[Kill The Critic] The Independent Entertainment Blog [Film-Theatre-Comedy]

The Austin Cinematheque presents a free 35mm screening of Claire Denis' BEAU TRAVAIL @ Texas Union Theatre - Mon. 10/17, 8pm

2011-10-17T11:30:00.000-05:00

The Austin Cinematheque takes off where Cinematexas of the 60s, 70s, and short film showcase of the 90s revival left off, acquiring and screening rare 35mm films, free and open to the public. If my memory of high school English lit class is correct, tonight's screening of Claire Denis' adaptation of Billy Budd (a novella by Herman Melville), will be an intense experience.

In the visually arresting Beau Travail (1999), a former Foreign Legion officer recalls his illustrious career in Africa. The 1999 French film also boasts exceptional performances. To guarantee optimal seating, arrive early for the free 8pm screening at Texas Union Theatre.

2009-03-11T23:24:00.008-05:00

'Fences' Makes A Good Austin Neighbor

August Wilson masterpiece now playing at City Theatre through Sunday, March 22nd

Let's be real: Tyler Perry is popular and entertaining, but he's no August Wilson. Since childhood I've been aware of Wilson's dramatic plays, full of history and folklore that is part of the African-American experience still largely untold. I've rented a good film adaption of The Piano Lesson, but never had the opportunity to see any of the late playwright's "Pittsburgh Cycle" or "Century Cycle" works live till now, thanks to City Theatre's adaptation of Fences.

According to a review @ Austin Live Theatre: "The City Theatre production of August Wilson's Fences is powerful, intelligent, deep, universal and fully realized. It is by far the most impressive modern drama staged to date in this Austin theatre season. This is theatre not to be missed."

It's playing two more weekends, Thursday through Saturday (8:00 pm), and on Sunday (5:30 pm). There's a "pay what you can" promotion on Thursdays, with group discounts available. General admission is just $15 ($12 for students), with guaranteed front row seating for $25. For more information contact City Theatre.

The City Theatre

3823 Airport Blvd.

Austin, Texas 78722

512-524-2870

info@citytheatreaustin.org

http://www.citytheatreaustin.org/

2009-03-11T23:11:00.005-05:00

MakeMusic TalkMusic Interactive Party Premieres Video Shorts
Video Projections by Austin Filmmakers @ Beauty Bar - Sat. 3/14

In in addition to live music and interactive demo, the party happening during SXSW Interactive announced three short film programs to be projected this weekend at the Beauty Bar.

"For your viewing pleasure: An original short program from exciting Austin filmmaker BLACK MAGIC ROLLERCOASTER opens MakeMusic TalkMusic; eclectic media & visual art by Totally Wreck Production Institute, and a surprise short selection from M.A.L.I. Women's Film & Performance Arts Festival also screen throughout the night. M.A.L.I. Representatives will be present to talk about the 9th annual event happening in May."

The event is co-sponsored by DIY Danna Communications, publishers of KTC. Admission is free, and complimentary drinks provided for a limited time, plus an all-night drink special, courtesy of Three Olives Vodka. You may view DIY Danna's press release for more information.

Screening times above, on flier.

MakeMusic TalkMusic Presents:
World Premiere Short Video Program

10 pm Saturday, March 14

Beauty Bar
617 E. 7th St
Austin, TX 78701

2008-12-05T14:01:00.004-06:00

Austin Underground Film Festival Announced

3rd Annual Festival @ Salvage Vanguard Theater
Friday, December 19th

From the press release yesterday:

"In their ongoing mission to excavate the greatest finds in subterranean sinema history, the archaeologists behind the 3rd Annual AUSTIN UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL have delved deeper into the darkest recesses of the global brain's collective unconscious than ever before to bring you stop-motion Argentinian graffiti bombings, Mexican revenge odysseys, Maltese gypsy documentaries and frank portraits of disaffected Parisian youth. Tales of animated lunacy, feminist go-go dancers and gore-soaked backyard kung fu epics will scorch your eyeballs from their sockets as you beg for a swift and merciful death which will never come. Then, just when ou're nihilistically adrift in the final throes of a celluloid-induced existential crisis and questioning all that you hold dear, they rescue you from the brink of the abyss and restore your faith in the fundamental decency of the human race with sketch comedy noir, no-budget 80s music video kitsch and Iranian love stories set in warn-torn Afghanistan. Usher in the new year with classic retrospectives, studies in obscurantism, and brand new stick figure pathos by the master Don Hertzfeldt, plus tributes to Metal Slug, William Burroughs and Don Knotts.

