South By Southwest By Bobnoxious

SXSW Friday Babblings

2010-03-19T09:27:00.002-05:00

It's Friday of SXSW and things have been going rather well. Parking's a mess, taking the bus seems to be a mess, and downtown is packed. Seems like the best thing to do is take a cab or ride your bike.

Friday for me means wandering down South Congress and going to the Yard Dog, Continental Club, Jo's Coffee, checking out Jovitas, and even going to Maria's Taco X-press for some good food and Americana showcase.

My friend Lance (Whitey Conwell) will be at Maria's playing Sax an Australian band, Ann McCue, on Friday. Lance describes the band as "Roadhouse Rock." It's a short gig (1-1:20 pm).

The best show of the day may be at the Gingerman (and Saturday too). Check the lineup and go here to RSVP and to get a ticket: http://industryofmusic.eventbrite.com/

Friday 1:00 PM 1:30 PM Rosie Flores	Saturday 1:00 PM 1:30 PM Ben Weaver
1:40 PM 2:10 PM Lynhurst	1:40 PM 2:10 PM Drink Up Buttercup
2:20 PM 2:50 PM Marty Wilson-Piper (from The Church)	2:20 PM 2:50 PM The Jane Shermans
3:00 PM 3:30 PM Tommy Keene	3:00 PM 3:40 PM Exene Cervenka (from the band X)
3:40 PM 4:00 PM McAlister Drive	3:50 PM 4:20 PM Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents
4:10 PM 4:40 PM Maika Makovsi	4:30 PM 5:00 PM The Bellrays
4:50 PM 5:20 PM Amaral	5:10 PM 5:40 PM The Bluebonnets (members of The Go-Go's and Blondie)
5:30 PM 6:00 PM The Right Ons	5:50 PM 6:20 PM The Effects
6:10 PM 6:40 PM Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents	6:30 PM 7:00 PM The Downbeat 5
6:50 AM 7:20 PM Kings Go Forth	7:10 PM 7:40 PM Muck & The Mires
7:30 PM 8:00 PM Reno Bo	7:50 PM 8:20 PM The Right Ons
8:10 PM 8:30 PM Chris Scruggs (grandson of Earl Scruggs)	8:30 PM 9:00 PM Maika Makovski
8:40 PM 9:10 PM Stonehoney	9:10 PM 9:40 PM Amaral
9:20 PM 9:50 PM Girls Guns & Glory	9:50 PM 10:20 PM Deadstring Brothers
10:00 PM 10:30 PM Whitey Morgan and the 78's	10:30 PM 11:00 PM Jupiter One
10:40 PM 11:10 PM The Chevelles	11:10 PM 12:00 AM Colourslide
11:20 PM 12:00 AM Camper Van Beethoven

Speaking of what's going on in the official SXSW world, I have the following marked on my calendar. The best value for those who like free is the Auditorium Shores with Cheap Trick, etc.

For those who like fine garage and upbeat dirty rock and roll could do well spending the night at BD Riley's. It has the added bonus of good pint of Guiness and great TV's for checking the NCAA basketball tournament.

The Deadstring Brothers are another of favorites playing a great showcase at the Continental Club.

You can't go wrong at the Austin Music Hall starting with Black Joe Lewis, Raphael Saadiq, Smokey Robinson, and Sharon Jones.

06:00 PM Cracker Auditorium Shores Stage (Lady Bird Lake)
Music Showcase Rock
06:45 PM The BoDeans Auditorium Shores Stage (Lady Bird Lake)
Music Showcase Rock

08:00 PM Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears Austin Music Hall
Music Showcase Rock

08:00 PM Cheap Trick Auditorium Shores Stage (Lady Bird Lake)
Music Showcase Rock
08:00 PM The Spring Standards BD Riley's
Music Showcase Rock

09:00 PM Anya Marina Maggie Mae's Music Showcase Pop

09:00 PM Raphael Saadiq Austin Music Hall

09:00 PM Steel Train Maggie Mae's Rooftop
Music Showcase Rock

09:00 PM The New Familiars Amsterdam Cafe
Music Showcase Rock

09:00 PM The Ugly Beats Habana Calle 6 Patio
Music Showcase Rock

09:30 PM Lissie St David's Historic Sanctuary
Music Showcase Blues

10:00 PM Pirate Love Rusty Spurs
Music Showcase Rock

10:00 PM Smokey Robinson Austin Music Hall
Music Showcase R&B

11:00 PM Deadstring Brothers Continental Club
Music Showcase Rock

11:00 PM Deer Tick Red Eyed Fly
Music Showcase Rock

11:00 PM Fishtank Ensemble Amsterdam Cafe
Music Showcase World

11:00 PM The Downbeat 5 BD Riley's
Music Showcase Rock

11:30 PM Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Austin Music Hall
Music Showcase R&B

12:00 AM Jail Guitar Doors featuring Wayne Kramer, Billy Bragg, Tom Morello, Chris Shiflett and others tba The Ghost Room
Music Showcase Rock

12:00 AM Lucero Red Eyed Fly Music Showcase Rock

12:00 AM Th' Legendary Shack Shakers BD Riley's

12:00 AM Thee Vicars Habana Calle 6 Patio
Music Showcase R&B

01:00 AM Chuck Prophet & Mission Express Momo's
Music Showcase Rock

01:00 AM Kittens Ablaze Wave
Music Showcase Americana

01:00 AM Muck and the Mires BD Riley's
Music Showcase Rock

01:00 AM The Cynics Habana Calle 6 Patio

Who have I liked so far? Ray Davies was amazing playing acoustic then inviting the 88's up for 6 rousing, rocking Kinks songs. I forgot how many great songs the Kinks did. John Hiatt was great too, and the 88's were a ton of fun. The whole thing was only tainted by the Longhorn basketball team laying a steamer on the TV in the corner.

The Dandies were great on Wednesday as well as the Cocktail Slippers and Ozamatli.

Too much fun and I'm only half way done.

Thursday Preview and My Favorite Named Band For Wednesday

2010-03-16T17:19:00.002-05:00

I have a new Midnight show for Wednesday and my favorite named band: Sgt Dunbar & the Hobo Banned. It's at Opal Divines.

Opal Divines has the added bonus of having the best beer selection of any SXSW music venue.

Here's what I have going so far for Thurdsday. It starts w/ Gordon Gano from the Violent Fems and ends w/Ezra Furman who sounds like a young Gordon Gano.

07:00 PM Gordon Gano and The Ryan Brothers @ Valhalla
08:00 PM Dawes @ Beauty Bar/Palm Door
08:00 PM Lissie @ The Parish
08:00 PM The Main Street Gospel @ Habana Calle 6
08:20 PM Brownout @Scoot Inn
08:30 PM John Hiatt @ La Zona Rosa
09:00 PMTexas Eastside Kings @ Amsterdam Cafe
09:30 PM The 88 @ La Zona Rosa
10:00 PM Hayes Carll @ Antone's
10:30 PM Ray Davies (of the Kinks)
11:00 PM Guitar Shorty @Valhalla
11:00 PM John Dear Mowing Club @ The Hideout
12:00 AM Camper Van Beethoven @ Encore Patio
12:00 AM Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights @ Maggie Mae's
12:00 AM Uncle Lucius @ Valhalla
12:20 AM Grace Potter and the Nocturnals @ Antone's
01:00 AM Deer Tick @ Beauty Bar/Palm Door
01:00 AM Delta Spirit @ Emo's Main Room
01:00 AM Nathan Gaunt @ Stephen F's Bar
01:00 AM Ezra Furman and the Harpoons @Valhalla

Add to the list!

Wednesday Preview

2010-03-15T17:52:00.007-05:00

Thought I'd take a break from my ski vacation to post my Wednesday Picks and previews. There's lots of great stuff on here and I didn't even include Spoon!

Help me by posting your picks in the comments section!

I highly recommend Powersolo, Shurman, Asteroid Galaxy Tour, The Right Ons, Those Darlin's, and especially Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings!

If you're hanging out downtown in the afternoon, the Texas Jumpstart III is happening. Get there early and have my buddy Marc of the Midgetmen buy you beer.

Here's the schedule:
1200-1230 - The Gary
1245-0115 - Goes Cube
0130-0200 - The Hounds Below
0215-0245 - Vandaveer
0300-0330 - The Midgetmen
0345-0415 - Wax Fang
0430-0505 - Ezra Furman & The Harpoons
0520-0600 - Everybody Was In The French Resistance... Now!

I recommend Ezra Frurman & the Harpoons.

Here's what I have on my schedule...not very complete since I've been slacking while on vacation, but it's a start!

8:00 PM Dawes @ Club de Ville
8:00 PM Shurman @Continental Club
8:00 PM The Dandies@ Encore
8:00 PM The Strange Boys@ Emo's Jr.
8:45 PM The Walkmen @ Stubb's
9:00 PM 60 Tigres@ Antones
9:00 PM Cocktail Slippers Submerged
9:00 PM Monarchs @ The Ghost Room
9:40 PM Beans on Toast @ Prague
9:45 PM Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings @ Stubb's
10:00 PM PowerSolo @ Elysium
10:00 PM Asteroid Galaxy Tour @ Emo's Annex
11:00 PM Ozomatli @ Galaxy Room Backyard
11:00 PM The Mother Truckers @ Continental Club
12:00 PM The Black @ The Ghost Room
12:15 AM Cosmo Jarvis @ The Tap Room at Six
1:00 AM Gloria Cycles Habana Calle 6
1:00 AM Maldita Vecindad y Los Hijos del Quinto Patio @ Antone's
1:00 AM Polly Mackey & the Pleasure Principle @ The Ale House
1:00 AM The Right Ons @ Barbarella
1:00 AM Those Darlins @ Submerged

Lastly, come say "Hi" at the Bobnoxious annual meeting of the Wristbanded (No Wristband Required). It's at Lovejoy's and I'll be there from 6 - 7:30.

Some Actual Mumblings and Rumblings about SXSW

2010-03-10T21:39:00.005-06:00

Sheesh...a week to go and I'm no where near prepared for SXSW this year.

I did see someone say the other day "I'm seeing Cheap Trick because they are fucking Cheap Trick". I agree.

Here's my party pick of the week at my favorite bar, the Gingerman Starting @2pm:

Q Division and HOG Showcase with The Bellrays, Cracker, The Chevelles, The Right Ons and Jenny Dee

Sonny's Vintage on 30th and Guadalupe seems to be having some bang up shows the 18th - 20...trying to find out details but it will be a fest of fuzz guitars and good times.

I also think I must see Ray Davies because he is Ray Davies of the Fucking Kinks.

Oh and John Hiatt because he is the man.

Then I think I'm just going to wander around and find the next big thing. Yippee!!

I do have one plan and that's my annual of the SXSW wristbanded at Lovejoys (No Wristband required) on Wednesday at 6PM.

Be there and be groovy!

Random Pick of the day is Brainstorm who are coming all the way from Latvia! It's indie rock with an Eastern European flair. I'm not sure I completely dig them, yet, but I do know they are my favorite band from Latvia.

Are They Really "THE UNLIKELY SAVIOURS OF LIVE MUSIC"?

2010-03-07T11:28:00.003-06:00

I'm not really sure what makes a great band bio, but it's one of those things I know when you it. A few characteristics of a good bio are:

Humor. It makes me laugh.
They talk about music should be about "having a good time"
It conveys that the band is "keeping it real" without mentioning how that they "keep it real".
Making fun of the state of the music industry.

My favorite this year is the one for Deer Tick, a fine, up and coming band. This hard-working "pseudo-hillbilly" band from Providence seems to be getting the attention they deserve and I must say the more I listen to them the more I like them. At first, I must admit, I was put off by their name that reminded me of a particularly unpleasant de-ticking session at Indian Guides camp one summer.

There one of those bands that grows on you and get better with each listen, and I hear they have a great live show. It says so in their bio. Oh yeah the Bio! Here's a sample:

"Remember the good ol' days? You remember, back when Pluto was still a planet? People used to laugh, regularly. They would shout, maybe have a little drinkie and, y'know, enjoy themselves? Oh, nostalgia! And, sometimes, people would go to concerts and shows and they would have what was known as "a good time". Man, those were the days. Sometimes, even the band would join in. Maybe they'd had a tipple, too. They would play their instruments out of tune and at breakneck speeds. Occasionally, there might be harsh words exchanged... fisticuffs even. But they didn't give a fuck, and that's why we loved them, why we wanted to be them and why we wanted to be with them.
Then something very bad happened. In a heinous, puritanical move designed to destroy rock and roll abandon, a witch hunt ensued. Spearheaded by a MOR music media, the "rock-star stereotype" gradually became a bad thing. The Evian sponsored falling star of flamboyant excess was soundtracked by a lead singer hell-bent on explaining how the agonizing autumnal hues really remind him of his missus slipping off with his best friend last September. Iggy Pop was stripped for parts and sold off to an insurance company and Johnny Rotten was bartered off to the jungle in exchange for his weight in butter. Even Ryan Adams was manhandled onto the wagon for long enough to make a couple of horrible records.
Last week, in the unlikely setting of leafy Mancunian suburbia, I had a stick of dynamite inserted in my asshole, courtesy of Rhode Island pseudo-hillbillies Deer Tick."

I will not miss them this year...and if you don't have a wristband you can see them for free at auditorium shores on Saturday at 5pm.

On that same bill is a band called Dawes. I'm starting to dig them as well. If you like Deer Tick give them a look see, too.

How to Replace the Drummer

2010-03-04T20:05:00.003-06:00

Is the drummer in your band driving you nuts? Don't want to replace him/her with a drum machine? Don't want to be completely without rhythm? Well what the hell will you do?

Maybe you can take a cue The Spring Standards, a folk rock outfit that seems way more groovy than your regular outfit...mainly because it seems they've solved the drummer problem by splitting up the drumming between the 3 people in the band.

From their blurb:
"They take a drum kit and break it up among the three of them, and then they set up along the front of the stage. So, whoever is playing bass (James and James alternate between bass and guitar,) is also stepping on a kick drum…and whoever is playing guitar is also stepping on the high hat (and sometimes playing harmonica simultaneously). Heather, in the middle, switches between melodica, keys, glockenspiel and snare drum, often playing several at a time. And even with all this going on, their harmonies are astounding."

RAWK ON!

Check 'em out at their official showcase at BD Riley's at 8PM on Friday and other places around town.

BD Riley's is one of favorite SXSW venues because it's cozy and small, and most of all pours a true imperial pint of Guiness. Plus, the bands can also vamp for the people on 6th since the stage has windows that open out to it.

My Clown Tears

2010-03-03T21:50:00.003-06:00

Jeebus. SXSW music fest starts in 2 weeks and I've done very little to prepare. I'm guessing you don't really give a crap about my opinion anyway knowing that I'm spending more time coaching 9 year old soccer and slinging code than listening to music and following the latest trends in music.

But hey, if you are a soccer mom that's working too damn hard I know you'll get all a twittery when you see my picks...you're the demographic I want to hit!

(That and old, bitter punks who are sick of the lame ass folk, emo, elecetonica crap that's putting me in a deep, deep trance. Is anyone left awake out there? Hello music people, I have something to....zzzzzz...)

Huh? Arunk??? What was I saying....ah yes crappy trends rearing their ugly heads at SXSW, I'm noticing way more Hip Hop, way more electonica, and way more mellow ass crap that makes me sleepy. Maybe that's why I'm not falling all over....ZZZZZZ

Wait...what's this? A funk, soul, assplosion of something ass-shaking to awake the inner fire of musical inspiration and joy. Yes, Friday at the Music Hall! We're saved! Hallelujah!

- Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears 8:00 p.m. Austin TX Rock
- Raphael Saadiq 9:00 p.m. Los Angeles CA Rock
- Smokey Robinson 10:00 p.m. Los Angeles CA R&B
- Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings 11:30 p.m. Brooklyn NY R&B

Damn! Really? Smokey Robinson? That's some throw down, Motown, Rock and Roll hall of fame shit right there. This clown's tears just might get dried up.

And just so you don't think I'm only spewing the obvious stuff here's the odd ball pick of the day

Fishtank Ensemble Friday 11PM at the Amsterdam Cafe

More gypsy rock must be heard!

Yaaar! Pirate Love

2010-02-23T17:52:00.002-06:00

Yaar! I found a band that mixes my love of Scandinavian (in this case Norwegian) bands with saying "Yar!" and hoping around like a pirate on "Talk Like a Pirate" day. Bonus...fuzz guitars and garage licks and an affinity for Johnny Thunders.

It seems like Pirate Love is worth a mention despite their name inciting memories of unspeakable acts between pirates at sea.

Check 'em out at their official showcase at 10PM at Rusty Spurs on Friday, March 19.

Alpenhorn Funk

2010-02-20T11:27:00.002-06:00

Last year it was 3 Japanese Girls in Bikini's playing trombones.

This year it's one lovely Swiss Miss playing funk and blues on an Alpenhorn.

For those that don't know, the Alpenhorn is a giant wooden horn played in the mountains of Switzerland. The horn is usually reserved for old Swiss men in Liederhosen at those yodel fests that are more for beer drinking than music appreciation.

The Miss in question is Eliana Burki and is not only easy on the eyes but claims to be the only Alpenhorn player to get world wide attention. I'm must admit I'm a bit skeptical but definitely curious to check it out.

Listen to the funky gooves on her website to become a believer!

Elina Burki Band plays at the Scoot Inn on Wednesday, March 17 at 10 PM, Right before the Nuclear Polka of Brave Combo.

Out of Retirement

2010-02-16T22:43:00.005-06:00

For lent, I'm giving up blowing off blogging about music. In honor of my new out-of-retirement ways I'm going to write about my favorite from this year's crop of out-of-retirement bands,

So who is my favorite out of retirement band to hit the fest this year?

It's Detroit's own Goober and the Peas who play the Continental Club on Thursday, March 18 at 11PM.

Goober and the peas are the the finest, funkiest, cow-punk band you'll find that comes from Detroit. My pal Lee-roy insists their the finest live band ever. While he says that about many bands, I must admit I'm sad I haven't seen them. It's been 15 years since they played outside of Detroit Rock City.

Did you know they once employed a drummer named John Gillis who later changed his name to Jack White after marrying Meg White and starting the White Stripes?
Now you do.

It appears they have come out to dispute heinous criminal accusations that they hope to dispel. Check out more on their MySpace page.

Me? I've finished my blog free ways to build the excitement over the next month...The countdown begins...The Adult spring break known as SXSW begins in 4 weeks and 1 day.

