know as well as I that it's an easy bet that Buxton would take no prisoners. Need proof? That new single they have coming out KILLS! When it comes out buy a copy, then you will truly know of this band's might.

Lou Barlow and Imaad Wasif - Cool Texas Night Awesomeness

After a short break, Lou Barlow and Imaad Wasif were performing outside at Ms Bees and, unlike the Gary's earlier set, the sound was great. Perhaps the surrounding crowd did a good job of corralling the sounds - I dunno. It's the first time I'd seen Lou play with Imaad and I have to say I really really liked what Imaad brought to the performance with his soft melodic phrasing complimenting Lou's guitar and voice. Throw in a cool cloudless Texas evening and what more could you want? Excellent and worth racing out to see! Indian Jewelry followed but the way they were situated the crowd enveloped them to the point where I could not see them at all. Saturday, Erika told me they DID in fact have the strobes on that night but I didn't see any from the back of the crowd. That right there tells you how packed it was. Still they sounded great so no complaints here.

And finally here is one last image of the evening...

Young Mammals and Ghormeh Sabzi (with Sandwich)

Funny enough this was one of the few times I ran into a Houston Band on the street. In fact, overall I found this year's SXSW to have fewer people roaming the streets in general. Last year it seemed that you couldn't turn around without bumping into another Houston band or scenester and even though this particular night seemed to have a good number of scenesters suddenly appear at our homebase SXSW bar that was more the exception than the rule. For what it's worth, I'm gonna guess from what I saw that SXSW attendance dropped to some degree this year

Friday 20 April

Friday ended up being my Battan Death March. Let's just say, I paid for Thursday all of Friday and leave it at that but, using every possible method available to me, I plugged through. Still we did see some good bands along the way.

Themselves

Themselves were pretty fun. They played a smart-ass electronic white boy hip-hop thing. One of the best songs they did involved using the drum machine (sounding like a typewriter) to type our what he was rapping to hilarious effect. My favorite song though was the third to last song which laid this heavy Kraut rock groove on the chorus. Unfortunately when I asked them what that song was their only response was "Oh sorry we fucked up the set. I have no idea what song that was." Ha! Well fucked up or not it was fun and smart stuff.

Deer Tick
By chance Deer Tick was playing and given Tuesday's show in Houston we figured we'd give them another chance and for me this was more a coming to terms with what Deer Tick has become show than anything else. I will say that the band opened with a version of one of the songs off his Jukebox Whore CDR that I hadn't heard in ages so, for me, that was just one of those Oh man, I havent' heard this in ages - I love this song kind of moments. And they closed with my favorite Deer Tick song which was played with all the ornamented beauty of the original. I think here is the thing about Deer Tick; they've become an Americana band. Gone is the signature subtle melancholy of his earlier work and in its place is a good Americana bar band. The kind of band that plays long aimless 12 bar blues songs and has frat guys high-fiving each other (Oh yes they did!). It's a good band but it's not the band I came to love. I'll bet they get a bigger audience and they'll be fine. So good sailing to you Deer Tick.

Jana Hunter
After that is was a race across town to see Jana Hunter at Domy books. I'd missed her Tuesday so I was glad to find that Domy was running a bit behind schedule. I mean c'mon you know Jana: that singular phrasing, that jangly guitar, the slow spacious emotional songs. Much like Lou Barlow's set the prior night, Jana hailed in the cooler evening weather playing her haunting music as the sun began to fall and birds flew across the sky overhead. I couldn't have asked for better.

Babel Fishh And Evak1

Last for the evening was Babel Fish and Evak1 which easily, hands down had the best banter of any band of SXSW I'd seen. I already dug the Babel Fishh stuff but, together, these guys were this brilliant non sequitur stream of consciousness . The whole routine about the Bono Hot Wings just had me rolling with laughter. It was like those two good friends everyone has who can just riff off each others silliness. Unfortunately, the sound didn't do them many favors (the vocals were way too loud compared to the beats and samples). Nevertheless their music, wit, and nerdy charm was easily more than a match for the crappy sound and the fact that there was no room to dance because of tables and chairs. Fun music, smart guys, go see them!

My SXSW 2009 Posts:
Jameson and Lonsetar SXSW 2009 Part I: (Link)

Jameson and Lonsetar SXSW 2009 Part II: (Link)

Jameson and Lonsetar SXSW 2009 Part III: (Link)

Also,
April's recap (Link)

*My band didn't apply this year and so I didn't ahve wristbands like I did last year.

Music with Jameson and Lonestar: SXSW09: Day Two (Part One)

2009-03-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

OW! OW! My head!

OK, maybe I overdid it last night; it's 1PM and I'm just now starting to recover from last night.
I'll catch y'all up soon...Casa De Gallo, Lou Barlow, and a hella lotta booze

Music with Jameson & Lone Star at SXSW 2009: Day 1 (Golden Cities, Innoculist, Iron Age, Mammoth Grinder, and The Jon Benet )

2009-03-19T05:48:00.000-07:00

Whereupon I learned three things:

One - Walgreen's batteries suck!
Two - My satchel's HOA sharktooth button will survive anything.
Third - I look like a complete and utter indie rock pussy to doormen.