Ryan Sambol, The Strange Boys @ Emo's Lounge 24/11/07 (Photo by Danna Williams)

Rock 'n' roll after party with HACIENDA, whose new album, produced by The Black Keys, has the critics gasping for superlatives, and THE STRANGE BOYS, whose new album Austin Scaggs of Rolling Stone describes merely as "the shit." B.Y.O. Beer, Liquor, 'Tussin, or whatever poison
gets your teenage kicks. Mingle with starving filmmakers! Drink wine from a cup inside one of East Austin's premiere venues! Observe real-life hipsters in their natural habitat and gain their trust by dropping words like "parallax" and "verite" until you move freely among them and feel like a discriminating member of the cognoscenti!"

With falafels by Ararat and cookies by Starlet Sweets. Salvage Vanguard Theater doors open at 6pm, pre-show 6:30, films @ 7:00. BYOB after party with The Strange Boys and Hacienda.

Read about The Strange Boys, from Rolling Stone on Dec. 3rd '08:
http://www.rollingstone.com/blogs/smokingsection/2008/12/our-new-favorite-band-the-stra.php

All ages, limited seating, advance tickets available now at www.AustinUndergroundFilm.com. Get directions here.

Mark your calendars for an engaging evening of local underground film culture.

2008-12-04T11:30:00.010-06:00

KTC Movie Challenge!

Swedish Sleeper 'Let The Right One In' vs. Mega-hyped 'Twilight'

Let The Right One In is arguably the best horror/thriller film of 2008. It was one of our picks for Fantastic Fest in September (ultimately winning the Best Horror Feature prize), and it is receiving a little buzz from critics and lucky festival circuit attendees. (See 98% approval rating @ Rotten Tomatoes.) The Swedish import is a vampire story wrapped in a universal story about children growing up - facing bullies, wanting revenge - and an endearing tween romance. The movie is a deft adaptation by the author of the novel Let Me In, John Ajvide Lindqvist, and it opened to general audiences on November 10th. If you miss the limited release at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (South Lamar), buy the book at stores like BookPeople or Borders, then buy the film on DVD or Blu-Ray - or see it at the nearest discount cinema if you're lucky enough to have one in your area. It hasn't been confirmed, but the movie may be in development as an American adaptation in 2010, which means I'll probably recommend you skip it in favor of the original in a couple of years.

But as great as it is, Let The Right One In isn't a box office match for Twilight, the highly publicized movie starring an up and coming hipster hottie and based on a Y.A. novel series by Stephenie Meyer. My sister's teen step-daughter who visited with us after Thanksgiving Day wanted to see the movie, but like me, she's compelled to read the book(s) first. So my brother-in-law bought her a couple of the books from the nearest Wal-Mart last weekend. Maybe we can see the movie when she returns to visit at the nearest discount cinema, because as curious as I am about the movie, I refuse to pay full price only to want a refund. (See 44% approval rating @ Rotten Tomatoes.) I'm vaguely familiar with the film's (and book's) premise: a likeable teenage heroine in love with a vampire disguised as a high school student who must contend with a rogue band of vampires as well as his own lust for blood.

Like TTYL, I'm sure the Twilight books are destined to be banned at Round Rock, TX schools soon, but kids (and adults) can buy it at BookPeople or Borders too. Twilight the movie is good enough for big budget Hollywood and audiences who want lots of action and teen hormone heat, but don't want any subtle surprises in a horror flick. However, if you want something of substance that will challenge your concept of what makes a good - or great - horror movie, then skip the publicity plagued teenage fantasy and see a movie destined to become a timeless horror classic - Let The Right One In.