SXSW 2010 Coming Soon

2010-02-14T10:57:00.003-06:00

SXSW 2010 is 4 weeks and 3 days away and I realize I haven't gotten my act together to give you my bobnoxious SXSW point of view on this year's musical offerings.

I promise to review at least 30 worthy bands over the next month to help you navigate the 2,000 or so bands plying their trade this year.

For starters I noticed this years Free Friday show at auditorium shores is a humdinger for my demographic of aging hipster dufuses who love their 70's, 80's, and 90's power-pop rock. Do you have troubles staying out past 9PM? Are you too old for the grind of 4 nights up til 2AM? Are you beset with children and don't feel like getting a babysitter? Do you still think "Live at Budokan" is the live album that others should use as a template for creating a live album? If you answered yes, then you'll love this lineup.

In other words I think this year was put together for Ms. Knoxious.

Without further adieu, here's the free lineup all my friends should be at:

Friday, March 19, 2020
5:00 pm Gates open
6:00 pm Cracker
7:00 pm BoDeans
8:00 pm Cheap Trick

I didn't plan it, It Just Happened

2009-03-23T21:02:00.004-05:00

My main goal of this years SXSW was to find as many great garage bands as possible, but sometimes other themes creep in that take on a life of their own. I swear I didn't plan the following sequences of shows, but halfway through the night it somehow became a theme. Would the next band have more adorable women in it than the last? I'll just call it International Ladies night.

8PM Asteroid Galaxy Tour (Denmark) at Maggie Mae's: This band contains one lovely Mette Lindberg on vocals, a Danish Version of Debra Harry. I'd been stalking this band all weekend, but only managed to catch their last set. Awesome northern European pop with horns and quirkiness.

I'll put in a quick aside here...the Do512 was a lovely little affair in a nice artist compound. It had plenty of Lonestar, some vodka to sample, a little Sweet Leaf Tea, good sound, good site lines, a good size crowd, but plenty of room. The problem is everyone I asked had a different schedule. I had Asteroid Galaxy at 6, but their schedule had 4 (I got there at 4:40), but another guy swore they didn't play. I guess I saw Red Cortez and the Afternoons, who were pretty good, but it was not Black Joe Lewis and Asteroid Galaxy Tour as was on my schedule. That would have kicked ass...grrr.

Another aside from 8:40 -9:30 I was only listening to a band (The Broadfield Marchers) while cursing the refs and Duke Blue Devils as they beat my Horns in B-Ball.

9:30 Love Me Nots (USA) at Smokin Music The Love Me Nots are awesome 60's fuzz rock with TWO lovely lasses in the band, Nicole Laurenne: lead vocals and organ and Kyle Rose Stokes: bass and backup vocals. Go-go boots, doing the swim, and shimmying were in fashion here!

Here's a picture from the actual show that I linked to from their My Space Page:

10PM Cafe Funque (Brazil) at Opal Divines had one woman, CACAU (Lady Acid) on vocals. I wasn't into the one song I heard, so....

10:20 Suzanna Choffel (Texas) at Momo's, a lovely little lady from right here in Austin, Texas. Her Great voice over grooving, indy, jazzy numbers made the Sierra Nevada go down nicely.

Here is her My Space Photo:

11PM Pepper Pots (Spain) at Opal Divines. The number of cute young ladies grew to Three in this band. They were just so damn cute singing their Supreme style harmonies over ska grooves, I...er..well...I bought a CD...just loved the grooviness of the whole thing.

Here's a picture stolen from their website:

12AM Futomomo Satisfaction (Japan) at Opal Divines. I'm sure you heard me talk about the 3 Japanese women wearing bikinis playing Trombones. What you probably did not know was that they were great musicians and that there were actually 5 women wearing bikinis in the band. The keyboard player and bassist also joined in the fun. This was probably the highlight of SXSW for me, at least in terms of fun, good music. I'm serious...the music was great. I don't know why you'd think differently.

And a picture for the non-believers (it's all I got from their website)

1AM is when the night turned ugly. No nothing bad happened, just the bands turned into dude bands!

The surprise of the night was Diego's Umbrella who were tearing up the bar caddy corner to Opal's (I forget it's name). They were some crazy ass flaminco punk band tearing the shit up along the side walk. We stopped and danced around for 3 or 4 songs. Check 'em out...and no I won't post a picture.

Last Band of SXSW 2009? Marcy's Playground at Cedar Street. You may know this band as the one hit wonders who played Sex and Candy, but I really enjoyed all their songs. Great song writing, good 90's alternative rock. Just in case you thought I'd abandoned the whole "how many cute chicks could their be on stage" theme, I'll tell you that their were TWENTY (at least) dancing on stage to Sex and Candy. "God I'm so glad I wrote that song", exclaimed lead singer, John Wozniak. Amen brother.

I just want you to know that all of the lovely women potrayed in this entry are not only very good looking, but also talented musicians. If you thought otherwise, you suck!

Saturday Preview

2009-03-20T11:11:00.002-05:00

Not sure I've done all my homework for Saturday, but here it is a day early. Ask and Bobnoxious shall deliver! I will be spending a lot of time at Opal's...gotta see some Japanese girls in bikinis playing Trombones! Momo's has some solid Austin acts. Gotta run free beer is calling my name!

[X] 06:00PM Electric Touch (Stubb's)
[X] 08:00PM The Asteroids Galaxy Tour (Maggie Mae's)
[X] 08:00PM Diplomats of Solid Sound (Opal Divine's Freehouse)
[X] 08:00PM PorterDavis (Momo's)
[X] 08:00PM Cory Branan (live.create. lounge)
[X] 08:30PM Scotland Yard Gospel Choir (Smokin' Music)
[X] 09:00PM Deadstring Brothers (Red Eyed Fly)
[X] 09:30PM The Love Me Nots (Smokin' Music)
[X] 10:00PM The Emeralds (Elysium)
[X] 10:00PM Cafe Funque (Opal Divine's Freehouse)
[X] 10:00PM Ezra Furman and the Harpoons (Submerged)
[X] 10:00PM Wintersleep (Rusty Spurs)
[X] 11:00PM The Proclaimers (Creekside at Hilton Garden Inn)
[X] 11:00PM Dan Dyer (Momo's)
[X] 11:00PM The Pepper Pots (Opal Divine's Freehouse)
[X] 11:00PM The Resignators (Fuze)
[X] 11:00PM The Strange Boys (Beauty Bar Backyard)
(After midnight, Sunday morning)
[X] 12:00AM Futomomo Satisfaction (Opal Divine's Freehouse)
[X] 12:00AM Skavenjah (Fuze)
[X] 12:00AM Grupo Fantasma (Emo's Main Room)
[X] 01:00AM Bedouin Soundclash (El Sol y La Luna)
[X] 01:00AM The Devil Makes Three (Submerged)
[X] 01:00AM Marcy Playground (Cedar Street Courtyard)
[X] 01:00AM Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears (Buffalo Billiards)

Day 2: Ears Ringing with Cheer.

2009-03-20T09:16:00.003-05:00

My Ears Ringing with Cheer and my stomachs churning from too much beer. It must be day 3 of SXSW. It seems to be going to fast! Ah well, I still have half the shows to still see!

I cannot put into words how much frickin' fun I had yesterday. I'll just give the rundown:

Rev Peyton's Big Damn Band: Free Red Stripe...Mamma's Fried Potatoes. Great new song the Devil or the D.T.'s
Those Darlins: Cute girls with mouths like sailors. It was a fun bouncy show
Love Joys: Pine Vally Cosmonauts...mmm Pecan Porter.
Jayhawk dudes at New West Records...Mmmm free Live Oak
Hold Steady: I can't say enough good things about them...I rock.
Hall Monitors. Sweet Garage Rock.
Golden Arm Trio on stairs in Elephant room.
Arkells..
Sam Roberts: If you haven't heard of this guy your probably not Canadian, but it was a fantastic show. Go buy his new record.
Delta Spirit: Way too short set but still love the trashcan set
Black Lips: Good times, but they seemed on good behavior
Crap DJ before Jane's Addiction...Kill the DJ Kill the DJ Kill the DJ
Jane's Addicition: Played just there first 2 albums. It was fantastic....and they gave me the free drinks! Damn this was one edgy band back in the day it's weird to see them as such huge rock stars. I never realized what a vamp Perry Ferrell is. During "Standing in the Shower" he was prancing with a towel...it was pretty gay looking...not that there's anything wrong with that. The rest of the show was fan fucking tastic.

What's in store for today? Here ya go:
[X] 05:00PM Ben Harper & RELENTLESS7 (SXSW Live (The Bat Bar) Austin Convention Center)
[X] 07:00PM Jump Back Jake (Mother Egan's)
[X] 07:00PM Raul Malo (Auditorium Shores Stage (Lady Bird Lake))
[X] 07:00PM The City Champs (Habana Calle 6)
[X] 07:40PM The Miserable Rich (18th Floor at Hilton Garden Inn)
[X] 07:45PM Abalone Dots (Opal Divine's Freehouse)
[X] 08:00PM Howlies (Pangaea)
[X] 08:00PM The Sonics (Emo's Main Room)
[X] 08:00PM The Black and White Years (Austin Music Hall)
[X] 08:00PM T Bird and The Breaks (Momo's)
[X] 09:00PM Ron Franklin (Habana Calle 6)
[X] 09:00PM Willie Nile (Mother Egan's)
[X] 09:00PM Nakia & His Southern Cousins (BD Riley's)
[X] 09:40PM The Breakers (Red Eyed Fly)
[X] 09:45PM Bedouin Soundclash (Cedar Street Courtyard)
[X] 10:00PM Kiernan McMullan (Creekside at Hilton Garden Inn)
[X] 10:00PM Scissors for Lefty (Wave Rooftop)
[X] 10:00PM The Ettes (Mohawk Patio)
[X] 10:15PM The Urges (Red Eyed Fly)
[X] 11:00PM Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Habana Bar Backyard)
[X] 11:00PM Jon Langford And The Pine Valley Cosmonauts (Momo's)
[X] 11:20PM Bo-Keys (Continental Club)
[X] 11:25PM The Woggles (Red Eyed Fly)
[X] 11:30PM Muck & the Mires (Smokin' Music)
(After midnight, Saturday morning)
[X] 12:00AM Black Lips (Emo's Main Room)
[X] 12:00AM Kittens Ablaze (Wave)
[X] 12:00AM Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears (The Parish)
[X] 12:00AM DEVO (Austin Music Hall)
[X] 12:00AM The Hold Steady (Mohawk Patio)
[X] 12:30AM New York Dolls (Smokin' Music)
[X] 01:00AM The Chesterfield Kings (Red Eyed Fly)
[X] 01:00AM Gary Clark Jr (Maggie Mae's Gibson Room)
[X] 01:00AM King Khan & the Shrines (Emo's Main Room)
[X] 01:00AM Amy LaVere (Habana Calle 6)
[X] 01:00AM Still Flyin' (The Independent)
[X] 01:00AM Sam Roberts Band (El Sol y La Luna)
[X] 01:00AM Big Sam's Funky Nation (Opal Divine's Freehouse)

No Bruises On Day 1

2009-03-19T09:22:00.004-05:00

Day one of SXSW was quite the success. The Breakers, The Right Ons, The Lee Boys, and Hacienda were all big hits and highlights.

My high intake of free beer has caused me to have tell you more about it later. For now I give you my Thursday Picks:

[X] 06:00PM The Von Bondies (SXSW Live (The Bat Bar) Austin Convention Center)
[X] 07:00PM The Hall Monitors (Wave Rooftop)
[X] 08:00PM The Carrots (Emo's Jr)
[X] 08:00PM Frank Turner (Latitude 30)
[X] 08:00PM Doug Sahm Tribute feat. Shawn Sahm, Gourds, Dave Alvin, Jimmie Vaughan, Sarah Borges, and more (Antone's)
[X] 08:05PM Andy White (18th Floor at Hilton Garden Inn)
[X] 08:50PM Bishop Allen (Mohawk Patio)
[X] 09:00PM Kingman and Jonah (Momo's)
[X] 09:00PM 60 Tigres (Flamingo Cantina)
[X] 09:00PM These United States (Elysium)
[X] 09:30PM Sam Roberts Band (Cedar Street Courtyard)
[X] 09:40PM Hacienda (Emo's Jr)
[X] 10:00PM Mr Lewis and The Funeral 5 (The Tap Room at Six)
[X] 10:00PM Alice Russell (Maggie Mae's Rooftop)
[X] 10:00PM DADDY (Will Kimbrough & Tommy Womack) (Mother Egan's)
[X] 10:30PM Delta Spirit (Cedar Street Courtyard)
[X] 11:00PM The Iguanas (Continental Club)
[X] 11:00PM Elliott Brood (The Velveeta Room)
[X] 11:00PM The Asteroids Galaxy Tour (Emo's Annex)
[X] 11:00PM Ruthie Foster (Mother Egan's)
[X] 11:00PM The She Creatures (Esther's Follies)
[X] 11:30PM Black Lips (Cedar Street Courtyard)
(After midnight, Friday morning)
[X] 12:00AM The Tallest Man On Earth (Buffalo Billiards)
[X] 12:00AM King Khan & the Shrines (El Sol y La Luna)
[X] 12:00AM Dave Alvin Guests: A Tribute To Chris Gaffney (Continental Club)
[X] 12:00AM Lucero (Dirty Dog Bar)
[X] 12:00AM PowerSolo (Submerged)
[X] 12:00AM Baskery (Mother Egan's)
[X] 12:30AM Ben Harper & RELENTLESS7 (Stubb's)
[X] 01:00AM Bar-Kays (Dirty Dog Bar)
[X] 01:00AM Gordon Gano and The Ryan Brothers (The Parish Downstairs)

I could recommend some to you, but I already had enough trouble getting into places! OK...see the Hall Monitors. Then the rest on the list....and Rev Peyton at Peckerheads at 2:30...

...and the Hold Steady...now that's going out on a limb.

Don't forget to watch some NCAA Basketball. Horns on at 6:10! Be nice to the orange cladded ones. If the Horns win they're much more likely to buy beer. Now if I can find my car keys. They were hidden my some well meaning soul I think...or crushed on the dance floor.

See you on the dance floor.

Jane's Addiction!

2009-03-16T20:42:00.004-05:00

Whoot! One Playboy party invite has been procured by me, Herr Knoxious, and I don't even have any pajamas! Guess I'm going ala carte.

It has been confirmed that Jane's Addiction is playing the party. I'm beyond words!

Other than:

"...Jane says
I've never been in love
I don't know what it is
Only knows if someone wants her
I want them if they want me
I only know they want me..."

Or maybe:
"..And the water is so piping hot
The water is so piping hot
It beats upon my neck
And I'm pissing on myself..."

Whoot Out...

Wednesday Preview

2009-03-16T17:18:00.002-05:00

In two short days I should be at the no pain stage of proper fueling from the Day parties and really fired up for the night.

I invite you to join me at Lovejoys on Wednesday March 18 for the Annual "Meeting of the Obnoxious Wristbanded". I'll be there between 6:30 - 8PM. Come by and say "Hi" and I might just buy you a beer! No wristband (or badge) required! It's my favorite stop between the free parties and the night showcases.

Here's what my Wednesday schedule looks like. Please comment and/or add your picks to the thread.

[X] 08:00PM Doug Kershaw (The Parish)
[X] 08:00PM Hey Negrita (Lamberts)
[X] 08:00PM Willem Maker (Emo's Jr)
[X] 08:00PM El Tule (Copa)
[X] 09:00PM The Cheek (BD Riley's)
[X] 09:00PM Moonlight Towers (Opal Divine's Freehouse)
[X] 09:00PM Capsula (Habana Bar Backyard)
[X] 09:15PM Thee Headliners (Habana Bar)
[X] 10:00PM Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs (The Parish)
[X] 10:00PM The Service Industry (Submerged)
[X] 10:00PM Trainwreck Riders (Headhunters)
[X] 10:00PM Circle Jerks (Emo's Main Room)
[X] 10:00PM The Lee Boys (Smokin' Music)
[X] 10:30PM Roky Erickson w/The Black Angels (Austin Music Hall)
[X] 10:45PM Fool's Gold (Dirty Dog Bar)
[X] 11:00PM Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band (Continental Club)
[X] 11:00PM The Right Ons (Esther's Follies)
(After midnight, Thursday morning)
[X] 12:00AM The Decemberists (Stubb's)
[X] 12:00AM Los Coronas (Esther's Follies)
[X] 12:00AM Dash Rip Rock (Aces Lounge)
[X] 12:00AM The Black and White Years (Pangaea)
[X] 12:15AM This Bike is a Pipe Bomb (Habana Bar)
[X] 12:15AM The Gay Blades (Dirty Dog Bar)
[X] 01:00AM Hickoids (Habana Bar)
[X] 01:00AM Deer Tick (Club de Ville)
[X] 01:00AM Black Diamond Heavies (Headhunters)
[X] 01:00AM Delta Spirit (Radio Room)

SXSW Warmup

2009-03-16T15:56:00.004-05:00

I did a little SXSW music warm-up last night to see if I could handle a little drinking and fun during the SXSW interactive.

First it was off to the Women's Beer League tasting at the Gingerman for a little Texas beer and chocolate pairing party. Snax was our lovely hostess, and she was helped by Kuhn Dog. They serverd the following lovely Texas beers: Live Oak Hefeweizen, St. Arnold's Spring Bock, (512) Pecan Porter, and the Independence Oatmeal Stout. All beers and chocolates were awesome, but the highlight for me was the Pecan Porter and Amy's coffee Ice Cream beer float...delicious! I think the St. Arnold's Bock was the best with the chocolate.

Next I headed to the Bacon-Flavored Interactive After Party: Benefit for the Children's Music Fund at Red 7 with Nosegref, Mags, and Lee-roy from I love Beer. They were serving unlimited Harpoon Beer for $5. On tap they had the IPA and the Hefe. The IPA was delicious. After a few beers, Mags and I somehow ended up getting hooked into the raffle going on.. Mags wanted to see if she could win a guitar 2 years in a row. More on that in a bit.

Alas, the 2 hours of beer drinking came to an end at 8 and the brilliant plan of eating hamburgers at Casino El Camino was hatched. An hour wait did not dissuade us from the need for delectable cow between bread. We happily grabbed some beers and met interesting folks also priming themselves for SXSW. The place was packed, and the wait was worth it.

