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The latest joint from Cali Agents.
Sunday, May 20th
Austin Spies Hip Hop: Cali Agents Headline A Night of Beats and Rhyme at Flamingo Cantina
I may be hip someday. I'm finally mentioning a hip hop band performing in Austin that isn't The Roots or De La Soul. But to my post-modern local street cred, I did interview Zeale 32 for INsite, as well as Little Brother and The Word Association two years ago for Whoopsy! Magazine. You could say I was ahead of the game. Word. Cali Agents are the 21st century's answer to The Pharcyde (yeah, I had to go there), bringing the def beats and irreverent yet intelligent rhymes that you may have missed on the radio.
Monday, May 21st
The Soul of John Black: The Dark Side
Black on A Blue Monday: Karaoke w/Nathan Black at Beerland, and The Soul of John Black at Flamingo Cantina
I wanted to mention this last week, but I think this week is a good time to mention that Austin has a Rock and Roll Karaoke Night at Beerland, hosted by Nathan Black, and featuring more than a 1000 songs- some of them indie rock classics. (I'm already practicing The Pixies "Where Is My Mind" in the shower.) There's no cover, and Beerland boasts a good bar, pool, and arcade games if you don't want to embarrass - I mean entertain - a crowd with a few of your inebriated friends. You can prove you're good enough for American Idol in the taxi ride home.
According to The Austin Chronicle, "former Fishbone guitarist John Bingham gets low-down as The Soul of John Black, gutting out the Good Girl Blues that even bad girls love". That's so nasty, and so nice. I missed Fishbone on tour recently, but I was thrilled with the fact that musical life goes on with Bingham. You'll probably get a kick out of the old school hip hop sound of L.A. Symphony, and the more classic take on R&B by the Bruce James Quartet. I'm not recommending dissing Antone's this week, but I must give props to Flamingo Cantina for bringing a cure for the common blues.
Rock & Roll Karaoke
Beerland
711 1/2 Red River
Austin, TX
10:00 pm
No Cover
The Soul of John Black
Flamingo Cantina
515 E 6th St
Austin, TX
Doors: 8:30
Minimal Cover
Tuesday, May 22nd
KEXP at The Mohawk Presents White Denim and The Cocker Spaniels
White Denim Workout. Photo by Aubrey Edwards
The Cocker Spaniels - Sean "Rock Star" Padilla @ SxSW '06. Photo by Bri Draffen
As a fan of these two Austin-based bands, I'm excited about the buzz surrounding both, and the release of White Denim's EP, "Let's Talk About It". And it only took a radio station in Seattle to put this show together at The Mohawk. I first heard White Denim at The Carousel last summer, then again at Emo's lounge, and I must express an urge to experience the crunk, controlled chaos again soon. I could go on and on about the brilliance of the lyrical storyteller that is The Cocker Spaniels, and about how brilliant his forthcoming LP will be, but I'll just end this with the fact that the cover is only $2 ($4 if you're under 21), and you'll want to be there to say you were there before the big buzz.
KEXP Presents/A Hot Freaks! Event
w/White Denim and The Cocker Spaniels
The Mohawk Residency
912 Red River
Austin, TX
Doors 8:00 pm
Show: 9:00 pm
Tuesday, May 22nd
The Seas
Beerland Presents: The Seas and The Snafu Kitties
Your attendance is also suggested at Beerland for live music. The Seas (members of the former band The Shim Shams) take the stage early at 10:00 with melodic and trippy rock, followed by the eclectic pop jazz of The Snafu Kitties, which features members of Manager's Choice and The Simple Pleasures. This is my first time hearing of the band, and I like what I hear so far.
The Seas and The Snafu Kitties
Beerland
711.5 Red River
Austin, TX
Minimal Cover
10:00 pm
Wednesday, May 23rd
Wait a minute...
Barack Obama for President: It Could Happen!
While browsing The Austin Chronicle I stumbled upon this event: A benefit for the Presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama, featuring Brother James, Shotgun Party, Mostly Dead, and two other bands TBA. I half-joked to a friend that I hope there's no assassination attempt on our future leader based on the names of the last two bands mentioned. I'm that hopeful about him.
Texans for Obama, hosted by Councilman Mike Martinez
Broken Spoke
3201 S Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX
$10 Suggested Donation
Thursday, May 24th
The Legendary Pinetop Perkins "Born in the Honey" Release Party at Antone's
The CD release show of the legendary blues man, with biopic DVD, "Born In The Honey: The Pinetop Perkins Story". Mr. Perkins' performance will include Hubert Sumlin. They'll share the stage with Gary Clark, Chris Layton, Scott Nelson, and Riley Osbourn, and legendary slide guitarist Buddy Flett.
The show is also a part of Clifford Antone Week, celebrating the birthday of the club's founder who passed away last year. Mr. Antone happens to be from my neck of the woods, and there is an Antone's in Beaumont, TX.
Antone's
213 W. 5th St.
Doors: 7:00 pm
Show: 8:00 pm
Tickets: $12 General Admission
$30 Seated
Friday, May 25th
New Orleans Metal Kingpins: Crowbar
Lose Control with Metal Mayhem at Red 7
This is the official news, courtesy of INsite Magazine:
(Austin, TX US)--On May 25th and 26th METAL FREAKTRESS PRODUCTIONS AND 101X 'NO CONTROL' PRESENT: MAY
METAL MAYHEM on two stages at RED 7 in Austin, TX!