KTC Ratings

Let The Right One In

(4 out of 5 swords)

Twilight

(2 out of 5 swords)

Have fun at the movies this weekend, whatever you watch.

Addendum: After a short debate, we've decided to nix the half sword ratings. When the mood strikes us, we'll post movie challenges on Thursdays - at least once a month. It's been a while since our last blog about all things movie related, so look for a Sweet Release blog soon... Next Tuesday?

2008-09-25T13:11:00.002-05:00

See Three of the Most Popular Films of Fantastic Fest 2008 - for Free

Yes, according to a very reliable source, Fantastic Fest will host three films on Sunday, 28 September at the Alamo South, and it's free to the public - first come, first served.

Here's a little visual teaser of all three:

Let The Right One In (Swedish Horror) 4:05 pm - A grisly tale of a bullied boy and the secretive girl who befriends him.

Chocolate (Thailand Action) 7:00 pm - A martial arts flick portraying an autistic woman seeking revenge. (From the director of Ong-Bak.)

Donkey Punch (Australian Thriller) 10:00 pm - What happens when seven young people party too hard and don't make the right decisions after an accident.

Check out the official blog for more details.

2008-09-23T00:45:00.006-05:00

Sweet Release Tuesday: Beyond "Sex and the City" Movie/DVD Fever

Go, Simon, Go!

I'm keeping this week's new DVD release update short and sweet, and not even starting with the movie that beat out the typical action/adventure summer blockbusters for box office gold. No, I'd rather discuss two other movies first - helmed by actors/writers and actors/directors.

There's something about the multi-talented Simon Pegg that impresses and entertains me. His brand of humor (as a comedian, actor, writer, director, and producer) is a wildly successful U.K. export (see Shaun of the Dead - my favorite movie of 2004, and on my all-time favorites list). Pegg has achieved cult hero status among film geeks in Austin, appearing at the marathon of his Channel 4 series "Spaced" at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Ritz), dubbed Spaced-Numb-A-Thon. He continues building his writing cred and exercises his comedic acting muscles in Run, Fatboy, Run, which appears to be (loosely) based on a late '70s film Running. Pegg teams up with American buddy and "Friends" alumnus David Schwimmer, who does more than a decent job as director of Fatboy, and I look forward to their next project behind - and in front of - the camera.

Pegg plays Dennis, an irresponsible, commitment-phobic man who jilt his pregnant fiancee at the alter, and tries to win her back by committing to training and running a marathon. The casting seemed a bit odd at first, with considerably older Hank Azaria playing Pegg's romantic foil, and the graceful Thandie Newton's Libby seems a bit out of fatboy's league. Maybe I shouldn't be so snobby, so I'm recommending to buy Run, Fatboy, Run or adding it in your top 10 on the Netflix queue if you can't rent a copy from a favorite local video store, like I ♥ Video, or Vulcan.

KTC Rating: 3 out of 5 (Spots of brilliance, but not Pegg's best work.)

Average Critc & Audience Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I've been impressed with George Clooney ever since he directed Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002, starring Sam Rockwell as "Game Show Producer/CIA Hitman" Chuck Barris), and co-wrote and directed the understated (and brlliant) story of Edward R. Murrow vs. McCarthyism, Good Night and Good Luck. With his third feature, Leatherheads, Clooney chooses a physically tougher and intellectually lighter subject, about the early days of gridiron, pro football. When I watched the preiviews, I knew it would probably have trouble at the box office, and not just because of the oddball love triangle between characters played by Clooney, Renée Zellweger, and John Krasinski (Jim Halper, "The Office"). I'm a fan of all three actors, but I can't say I'm a big fan of the story and overall execution of the adorably plucky historical comedy. Leatherheads got panned (or ignored) by many critics, also a bad sign at the box office if you're part of the Hollywood elite.

The story of Leatherheads is simple: Set in the roaring 1920s, a golden college footballer is recruited by a coach, an injured has-been, and they spend the next hour and a half or so love tackling the not so innocent ingenue, the goldenboy's fiancee. But it's really about the early, rough and no rules ways of American football. I'm not a sports fan, let alone a sports movie fan, so this one doesn't get extra points for appealing to my romantic comedy side.