We met the band The Gunslingers from France who I promised to mention. They were quite nice fellows (yes, I said from France) and they seemed happier than shit to be in town, though I'm not sure I can highly recommend "the Massacre-Rock Deviant Inquisitors".

Since it was 10 after the burger consumption, I remembered the raffle was about to occur and headed back to Red 7 on my way to the car. This is where shit gets weird. On stage was Bacon Shoe, a nerdcore hip hop band from Kansas City who, I shit you not, have a dude dressed up in a dog costume who cooks bacon the entire show. Mmmm...tasty bacon.

Check it:

Oh yeah, somewhere along the way I actually won: Bacon from Bacn.com, a tiny shirt from Bacn.com that says "Bacon is like a little hug from God", a Bacon Shoe CD, the Slum Dog Millionaire Book, a "Yes Man" tote bag, and another T-Shirt.

Swag count..way up...but no guitar for Mags or me :-(

Trainwreck Time!

2009-03-14T15:02:00.002-05:00

Today we are NOT talking about my band Bubba Coletrane and the Trainwrecks because they are not playing SXSW. You have to apply, work your band, play gigs, etc., to play SXSW. It's not in the Bobnoxious slacker code, and the band still hasn't recovered from their Christmas gig in Houston, but please feel free to click through to hear rare tracks from this unpredictable and mythical band.

No, the band we are talking about today in the trainwreck family of bands is the Trainwreck Riders "a rocking in their chair, guitar-pickin' on the porch band from San Francisco". They remind me of the Uncle Tupelo in their hey dey with punk and rockabilly intertwined for both upbeat and layed back Americana songs that make you want to get in the car and road trip.

Check 'em out at these places:

Mar 18 2009

10:00P

SXSW: ALIVE RECORDS OFFICIAL SHOWCASE

Austin, Texas

Mar 19 2009

4:00P

SXSW: Mo x MoWest

Austin, Texas

Mar 20 2009

12:00P

SXSW: SF x SXSW Day Party

Austin, Texas

Mar 20 2009

1:15P

SXSW: +1 House Party at Hank Sinatra’s Farm

Austin, Texas

My 2-cents of Bad SXSW Advice

2009-03-12T21:26:00.000-05:00

The music nights draw ever nearer. The SXSW Film and Interactive starts tomorrow....Friday the thirteenth!

Are you prepared?

Maybe you've found the advice that suits you and you are fully prepared to enjoy your SXSW experience to it's fullest. I am still going to give my 2 cents worth of advice and I hope you enjoy it.

I'll be attending my fifteenth SXSW festival and I thought I'd share my experiences to help you enjoy SXSW as I do...like I'm still a 21 year old College kid and it's Spring Break. I believe there is no such thing as too much beer, too much free stuff, or too much fun! Repeat after me, "I'll sleep when I'm in the grave".

This is advice for the true music festival athlete, those people who LOVE music and truly geek out to the fire hose of music that they swallow during SXSW. The people who love drinking, going full speed for 18 hours a day and thrill in the discovery of new bands, sounds, and the next big thing.

In honor of Friday the thirteenth I give you 13 things that popped into my head:

Let's get the most frequently asked question out of the way: "Do I need a wristband or badge?" or "Should I get a wristband?". The easy answer is "No." You can always pay cover ($5 -$45), go to free parties during the day, or non-SXSW venues. Auditorium Shores has free concerts every night. I get a wristband every year because I loves seeing as many bands as possible and hoping from club to club and I go every night from 8pm - 2AM. If this is not you, then don't get a wristband. It's not worth it. Read more advice (rant?) here. The links to the right give you the low down on the free parties.
Don't "Take it easy" or "Go Slow at First". It may be a marathon, but you should treat it like you can run a 5 minute mile for 4 days. Have you ever had a good story that started "I drank a lot of water, applied sun-screen, followed my day planner, and was responsible?". No I didn't think so. Good stories start with "Well...I was kinda hung-over...but Joe talked me into just one beer..." and ends with "last thing I remember I'm in a limo riding with Strippers". Dance, drink, and be merry. You can recover the week after.
Sleep after SXSW. Read an old post of mine about how to enjoy 24 hours of music and drink as much free booze as possible. I like to pretend it's like Vegas, baby!
Just because you are drunker than a frat guy during rush week doesn't mean you have to act like one. If you're going to puke, hit the toilet. If you're going to talk using your outside voice, do it somewhere other than the singer song writer showcase.
Actually, if you're from a Northern European Country and haven't seen the sun since September, you really need sun screen. The Texas sun will turn your pale translucent skin redder than a porn queen getting her ass slapped.
Never stay in non-moving line for more than 5 minutes. If they stop letting in badges and you have a wristband, leave immediately. You aren't getting in. I don't care if it's your or your girlfriends favorite band since junior high and you'll die if you miss it. If you have that much devotion to a band buy a damn ticket to their concert next time they're in town. If this is the way you are, you're kind of missing the point of SXSW and won't enjoy it. Just remember with 1800 bands, there's always another fantastic band playing around the corner just waiting to be discovered.
Speaking of girlfriends, if they're not into your music, your friends, rowdy drunkenness, general bad behavior, crowds, and lack of sleep leave them at home. Seriously, it'll turn out bad. I always feel bad for the sad looking dudes trying to soothe their girlfriends at the garage rock showcase. I can tell they're going home early and they're not getting any. The same goes for women who love music: leave the complaining tool at home and come drink with us!
Remember that the NCAA basketball tournament is going on and that you must sit at a pub with TVs and check the status of your bracket from time to time. This is what I call down time.
When you need a little break from the loud bars, I highly recommend a trip to the 18th floor venue in the Holiday Inn Garden. Nice view, plenty of chairs and always good music.
Try your best to hang out with your friends who are bad influences, have good taste in music...and love to open tabs. Stay in small groups and have rendezvous points with people along the way. Ditch your old friends and make new friends with people from around the world. We all love music and want to find out more about new bands. It's the best way to find new bands and maybe get a party invite or 2.
Know what venues work for you. I have a set of bars I call "Good Karma Bars" that I can count on when my plans go to shit. They're places I've gone and discovered great bands by accident and generally caused mayhem in a good way. These aren't the big venues with the safe but wide range of music, nor the ones that are hard to get into (sometimes they are). Top of my list is the Red-Eyed fly where I wandered in on a 1/2 full club listening to an unknown band called Gogell Bordello. Best time ever at SXSW. BD Riley's is another that seems to have bands and always Guinness on Draft. I got others but I don't want to blow all my secrets.
Eat the BBQ they're selling out behind the Continental Club. It's the best!
Do your homework and know what bands you want to see. Collaborate with your friends and co-workers to find additional bands. Make a plan of action for the night. Have a back up plan to the original plan. Have 4 contingency bands for each time slot in case the first two plans don't work out. In the end, don't be afraid to revise the plan and go with the suggestion from the some looney record producer. When everything doesn't work, don't panic. Go with the flow. Throw out the plan and enjoy the fact that you may be finding your self enjoying goth, classical music played on a synthesizer, a theremin, and a flugel horn all while a dancing dwarf is in danger of crushing a replica of Stonehenge. Maybe your new "plan" ends with a ride in a limo with topless strippers hanging out the sun roof!

Good Luck finding your adventure and say hi if you see me.

Way Out Wednesday

2009-03-11T10:28:00.004-05:00

In the last installment of off-beat band Wednesday, I bring you The She Creatures! The She Creatures profess to be from Venus and/or England. I know that both are lands enveloped in clouds of poisonous gases.

The She Creatures look to play the part of bad Sci-Fi B-Movie critiqued by the Mystery Science 3000 guys, but play some incredible fuzz-based, garage, psych-rock right out of the swinging 60's baby! Blue Haired alien females, sexy, shiny space suits, and a Theremin complete the mood.

I want to be the Sexy Robot! I am the sexy robot.

Catch them during SXSW at:

Official showcase on Thursday, March 19 11:00 p.m. @ Esther's Follies (525 E 6th St)
Thursday, March 18, Sonny's Vintage at 2:40 p.m.
Thursday March 19 at 1:45 p.m. at Breakaway Records showcase.
Saturday March 21 at Cheapo Discs 3 p.m.

Denmark Vs. Spain

2009-03-09T22:41:00.003-05:00

I've long talked about how the Nordic countries, especially Denmark, have been putting out some pretty damn good music over last few SXSW's. What I never expected was that Spain would start catching up and putting out some great rock n roll as well...yes...that Spain.

If this were a soccer match I think Spain would easily have the advantage, but rock? The odds gotta be with the Danish...well...except these are some damn fine Spanish bands.

I love a little competition in my music, so I'm making up my own damn battle of the bands.

Here's the match-ups:

The Chicks
Asteroid Galaxy Tour (Copenhagen, Denmark) Power Pop, Horns
vs.
The Pepper Pots (Girona SPAIN) Old School Ska, Horns

The Rock n' Roll Garage
PowerSolo (Aarhus, DENMARK) Awesome Donkey Punk, W. Virginia stomp, Chicken scratchin guitars
vs.
The Right Ons (Madrid, Spain) High energy rock, party on stage. music to make them ladies dance. If you got it you shake it.

The Wildcards
Snake & Jet's Amazing Bullit Band (Copenhagen, Denmark) cocktail of retro blues, rock, punk synth-pop
vs.
Los Coronas (Madrid, Spain) Instrumental Surf Music

I found the perfect venue for this music rumble, Sonny's Vintage Clothing on Guadalupe. Why? Because they are putting on one of the best day party lineups of retro music in the whole damn SXSW! Four of the Six bands in my battle of the bands are playing it on Thursday afternoon, and I highly recommend them all!

Go Ape! Show at Sonny's Vintage 2928 Gudalupe (12-7):
12:00 Los Coronas
12:40 The Breakers
1:20 Broadfield Marchers
2:00 Full Service
2:40 The She Creatures
3:20 The Urges
4:00 Snake and Jet's Amazing Bullet Band
4:40 Hall Monitors
5:20 PowerSolo
6:00 The Right Ons
6:40 Eli Paper Boy Reed and the True Loves

Go Cast your vote in the comments section now!

Time Change Sunday

2009-03-08T21:40:00.002-05:00

Nothing like losing an hour the week before SXSW to get you prepared for how awake you'll be at 11PM and dead you'll be at 11AM. Who doesn't love the annual Sunday of only 23 hours? I heard someone say the other day that they should jump the clocks ahead an hour on Friday afternoon so we can lose an hour of the work day rather than an hour of sleep.

For today's preview I'll give you a band that pushes the time back to the 60's on the lovely island of Jamaica, the Pepper Pots from Spain. Instead of 3 harmonizing Rastafarians, the Pepper Pots use 3 cute Spanish girls to sing. They formed to recreate old school ska and RB from the 60's in Jamaica. This is the stuff, as their bio puts it, "made the dance floors of the era vibrate." If you are a lover of old, old school ska, this is a great place to be.

The Pepper Pots play Saturday, March 21 @ 11:00 p.m. at Opal Divine's Freehouse (700 W 6th St ).

This is the band playing before Futomomo Satisfaction, otherwise known as the 3 Japanese Girls, in bikinis, playing trombones. (Is it just me or should that be in a Dr. Seuss Book? Is it all ready?)

Here's a video for you're listening pleasure.

Cow Punk From My College Days

2009-03-05T14:49:00.005-06:00

I'm kind of glad to see that a few of the rowdier bands from my college days will be kicking around SXSW this year.

The first is the Hickoids. They may not be the original cow-punk band, but they were my first. What great memories I have of swilling beers to their Hee-haw punk at the Hole Wall, singing fucked up songs, and generally having a hell-raising good time.

Check out the Austin legends at Habana Calle Bar on Wednesday, March 18 @ 1:00 a.m.

I feel like singing already:
"Animal Husbandry don't happen in the city, no,no,no!"

"What's the matter fellar...haven't you seen a cross dresser before? He's Queen of the BBQ..and he looks better in his dress than you!"

Here's a view into the drunken extravaganzas of the Hickoids of yore:

The second band from my well sprent youth is Dash Rip Rock, the Louisiana Swamp punkabilly drunk rockers from New Orleans. I think at one point Dash Rip Rock had played every SXSW and were the only band that had that distinction, but I think their streak has been broken. I'm still guessing they've made close to 20.

With songs about drinking like "Leave Me Alone To My Bottle", "All Liquored Up", and "True Drunk Love", plus their surprise hit "Let's Go Smoke Some Pot", it it's terribly hard to stay sober during their shows. I've never had a bad time at a Dash show and I've probably seen them 15 times. I don't think you could either.

Dash is down to only Wild Bill Davis from the original lineup (which included Fred LeBlanc now in Cowboy Mouth and Hoaky Hickel on Bass and Jack Daniels). They probably aren't as drunk as yore but definitely still a great live band with tons of energy. Check 'em out if you don't have anything to see on Wednesday, at 12:00 a.m. They play Aces Lounge (222 E 6th St).

Here's one of their classics with original lineup and new drummer singing.

The Return of Wacky Wednesday

2009-03-04T13:09:00.004-06:00

Before I reveal today's wacky Wednesday pick I must talk about my SXSW warm-up at the Flogging Molly show on Saturday, or as Ms. Knoxious says I should call it "Blogging Molly" (drum roll and a crash please!).

Really it was a warm-up for Saint Patrick's day, which is the warm-up to SXSW this year. Seeing Flogging Molly is like a spending Saint Patrick's day with some meth-driven pirates every day of the year. Though Stubb's isn't always the best sounding place, the show was great and Ms. Knoxious had a big smile on her face as she bounced around, and Mr. Nosegref always seemed to be showing up with 2 beers in his hand just as I needed one (I think he wanted to keep both for himself, but I stole one anyway). I managed to wake up sore and hungover, just like after a good day at SXSW. I guess I haven't been keeping my drinking training up for SXSW, and it shows. Yeah, I know. A non-drinking Bobnoxious is like a vegetarian shark. Hey, that might make a good movie scene.

Opening act The Mighty Stef was really good, though I only saw 3 songs thanks to the stupid Stubb's website that said "Doors at 8" not "Show at 8". Everyone else seemed to get the memo cause the good people of Austin were there to support the opening acts. I really recommend seeing him at SXSW this year.

The Aggrolites were solid, but I must admit that their 45 minute set was long enough. A little bit of reggae can go a long way. Their keyboard player was amusing to watch.

Speaking of Reggae going a long way, today's off-beat inductee is Still Flyin' who says they are reggae for people who don't like reggae. To me it sounds like Polyphonic Spree meets the English Beat. They have about 20 people in the band and tout their sound as HAMMJAMM which is not say they are a jam band, but it is to say that they're making shit up to confuse you before you go out at categorize them.

It is infectious, happy music from the strangely, happy, shiny people of San Francisco. They have a bunch of gigs about town so check 'em out if you like happy, jammy, hammy, not reggae but reggae like, music with oodles of good musicians playing it.

3/18 NY Noise Party / Ms. Bea's (8:00pm)
3/18 Moshi Moshi Party / Club 1808 (11:30pm)
3/19 Music For Listeners - / Red House Pizzeria (5:30pm)
3/21 Ernest Jenning SXSW Official Showcase / Independent (1:00am)
3/21 40 Watt Athens Party / SideBar (1:00pm)
3/21 Scruffy Bird - Moshi Moshi Party / Lamberts (3:15pm)

Wicked Cool SXSW

2009-03-02T20:05:00.004-06:00

The theme for this year's SXSW has finally reared it's ugly head to me. The 2009 SXSW quest is to find the best fuzz-based, psychedelic, garage rock band at the festival.

With Little Steven and his Underground Garage showing up to stoke the garage fire plus the pioneering 60 psychedelic rocker, Roky Ericson, and the garage godfathers, The Sonics, playing, the theme really chose me. Unlike all the other bands who want to sound like they're from the 60's, the Sonics are the the real deal from the 60's. In 1965, their sound may have been ahead of it's time and that's maybe why you've never heard of them. Give them their due on Friday at 8PM at Emo's Main Room.

Today's contestant of the new generation of garage rockers comes from our nations capital, Washington DC, and goes by the moniker, The Hall Monitors. You really have no reason to miss these guys since they play Thursday, March 19 7:00 p.m. @ Wave Rooftop (408 E 6th St). Do you really have a better band to see at 7PM? I can answer that, "no". You probably don't have a better 8, 9, or 10PM band to see than the Hall Monitors.

While your thinking about it, RSVP to The Underground Garage Party at Antone's on Friday Afternoon by sending a note to sxsw@renegadenation.com. Arc Angels, Roy Head and the Bo-Keys, The Chesterfield Kings, etc (and free drinks and food while they last)....it should be Wicked Cool.

A Little SXSW Religion

2009-03-01T20:45:00.005-06:00

I know for a whole lot of you rock and roll loving heathens the only religion you get is seeing a little gospel at your local music festival. Whether it's at ACL, SXSW, or the foot stomping, hanky waving, Jesus loving Gospel tent at New Orleans Jazz Festival, I've seen many an agostic/aetheists become believers for a few moments during a rousing Gospel showcase.

Who'll bring out the Jesus in you for SXSW and beat out that demon rum? My bet is The Lee Boys.

The Lee Boys are from the Pentecostal, sacred steel music that brought up such greats as the rockin, pedal steel playing Robert Randolph.

If your religion is rhythm and blues, funk, country, and uplifting music, you will enjoy these guys no matter what your beliefs.

Speaking of Jazz Fest, this can give you a taste of both the Lee Boys and the Gospel Tent...good times indeed.

They play Wednesday, March 18 @ 10:00 p.m. at Smokin' Music (504 Trinity St), the old (sniff) Copper Tank Brewing company. You will be touched.

Slow Saturday, Slow Economy

2009-02-28T15:49:00.003-06:00

It seems appropriate on this slow moving Saturday in the slow moving economy that I bring you Muck and the Mires. Actually, these guys aren't mucky or slow, but some pop sped up with 2 guitars rockin at 2 1/2 minutes at a time. They wear matching outfits and give you a few seconds to catch your breath before starting the next revved up garage-rock hit. LITTLE STEVEN (Van Zandt) chose Muck and the Mires as the NUMBER ONE GARAGE ROCK BAND IN THE USA in his national Underground Garage Battle of the Bands.

(Actually, it will only be a slow Saturday until I get to the Flogging Molly Show tonight at Stubbs with the lovely Ms. Knoxious...that's going to kick ass).