I arrived to Austin sans posse. One of my peeps caught a bad bout of food poisoning and wouldn't arrive until Thursday leaving me pretty much on my own for the day. So after consulting the night's shows the way I figured it was, if I wanted to take in some hardcore, this was likely the night to do it. But first a little indie rock over at Jay Crossley's Human Party Virus.

Now, I'll say that my allergies were kicking my ass and my allergies don't so much make me sneeze but make me tired and drive like the worst drunk on the road. So, there I was trying to find HPV's venue, realized it was at the sports bar across the street with the huge wide screen TVs, and, being completely zonked on tree and grass pollen, fond myself turned around and inexplicably heading east on 6th street onto oncoming traffic. Mercifull,y I made it across the street with nary more than angry honks from annoyed locals.

The venue itself, I have to say, was a bit odd. A slick if saccharine sports bar in a faceless shopping center where the patrons (thanks to thick glass) went about their business inside as a small cluster of indie rock fans sat outside. The first band up was Golden Cities whose live performance gave me exactly what I expected - a much fuller and bigger sound than their CD could have contained. I don't know why but bands like this just work better live that trapped inside a little shiny disc. I have the same issue with Japan's Mono where I like the CDs all right but live they are phenomenal; Golden Cities is no different. What I think sets them apart from most of the shoegazers is the interplay between the drums and the other instruments. There are these points where guitars and keyboards drift in reverb and the drums flicker about in tight complex rhythms. It's just a great juxtaposition of sounds and just points to why Lance Higdon is one of Houston's best and most versatile drummers. Nice.

Inoculinst followed which was a treat as I hadn't seen them since, jeez, since they played the Proletariat. The band is now a trio and I have to say I really liked how John Hunter's baritone found it's perfect compliment with Ashlyn Davis' soft understated voice though the drummer kept freaking me out as he kept making faces that had him looking like the spitting image of The Band's Levon Helm. The music was perfect for my red eyed zonked state with that same kind of laid back country-ish vibe you get from the self-titled 1969 Velvet Underground album. Nice stuff and, if I may say so, I really have to say I really enjoyed the new line-up over the original one.

So here is where I get to the batteries. See, I tried taking pics here and then the camera went and died. Crap what the hell? Had my Kodak finally gone to meet its maker? Did Golden Cities create some force field? Well, no actually. See I was talking with Danny Mee about Houston music. He was saying how he thought that Houston Indie Rock bands had one disadvantage and that was production. He thought Austin bands albums sound great while Houston bands sound, by comparison flat. I won't get into the discussion here because the point isn't to get into a Houston VS Austin thing but I'll just say it's an interesting view but I simply don't agree. Anyhow, while we're talking he asks if I have any spare AA batteries so I hand him two. Well, thankfully that happened because Angela 's camera also stopped working and a quick look via her IPhone found that Walgreen's batteries are crap. They pump out too much juice and basically overload your camera. Sure enough, after the show I bought some branded batteries (and some much needed Claratin D) and voila my camera came back to life. So if you are a photographer or just play one on TV - DON'T BUY WALGREEN'S BATTERIES.

OK, enough consumer reports shit. Now that I was finally not about die from my allergies and I was armed with real batteries for my camera - hardcore! So here is the funny thing. I walk up to the doorman with my hat and satchel, present my ID like everyone in front of me and he looks at me and says, "Umm what band are you looking for?"

I'm a bit confused but reply, "Mammoth Grinder."

He looks at me again, pauses, mumbles an "Um oh OK, I just thought....", and then trails off unintelligibly. Yes that's right the doorman took one look at me and thought PUSSY! So, then he hands me the ID back with this look of pity like I'm gonna come out is a stretcher or something AWESOMENESS!

Well, when I come in Iron Age is playing and there is a furious jock mosh pit action going on between the crowd and the stage, so, making like C3PO walking through Storm Trooper laser fire, I saunter through the big thick necked dudes and head right to the front of the stage to stake out my territory. Sure I got slammed, I got sucker punched (unintentionally), and literally held onto my hat as I dodged flying bodies. I took one picture and boom my camera was hit so hard that my batteries literally jumped out. Still, once I got my peripheral hardcore spider sense going I was pretty good and once when one stage diver knocked over my hat someone behind me firmly put my hat back on my head. That's what I always find is so cool about Hardcore Kids sure you may get sucker punched but it's all in good fun and they'll help you up if ya fall or prop ya up if you lose your balance; call it good hardcore comradeship and manners. Iron Age was pretty fun too. Big crunchy metal riffs alternating from fast hardcore 1-2 1-2 to some awesome slow crushing shit. Pretty freaking sweet and after all was said and done no matter how many bodies crashed against my satchel, my HOA sharktooth button (which has outlasted every other button) held firm. It was like the seeing the American Flag during the bombardment of Fort McHenry. That pin rules!