KTC Rating: 2.5 of 5 (Forgettable at the box office, but a decent rental.)

Avg. Rating: 3 of 5

I want that dress.

I won't bore you with details about Sex and the City: The Movie, now on DVD. Buy it, or rent it if you spent too much money at the shoe department at Macy's, throw a cocktail party and guess which one of your friends is like Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, or Miranda.

KTC Rating: 3.5 of 5 (Good, but don't expect it to be like the HBO series.)

Avg. Rating: 6 of 5 - kidding - 4 of 5

Next Week's Sweet Release: Iron Man!

~ diy danna

2008-09-19T16:45:00.011-05:00

Fantastic Fest 2008 Picks - and Pans (Part 3)

The Best and Worst of the Festival, 18-25 September

Like any art, a film's beauty is subjective, and KTC's attempts to suss out the beauty (and beasts) of a growing festival is just one more subjective exercise. So far we've covered AMD's next wave, comedy, documentary, drama, fantasy, horror, ozsploitation and Alamo's signature events. Take a look at our blog for those picks and pans if you're still undecided about which movies to see during Fantastic Fest 2008, now in it's second day of eight. And don't forget to consult the festival's official guide or the customizable schedule to see your favorites.

Today we're making our final picks - and pans - from the remaining genres: Pinku, Science Fiction, and Thriller, plus the hot parties happening throughout the fest. Blog by diy danna.

Pinku

The Japanese pink film gets a thorough exploration, to the pleasure and titillation of Asian film lovers. Pink films were popular cinema from the 1960s through the 1980s, ranging from small independent to major studio productions. Alamo South hosts a "Behind The Pink Curtain" Retrospective, screening four films with softcore pornographic elements, introduced by author and pink film scholar Jasper Sharp. The genre is still around, and now American audiences will get to experience the glory of it - past and present - thanks to DVD exports and film festivals like this one.

Pinku Picks

All Four films are worth seeing, although I struggled with the "udderly" mad plot of A Lonely Cow Weeps At Dawn (2003) and extremely politically incorrect storyline of S&M Hunter (1986 - the zenith of pink cinema). The real gems appear to be early pink films with female protagonists who seek revenge, Blue Film Woman (1969), or self-discovery, Gushing Prayer (1971). But the avant-garde camera work and editing of nudity and sex scenes are what audiences may remember the most. The retrospective begins next Monday. Check the guide (pg. 82) for times, or consult the online schedule for screening times.

Science Fiction

After a sci-fi disappointment in the box office this year (the X-Files movie won't be winning any Hollywood honors), it's good to know independent filmmakers are chalenging themselves to make the kind of movies that don't typically win awards from IFC either. I haven't seen a good science fiction movie in quite a while, so I look forward to seeing what Fantastic Fest has to offer in 2008.

Pick

The near-future big brother tale of conservative politicans dealing out a final solution to perceived economic problems in How to Get Rid of the Others (2007, Denmark) is not so farfetched. Add satirical, black humor and you may have one of the very best films of the festival. See it Thursday 25/9 at 2:30 pm.

Pan

The advance screenings of Alien Raiders (formerly Supermarket 2008, USA) is good analogy for how America deals with terrorists, or a presumed alien threat to our way of life - or life period - but I can't seem to be reminded of a similar Robert Rodriguez film, set in a high school. I still miss the good old fashioned intergalactic battles between good and evil sci-fi flicks, but this subtle nod to creature features of the 1980s, and the menace of aliens and our own forces could be a worthy substitution for other moviegoers. Director Ben Rock (real name) will be there at screenings on Sunday 21/9 at 11:55 pm and Wednesday 24/9 at 9:15 pm.

Thriller

Aside from the comedy, drama, and fantasy, thrillers have been something I look forward to seeing - indie and Hollywood produced alike. Most Hollywood thrillers haven't been so... thrilling, with predictable plot and characters. Some of us see the twists coming 30 minutes into a 90 minute thrill ride. My expectations for a good thriller are high - I like being entertained by some movies to the point of gasping in amazement. (Maybe because I don't do deathgrip amusement park rides.)