Here's a video of Muck and the Mires in all their messy goodness:

Catch Muck and the Mires at 11:30 the Smokin Music showcase. They play right before the NEW YORK DOLLS! Get their early for the Dolls and you won't be disappointed by Muck.

I leave you with a video from last years festival of the Downbeat 5 playing BD Riley's. I was afraid I'd been secretly video taped when the summary section read, "There was this guy as you can see who was having a better time than most. Hats off to anyone who dances like they mean it!".

I really wanted to review the Downbeat 5, but it appears they are not coming to SXSW after previously being listed. Too bad.

Loving the Memphis Soul

2009-02-26T15:14:00.004-06:00

I don't know what music mojo gumbo lies in the Mississippi River but it sure seems to pick up steam when it goes by Memphis on it's way to New Orleans.

My latest pick out the home of the King is a young band called Jump Back Jake. They are nice pleasing stew of Rock and Soul, yet a little more upright than my favorite front porch funk band, Mofro. They have a nice bluesy, soul sound completed nicely with backing horns.

If you are looking for a great pick me up to your Friday night showcases, I'd recommend these guys at Mother Egan's at 7PM. It would be a great way to get the evening started. You can skip dinner.

You can also check them out at that Memphis Music Foundation Party on Thursday from 12-3 at the Brush Square West Tent. With the revival of Memphis Soul ala these guys, the Bo-Keys, and the Bar-Kays, there should be some good times awaiting you lovers of the Memphis Soul.

Psycho Cat Haters Wednesday

2009-02-25T08:30:00.005-06:00

To keep up with my off-beat Wednesday Theme, I've picked one of this years all-name bands, Kittens Ablaze.

I first found out about the band from this shrill person without a sense of humor. I think most of the band names there are hilarious, but what can you do about a cat loving woman! (Please comment on your favorite named band of SXSW).

Obviously, I'm a dog person and because cats make me wheeze like a fat guy going up stairs, I'm not a big fan. But I don't think for a minute that Kittens Ablaze is going to cause any harm to the little furry rascals, nor do I think they're evil people.

I am surprised that Kittens Ablaze is not a hard-core punk band. Instead, they're an Americana/Indie Rock band with cello and violin, and even cat loving women! I could make a comparison to Camper Van Beethoven, but somehow that doesn't quite seem right.

Their sound has been described as "joyous", "orchestral", "energetic", "talented", and "Hilarious name aside, even PETA members should enjoy these Brooklynites."(Ehren Gresehover, New York Magazine). Check out more reviews on their myspace page.

I just like 'em, and you should go see them if for no other reason so you can say you were there in case this entry from Starved Magazine is correct:

"This is one of those groups that you really want to hear now so that later on when everyone and their grandmother is talking about how killer their sound is you can say that you knew them when (and actually be being honest for a change)."

* Note: No cats were hurt in the making of this blog entry and no ill-will was meant toward cat loving women. I love cat loving women. I guess it should be noted that I will knock your little fluffy on his ass should he make the mistake of climbing in my lap. Don't worry they're cats. They always land on their feet. It's really my hatred of hives and asthma that makes me do it, not cats.

The Midgetmen present Big Texas Jumpstart II

2009-02-23T22:18:00.004-06:00

The Midgetmen are putting on their annual SXSW shindig at same place that it was last year, The Creekside Lounge (Outside). My buddy Marc has put together a fine lineup this year:

1200-1230- Georgian Company
1245-115- Gay Blades
130-200- Ezra Furman & The Harpoons
215-245- Midgetmen
300-330- Goes Cube
345-415- The May Fire
430-500- Grant Hart (of Husker Du)
515-545- Franz Nicolay (of the Hold Steady)

They promise: Free party, free beer, free bands, free STDs, free toilet paper, free dumb, free bird, free toes

I really like both the Gay Blades and Ezra Furman and the Harpoons.

I saw Ezra last year and had quite the time. I highly recommend them if you like simple, fun rock with a dude with a weird, yet somehow brilliant voice singing. Kind of like the Violent Fems sitting in with Robyn Hitchcock. Or as they put it:
"a delicious romp through the innocent years of punk rock but with a devilishly soft, folky edge for the ladies."

I've been stalking the Gay Blades for a couple of years, but somehow I never end up seeing them at SXSW. They're one of those puzzling duos of a guitarist and a drummer and a guitarist that have cropped up since the White Stripes made it big. The gay blades can be summed up by this critic off their website: "Fuck it, pure two-dude rock dudeness. There, we said it. They kill."

I loved their videos on Black 20. Check out this one about offering free scary rides.

I leave you with Bob Dylan's 115 Nightmare

Alt-Country From England

2009-02-22T18:34:00.003-06:00

I'm intrigued by the number of bands from the UK listed under "Alt-Country" (6). (Almost as much as Bluegrass from Sweden, but I digress).

I guess I'm just surprised I like it so much. Which I guess I shouldn't be surprised about since my favorite country music has been from England since the Byrds and the Stones started doing country-rock in the 60's.

Of course I could be reading too much into it and these bands checked Alt-country because they are in fact from an alternative country to American bands, and the "Americana" label would just seem weird.

Anyway, here's 3 bands for you if you like country to sound like "Dead Flowers" from the Stones.

Danny and the Champions of the World are a band that seems to wear odd face paints while practicing a collective "yesness". Not sure what that means, but I love this video of their song set to the strange tradition of the West Virginia tap dancers.

They play Wednesday, March 18 1:00 a.m. @ Lambert's (401 W 2nd St)

Hey Negrita is a great little band out of the UK that has THREE SXSW showcases. I'm not sure I've ever seen that. They're a great little band that is good to check out if you like your country a little rollicking with some great song writing.

Wednesday, March 18 8:00 p.m. @ Lamberts (401 W 2nd St)
Friday, March 20 7:00 p.m. @ Friends (208 E 6th St)
Friday, March 20 12:00 a.m. @ Creekside at Hilton Garden Inn (500 N IH 35)

Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs is a prolific songwriter who was supposedly born in the same Hospital that Jimi Hendrix died in. I'm not sure if that's why she wrote the funniest song I've found on the SXSW playlist this year, Gettin' High for Jesus

Check her out on Wednesday, March 18 10:00 p.m. @ The Parish (214B E 6th St)

My Favorite Band From Denmark

2009-02-21T18:22:00.003-06:00

My favorite band from Denmark is Powersolo. They first caught my eye about 7 years ago when they listed themselves as "Donkey Punk". Curiosity got the best of me and now I have my favorite band from Denmark.

There bio sums it up better than anything I could come up with:

'What do you think of when you hear the name "PowerSolo"? Round Denmark way, the moniker apparently conjures the trash-rock psychobilly legacy of Hasil Adkins, the Cramps, and Southern Culture on the Skids. Powersolo may be a power duo, but in this case, the prog-metal acrobatics of rush are replaced with something they call "donkey punk." Two tremolo-loving chicken-scratch, rail-thin guitarists Kim Kix and Atomic Child. It would've been good enough had PowerSolo hailed from the Land of NASCAR.

How these guys learned their West Virginia, Hasil Adkins sound is a mystery (or why they wanted to), but the result is pure weird fun. Nothing like some good trailer punk songs sung with a Danish accent. Seriously, everyone I've brought to their show has had fun (3 and counting).

It says they're drummer is no longer with them. I wonder how they'll pull off the show without a drummer?

Today I'll leave with you two videos...cause I love these guys twice as much as your average SXSW band...

Mean Old Cat

Juanito

Powersolo plays Thursday, March 19 12:00 a.m. @ Submerged (333 E 2nd St)

Girls, Get Your Miniskirts and Go-go Boots

2009-02-20T15:05:00.003-06:00

Feel like dancing like your in an Austin Powers movie?

The Love Me Nots from Phoenix can get your 60's spy movie groove going, baby. The Love Me Nots do fuzzy, farfisa-drenched rock like it's 1963 again! Really, girls, I think you all need shiny mini-skirts and go-go boots so you can really let it loose 60's style.

I think there needs to be more bands fronted by chicks playing Farfisa organs. Too groovy for words.

They'll be playing Saturday, March 21 9:30 p.m. @ Smokin' Music (504 Trinity St).

Muddy Funkin Goodness

2009-02-19T20:54:00.003-06:00

What do you get when you mix a pot-bellied, shirtless Indian dude from Canada, a Cape, a middle aged cheerleader, and a Funky garage band? That's right, King Khan and the Shrines. Horns and crazy James Brown moves to boot. It looks like one hell of a good time.

He's basically my musical hero for the day.

Wacky Wednesday

2009-02-18T22:23:00.002-06:00

I saw on DoneWaiting.com the wackiest bunch of musicians to gather together to jam since the "We Are the World" Days of early MTV. The band is Tinted Windows and they are made up of the following fragments of famous bands: James Iha of Smashing Pumpkins (guitar), Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne (bass), Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick (drums), and Taylor Hanson from… er… Hanson (vox). He's the medium Hanson.

I can't wait to hear what this might sound like. Bun E. Carlos is one of my favorite mellow ass drummers. I remember seeing Cheap Trick many years back and he was just smoke and whirling drum interludes...though he never seemed to move.

I remember stumbling upon Smashing Pumpkins at the original Emo's in Houston and, thinking "Damn, this band is going to be big"...really this happened. I swear.

I never saw Hanson, but the rumor is that they were actually discovered at SXSW when their parents had them sing for some dude at the SXSW Softball game. I'm always amazed at the hate people have for kid pop groups. The higher they get, the further they fall. I was always impressed that Hanson wrote their own songs and played their own instruments, but I really couldn't hum one of their songs. I bet you can't either (maybe that Mmm Bop Song), but you'll tell me you hate them. It's an amazing pop-culture phenomenon.

I don't know much about Fountains of Wayne, but I always thought that "Stacy's Mom has got it going on" song was catchy.

Here's hoping this band is good, but won't be surprised if they blow. I can't find a clip of them, but I can't wait.

Here's a classic Cheap Trick vid to hold you over with the awesome drum intro by Bun E. Carlos.

Wristbands On Sale Now

2009-02-18T13:40:00.002-06:00

If you haven't heard....
Wristbands are on sale at http://wristbands.sxsw.com for $129.

You must have an Austin Billing Address to purchase one.

If you are not getting a wristband, plenty of day and night parties are being announced at Show List Austin and Done Waiting.com.

If you are not from Austin, you will still be able to buy a wristband. It will just cost you $180. You can get one after March 9 or when you get here (if there are any left).

Many people ask "Do I need a Wristband?". The answer is no. You can pay cover at clubs if there is room after the wristbands and badges have gone in. Cover can be anywhere from $5 to $45.

In fact, I only recommend a wristband if you want to see many bands in many locations over 3 or more nights.

Black Tuesday

2009-02-17T21:36:00.004-06:00

You are going to save a whole lot of time today because in this colunn I am going over all of the "Black" bands showcasing at SXSW this year. When I'm talking "Black", I'm talking about the band's name, not the color of their skin.

You may or may not have noticed that "Black" is not only slimming, but a very popular moniker in SXSW band names. This year at SXSW, there are 23 bands with "Black" in their name. Black is obviously the choice of those about to rock.

I guess the godfather of all Black bands has to be the seminal hard-rocking Black Sabbath. They had to be the ones who not only birthed dark, psychedelic, hard rock but who also made black t-shirts the wardrobe of choice for an army of rockers. Who could rock out at metal show in a White T-Shirt?

Speaking of White, it comes in second with only 14 bands having the color "White" in their name and 4 of those "Whites" are a first or last name. 2 of the "White" names also have black in their name, which is a bit confusing. I found 6 with red, 5 with Blue (which is strange because there are 2 genres of music that are blue), 3 pink, 3 green, and 1 yellow.

Obviously, it is clear that Black means you mean business, are ready to rock, and you will not be bright, cheery, or socially acceptable, though you will look skinnier than your multi-colored counterparts.

Spinal Tap talked about Black while talking about their black album cover, "It's like, how much more black could this be? and the answer is none. None more black."

This SXSW can be none more black.

Here's my stab at categorizing the "Black" bands for your convenience and listening pleasure.

I have used the tried and true Bobnoxious rating system of making snap judgements after 2 or so minutes of listening. My keen sense of something puts the bands in their place and you come out the winner:

These Dudes Are None More "Black". They will crush you with a steel toed boot.

The Black Hollies: New Jersey dudes who can do the Psycedelic, Garage, Punk, rock beat like no one. They do it all and give you a firm handed spanking in between.
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears: My favorite Austin Band right now. They won't disapoint if you like a little R&B in your garage rock, and a little James Brown to kick it up a notch.

I Like it, but could it be more "Black"?

The Black Box Revelation: Damn Fine Belgian, garage blue bands described as "On stage The Black Box Revelation is a runaway train, combining the best ingredients of idols like Led Zeppelin, The Datsuns, The Rolling Stones, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Stooges."
Black Diamond Heavies "deep-south blend of dirty whiskey-addled rock'n'roll...When they settle into a mean bluesy groove, they're unstoppable, marrying gravelly vocals with garage-rock organ solos and a John Bonham backbeat."
Black Lips: I wish I knew more about these guys. I love what I hear. I feel good things about this one. Any band who puts, "After swiftly becoming one of the Atlanta underground’s most talked about bands, and along the way being banned from numerous venues for their wild live shows..." in their bio has to be black enough, right?
Black & White Years: A damn fine band from Austin, TX who is loved by none other than former talking header, Jerry Harrison. I love these guys, but they are disqualified from being black enough for the confusing use of "white" in their name. Still worth seeing. Really. They may be the next big thing from Austin. If you like your music fun and lively and 80ish and, yes, like the Talking Heads, check 'em out.

Bands Whose Black T-Shirts you Might want to wear, but liking their music? I can't decide.

Black Acid: Described as "dark soulful psychedelic rock"....sounds black enough. It's garage and grungy. Definitely has potential for good blackness.
Black Drawing Chalks: They have the black sound. According to their blurb they like drinking and fucking.
Blacklist: No bio, pretty generic hard rock...no opinion really.
Black Stone Cherry: I think they want to be the Black Crowes
Blackstrap: This band has potential for moving up. They're from Sweden, their name sounds like a good porn movie, they use fuzzed out guitars and seem to like to rock....I just can't decide.

I'm Too Old for Metal (Yeah Get off my lawn):

Black Cobra
Blacklisted Individuals
Black Skies: A lighter shade of metal, but still too much for these geezer ears.
Black Tusk

I'm Too White For Hip-Hop, And Too Old to pretend:

They may not be "Black" Enough

Little Black Dress: Um..."black" is good in a name, "Dress" is bad if you are a band of dudes. Too mellow, too synth, too light for black.
Black Diamond Bay (formerly Krief): I think they should have stuck with the name "Krief". Not dark, grungey or hard rockin' enough for the black moniker. Decent sound, but from Montreal.....
White Swan Black Swan: Um...this must really be a "white" band. Soothing Alt-country should only have "Black" in their name if they invoke visions of Johnny Cash.

I'm not into the Goth, Electronic, Depeche Mode Darkness of some "Black" Bands. You won't catch me dead here (I'm happy for you if you like this, or am I supposed to be unhappy for you? I never know):

Black Cherry
Black Cock: Nice all name team...but....I don't want to ride the black cock.
Black Gold

Act of Congress

2009-02-16T18:34:00.002-06:00

Ah...I've almost completed my nice relaxing President's day. Did you have to work? I didn't.

I think it must have been an Act of Congress that made Presidents Day and in honor of that I bring you the acoustic, mellow, blue-grass stylings of Act of Congress. This sounds like a wonderfully talented band that you should go check out at Mother Egans on Thursday at 8PM when you're in need of a Guinness and your first nap. Yes, they're quite mellow, but it's President's Day and, and, well, I needed to post something on topic.

Hmm...maybe for you workaholics and losers who had to work I'll give you the wonderfully Americana sounds of Delta Spirit to wake you up. Somehow these boys from San Diego make you feel like you're on a rollicking ride down the Mississippi. One of the favorite songs that ended up on my iPod from SXSW last year was their song Trashcan and they put on one of my favorite sets at ACL Fest last year as well. If that doesn't sell you, you should know they are also Ms. Knoxious approved.

You'll have two chances to check 'em at official showcases:
Wednesday, March 18 1:00 a.m. @ Radio Room (508 E 6th St)
Thursday, March 19 10:30 p.m. @ Cedar Street Courtyard (208 W 4th St)

Oh yeah, if you haven't figured it out, yet, the schedules have been posted at SXSW.

Bloodshot Records and the Deadstring Brothers

2009-02-13T13:59:00.003-06:00

It's a beautiful Friday in Austin, TX (partly cloudy, 78 degrees). It sure makes me wish it was the Friday at SXSW and I was hanging out at the Bloodshot records showcase at the YardDog drinking free Pabst or whatever they're handing out.

Bloodshot Records is one of my favorite record labels. I love just about whatever the produce and their SXSW parties are the best. They understand that beer and rock 'n' roll go together (or country or Americana or bluegrass). They also understand good old American roots music and who's pretty good at it.

Here's the lineup they have so far for the annual Yard Dog shindig:

Starts at noon. More details coming, but here's a few of the folks playing: Bobby Bare Jr, Waco Brothers, Justin Townes Earle, Deadstring Brothers, Ha Ha Tonka, Exene Cervenka and so much more. No cover, no badges or invite needed.

One of my favorite bands I saw there last year was the Deadstring Brothers. They're just some solid Rock and Roll with a little country thrown in...like some of the fine bands from the 70's. For some reason the Stones ala Exile on Mainstreet and The Band come to mind.

This is a fine song, Meet Me Down at Heavy Load

SXSW 2009 Wristband Information

2009-02-12T16:34:00.004-06:00

I was getting a little worried about the complete lack of information for SXSW wristbands, but it's finally here! The news is even coming from SXSW.

You can find all the information here.

No sale date has been set, but it will be soon.

Good News:
- It's $10 less this year...wristbands will be $129.
- No Lottery System. No sweating you won't get one this year, unless you miss the date.
- It's Austin Residents only. They'll check your billing address to confirm. (this is only good news for Austin residents).
- People from out-of-city will be able to purchase a wristband after March 9 for $180.
- No standing in line or missing the announcement they just went on sale.

Bad News:
- If your from Austin you'll need to find a friend.
- First Come, First Serve...so you better be aware.
- Non-refundable. You better not die, get sent out of town, get sick, or have a death in the family.
- No Name Transfers. Your dead beat friend better be going. In fact, get the money up front!