Next up was Mammoth Grinder who may not have been as perilous from a spectator's standpoint but that's only because the crowd moved up and gave the moshers no room. And wholly hell did they live up to their rep. Three dudes and a drummer that showed no mercy! It's like the dude would take this deep breath before each beat-down he'd administer to the kit. Crushing stops and starts, brain hemorrhaging riffs, and the ubiquitous cookie monster vocals. Freaking sweet and in true bad assitude they were done in probably 15 minutes. We came, we crushed, we're done. So, then after the set, out of nowhere, up comes Matthew Hines of The Easten Sea and then in the course of our conversation he tells me how he played bass for Mammoth Grinder at one point. AWESOME! I love how so many Idie Rock kids have played grindcore and hardcore. What's with that? Whatever the case, it's awesome but - between you and me - don't tell the doormen.

The evening closed with The Jon Benet who, man, are just so freaking incredible. Last time I saw them at Numbers an inadequate PA sucked the life out of their show but here at Red 7 The sound was great and they just pummeled. The thing I love about this band is that sure they play chimp rock but they do so with this - not to put down other bands - but with this generosity and intelligence that is horribly endearing. Can I say that about a heavy ass band like this? Maybe not, but call it what you like, when they are firing on all cylinders they are just incredible and this night only proved that. Now if anyone can bottle what they do live and put that on record I'd die a happy man.

Golden Cities perform at Human Party Virus
while Jay Crossley lurks in the shadows.

Golden Cities performing outside as
patrons of the sports bar go about their business inside.

Inoculist laying down the mellow
at Human Party Virus.

This was the only picture I got of Iron Age
before the batteries were literally
knocked out of my camera.

Mammoth Grinder lives up to it's name!

Mammoth Grinder.
Shucks, it just gets ya...right here.

The Jon Benet's Michael Murland
is he not the awesomest frontman or what!

And finally...

Insert your caption here....

My SXSW 2009 Posts:
Jameson and Lonsetar SXSW 2009 Part I: (Link)
Jameson and Lonsetar SXSW 2009 Part II: (Link)
Jameson and Lonsetar SXSW 2009 Part III: (Link)

More Pics on My Flickr (Link)

Also,
April's recap (Link)

Music with Jameson & Lone Star: pre-SXSW with Deer Tick & Stardeath And White Dwarfs at Rudyards 17 March 2009

2009-03-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

Good morning folks, ~~I've gotta get packing for~~ just got into Austin but I figured I'd let y'all know how the Deer Tick show went last night over at Rudyard's. Yes, I know I missed Jana Hunter and Beach House over at The Orange show but hey, I'll be seeing Jana with Tara Jane O'Neil at Domy Books on Friday so we'll catch up on our beloved miss Hunter then.

Anyhow, let me jump to the penultimate band of the evening - Oklahoma City's Stardeath And White Dwarfs. I want you to take a good look at these photographs...

...and I know what you are thinking. This looks pretty bad-ass. And you are right in that they had a spectacular light show. The set up was amazing with multi-colored lights flashing to the music under a haze of fog. There was only one problem - that's all they brought with them. Let's break it down. The light show was spectacular but their performance and songs were neither here nor there. And this problem was evident from the start. Their choice of opener - a note for note cover of the Butthole Surfers Sweat Loaf. That's right this band starts off with a cover of the Butthole Surfers covering Black Sabbath complete with the piped in intro. Hey, I can hear that album at home guys! NEXT! The second song was actually OK but from there it was downhill: an entire set of cool lights and no content. I mean look, I caught Hearts of Animals play the Mink on Monday night - just one woman with a guitar and a voice - and she blew these clowns away. OH wait, she bothered to write songs! Oh wait, she actually has talent! Oh wait, she doesn't need to hide behind a wall of lights to hold people's attention! It's like the juxtaposition of Celine Dione and Elliot Smith at the Oscars: one, a hollow artifice hiding behind flash and glitz and , the other, a lone individual doing nothing more than simply saying what they need to say without ornament or frills - where the work speaks for itself. Take your pick but I'll take Hearts over Stardeath anytime, thank you.

The evening closed with Deer Tick which was really my reason for going because Deer Tick's John McCauley is also one to lay his soul bare through his music. If you saw him a long while back at Sound Exchange perform sitting on the floor with only his voice and his guitar you saw a phenomenal performance - one that left everyone in the room in awe. That night McCauley demanded your attention both because of his beautifully crafted songs as well as the pure unrestrained emotion. So having seen him perform that show, last year's SXSW, and my endless admiration for his debut on Feow records a few years ago, I had some pretty high expectations. Unfortunately, to my disappointment this performance, while fair, lacked any of the spark an immediacy of his prior performances. It was almost as if the band was going through the motions performing few new songs and losing any momentum with a flat rendition of a Lightning Hopkins song that seemed endless. That may sound harsh and likely makes it sound worse than it was. I mean, I had a fine time and I can't say it was a terrible performance but it just was a long way from that young kid belting his soul out on the Sound Exchange floor.

OK! Time to hit the streets of our capital. See y'all soon.

More Pics on my Flickr (Link)