Pick

It's a tie. The crime thriller Surveillance (2008, USA) features an actor often mistaken for two - or three other fine character actors, Bill Pullman, and an actress who wowed me in Smilla's Sense of Snow, Julie Ormond, both portraying FBI agents on the track of a serial killer. The comparisons to Rashomon, and the fact that Jennifer Lynch (David Lynch's daughter) directs are what ultimately intrigue me. The brutality of the direction of the suspense and brutal scenes may utimately intrigue audiences who won't overlook Surveillance in favor of the groomed blockbuster Eagle Eye. Showing today at 7:00 pm and Thursday 24/9 at 1:30 pm. The Good, The Bad, and The Weird (2008, South Korea) is all at once homage and completely surreal take on the epic western, Asian style. The characters will stand out as much as the unforgettable setting in this thrilling cinematic escape. Screening today at 6:25 and Tuesday 23/9 at 3:30.

Pan

Left Bank (2008, Belgium) is probably not a bad film, but the mysterious circumstances of a a previous tenant's disappearance, and a young woman uncovering unsavory pasts seems like previously chartered territory I don't want to explore. Showing Saturday 20/9 at 2:15 and Tuesday 23/9 at 1:30.

Parties

Alamo Drathouse Cinema knows how to throw a party, and they have special parties for VIP badge members, and other lucky festival attendees. We've already mentioned the Donkey Punch movie boat party, but we'd also like to mention the Return of Fantastic Feud on Sunday 21/9 at 11:30 pm. After a day of gorging on cinema, stick around for a visual trivia terror mini-fest, hosted by an expert. And there's more! The Fantastic Debates Party are for true film geeks who verbally battle over hot topics like horror remakes and superhero movies. It could get ugly... happening Tuesday 23/9 'round midnight. Get Lit: Closing Night Cave Party at Longhorn Caverns near Burnet, Texas will be a trip to remember - or not remember too well depending on how lit you get. Think Vodka, Red Bull, and DJs jamming. Get on the bus at 9:30 on Thursday, 25/9 and get lit all night long!

Some parties may require VIP or film badges, and attendance at screenings and parties may be restricted for ticket holders. Please check with Fantastic Fest's official site and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema management for details.

See you at the movies!

~ diy danna

2008-09-18T17:01:00.014-05:00

Fantastic Fest 2008 Picks - and Pans (Part Two)

We Continue With Our Best and Worst of the Festival, 18-25 September

Yesterday KTC picked and panned official selections of "America's best genre festival", including a short list of AMD New Wave, Comedy, and Documentary films, ending with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema's beloved Signature Series. Today we dive into four more genres, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, and Ozsploitation. We strongly recommend referring to the official Fantastic Fest '08 guide or customizable schedule to ensure you won't miss the following picks (or pans).

Drama

KTC Pick

As soon as I read the description, I knew it could be as entertaining as the first and last time I watched "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover", or "Like Water For Chocolate" in a theatre. Estômago - A Gastronomic Story (Brazil, 2008) may be the dramatic darling of the festival. A prisonaer with a talent for giving gastronomic pleasure becomes a chef in a Brazilian prison. This is a multi-layered tale of life, love, and murder inside and outside prison walls that I am compelled to recommend. There's something about fine film and food that makes the world a better place, so this film and the Alamo South make it 100 minutes of utopia. Estômago plays Saturday, 20/9 at 11:30 am and Tuesday, 23/9 at 6:20 pm.

KTC Pan

Belgium drama export Ex-Drummer might be one of the darlings of the festival among the nihilistic crowd that takes pleasure in humor at the expense of others perceived as weak, but it's unappealing to me. I love punk music, and the premise about two disabled men adding a celebrity author (and drummer) to their band, called The Feminists (cool name) seems alluring enough. But the more I knew about the elements of drama, humor, and violence, the less I wanted to watch.

Fantasy

I couldn't believe it, but this genre appears to be lightweight in this year's festival at first glance. More gore and less whimsy seems to be the preference, but the four fantasy selections are heavyweight contenders for best of fest.