I'm guessing they're keeping the date a secret so people won't have time to change their billing addresses.

Oh yeah...while you're at it check out the 1800 bands that have been announced.

A cool site listing all the bands, their sites, links to You Tube videos for the band, Last.FM entry, and Flicker pictures can be found here. It seems to get updated when the list is updated.

Catch Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band Tonight AND at SXSW

2009-02-12T14:27:00.003-06:00

Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band plays Austin Texas 2-nite @ Emo's...one night only (except for their SXSW showcase in March).

People in Dallas can check them out tomorrow on Lucky Friday The Thirteenth.

People in Houston can have a hell of a Valentine's date on Saturday at the Continental Club watching the marital bliss of Breezy and the Reverend and singing along to "Your Cousins on Cops" and "My Old Man Boogie". Is there a better way to impress your honey than some raucous country blues?

For those that don't know, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band is a family band made up of the Rev on guit box, Breezy, his wife, on Washboard, and brother Jayme on drums.

According to their website:

Lyrically, The Reverend Peyton isn’t big on metaphor and symbolism, preferring to let people know exactly how he feels, whether he’s singing about being too poor to afford health insurance of just missing Mama Peyton’s fried potatoes.

“All the songs I write are 100 percent true, I don’t make stuff up and I never have,” Peyton explains.

(For instance, “Your Cousin’s On Cops” is about Breezy’s cousin being arrested near the Indianapolis 500.)

“I feel like I got to directly be involved in a song,” he adds. “Maybe if I played a different genre of music I’d feel like I could get away with [making stuff up], but this style of music is too honest; you can’t lie to people because they’ll see right through it."

I leave you with a song that I'm thinking my son may have written in 10 years if the Rev. hadn't beaten him to it.

"My Old Man Boogie"

The Mighty Stef

2009-02-10T15:19:00.003-06:00

Are you looking for a revved-up Tom Waits and a toned down Flogging Molly? Need great Irish story telling songs with a punk-troubadour attitude?

If your answer is "yes", then check out The Mighty Stef. I will give you a pre-report when I see him opening for Flogging Molly on the 28th.

Enjoy some "Death Threats":

The Heavy

2009-02-09T14:39:00.004-06:00

I'm sure you are like me and need a pick-me-up on Monday morning so here it is. Today I bring you The Heavy from England. The Heavy can be described as an awesome mix of Led Zeppelin meets Curtis Mayfield, or maybe a bit of punk meets 70's funk.

I kind of hope this band does well, but it doesn't seem like the gig too much. They did however get a song placed in an Entourage this season (Diginity in Episode 11: Playing with Fire)

Last year I saw them at SXSW on a Friday afternoon in the backyard of Hank Sinatra's farm house. It was an awesome little party full of English people and Old-English 40's. Even though they had some sound challenges, I still thought The Heavy sounded pretty good, but I wish they'd replace the synth horns with a real live horn section. You can see an awesome video retrospective of Hank Sinatra's party here complete with interviews and a tiny performance snippet with the Heavy. It's what I considered the most awesome SXSW party I attended last year. My friends Nosegref and Meester Bret can be see about 2:20 into the video.

I leave you with a real MTV quality video by the Heavy.

Edit: The Heavy is no longer listed as a SXSW 2009 attendee. They still kick ass.

Folk-Punk Friday

2009-02-06T16:57:00.007-06:00

For a bit of change from my over-indulgence in funk and soul bands, I give you my new favorite music moniker: Folk-Punk.

I guess it's about acoustic songs for anarchists. You know the guys, the ones who hate the government but are tired of their ears ringing. Maybe it's for the guys who love to scream lyrics but were too broke to buy electric guitars. Maybe they just want to rough up the hippies and get them to quit whining and start screaming and bouncing.

Either way, the aging hipster dufus in me loves this genre. I guess the Violent Fems would be considered the pioneers of the folk-punk movement.

So what does folk-punk sound like at SXSW this year?

Here's two examples (these bands also happen to be from the great state of Florida, a place known for confusing trends):

1) The first band, This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb, is not only a Bobnoxious hall of fame all name band, but the best band sticker to put on your bicycle if you want to be hassled by the man at an anti-war rally (yes, this has happened more than once...read the "In The News Section") Supposedly, they sound like they do because they started as a fake country band.

2) The second band, Fake Problems, is a bit harder-edged folk-rock with a bit of toned down Social Distortion Attitude.

Hmmm...maybe I'm not so sure about this trend....

Solid Sounds of Super Bowl Sunday

2009-02-05T10:17:00.002-06:00

Sorry I haven't kept my promise to get a band a day in here. But I meant to write this one on Super Bowl Sunday.

I really like that they get my favorite aging classic rockers to jam at half-time of the Super Bowl rather than the old shows with Up With People or a medley of the greatest hits from the 50's complete with high kicking Elvis impersonators.

But I feel like a bit of a sell-out because I've enjoyed them. I also wonder if the kids today think "Pshaw, why do I have to suffer through another half-time show of old dudes from the 70's". The way Pink Floyd and Zeppelin still sell like hotcakes make me think that it's OK for them since no one has stepped up to take the thrown of rock-god over the last few decades.

Personally, I thought Bruce put on a damn fine 20 minute tribute to Rock and Roll and I still love to see fireworks exploding in a stadium. I think it's my life long dream to explode fireworks in a stadium...that and to have a band follow me down the street playing my theme music.

If I had to pick a theme song to play today it would be the Dirty Dozen Brass Band playing "Ain't Nothing but a Party":

If I had to pick a band that was playing SXSW to be my theme band, The Diplomats of Solid Sound would definitely make the cut (though I think it would be hard to march around with a Hammond organ...but very cool). I saw this band a few years back at SXSW when they were just a trio, Hammond Organ, Guitar, and Drums. While they were very theme-band music appropriate, they were a little dull to watch. I'm glad to see they've added horns and trio of singing ladies. This should be a vastly more entertaining lineup.

Now I'll take a crack at who can bring some Springsteen-esqe emotion to SXSW.

I see that no other than his long time guitarist, and Soprano's whack specialist, Little Steven is coming to talk at the conference. Surely he'll squeeze in a secret show somewhere, or at least broadcast his Underground Garage Radio show somewhere.

I also hear rumors that the high charged and prophets of the Springsteen sound, the Hold Steady, are rumored to be playing Rachael Ray's 2nd annual party.

Throwback Thursday

2009-01-29T16:27:00.002-06:00

Throwback Thursday is about a band that sounds like they want to be back in the 70's but were formed in the 2000's. I'm really digging the bands that want to re-create the "Golden Age Of Rock" (that's 1966-1978 in my opinion).

The band is Lion in the Streets and the following song sounds like something that could have been on The Stones "Exile on Main Street".

Wacky Wednesday

2009-01-28T11:34:00.002-06:00

"What the Fuck?" Wednesdays may be a bit strong for today's entry. I think it's more of a "Well that's a bit wacky, mate" Wednesday.

Today's entry is a heaping dose of Brit Nerd Rock. It's Cheeky Cheeky and the Nosebleeds!

You know I love a good, catchy, silly name and Cheeky Cheeky and the Nosebleeds definitely makes the all name team this year.

The band photo on the MySpace page, complete with magnifying glass and bleeding nose, is well worth the peek alone.

It lists their influences as "Pop Music 1955-2008", but I think they definitely must have a bit of Devo, Sex Pistols, Weezer, They Might Be Giants, Dead Milkmen...you know...all your geek punk rock favorites.

This song alone reminds me of the Dead Milkmen or Devo's mongoloid. It's "Slow Kids", complete with slam dancing kids. I didn't think anyone slammed danced anymore.

By the way, if anyone needs a Weezer fix today, I highly recommend this video.

Tromboner Tuesdays

2009-01-27T18:50:00.005-06:00

I know you've all been clamoring for more bands with Trombones, and I don't want to disappoint. One intrepid reader even suggested we just refer to it as "Boner Rock". They may have only thought that label was only for the Futamomo Satisfaction, but I heard "More Trombone! Can we get more trombone in here?"

Today's Trombonist hails from the great city of New Orleans and whenever he plays it's going to be funky. I'm talking about Big Sam's Funky Nation. While Big Sam does a whole lot of dancing with his trombone, he thankfully does not wear a bikini.

The description on the website says it as well as I could:

"Presiding over his Funky Nation is Big Sam, formerly the trombonist for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, who blows the funk out of his trombone and refuses to let the audience sit still. Between solos and trombone riffs, Big Sam second-lines (a uniquely New Orleans style of street-dance) and gets the crowd going both in movement and in replies to his call-and-response MC-style. A talented group of jazz-trained musicians makes up the Funky Nation, bringing with them the improv-style associated with jazz and the horn-heavy front section that's the hallmark of big band funk."

Nothing will make you want to chug Hurricane's and high step like Big Sam!

To get you primed for Jazz Fest in New Orleans check this video:

And one of him jammin with Walter "Wolfman" Washington's Band:

Spanish Sunday?

2009-01-25T19:56:00.002-06:00

Are you in search of firm handed musical spanking? Do you want to hear some soul shaking garage rock that will you get your ass shaking and your feet moving? Do you like your rock n' roll sweaty, dirty, frantic and funky?

If you are not a fan of this, you can stop now and join the masses who are writing the obituary of rock n roll.

On the other hand, if you like it, but believe only the bands from the 60's and 70's could deliver it, then I give you a new hope, The Right Ons!

The Right Ons are soul infused garage rock from Madrid, Spain. I don't think I've ever recommended a band from Spain, even one who sings in English. In honor of this momentous occasion, I'll call this post Spanish Sunday. This band is a serious throw back to the hard chargin' soul and funk of the 70's mixed with the energy of the Stones and Springsteen. It's the dirty, sweaty music played the way our rock n' roll founders meant it to be.

I didn't get to see them last year, but I do have witnesses that say they put on a hell of a show.

Swedish Saturdays

2009-01-24T17:15:00.004-06:00

I love the Nordic bands that come to SXSW. (Example: Yesterdays band) They seem to still get how to make entertaining music. It's familiar, yet innovative and they generally rock out, unlike the rest of the European Continent (Britain and Ireland are islands are an exception. Oh, and the one band from Spain that be my new favorite in the whole world...more on that in a future blog).

Today's band is a trio of women from Sweden who play the most Americana of American styles, bluegrass. At first they reminded me of an edgier Dixie Chicks, but there's a little more punk attitude and crazy Appalachian stomp that evokes a female Hasil Adkins. I think the real reason they evoke Hasil Adkins, is the banjo playing/drumming/singing woman, not because they sound or look like him. It's not just banjo playing either. It's slide banjo!

If you don't know who Hasil Adkins is, I'd recommend this 10 minute trailer for a movie about his life. You'll see the guy from Southern Culture on the Skids as well as Scott H. Biram and realize exactly who had an influence on them both. They're not in the flick, but The Rev. Peyton Big Damn Band must have been influenced by "Haze" as well.

Once again I digress....the star of this blog entry is Baskery. Please enjoy these sweethearts from Sweden responsibly.

Who Will Be The Next Big Thing?

2009-01-23T13:52:00.004-06:00

I fear the music business as we know it will soon be gone. I'm sure this is not a shocking pronouncement to most of you. Nor do I necessarily think it's a bad thing. It will be painful for record stores and record companies, but I think consumers and bands may be the better for it in the long run.

I don't think it will be good for those bands whose interest is to become multi-platinum, international sensations that fill arenas. I think those days are gone to the few that make it on the Disney Channel or win American Idol (or come in second). I do think there may be more musicians and bands that can make a nice living at music (you know a nice 100K a year job), but much less making over a million.

If you look at the Billboard top 25 grossing concerts tours from last year you'll see that only 4 of the top 25 actually started their careers since 2000. We're 10 years into the aughts! Most of the bands hey-days were in the 70's and 80's. When I was in high school in Houston, it seemed like there was an arena show a week to go see. Now I'll bet it's closer to 1 a month. This probably explains why my generation still goes to see the same bands from then. Today it's 40 year-olds rocking out instead of then when everyone was under 30.

It's kind of interesting to see the new methods promoters/producers try to get up and coming bands famous. One of the most interesting is sticking their band's songs into commercials and TV shows and trying to build an audience that way. It may come with a sell-out label, but it can also come with instant credibility if Vinnie Chase is listening to you in Entourage.

Personally, I think it's kind of subliminal, a bit cool, and something I almost never notice until I hear the song again and wonder where I heard it. I'm also not sure how it sells albums (or whatever the kids call it these days).

Today's SXSW band is an example of this new music marketing.

Listen to the clip below. You've heard that song right? Do you know the name of the band (or did you before you cheated and saw the name)? You can't quite place where you heard it, right?

The song is featured on an iTouch commercial.

The band is Asteroid Galaxy Tour from Copenhagen, Denmark.

It's much more pop than I'm usually recommending, but I'm somehow captivated by the sound. I'm not sure if it's the horn section or the young lass who fronts the band. She's like a combination of a young Debra Harry and Kirsten Dunst.

Either way I approve, and it is my prediction that this will be the Amy Winehouse like breakout of SXSW 2009.

Hell, they haven't even released a full-length album, yet. That will be in April.

Who needs a full-length album when an Apple commercial can make you famous?

WTF Wednesdays: Bryan Scary

2009-01-21T15:32:00.003-06:00

I think "What the Fuck?" Wednesdays has a better ring to it than Weird Wednesdays...so that's what I'm calling it today!

Today from the SXSW "What the fuck?" files is Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears.

If you took a cup of Queen, added a little Zappa, mixed in a dash of Ziggy Stardust, plucked some Rocky Horror, chopped up some Who Rock Operas, and threw it in a pan of Alice Cooper you might begin to explain Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears.

If you like to stand about at rock shows with your jaw agape trying to figure out what it means while telling your buddies "Damn...I'm not sure what it means, but this kicks ass!", Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears is the band for you.

If you just like a little visual phantasmagoria and a whole lot of fine music, the Shredding Tears can set you straight.

I lived it last year at Esther's Follies and I think it's your turn to join me this year.

Here's a sampling of the carnival:

Funky President

2009-01-20T13:33:00.002-06:00

We'll get back to my regularly scheduled SXSW bands later. Today, I just couldn't resist posting this:

Wonder what James Brown would have done today.

WWJBD.

MLK Day Post

2009-01-19T10:29:00.003-06:00

I'm not sure how to tie Martin Luther King Day in with SXSW, but I've never been one to step away from a challenge so here goes. In my contrived way of choosing a band to represent MLK day, I may even have a loose tie to the plane that went down in New York City last week. It won't remind you of that exact event, but demonstrate how there was no way any musicians were on that plane because all 150+ people walked away. Musicians seem to die at an alarming rate in plane crashes.

So where am I going with this? Who is the band?

First off, I thought the Blind Boys of Alabama would be a perfect choice. After all I'm guessing MLK's favorite music was gospel. The Blind Boys raised themselves up, overcoming hardship. Because they're blind, they must be color-blind too, and isn't that what we're striving for? Unity? A place where color doesn't matter?

Alas the Blind Boys aren't playing SXSW this year, but they did put on hell of show a couple of years ago at the music hall. Inspirational and plain awesome!

No, the band I've picked off the list the list is the Bo-Keys from Memphis, Tennessee. The Bo-keys are a funk super group in vein of Memphis soul stew and Stax records greats. In fact one of the founding members of the Bo-Keys is Trumpeter and vocalist Ben Cauley. Ben is a founding member of the original Bar-Kays and the only surviving member of the fatal crash in Madison, WI which took the lives of his band mates and Otis Redding. In fact while trying to find out about the Bo-Keys, I mistakenly started researching the Bar-Kays because I didn't know much about them.

The Bar-Kays were the "other" backing band for Stax Records, as opposed to Booker T. and The MGs. You may know them from their instrumental Soul Finger. After the plane wreck the 2 surviving members managed to reform and back Isaac Hayes on his Shaft Albums.

Anyway the Bo-keys have legitimate Memphis Soul pedigree and should be checked out. To add to the fun, they're playing SXSW version of the Ponderosa Stomp which is awfully amazing time if you love the Gulf-Coast, Mississippi, Southern Soul in a New Orleans Setting.

So what's my MLK and Bo-Keys tie-in? Well....they're from Memphis. MLK died in Memphis. They're a mixed race band featuring both Black and White soul performers, something I believe MLK would have approved of. They have the only surviving member of the plane crash of the Bar-Kays with Otis Redding that happened 4 months before MLK's own assassination. And well, I just think it's a great day to listen to Southern Funk and Soul and feel good about what we have and what we can hope for in the near future.

The last weird thing is about the plane crashes and musicians. It's amazing how many famous musicians have died in plane crashes. There are so many I actually found a lengthy list here. Statistically, you say, since musicians travel much more than the average person, it's only plausible they'd be in more crashes. While that may be true, I could only come up with a few who had died in the car crashes...actually I could only think of the guy from Jan and Dean off the top of my head (I'm sure others could come up with more), while I easily rattled off Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, Otis Redding, Patsy Cline, Walter Hyatt, Stevie Ray Vaughn (ok, that was a helicopter), Randy Rhoads, and the Lynard Skinner Dudes.

That's why I surmise that no famous musicians were on that ill-fated plane flight in NYC last week.

I Love A Shtick That Works

2009-01-17T17:45:00.004-06:00

It's hard to stand-out at the SXSW in the midst of the 450 alternative bands, 350 punk bands, 100 Hip Hop and 500 rock bands. A good shtick always helps you stand a little from the ordinary. I love a good shtick. Unfortunately, more often than not the music never shines enough for an extended stay at the show, nor a purchase of the CD.

Today's band is an exception. Austin's own Service Industry's shtick is singing damn good songs about how it sucks to work in the service industry to support their habit of being in a rock band at night. The difference between this band and other subject area bands is that they have awesome songs and good musicianship to kick the shtick into gear.

Here's a quote to love from their My Space page:

"The Service Industry still delivers well crafted dirt pop and intense, unsettling live shows where the old motto "the customer is always right" has no meaning."

Check out The Service Industry next Saturday at Ruta Maya opening for Right or Happy. For those that don't know, the Right or Happy is the new name of The Reivers who also used to be called the Zeitgeist. I think they like confusing their fans.

De-evolution of SXSW

2009-01-16T15:13:00.004-06:00

First off, probably a thousand plus bands are listed in the band listing on SXSW. Complete with links to their sites to do all the listening and research your little ears can handle.