This all-star line-up of Texas metal bands and special guests, CROWBAR and VALUME
NOB, promises to be THE Memorial Day weekend party for those with a thirst for the
heavier riffs and screaming vocals.
Legendary sludge/doom metal pioneers, CROWBAR will headline Friday's show bringing
VALUME NOB along for the ride and a host of Austin's heaviest bands will be lending
local support including BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY, HATCHETWORK, DISFIGURED and more.
Saturday's show kicks off at 5:30PM with a Free Barbecue, Wings, and Beer party,
compliments of fest promoters, Tammy Moore, Chuck Loesch, and PLUCKERS. Austin's
BANGLADESH and Dallas' JACKNIFE will headline the indoor and outdoor stages,
respectively, and 14 more of Texas best metal bands will be on hand for the event
including SHRAPNEL, COURSE OF RUIN, NEGATIVE 263, LOKEY, ANGERKILL, and many more.
Fest promoters are also proud to announce that SHRAPNEL's appearance will be their
first since recovering from having all their gear stolen on New Year's Eve this
year.
Fest attendees can pay $20 at the box office and receive wrist bands good for Friday
and Saturday as well as Saturday's kick off party or pay $15 Friday night and $10 on
Saturday. Red 7 is an ALL AGES venue and is located at 611 E. 7th St in Austin, TX.
May Metal Mayhem's line up:
FRIDAY, MAY 25 - DOORS 7PM
INSIDE STAGE:
CROWBAR (NEW ORLEANS) 12:30
VALUME NOB (NEW ORLEANS) 11:30
BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY 10:30
HATCHETWORK 9:30
PREY FOR SLEEP 8:30
OUTSIDE STAGE:
WILL TO LIVE 12:00
INDISGUST 11:00
DISFIGURED 10:00
MANIFESTATION 9:00
CAST IN GREY (HOUSTON) 8:00
SATURDAY, MAY 26 - DOORS 5:30 - BARBECUE, WINGS, AND BEER KICK OFF PARTY!
INSIDE STAGE:
BANGLADESH 12:45
RECOMMIT (DALLAS) 12:00
SHRAPNEL 11:15
COURSE OF RUIN 10:30
LOKEY (SAN ANTONIO) 9:45
CARBIDE 9:00
LUG 8:15
SLOW THE KNIFE (BEAUMONT) 7:30
OUTSIDE STAGE:
JACKNIFE (DALLAS) 12:15
WAR WITHIN 11:30
DEAD EARTH POLITICS 10:45
NEGATIVE 263 (ABILENE) 10:00
BROTHERHOOD (SAN ANTONIO) 9:15
ANGERKILL (SAN ANTONIO) 8:30
REND 7:45
DEAD BY KNIGHT 7:00
And on the lighter side...
Voxtrot LP Release Party @ Emo's - Yay!
If you haven't been living under a rock for the past year, then you know this is going to be a big show, and for a Voxtrot CD - a self-titled LP out Tuesday, May 22nd. And it's already receiving critical kudos.The opening bands are quite stellar too, including one of my very favorites, Zykos. Read the interview in The Austin Chronicle, buy your ticket, and enjoy. Oh, and check out the documentary about the making of the first LP by Elizabeth Skadden, member of Finally Punk.
Emo's
603 Red River
Austin, TX
Show: 10:00
$10/All Ages
Bring it on, bring it on.
Saturday, May 26th
Emo's Presents Melt-Banana, with XBXRX and Finally Punk!
This is another case of being torn between suggesting the attendance of only one of three shows - metal, punk, and Morrissey. Just another great weekend of music in the live music capital...
A lot of people slept on the Aviador Dro appearance at Flamingo Cantina last year (shame, shame). But I'm sure this won't be the case this time with the legendary noise band from Japan. I'll even make a bet that Melt-Banana's appearance will be mentioned in the next edition of The Austin Chronicle. If they aren't listed in the Recommended or Roadshows section, then I will buy and listen to The Killers album. (My fingers are crossed.) Melt-Banana is already in San Diego with XBXRX. After stopping at Rubber Gloves (Denton, TX), where Count Dracula's Weed Smuggling Jam Engine will open on Friday, Melt-Banana continues the western leg of their "Bambi's Dilemma" U.S. Tour at Emo's. Local little darlings Finally Punk open on the outside stage.
Emo's
603 Red River
Austin, TX
Doors: 8:00 pm
Show: 10:00 pm
$8/All Ages
The Last of the Gang to Die: Morrissey Comes Back to Austin
We all want more Morrissey, and I hope La Snacks drummer Jamey Matte finally gets to see him live after a couple of missed opportunities. The man is legendary (there's a lot of use of that word this week, "legendary"). From his fronting The Smiths eons ago, to orchestrating a "comeback" that involved huge music festivals instead of small venues as is customary. Morrissey proves that this wasn't really a comeback feat, but a triumph of good taste. Opening is rock vocalist and pianist Kristeen Young. She's so cool, she doesn't have a MySpace profile.
The Backyard
Austin, TX
Tickets Still Available
Fin.