Pick

Iceland is one of my dream countries to live in - or at least visit for at least a month. I love it for bringing up Björk and Sigur Rós, and now I love it for bringing us Astropia, where pop culture meets comic book geek fantasy. It's a good old fashion battle between good and evil, with a mystical comic book store as the portal to another realm. From the stills, the actor portraying the heroine Hildur slightly resembles Uma Thurman. See it today at 9:30 or Wednesday, 24/9 at 4:05 pm.

Pan

After careful review and consideration, I couldn't come up with a pan in this genre. All four films seems like excellent exercises in fantasy, in particular the graphic design shorts of Fear(s) of The Dark. See all four films if you can fit it in your schedule.

Horror

Personally, my least favorite genre, with the exception of clever, satirical films that happen to have a horrifying, nightmarish premise. Maybe it's all the blood and guts you see in most American films that usually turn me away from the genre.

Pick

It was a tough call, so I decided to keep it a tie. Art of the Devil 3 (a prequel to a series I haven't seen - yet) and Wicked Lake are my mystic nightmare picks. Made in Thailand, Art of the Devil, has a message behind the gruesome violence - something about being careful what you practice - in this case, black magic. American made Wicked Lake takes a more blunt approach, with nudity and gross violence wielded by four revenge-seeking wiccan lesbians. Not sure what the lesson to be learned is in this one. The films have fierce woman as leads and perpetrators of the violence, which challenges the women as victims genre stereotype. Check the guide or online schedule for more information.

Pan

Donkey Punch (Australia, 2008). I know there is a lot of hype about this one, with a an after-party on a boat, but try as I might to find something I really liked about it (like one reviewer's comparison to Shallow Grave), I just don't care to watch 7 spoiled clubbers deal with the consequences of a "donkey punch" party. Google this brutal sex act for more details.

This ain't a yellow brick road, Dorothy.

Ozsploitation

Browsing the festival guide was marks my first knowledge of the genre. when I first read the term, I thought it was a bunch of movies loosely based, inspired, or ripped-off from the Oz books and movie adaptations (The Wizard of Oz, and personal favorite The Wiz). But I was unaware of just how many filmmakers have exploited the land of...Australia. Fantastic Fest hips me to the film jive and lingo. remember those Mad Maz movies? Well, that series represents ozsploitation at its best - or worst - depending on your preference. I like the one with Tina Turner, though.

Pick

The 1981 sequel to Mad Max is the obvious choice. Road Warrior is the excat opposite of Woody Allen film - or maybe I should change that to Australian director John Duigan. So expect less dialogue and a lot more action set in the brutal outback. This is a free screening downtown at Republic Square Park, tomorrow night at 8:00 pm. If you miss this one, check out our other pick, a visually sharp documentary Not Quite Hollywood., which is all about "the secret and not so secret history" of ozsploitation. Two screenings: Sunday, 21/9 at 4:15 pm and Thursday, 25/9 at 6:45 pm.

Pan

The one movie I'd have to be paid to see is playing Razorback (1984), which plays tonight at 8:00. The idea of a wild boar ravaging the outback is not my idea of a good time.

Check back with us tomorrow for more picks and pans of Pinku, Science Fiction, and Thrillers, plus festival party announcements!

~ diy danna

2008-09-17T21:11:00.009-05:00

Fantastic Fest 2008 Picks-and Pans (Part One)

We Select The Best and Worst of the 8-day Genre Film Festival at Alamo Drafthouse South, 18-25 September

I will admit to loving movies based on comic books and some Asian and sci-fi flicks, but anime, crime, horror and fantasty films are usually ignored by me when I browse the the Austin Chronicle looking at movie listings. Unless it's beautiful animation to my eyes, or a story that seems compelling enough to spend $8 to watch rather than wait to rent it on DVD, then I will pass on fantastic - and innovative - special effects and gore. I should be embarrassed as a film lover and critical blogger who appreciates all genres of film for admitting this. And I am. World cinema would not be the same without Fantastic Fest at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema for one week in September. Something would be missing.

To make up for missing out on films that cater to particular (or peculiar) cinematic tastes, I'm picking a film from each genre listed that either please or offend my sensibilities so much that I can recommend - or warn - Fantastic Fest filmgoers about in 2008. Fair enough?