Now to the real news...

Holy Shit! Time to dust off your yellow rubber suit and upside down red plastic flower pots. Devo has reformed and is playing SXSW this year!

Check it on the SXSW music front page.

Don't forget that Plastic Hair and meet me on Friday, March 20 at the Music Hall.

There's nothing like a good old reunion to give you goosebumps at SXSW. (wipes tear from eye).

Remember when MTV used to play videos? Ha...you're old dude.

For those that weren't alive or can't remember that far back, here's a Devo refresher:

And for those that need to be reminded of the flower pots and yellow suits:

Whatever Happened To SKA?

2009-01-16T14:31:00.002-06:00

I ask this question about once a year. Is there a great Ska Band I can see? I need to do some skanking!

Luckily there's always at least one band touring that satisfy my fix for hopping up and down with some English Hooligan kicks thrown in.

This year at SXSW I give you the one band to cure your Skank fix too, Skavenjah!

This will be your favorite ska band from Canada. It's everyone's favorite ska band from Canada.

It also keeps my new theme: Bands with Trombones.

More Trombone Bands to follow.

Here's some video goodness. This illustrates how nothing says Ska like a bunch of white people standing at one moment, then bouncing uncontrollably once the music starts.

Weird Wednesdays: Gals+Bikini+Trombone

2009-01-14T09:54:00.002-06:00

On Wednesdays I'm going to try and preview the weird and off-beat bands that I love to see at SXSW. It's the bands that make you go "What the Hell?" or "Damn, that's pure genius!"

I think today's band can honestly be put in the "Pure Genius" Category. Leave it to the Japanese to figure out how to make the Trombone a sexy, lead instrument: Have 3 cute women in bikinis play them!

The band is Futomomo Satisfaction from Japan and...well...they actually sound pretty good!

Here's a video in case you don't believe me (about the pretty good part...I'm sure you believed me about the Japanese girls playing trombones in bikinis part):

Oh...and they may be pretty damn fun. Can you imagine that they'd draw a drunken, shirtless man-crowd? Yeah?

Well did you think they'd cover the Ramones?

That's right...the Ramones played on trombone by 3 Japanese women in bikinis. Pure Genius.

SXSW Band Previews 2009

2009-01-13T20:06:00.003-06:00

The band list keeps getting longer at SXSW. I figured I get on the ball and start previewing some bands!

There are approximately 64 days until the music part of SXSW. IN lieu of this impending deadline, I intend to preview at least 64 bands. Why this number? Because, if you can go strong for 4 days, you can easily catch 64 bands at SXSW. I'm here so you only waste your time on this blog when your not in the clubs, not at the clubs listening to some crap emo band.

My first band to preview is an new Austin band that I have yet to see live, but I loved what they did when they played live on KGSR (I think it was KGSR...hell I could have just accidently downloaded them on the internet. Yes, music finds it way to me..it's not the other way round).

The band is T Bird & The Breaks. They're a new, young Austin sensation that's, yes, another funk/soul outfit for your easy listening pleasure. (Has anybody seen that confounded bridge?)

Following in the foot steps of last years sensation, Black Joe Lewis, these guys will get your money maker moving.

From the Austin Chronicle (ok their My Space page...yes I'm that easy):

The bassist and backup singers may look too young to vote, but newcomers T Bird & the Breaks are old souls bringing serious R&B heat. The local 10-piece indulges the requisite Wilson Pickett and Sly & the Family Stone covers but is at its best pounding out originals by dynamic frontman Tim Crane, a slick-haired, gravel-voiced shouter in the mold of blue-eyed Texas soul sensation Roy Head.

Thomas Fawcett, the Austin Chronicle

Need A Workout?

2009-01-13T10:27:00.003-06:00

Do you need a little soul to get you up and grooving today? Need that extra kick for your workout? Here's some damn funk soul and groove to get you coasting through the start of the week. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings are probably one of the best live shows you can see right now.

My other favorite funk band on the scene is Charles Walker and the Dynamites. Here's a clip of both Sharon Jones and Charles Walker. Notice how Charles is drenched in sweat. That's a sign of a good show!

And the Dynamites solo:

This is funk and soul you can see today! Go see some live music!

Get Ya Going on Monday

2009-01-12T12:48:00.002-06:00

Alarm Clock by the Rumble Strips is a song that can get you going on Monday. The Rumble Strips are one of my new favorite bands and I think more people in the states need to see them. When I saw them in concert a couple months ago only about 50 people were there. There should have been hundreds. It's like Madness, the Beatles, and the Cure in one big happy mix.

Enjoy!

Doctors Mob

2009-01-11T11:48:00.003-06:00

The Random video of the day sure brings back good memories of the old Austin of the eighties. Everyone was a little scruffier, there were no jobs, rent was cheap, and everyone thought Austin was the Music capital of the world, but no one called it that. Like now none of the bands ever made it that big on the National Scene, but had the Austin love.

Here's one of favorites from then, Doctors Mob on the Austin Cutting Edge program on MTV from 1985. This was supposed to be the show that finally catapulted Austin bands to stardom.

Doctors Mob was my favorite Austin band through out College, mostly because their motto was what I was striving for at the time "Show Up Drunk, Show Up Late, Or Don't show up at all.".

The first time I saw them was quite a memorable experience. Shortly after I'd arrived at UT, a group of us went out to see the Circle Jerks. You may remember them from Repo Man and the band that played You Better Duck When the Shit Hits the Fan. I considered myself somewhat of a punk wannabe and was quite stoked to attend my first hard-core show. Little did I know I would be the odd ball in my white t-shirt, new-wave mullet, and Chuck Taylor high-tops. This was back when the only people with multiple body tattoos and multiple piercing were true, outcast, hard-core punks, who you wondered what the hell might do to eek out a living, or where they hid during the day. There were plenty of people with 6 inch mohawks, studded leather arm bands, choke collars, etc. I was quite intrigues, amused, etc. In fact, I remember talking about the one "normal" dude I saw in the bathroom. He had a kind of hippy haircut and was wearing a BMW shirt. He ended up being the guitar player for the Circle Jerks.

Obviously, I've digressed. Wasn't I talking about Doctors Mob?

Ah yes...See Doctors Mob was the opening band. They came out to do there Austin sincerity (or whatever the hell they called it), but ended up speeding up their songs for some mighty fine rock and roll. The punks started rowdy, booing and throwing beer, but by the end, when Doctors Mob played a smoking version of "Sweet Emotion", the punks were cheering and slam dancing, and I was forever hooked on drunk rock.

At one point, Glenn, the hard hitting drummer from Doctors Mob, broke his snare. I've never seen that since, and I've been to a ton of shows. He may have been the hardest hitting drummer of all times.

I probably saw them 10 more times, and even saw them for the last show at Liberty Lunch. I think I stalked them at our favorite watering hole, The Showdown, where Steve and Glen would often be drinking (and Bret for that matter).

Showdown and Liberty Lunch how I miss you.

Oh, I also found this interview with the Mob.

For more Austin eighties nostalgia, check out the videos of Glass Eye, Dino Lee, and the Zeitgeist (Reivers) from the same show that show up in the "Related Videos" section.

Heartbreaker

2009-01-09T15:41:00.003-06:00

Man, I have so many random vids to post, that I think I could do this for ever! I love the rabbit trails the internet gives you.

Without further ado here's a blast from the early 90's and some damn fun for Friday:

So whatever happened to Dread Zeppelin? According to their website it appears they still do random shows. One is scheduled for February 15th.

I have never seen Tortelvis, Butt-Boy, Charlie Haj, Bob and Ziggy Knarley, or anyone else in Dread Zeppelin, but it is now my life long dream to see them one day.

Ever wondered what Robert Plant thought of them? Now you know:

New Church!

2009-01-04T20:33:00.002-06:00

Here's a blast from the past to start your week, LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH!

I remember going to a Lords of the New Church concert back in the late 80's when their not so large fame had really started to wane. Since it was a Sunday or Monday I couldn't talk anyone into going, but my never quite girl-friend Susan Valdez. It was at the Back Room and there may have been 50 people in the place. Now Susan wasn't much of a shock rock fan, and I didn't expect this show to be one, but if I saw her today I bet she'd still bring up how that show torched her hearing and the lead singer may have been the scariest man alive.

I'd have to agree. Along with the loudest show I'd ever been to, Stiv Bator was like Marilyn Manson before Marilyn Manson...just without the makeup or funky contact lenses. He was skinnier than shit with painted on spandex pants. He seemed to have an affinity for chewing his gum, sticking it down his pants, then chewing it again. I also remember him rolling about the stage, and every now and then we'd wonder if he'd get up. At one point he pulled the gum out through his fly, encircled the mic stand and attempted to pull it around the stage. He even liked seeing how long a loogie he could dribble and slurp back up while the band jammed.

Now I saw the Butthole Surfers back in the day and I'm still not sure they were scarier. That includes the show where they decided to tear up stuffed animals while the strobe lights flickered to make it snow on stage, then the flaming cymbal trick caused the stuffing to catch on fire. Other than than that show, I still think the Lords were the most disturbing...mostly because even with their antics, the Surfers seemed like an act, while ol' Stiv Bator seemed seriously demented. I think the Lords broke up not too long after that show, and, well, I kinda miss them.

Drunken Lullabies

2009-01-03T19:21:00.004-06:00

In honor of your the holidays being over I thought I'd add an ode to your past drunkeness and resolution to cut down on drinking and to lose weight.

The random vid of the day:

Yes, Flogging Molly kicks ass, and they'll be in Austin February 28 at Stubbs. Who wants to go?

This reminds me, since the number of pirates has risen significantly in the past year, is 2009 going to be a colder year? Is global warming abating? Is it time to question my belief in the Flying Spaghetti Monster? Well at any rate, it's good to be reminded of the silliness in the world!

Edit: Seems the powers that be have decided no more drunken lullabies for you! So for more Flogging Molly go to their MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/floggingmolly

Or check out this live version of Drunken Lullabies (until it's taken down):

And this of actual slam dancing in the 2000's and songs about drunken pirates YARR!

And 2009 Begins

2009-01-02T09:53:00.002-06:00

I can't believe it's my last day of winter vacation (okay I still have the weekend).

And in a stunning development I've made time to BLOG! Unfortunately, I can't come up with the crazy ass Bobnoxious antics you come to expect from this place in the blogosphere. Please don't revoke my Bobnoxious moniker and think of me as "Just Bob"!

Top of the excitement this Christmas season: I actually succeeded my main goals of getting more sleep. "Get out!", you must be saying. "Tell me more".

I also put in a new mailbox. The other one was smashed when it fell into the street. The postman must love us again. Unfortunately, my home improvement skills suck. But must be improving since I only need two band-aids and cussed only 23 times.

I did see Todd Snider at at a packed Gruene Hall on a Tuesday night with the other bored out of their skull humans. It was a good show, but I kept wanting him to get super rowdy like he used to in the good old days of the Nervous Wrecks. I remember a Bocktoberfest concert where he had 5,000 people on their feet cheering and dancing. The crowd was primed, but he seemed content to have his 4 piece band keep a mellow groove only getting the crowd to their feet at the end of the show. The chairs in front of the stage are always a bad omen for this kind of behavior. We're fat Americans for criss sake! Give us a chair and we'll sit. Still it was fine show with new stuff and old stuff nicely inter mixed for the feel good hit concert of the setting year.

I attempted some bad behavior at the NXNW cask condition night. Man! I loved the Kona Imperial Stout. Unfortunately, that and a couple more mugs of Pale ale and a tame attempt at the #3 bus tour did not love me back. Hangovers and playing Mr. Mom do not mix!

My winter ale supply is dwindling quickly, but, hell, winter is pretty much over in Austin anyway.

I'm going to try a random ass musical pick for the next few posts to see how that goes. One on You Tube and one My Space selection.

First a classic on You Tube. This one is Ray Charles doing "Baby Please Don't Go". I sure do miss that man singing. I'm just glad I got to see him twice before he passed away.

For my random My Space pick...the next big thing out of Austin, Black Joe Lewis!

2008 Wrapup

2008-12-29T10:20:00.003-06:00

Whoa.

I just noticed it's been 9 months since my last entry, yet somehow I still average about 3 hits a day. Thanks for not giving up hope.

2008 is coming to a close and I must say it hasn't been as gloomy here in Austin as the news media insists.

Maybe its just that I'm on my second week of holiday and have caught up on my sleep. The euphoria of getting sleep with 2 young kids may not have worn off.

Maybe it's because I've kept a job for more than a year that I haven't hated and the prospects for 2009 are not completely crappy. Hooray Government work!

Maybe it's because the George W. regime has come to an end and Hope is coursing through the land.

Maybe it's because my kids are healthy and my wife is still hot.

I dunno...I think 2008 wasn't too bad after all.

Here's some things I've been thinking about.

Holiday Beers

My annual holiday and winter beer tasting was a hit. Here are my favorites from 2008:

1. Widmer's Brrrr: I think Ms. Knoxious and I have passed out a case of this in the last month. Good hoppiness, spiciness and all around Christmas Mirth feel.
2. St. Bernardus Christmas Ale: Ms. Knoxious isn't a huge fan of the Belgium beers. She has to be overloaded with hops. If you are, I'd highly recommend this one. It tops my Belgian favorites from years past, Scaldis and Delerium.
3. Scaldis Noel: While it's ranked below St. Bernardus, I still love it and highly recommend it. One of those tiny bottles will make you feel warm all over and ready for a long winters nap
4. Delerium Noel: Ok...maybe I love the Belgians too much this season, but I still love this...though it's great, it's fallen below my other Belgian favorites.
5. Samuel Adams Choclate Bock: mmmm...dark and choclatey and...um...I remember really liking it. I drink a lot of beer at the party.
6. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale: A holiday tradition. While it doesn't knock my socks off like it used to, I still love it. The fact that so many more hard-core, aggressively hopped and spiced beers exist in the world these days makes it hard to keep up. OK, I still love it.
7. Shiner Holiday Cheer: I'm not a fan of most of the offerings Shiner puts out (the Shiner Black being the exception), but I love this beer! I think the slight peach flavor over the roasted pecan carmel flavor is awesome. You may think it's disgusting.
8. Oskar Blues Ten Fiddy: Yummm...it comes in a black can and pours darker than used motor oil. This Imperial Stout will keep you warm through the coldest parts of winter.
9. Deschutes Jubelale: Dark roasty warming. There's nothing too fancy about this beer, just a nice warming feel, a good pack of alcohol (6.7%) and something that just leaves a smile on my face.

There you go....a weird list of nine. I'd go on, but I'm getting lazy...drink 'em up before the holidays are over.

SXSW Update

Hard to believe that SXSW is less than 3 months away! The folks at SXSW let out a list of a few bands to whet your appetite. Ben Harper, Ra Ra Riot, Raol Malo and the Arc Angels are there.

The Austinist is keeping tabs on even more.

Probably no reason to read this blog anymore...well that and the fact I never update it...or rarely write anything interesting.

A Few Bands I'm Listening to:

Flyjack:A new soul, funk, horn band in Austin.

Dan Dyer: Another soulful white guy from Austin gives it a shot.

The Hold Steady: I love these guys. They have that energy that seems to be missing from Rock these days.

porterdavis: Folk, soulful, blues. Lots of sound from a band where the precussionist plays a box and other than a guitar it's a harmonica.

SXSW 2008 Wrapup

2008-03-19T21:17:00.005-05:00

Hey Sports fans! Welcome to the final SXSW recap.

I'm truly excited that I don't have to split time between SXSW and the Men's NCAA basketball tournament. While it may be easier to skip work when you can kill two birds with one stone, it sure stretches the fun out to have it on different weeks. The tournament starts tomorrow and I have cut my gambling to 2 pools and one team draft. I'm pretty sure I'm winning 2 of 3.

Go Longhorns!

SXSW Recap

The swag count:

10 free beers
5 free CDs
6 pieces of Sushi
1 giant clump of ribs
2 stickers
1 sweet BMI straw hat ala Bill Shirley
1 Fresh Playboy Magazine
1 Playboy Sweat Band

Not a bad count considering I was gone for 30 hours and sick on Saturday.

Yes, Saturday afternoon I was hurtin' for certain with a miserable cold. Yes, I was seriously thinking of hanging up the SXSW mantle forever. Yes, my SXSW streak had been broken and it made it easier to think that my nap was about the most fun I could imagine having the rest of the day.

I'm sure you can already guess that's not what happened. The difference between you and me is that I rallied. Rallying is always worth it, but you probably wouldn't know, because it's never happened to you.

Here's my story of rallying greatness:

While I was pleasantly napping on my couch, Ms. Knoxious was secretly drinking FREE Dogfish Head beer and watching Chuck Prophet AT THE SAME TIME! I had every plan for that to be my afternoon! See, The Ms. Knoxious and I had a bit of a row when I found out that when she said "I don't really feel like watching music this afternoon" that she really meant, "I'm going to see free music this afternoon after you've made plans". Yes, my congested head briefly exploded and I said something like, in summary, "Argghh...ahhhh...dammit...no you're going...I'm going to take a nap (and somehow watch the kids)". This, seriously, is the best thing that could have happened....I'm not kidding. My head was aching, my nose stuffed, my spirit broken.

Why was it good? I think you all know (or can guess) what happens when good ol' Bobnoxious gets a 2 hour power nap in front of basketball AND drinks a Dr. Pepper to get going (mmm...sugar and caffeine..."me corn holio"). Yes, the guy who graciously agreed to drive me home and the people between me and the band are going to wish they weren't.

The Play By Play (Times Appx.)

5:15 Keneshi. Free Sushi. Unfortunately, delicious Asahi Black is $6! Make that more free sushi. The band is Shurman. I sure wish the band was together and not just the bass player and guitar player. Not doing it for me this year.
5:45ish I invite everyone to come see Chuck Prophet with me. Find out they've already saw him, with my wife, drinking free Dogfish beer. I'm not mad...really....I enjoyed my nap...oh..and I get to see Chuck anyway.
5:50 I say as we're walking by Latitude 30, "Hey let's see the Wombats at that British Embassy thing we signed up for because it's right here". The Place is packed. The Wombats are a 3 piece, excellent Brit Indie pop ala The Cure. I really like the song Moving to New York. Hear it from last year.
6:00 Chuck Prophet at Bourbon Rocks....see why I'm not really mad. I'm drinking a Lone Star 16 oz just in case Lee-roy shows up and I can piss him off. He really needs to lighten up.
6:15 On the way to Lovejoy's (I had to make an appearance once), I hear horns...wait is it ska? I must go in. It's the South Central Skankers. They have TWO Trombones. "More Trombones" I scream. A Sierra Nevada Pale makes life good. Lee-roy and his m'lady are there.
6:45 Lovejoy's! Mmmm....homebrew. No smoke makes Lovejoy's very nice. I am sad I missed the band called "Miss Led" that just finished. Could they have been a Led Zeppelin tribute band? I'll guess I'll never know.
7:15 I am on way to Antone's to see porterdavis. I meet Todd Snider fans in line. They say I should join mailing list. Fuk-n-ay! Porterdavis is frickin awesome. Acoustic guitar, harmonica and ...ummm...percussionist. The percussionist has a drum head and a tambourine on his shoe and is amazing. See these guys if you can! My one Guinness enjoyed to its fullest.
8PM Bryan Scary and Shredding Tears. More "Fuk-n-ay!!" good times. We're at Esthers Follies. I'm having a nice Fat Tire in hand. Damn if this band isn't putting on the best visual concert...or should I dare say "Rock Opera"...since I saw the Flaming Lips. I'll explain them as Frank Zappa meets the Adams family meets Queen. 2 keyboards jamming and a tight set of key changes.
8:30 BLuna shows up with "free passes" to the Red Eyed Fly (and the Nosegref) . Yes, he's brought me the bathroom pass from the Red Eyed Fly in exchange for not dousing him in cologne as he did to me a year before. I agree. He exclaims about the Shredding Tears, "God Damn this is the best thing I've seen at all of SXSW!"
9PM Ha Ha Tonka at Red Eyed Fly. I don't yet need the free pass. Brian procures another so we can get it when it's real crowded. The Band is good. A Couple more beers is better. A free Sparks is...ohh god...it looks like beer but taste like alcoholic sweet tarts. It was free so I drink it all. I think it's an energy drink. Beware.
10PM "God dammit everyone follow me that wants to have fun...dammit", I implore. Sparks has me a twitter. The Victorian English Gentlemens Club at the Rio is ummmm....not good. No time for drink...must get to Carbon / Silicon.
10:15 Carbon/Silicon is at The Lone Star Lounge, some sweet sound stage for DirectTV concerts that seems to me to be in High Def in person. "MORE LONE STAR", I implore as I stick one in BLuna, Octopus Kid and Hodad's hands. "We're getting to the front gawd dammit", BLuna says. "Shit yeah", says I. O Kid says, "Don't wait for me." People get mad, but band is too damn good not to be having a great time. I am bouncing to "The News", their new smash hit...because I say so!
11PM Ezra Furman and the Harpoons. What a fun frickin band. Everyone that wants one is now getting Lone Stars from me. I make the girl in the vans dance cause she has Vans like me, but hers are the old school checker board ones. I do not care that I am the only one dancing. These guys are a blast.
12AM Whoo hoo! A line at the Red Eyed Fly! We get to use the bathroom passes. NO ONE is funnier than BLuna and me at this point. I'm still laughing about how cool we are. Yes, bathroom passes work like a champ. We are in for Firewater. I think I'm about 6 for 7 on "spank my ass", good time music. Firewater is great. It's another of those fantastic gypsy bands that lie between Devotchka and Gogol Bordello. MORE LONESTAR!!!
12:45AM I am farkin' effcellent. Thanks for asking! X!!! No not the drug, the band! X is awesome! Nosegref is in attendance to validate my claim that this is kick ass.
1:05AM Did some old dude just stage dive? Yes! No, it wasn't me. I don't think I could be that drunk again.
1:15AM One more song left for me to slam dance to....must slam dance...move out of my way people! "Bobnoxious is going slam dancing...whoo hoo! I am slam dancing! I am the king of SXSW! Slam dancing should be done more often!
1:38AM At Red-Eyed Fly with the Waco Brother...Hmm...no Bret....I wonder where my ride is? Look at phone "I'm leaving in 15 minutes" from 25 minutes ago....D'Oh! (Frantically dialing..."uh...hello...are you still downtown...yes! Sweet..and you'll pick me up? Yay!")
1:40AM Mmmmm...Hot dog stand...
1:41 AM Mmmm...hot dog.
1:44AM "Thanks for picking me up, Kid". "Is that Bret passed out in your front seat again?" I guess I'm the second worst passenger.
10:40AM Why do my ribs hurt? Damn I'm congested...mommy...help?!?

Once again the end of SXSW reels me in again, kicks my ass, and leaves me hoping it returns again soon. No wonder it Reminds me of Vegas! Anyone want to go to Vegas? I hear there's some basketball to bet on this weekend.

I Can't Sing, I ain't Pretty,....

2008-03-15T10:42:00.003-05:00

...and I feel like a bloated, congested turd.

It can only mean one thing...it's the last day of the SXSW and time for the Saturday preview.

I think it was ol' Bill Shirley's roommate, Con, who says you only have so many fun points per day and the more you over draw, the more you pay for it the next day. (ok not an exact quote, but the general idea). It's not a hangover, it's just nasty congestion and lack of sleep that has me blue.

So where did I use up the fun points? At Hank Sinatra's house party off of East Riverside. It's an awesome place, like what I remember from East Texas pig roasts I've attended in the past...BBQ Smoker, beer, and stage. It didn't seemed like the place you'd find a bunch of Brits, but 90% of the people talked funny, like the Queen of England. It really seemed that a real life Murray Hewitt (Flight of the Conchords) had been lead astry with bad booking for these people. Seems a contingent of British Bands had taken up residence in a rented house two doors from Hank and noticed his back yard would be awesome for a party....so they did. After the kegs ran out, they broke ouut that fine English beer, Old English Malt Liquor in delightfully sized 40 ouncers. I was trying to find a band called 'The Heavy' and had found about this place on their page. After much searching we found that they wouldn't be on until 7. I figured I'd miss them once again but we such a fine time we made it the needed 3 hours to seem the Heavy get it cranked up.

In between, we were very entertained by the collection of excellent all-name bands playing:

Peggy Sue and the Pirates (2 girls switching instruments and harmonizing. Neither was Peggy or Sue or a Pirate (I think we were all a bit disappointed about the pirate part...but the show was very good....yarr).
Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit
The Morning Benders

Speaking of Benders, Don took a bunch of pictures that I'll post soon.

The rest of the evening was pleasant, but no match for the afternoon. Started with some Pondersosa Stomp and Ralph Soul Jackson. I had a delicious pork sandwich in the back of the Continental, and watched Barbara Mason...all excellent.

Next was the dreaded hour of SXSW where I wander from club to club seeing sucky band after sucky band. I finally found a promising band at Buffalo Billiards, Castledoor, just about the time they strummed their last chord and said good night.

Muck and The Mires ended the dreaded hour nicely with reved up power pop that caused a few of us to twist the night away. A Smyticks was the proper tonic water.

A stop at Dr. Dog looked like a good time from the outside....and then Houston Bill finally got to see Kitty, Daisy & Lewis. A true family band who needs work on their set-up time. They finally got going 20 minutes late. They were very good, but there's something that weirds me out about family bands.

Limbeck and Scissors for Lefty were solid picks, but I could just not get into them...mostly because of a headache and exhaustion. We picked up a rather lit Bret Blooming twig at the Continental after Lance and I had a poor bike cab peddle us there. Since we almost killed him he asked for $20. It was still better than walking!

And finally my Saturday list:
[X] 08:00PM Frank Smith (Habana Calle 6 Patio)
[X] 08:00PM Duffy (Stubb's)
[X] 08:00PM Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears (Esther's Follies)
[X] 08:00PM Tift Merritt (The Parish)
[X] 09:00PM Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong (Emo's Main Room)
[X] 09:00PM Ha Ha Tonka (Red Eyed Fly)
[X] 09:00PM Bing Ji Ling (Club de Ville)
[X] 09:00PM Okkervil River (Stubb's)
[X] 09:40PM Mondo Topless (Soho Lounge)
[X] 10:00PM Justin Townes Earle (Red Eyed Fly)
[X] 10:00PM The Victorian English Gentlemens Club (The Rio)
[X] 10:00PM Roky Erickson (Stubb's)
[X] 10:00PM The Hush Sound (Spiro's Amphitheater)
[X] 10:00PM Carbon/Silicon (SXSW Live (The Lone Star Lounge) Austin Convention Center)
[X] 10:15PM Mac Arnold & Plate Full O' Blues (Smokin' Music presented by Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company)
[X] 11:00PM Attack in Black (Momo's)
[X] 11:00PM Mannequin Men (BD Riley's)
[X] 11:00PM Ezra Furman & The Harpoons (Habana Annex)
[X] 11:00PM Channel 3 (Red 7)
[X] 11:15PM The Donnas (Emo's Main Room)
(After midnight, Sunday morning)
[X] 12:00AM Firewater (Red Eyed Fly)
[X] 12:00AM Delta Spirit (Buffalo Billiards)
[X] 12:15AM Brownout (Club de Ville)
[X] 12:30AM X (Emo's Main Room)
[X] 01:00AM RX Bandits (Emo's IV Lounge)
[X] 01:00AM Dr. Dog (Emo's Annex)
[X] 01:00AM Was (Not Was) (La Zona Rosa)
[X] 01:00AM British Sea Power (Maggie Mae's Roof)

Friday SXSW Pre-Screem thread

2008-03-14T09:36:00.002-05:00

Thank you to all of you who have sent your thoughts and condolences. It is very heart warming and comforting to know so many people care about our family.

Last Night

Thanks also to all of you who bought a rather sober Bobnoxious a beer as I rushed into town to catch the shows on Friday. I hope you are ok today, Hodad. Whiskey tastes bad in morning son. I hope you didn't actually throw up in the cab.

Who would have thought a band named 17 Hippies would be late and slow. They crushed it once they got going and I now have a mad crush on the smokin' blond accordian player from Germany. Wunderbar!

Guitar shorty shredded Opal's with some fine blues the way it's supposed to be played, strolling through the audience with fingers flying on the fret board.

English Beat was worth the price of the wristband. Sorry for all the toes I stepped on bouncing about.

Blaggards dunked it. Thanks for the shoutout guys. I was the guy in the yellow shirt spinning like mad doing my fat guy Irish dance.

Bodeans: Solid.

FRIDAY

I'm pretty sure you can't swing a dead cat in the middle of Austin today without hitting a smoking showcase. I tried to pick the best out, but the same rules apply. Is it just me or is their a lot less people wandering about?

[X] 08:00PM Chris Pickering (The Tap Room at Six)
[X] 08:00PM The Golden Dogs (The Ale House)
[X] 08:00PM The Virgins (Cedar Door)
[X] 08:00PM The BoDeans (Auditorium Shores Stage (Lady Bird Lake))
[X] 09:00PM Chris Mills (Friends)
[X] 09:00PM The Chevelles (BD Riley's)
[X] 09:00PM The Builders and The Butchers (Club de Ville)
[X] 09:00PM Ladyfingers (Smokin' Music presented by Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company)
[X] 10:00PM Bearsuit (The Thirsty Nickel)
[X] 10:00PM Steve Poltz (18th Floor at Hilton Garden Inn)
[X] 10:30PM Junior Brown (Austin Music Hall)
[X] 11:00PM The Black Hollies (Friends)
[X] 11:00PM The Bo-Keys (Opal Divine's Freehouse)
[X] 11:00PM Vampire Weekend (Antone's)
[X] 11:00PM Muck and the Mires (BD Riley's)
[X] 11:00PM Chuck Prophet (The Ale House)
[X] 11:00PM Radio Moscow (Fado Patio)
(After midnight, Saturday morning)
[X] 12:00AM Foy Vance (Buffalo Billiards)
[X] 12:00AM The Downbeat 5 (BD Riley's)
[X] 12:00AM Trainwreck Riders (Fado Patio)
[X] 12:00AM Nakia & His Southern Cousins (Lamberts)
[X] 12:00AM The Vines (Pangaea)
[X] 12:00AM The High Class Elite (The Thirsty Nickel)
[X] 12:00AM DeVotchKa (Antone's)
[X] 12:00AM White Rabbits (Club de Ville)
[X] 12:30AM Limbeck (The Rio)
[X] 01:00AM King of Prussia (Light Bar)
[X] 01:00AM North Mississippi Allstars (Opal Divine's Freehouse)
[X] 01:00AM The English Beat (Momo's)
[X] 01:00AM The Legendary Shack Shakers (The Ale House)
[X] 01:00AM Lucero (Red Eyed Fly)
[X] 01:00AM Scissors for Lefty (The Thirsty Nickel)
[X] 01:00AM Joseph Arthur (Buffalo Billiards)

You can't go wrong with any of these....seriously. I seriously want to see all of them and it will be a game time decision where I end up.

The Ponderosa Stomp at the Continental is the closest thing to New Orleans heaven. It is always amazing to the see the R&B Gulf Coast stars from yore still bring a house down.

I have 5 pages of free parties to go through, but as always, I highly recommend the Bloodshot Records showcase at the Yard Dog Art on South Congress. Free beer.

The Yep Roc Showcase at the Dirty Dog will destroy this afternoon. Chuck Prophet should be seen by all.

Sin City at Maria's Taco X-press will slap you silly with some fantastic Americana.

I will also go past Hot Freaks and the Dell Lounge.

Man, I think I just wet myself with excitement. Lost time must be gained. Onward through the fog!

SXSW Thursday Calendar Thread

2008-03-11T22:21:00.002-05:00

Here's what my calendar looks like for Thursday. Same disclaimer as before. I'm not even sure what makes me pick some of these people or why they're on my list. Some were chosen when I was drunk others while I was working still others while I was home hiding from children. All different moods. There is no science, but I do try to put a decent amount of work and listen to the bands sites. Some I may have seen before and they kicked ass. Just spend 15 minutes and check out the sound clips!

Ah hell, here it is:

[X] 08:00PM The Perpetrators (Opal Divine's Freehouse)
[X] 08:00PM The Black (Dirty Dog Bar)

[X] 08:15PM The Whigs (Austin Music Hall)

[X] 08:30PM The Heavy (Elysium)

[X] 09:00PM LZ Love (Opal Divine's Freehouse)
[X] 09:00PM The Right Ons (BD Riley's)
[X] 09:00PM Alex Cuba (Copa)
[X] 09:00PM Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers (The Thirsty Nickel)
[X] 09:00PM Geronimo (Blind Pig Rooftop)
[X] 09:00PM Greg Koons (Stephen F's Bar)

[X] 09:15PM Tom Freund (w/ Ben Harper!)(Pangaea)

[X] 09:20PM Soiled Mattress & The Springs (Habana Annex Backyard)

[X] 09:30PM Peggy Sue & The Pirates (Friends)

[X] 10:00PM 17 Hippies (Momo's)
[X] 10:00PM Astra Heights (Lamberts Patio)

[X] 10:15PM Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (Fado Patio)

[X] 10:30PM Jill Barber (The Velveeta Room)
[X] 11:00PM Grupo Fantasma (Momo's)
[X] 11:00PM New Monsoon (Club 115)
[X] 11:00PM Martha Wainwright (Maggie Mae's)

[X] 11:30PM Carbon/Silicon (Friends)

[X] 11:40PM The Presidents of The United States of America (Cedar Door)
[X] 11:45PM The English Beat (Smokin' Music presented by Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company)

[X] 12:00AM Scott H. Biram (The Ale House)
[X] 12:00AM Old Man River (18th Floor at Hilton Garden Inn)
[X] 12:00AM The s.i.g.i.t (BD Riley's)
[X] 12:00AM Pierre Aderne (Copa)
[X] 12:00AM Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie (Momo's)

[X] 12:30AM Texas Eastside Kings (Lamberts)
[X] 12:30AM Sara Bareilles (The Parish)

[X] 12:45AM Blaggards (Fado Patio)
[X] 12:45AM Old 97's (Stubb's)

[X] 01:00AM The Wombats (Maggie Mae's Rooftop)
[X] 01:00AM The BoDeans (Bourbon Rocks)
[X] 01:00AM The Iguanas (Continental Club)
[X] 01:00AM Back Door Slam (Opal Divine's Freehouse)
[X] 01:00AM Black Mountain (Mohawk Patio)
[X] 01:00AM Darker My Love (BD Riley's)

Damn! That's some good stuff!

Slam dunk picks:
8:30 The Heavy
9:00 The Right Ons
10:15 Trombone Shorty
11:30 Carbon and Silicon
11:45 The English Beat
12 AM Geno Delafose
12:45 The Blaggards
12:45 Old 97's
1AM The Bodeans

Put in your picks now!

SXSW Pre-Wednesday Thread

2008-03-11T21:36:00.003-05:00

Even thought I'll be missing the Wednesday showcases at SXSW, I still did the research and I'd love to pass it on to you.

I hope the meeting of the annual meeting of the wristbanded still happens at Lovejoys at 7PM as is tradition. Be sure to take a picture!

So without further ado, here is the Wednesday clicks in my calendar:

[X] 08:00PM Black Joe Lewis & the Honey Bears (Emo's Main Room)
[X] 08:00PM The Service Industry (Light Bar)
[X] 08:00PM Foot Patrol (Beauty Bar)
[X] 08:00PM Phil and the Osophers (Mohawk Patio)
[X] 08:00PM Kalashnikov (Bourbon Rocks)
[X] 08:00PM The Chocolate Horse (Spiro's)
[X] 08:00PM Eric Hutchinson (18th Floor at Hilton Garden Inn)
[X] 08:00PM Matt King (The Ale House)

[X] 09:00PM Johnathan Rice (Stubb's)
[X] 09:00PM We Were The States (Light Bar)
[X] 09:00PM Graveyard (Bourbon Rocks)

[X] 09:15PM Abigail Warchild (Dirty Dog Bar)

[X] 09:30PM The Judy's (Austin Music Hall)

[X] 10:00PM Kitty, Daisy & Lewis (Latitude 30)
[X] 10:00PM Kanko (Opal Divine's Freehouse)
[X] 10:00PM Band of Thieves (Habana Annex)
[X] 10:00PM Kim Fontaine (Victorian Room at The Driskill)

[X] 10:30PM The Big Bang (The Tap Room at Six)

[X] 11:00PM Greta Gaines (The Ale House)
[X] 11:00PM Capsula (BD Riley's)
[X] 11:00PM Tammany Hall Machine (Momo's)
[X] 11:00PM Hey Negrita (Latitude 30)
[X] 11:00PM The Slits (Elysium)
[X] 11:00PM Earl Greyhound (Vice)
[X] 11:00PM Femurs (Maggie Mae's)
[X] 11:00PM Inner Visions (Flamingo Cantina)

[X] 12:00AM R.E.M. (Stubb's)
[X] 12:00AM Grand Ole Party (Emo's Annex)
[X] 12:00AM Harley Poe (Creekside EMC at Hilton Garden Inn)
[X] 12:00AM Alabama3 (acoustic) (Latitude 30)
[X] 12:00AM White Ghost Shivers (The Rio)
[X] 12:00AM The Black Angels (Bourbon Rocks Patio)
[X] 12:00AM Kush & Jah Bloodfiyah Angels (Flamingo Cantina)

[X] 01:00AM The Black Keys (Emo's Main Room)
[X] 01:00AM Mr. Lewis & The Funeral 5 (Light Bar)
[X] 01:00AM The Dicks (Elysium)
[X] 01:00AM The Aggrolites (Flamingo Cantina)

You'll have to do the legwork to see if you like any of them. There are alt-country, reggae, punk, rock, psycedelic rock, folk. The only hardcore punk is The Slits and The Dicks, but it's old school 70's punk. If you're a reggae fan I highly recommend the showcases at the Flamingo Cantina.