If you're not familiar with the festival that encompasses "science-fiction, fantasy, horror, animation, crime, Asian, and all around badass cinema", I highly recommending browsing the official web site, reading the blog, and checking out the official schedule and guidebook that was released last week. One of the cool features in the guide are the warning symbols with each screening that will prepare moviegoers for what's going to happen (T&A, or a head blown up by TNT, etc.) If you decide to check out or recommendations, please see the screening schedule, available online here. The official guide can be downloaded and printed: http://www.fantasticfest.com/guide.pdf. You can bookmark this site if you're wondering what one snobby film blogger thinks. If you are an experienced to pro FANfest attendee, feel free to continue.

AMD Next Wave

The local tech company is proud to sponsor the next wave of international cinema that defies categorization, and represents the best that new directors, editors, and producers have to offer.

Pick

My pick is an easy one, ripped off from a previous blog about AMD Fantastic Fest Online: September 14-20: "La Crème, directed by Reynald Bertrand (who will make an appearance at this year's festival), is the feature that gets my highest recommendation. The exciting description of illusion in this French farce and fantasy make it an automatic selection.". Most of the films will play with shorts, like this one, and there are prizes awarded, so you may meet a lot of filmmakers and participate in Q&As with the next wave crowd and other programs at Fantastic Fest. La Crème screens on the 21st and 22nd. Check the guide for more details. I've also heard positive things about South of Heaven, featuring Jon Gries, so you may not want to miss it either.

Pan

I tried to like it from the description by the writer in the guide, but when it's compared (technically) to Zodiac, I knew I wouldn't want to see Deadgirl until it is on DVD. I thought Zodiac was an underrated flawed film that had some moments of excellence. Fans of horror may find this refreshing, especially since it's an indie feature with some depth to its script and characters, but I'll pass.

Comedy

Looks like the fest is lighter on comedy this year, but Fantastic Fest is more about fantastical violence and special f/x, so comedy fans may have to carefully browse other genres for an element of humor.

Pick

This one was a no-brainer, with director Kevin Smith coming to town, although if you might be able to fit in all the comedies into your schedule this year. Zack and Miri Make A Porno. I dare to compare it to When Harry Met Sally, only with more physical action and naked bodies. Seth Rogen (Freaks And Geeks, Pineapple Express) has been a roll as a comedic writer and actor, and it should be interesting seeing his sexier side. According to a lot of guys, Elizabeth Banks is hot, so this one should be a wildly popular. Zack and Miri premiere at the Paramount, with an Alamo sponsored after-party - the Air Sex World Championship happening in front of the same screen. It's happening opening night, Thursday 18 September. Tickets are $21 and $42. For more info and to purchase online, go to GetTix.net.

Pan

Since there were only three official comedy selections, and I've heard some good things about at least one of the remaining films, KTC will pass the pan. Check out Fanboys (2008, USA) and/or JCVD (2008, France), and I doubt you'll be disappointed.

Documentary

There are some very interesting topics in this year's fest, like the lives of oddball cinema masters and faded celebrity stalkers. The pick and pan just seemed to pick themselves.

Pick

It's a double feature! Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story, followed by Castle's classic The Tingler - in Percepto. If you haven't heard of him, then don;t feel bad. Take a crash introduction/appreciation course by watching the documentary, then see the classic on the big screen next Wednesday, 24 September. Please see the following link for Percepto disclaimer, including health risks. Seriously. Weird Wednesday Hosts A William Castle Double Feature.

Pan

I Think We're Alone Now. What's sad about this pan is I remember liking Tiffany. But the subjects of this documentary on stalkers could've picked a better fixation. She really just had one big hit in the '80s - and it was a cover song! Geezus... The filmmakers may have a had a lot of fun (and more than few laughs and moments of disbelief), but I think it's not helping the mentally unstable or one teenage hit wonder at all. Now the song just got creepy...