Bobnoxious Picks by the hour:
8PM Black Joe Lewis
9PM Jonaton Rice
9:30 The Judy's
10PM The Band of Thieves
11PM Tammany Hall Machine
12AM I could tell you R.E.M., but for some Reggae I'd check out the Bloodfiyah Angels.
1AM The Aggrolites.

Recommended Day Party Info

I will attempt to see a few lunch time shows before I get out of town. Feel free to Join me!

Austinist and Gothamist present "Gonna Gonna Get Get Down III"
Outside: 5 p.m. - Shout Out Louds, 4 p.m. - Shearwater, 3 p.m.- We Barbarians, 2:15 p.m. - Jukebox the Ghost, 1:30 p.m. - The Forms, 12:45 p.m. - Anathallo, noon - Nico Vega.

Inside: 4:45 p.m. - Liam Finn, 3:45 p.m. - Phosphorescent, 2:45 p.m. - Johnny Flynn, 2 p.m. - Pattern is Movement, 1:15 p.m. - A Place to Bury Strangers, 12:30 p.m. - The Bleedin Bleedins, 11:45 p.m., DJ Ceeplus Bad Knives

» Mohawk, 912 Red River Street, Austin, TX. Free and open to public. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
(Need a VIP pass here for free food and beer. Not so jazzed about he music here).

Donewaiting and the Midgetmen
1200-1230 El Jesus de Magico
1245-115 Goes Cube
130-210 Catfish Haven
225-305 Midgetmen
320-350 AA Bondy
400-430 Joseph Arthur
445-515 Division Day
530-615 Spinto Band
>> Creekside Lounge, 606 E 7th Street, Austin, TX. Free. FREE PABST BEER noon-6:30 p.m.
(An old co-worker of mine is running this one and plays in the Midgetmen. He promised he'd save some free Pabst for me I'll be here at 1:30 - 2 then head for Houston.)

The Guitartown/Conqueroo Party and Drew Glackin Tribute
Brent Best 9 p.m. Hacienda Brothers 8:15 p.m., Patty Hurst Shifter 7:30 p.m., The Silos 6:45 p.m., Blue Mountain 6 p.m., Chip Robinson/Eric Ambel 5:20 p.m., special guest 4:40 p.m., Jon Dee Graham 4 p.m., Shawn Mullins 3:20 p.m., Tom Freund 2:40 p.m., Chris Stamey 2 p.m., James McMurtry 1:20 p.m., Steve Polz 12:40 p.m., Eleni Mandell noon..

» Mother Egan's , 715 w. 6th Street, Austin, TX. Free and open to the public....

(don't know anybody running this but it's always a good lineup. I really want to see Steve Polz at 12:40).4)

Little Radio/Noisepop 2008 present 5:30 p.m. - The Octopus Project, 4:50 p.m. - Die! Die! Die!, 4:10 p.m. - White Denim, 3:30 p.m. - Restaurant, 2:50 p.m. - Two Gallants, 2:10 p.m. - Foreign Born, 1:30 p.m. - Brothers and Sisters, 12:50 p.m. - Tom Freund, 12:10 p.m. - Explorers Club, 11:40 a.m. - Brazos
» Red Eyed Fly, 715 Red River Street, Austin, TX. Free, Free Drinks 11 a.m.

(Free Drinks and a decent lineup...from what I know! I want to see Tom Freund at 12:10 and Brothers and Sisters here )

KGSR LIVE IN THE MORNING 6:30-9AM Four Seasons Lobby
Band Of Heathens
Whitley
Tom Wright
Mason Jennings
Margaret Moser
Dan Dyer
Mike Farris

Have Fun!

Carole Elaine Roberts Kratkiewicz (1959-2008)

2008-03-11T15:28:00.005-05:00

I thought it would be my 13th SXSW, not the 13th time I bought a wristband, that would be my bad luck year. I sensed it when they announced the new wristband policy and the bad karma that oozed out it. Alas, even though I have my wristband, my streak of 12 straight years of SXSW without missing a night is coming to an end in the 13th year of getting a wristband. All great streaks are made to be broken

As I stated in a previous entry, it would take one of the following to keep me away from a night of SXSW: My own death, a hospital stay (or severe illness), or a death in the family.

I'm sure you can guess from the headline that my streak has been halted by a death in the family. Carole Elaine Kratkiewicz passed away this weekend after a 16 year battle with Multiple Sclerosis. On Wednesday night I will be in Houston attending a visitation and a funeral on Thursday. Her obituary is in the Houston Chronicle today

I am mad (and very sad) not because of loss of fun, but because of the horrible disease that ravaged Carole.

When I first met her, Carole was an extremely active person who was running marathons. When she was diagnosed with MS, I had no idea what it was, or what would happen. Scientists are not sure what causes it, nor do they have a cure. Some people with MS only have infrequent muscle spasms, while others degenerate overtime so severely that they cannot control any of their voluntary muscles.

Carole was in the latter group. Nothing has been sadder to me than to see this energetic woman go from running marathons to not being able to walk, feed, or dress herself. It was amazing that she still kept a cheery, positive disposition about herself. It was truly inspiring. In fact, she was a huge inspiration for me when I decided to run a marathon and even bigger inspiration for finishing the MS 150 bike race from Houston to Austin. I am most proud that I was able to raise $1,500 dollars for the MS 150 to support research into a cure for MS.

I would ask that anyone who is looking for a good charity to contribute to the MS Chapter in your area. It truly is an awful disease that strikes down people in their prime (generally 20-40 years old). It is a slow killer that degenerates the nervous system, the mind, and crushes the soul and spirit. Well, I don't think it ever killed Carole's spirit, that's the only thing it left behind. She was cheery until the end.

There will always be another year of SXSW, but there will never be anyone like Carole.

Oh, and I still have 2 days of SXSW to cram 4 days worth of fun into. You've been warned.

5 Days and Counting

2008-03-08T11:05:00.003-06:00

My liver is cowering in fear and my brain is overloaded with the sounds of hundreds of catchy and pain inducing tunes smashing through my head. It must be SXSW week, the Spring break for hundreds of hipster dufuses like you and me!

What do I have in the Random pick vault today?

Foot Patrol I swear if you don't laugh at this you take yourself too seriously. Lighten up. It's cringe inducing, yes, but in the funny way The Office does it. I mean come on it's "the only foot fetish funk band in existence" with the added bonus of "...a pair of sexy androgynous cop dancers." Feet are funny.
Band of Thieves This band makes me want to stand shirtless in a field drinking beer waving my shirt over my head a shouting "Whooo". I don't know why. They seem like a decent replacement for the Black Crowes.
Dead String Brothers Need another Black Crowes replacement (who doesn't)? These guys from New York (and on Bloodshot Records) should do nicely.

Tank you very much...time to pre-work out the free beer.

REM on Austin City Limits

2008-03-06T18:53:00.003-06:00

What has two thumbs and two tickets to the REM Austin City Limits taping next week. That's right...this guy (pointing with 2 thumbs to chest). Exactly one week from today I'll be hanging with Michael Stipe and the boys, and fighting with hipsters for free beer.

No you can't have them. This will be the first time for me in the hallowed studios...and yes, I can't wait.

Actually, it's the work of the fabulous Ms. Knoxious who became a member of the REM fan club on an insider tip on how to get tickets to the taping. There's no bigger fan than Ms Knoxious, so it's only fitting. I think she has every album and a backup copy on CD.

Need I go on about how great the Ms. Knoxious is? She is one of the few women who would ever put up with my tomfoolery and actually seem to like it.

Here's the details:

R.E.M. HEADQUARTERS
MARCH 5, 2008
ATHENS, GA

Dear Ms. Knoxious,

Hello from the R.E.M. Fan Club!

R.E.M. would like to invite you and one guest (editor: hey that's me!) to attend their special performance for Austin City Limits on March 13th at 4:30 PM.

Please reply to this email as soon as possible (6:00 PM Thursday, March 6th, is the absolute deadline) and let us know if you are able to attend. In the body of your reply, please list the following:

1) Name
2) Whether you plan to attend
3) Telephone number (preferably cell)

A representative from Austin City Limits will get in touch with you by email or phone by this Friday, March 7th, with further details (studio location, arrival time, identification requirement, etc).

We hope you can join us on March 13th!

Sincerely,
David
R.E.M. Fan Club

In your faces be-atches! (And there will be free beer to fill me up). Whoot!

"You're Older than you've Ever Been"

2008-03-06T08:50:00.006-06:00

"And Now Your Even Older"

I decided to do a little SXSW warmup by taking the lovely Ms. Knoxious to They Might Be Giants last night at Stubbs. We met up with Lee-roy and his Secretly Evil keeper for many beers and head bopping. It was a mighty fine show except for the sound guy at Stubb's who doesn't know how to turn up the vocals and the best beer was Lone Star (16oz bonus beer at least). All that bouncing caused no old dude injuries. In fact I think I worked the kink out of my neck!

"And Now Your Even Older"

It wouldn't be 6 days before SXSW if you didn't get your daily dose of B-KRAP:

Kalashnikov Just in case you thought I was a Bush fan after my Hillary rant from yesterday, I give you this band and their song George Bush, Bin Laden, One Love, One Family. This is a long distance dedication from Shot Block Bill. His description of "If the Red Elvises ...were from Portugal, were more Political, and rocked a little more" is, as the British put it, spot on.
Ezra Furman & The Harpoons Here's one for the Octopus Kid. Mostly cause this guy reminds me of Robyn Hitchcock sitting in with the Violent Fems. This You-Tube clip of his obsession of Kristen Dunst, is damn funny and reminds me of one of ol' Lances's obsessions. Is there something in the water in Chicago that makes people's voices sound like that?

Thanks for wasting a few minutes of your time visiting...and remember

"Now you're older still"

Wow that's a minute of your life you you'll never get back.

President John McCain

2008-03-05T09:34:00.006-06:00

How does that sound to all of you people that voted for Hillary Clinton? Let me say it again. PRESIDENT JOHN MCCAIN. Can you hear it?

I hope that sounds good to all of you that voted for Hillary Clinton!

This is why is I can never fully support the Democrat Party. They insist on electing presidential candidates that I want to punch in the face! Mondale, Dukakis, Gore (oh Gore is the worst!), Kerry, and now Hillary Clinton. They all give me an uncontrollable urge to punch them in the face and I don't now why. I know I'm not alone. All you have to do is look at the winning record of the Dems over the past 40 years.

The newest scare tactic of the frickin' "3 AM phone call" commercial makes me sick. Way to pull a page out of the Republican scare tactics Hillary! Damn, we need to beef up education in this country.

As you can tell, I'm bitter that my state, the great state of Texas, has voted for Hillary Clinton. I hate losing! I'm livid and can hardly concentrate. Why won't she go away? Why can't everyone see that Obama is the best candidate out there?

I know, I know, Obama is probably going to eek this out, anyway. It's like watching the Longhorn Basketball team lose to Texas Tech. I was livid even though I know which team is going to the NCAA tournament and which one isn't.

Ah well, at least I got to vote for him twice.

In honor of my bad mood, I give you the following daily B-KRAP:

Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears I actually met these guys last year, but didn't get to see them play. I did get ton's of their free swag and they looked like they were going to put on one hell of a freak show. I like the glam-rock meets the Munsters thing they have going on. Kind of reminds me of the Democratic party (Obama being the glam-rocker).

Sweat A Little At SXSW

2008-03-04T10:47:00.003-06:00

Why don't people slam dance anymore?

Why don't they move?

Is this why no one attends live shows anymore?

A DJ can provide a beat if you want to dance, I guess.

My B-KRAP of the day seems to get what live shows are about, and that's why they're my pick of the day.

Abigail Warchild "Somewhere along the way in music’s constant transition, we forgot that the vacant area in front of stage is the ghost of a place where fans would previously dance around and bump into one another. And before our current music icons taught us that it was cool to feel sorry for ourselves (and sing about it), we’d go to shows clean and come home sweaty and inspired. Even now, at a show when a rare band keeps the BPM’s above heartbeat level, show goers consistently stand aloof, seemingly removed from even the most upbeat performances. Knowing this all to well, Abigail Warchild is a band that bring forth heavy songs and a stage presence that leaves onlookers little choice but to turn their bobbing into banging and actually take part in the show at hand. Abigail Warchild is a band of friends that never leave questions to how much they enjoy playing their music and have recently been inspiring the “who were those guys” question all over the East Coast.

So..they have inspired me on my quest this year. I'm going to see bands with jumping, thriving crowds of happy campers. Ones that inspire dancing. They've inspired me to shower everyday, but return home with a drenched t-shirt and pocket full of free CDs from bands that gave me a work-out.

More Previews

2008-03-01T14:57:00.002-06:00

I love the spring! It's 75 degrees, the trees are sprouting leaves, and SXSW is a mere 11 days away!!

I can smell the free beer from here! I've updated the links to the left so that you can find your favorite party. The Austin American-Statesman already lists 250 of 'em.

Here's the B-Krap of the day:

Johnathan Rice (Stubb's) The bio says it all: ""We're all stuck out in the desert and we're gonna die!" Coming through the speakers sounding like some strange love child of The Pixies and Country Joe And the Fish, it's the feel bad hit of the season. What I mean is, it's doomsday pop you can dance to."
Muck and the Mires (BD Riley's) This band reminds me of Dash Rip Rock and shows at BD Riley's always seem better. It must be the nice Guiness pours.
Nakia & His Southern Cousins (Lamberts) I think my quest this year will be soulful, southern rock. I'm still looking into it though. This guy is cropping up all over Austin, so he must be good.

More Wristbands Available

2008-02-28T10:07:00.003-06:00

Looks like SXSW wised up and decided to sell the remaining 600 wristbands at $139. It's first come first serve, but the same rules apply:

You still have to be an Austin residident
The credit card holder must use the wristband
You can buy one for an out-of-town guest.
You'll pick it up at the festival
Still no realistic refund policy.

If you're wishing you could get into to see the Austin City Limits Studio during SXSW, but have heard that the REM tickets will be nearly impossible, here's an interesting set of shows from the ACL studios put on by Seattle's public radio station KEXP. Go here for more info here.

Here's the schedule:
Friday, March 14
11:30am: Devotchka
1:30pm: The Breeders
3:30pm: Handsome Furs
5:30pm: Does It Offend You, Yeah?
7:30pm: Holy Fuck

Saturday, March 15
2pm: These New Puritans
4pm: Tapes 'n Tapes
6pm: The Raveonettes
8pm: Blitzen Trapper

Devotchka followed by the Breeders in the ACL studios! Free beer and BBQ would make it perfect (but I do not know if they have that)!

Eat Sushi and Rock with Shurman

2008-02-27T09:45:00.002-06:00

Little Pito has checked in from San Angelo to report that everyone’s favorite band from L.A., Shurman, is giving out free Sushi and rockin’ good times at Kenichi on Saturday March 15. Go here to get RSVP.

They’ll also be playing the Sin City Showcase at Maria’s Taco Express on Friday, March 14. This looks like one stellar lineup for the lover’s of fine American music (and good tacos).

12:30 - 12:50 Andrew Collberg
1:00 - 1:20 Austin Collins
1:35– 1:55 Dead Rock West
2:10 - 2:30 Collin Herring
2:45 – 3:05 Shurman
3:20– 3:40 Jesse Dayton
3:55 – 4:15 The Whipsaws
4:20 – 4:40 Tim Easton
5:00 – 5:20 The Mother Truckers
5:35 – 5:55 Band of Heathens
6:15 – 6:35 The Truckee Brothers
6:40 – 7:00 Steve Poltz
7:15 – 7:35 Patty Hurst Shifter
7:50 – 8:10 Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles
8:25 – 9:00 Heybale! W./ Redd Volkaert & Earl Poole Ball

Yes, this also means Josh is returning from the desert to regale us with stories of well-spent youth. Just don’t call him to find out where Maria’s Taco-Express is located. You’ll be lost on Lamar in a cab for 20 minutes! It’s at 2529 S. Lamar, by the way, just south of Oltorf.

The Random Ass Pick of the day:

Blaggards Stout Irish Rock from Houston. Think Pogues meet Johnny Cash.

Wristband Procured

2008-02-26T08:31:00.005-06:00

I deem the new way of distributing the wristbands as a great success. You may not remember that my simple definition of it being a success would be that I received one in the drawing, and I did! Whoot!

In fact, everyone who entered received one. Only 3,500 people entered out of the 4,000 they had set aside for Austinites.

That leaves a good chunk more for all of you out-of-town hipsters to strap on your arm. You'll be able to get one for $180 dollars when you show up.

Don't be shy now. Come to Austin, drink our beer, and spend your money.

Here's a sampling of some more SXSW artists in today's volume of B-KRAP:

The Service Industry Songs about being a waiter. Genius.
Bing Ji Ling I'm pretty sure this guy is starting the disco revival. Go to the myspace page and listen to Shook Me All Night Long. If you don't agree that it is the greatest AC/DC cover of all time, I just can't talk to you anymore.
The Virgins I think I just want to dance...MORE DISCO DANCING.
Mondo Topless The Frig-a-go-go pick of the year. It's not just the sound, but the fact that they have the sound and name that could induce streaking like the Frigg-a-go-go showcase some years back.