MASTER PANCAKE MOCKS

Signature Events

It wouldn't be a week-long movie party at the Alamo without their famous Signature Events. No need for Weird Wednesday or Terror Thursday - you'll get plenty of off-the-wall comedy, drama, exploitation, and horror the next 8 days. But local film lovers and travelers may find Master Pancake Theatre and the Sing-Along just the interactive movie-goint they crave. And I can't forget to mention the gruesome killing scenes in a "100 Best Kills Party", and a worldwide Michael Jackson "Thriller The World" event, which follows soon after a 50th birthday sing-along.

Pick

It was a tough call, but my pick for the festival's Signature Event is Master Pancake: Friday The 13th (1980). The original really bad luck for campers movie, and introduction to Jason Voorhees gets a comical send-up that it rightly deserves. It was the first horror movie I was allowed to watch, in the company of adults, on VHS. Later I would become a Nightmare on Elm Street/Freddy Kruger fan, but Friday the 13th would always remain close to my...uh, heart. I'm a fan of the comedy stylings of John Erler, Joe Parsons, and a wonderful array of locally and nationally known personalities, and wouldn't mind other film lovers enjoying a film roast. There will be two screenings at the Alamo Ritz on Friday the 19th - 7:00 and 10:00 pm.

Pan

Call me a squeamish wimp, but I suggest skipping the 100 Best Kills Party, so I suppose this one is a pan. Thank goodness it's at midnight, because I don't think a lot of attendees could stomach a meal and the barrage of gore. If you think I'm an idiot about this one, then see it at midnight, Monday, 22 September. Get there at least 45 minutes earlier, with a barf bag.

Tomorrow Night: Picks and Pans Part Two - Drama, Fantasy, Horror and Ozsploitation(?)

2008-09-16T19:35:00.014-05:00

Sweet Release Tuesday: From "The Babysitters" to "Young @ Heart"

They grow up so fast...

I missed all but one of the 5 "sweet release" movies on the big screen, and I'm really on disappointed about missing one. It's a mostly sour week for DVD releases, but I'll do my best to be a sweetart about the update. And check out our new samurai sword ratings. Just like the KTC logo, they'll stay till QT gets hip.

The Babysitters If you expect a wholesome movie about the lives of babysitters, kindly lower your expectations. This trifle released in 2007 and soon forgotten appears to borrow from hooker exploitation movies rather than "The Babysitters Club". According to my online movie bible, IMDB.com: "A teenager turns her babysitting service into a call-girl service for married guys after fooling around with one of her customers.". I can't recommend buying this one, unless you're an independent movie theatre programmer looking for bad cinema in the year 2038. I will recommend renting it, because the actors (John Leguizamo, Cynthia Nixon) are quality even if the writing and direction aren't.

KTC Rating: 2 out of 5 stars (For making me chuckle and cringe at the same time.)
Avg. Critic/Audience Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The Love Guru "His Karma is Huge"?! I won't pretend to understand why Mike Myers (who co-wrote the script) made this movie. Myers portrays a fledgling self-help guru, and I can't help but wonder if he wants to be the next Peter Sellers. He's trying to hard for laughs - and it shows in the trailers and reviews. Sometimes the critics are right. I'm taking the the advice of one of them and buying the Austin Powers' movies. There's a cool deal on the series on VHS at the local Dollar General. I discovered it while looking for a board game I could play while babysitting. Last weekend we watched "Goldmember", and this weekend we're buying "The Spy Who Who Shagged Me". The original Austin Powers can wait a while. Or I'll rent Casino Royale.

KTC Rating: 1 out of 5 (Feeling little pity for Pitka.)
Avg. Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Made of Honor Who else remembers the '80s classic "Can't Buy Me Love"? Well, the premise of Patrick Dempsey's "My Best Friend's Wedding" rip-off makes me miss the good old days when he was charmingly goofy - and he still got the girl. In this romantic comedy, Dempsey is a player who pitches poo - I mean woo - to his best friend after she asks him to be his maid of honor. I don't know (or care) if he gets the girl in this one, but I do know it sems decent enough to recommend as a rental at the $1 kiosk at the Wal-Mart or McDonald's.

KTC Rating: 2 out of 5 (I'd rather watch Dempsey for free on "Grey's Anatomy".)
Avg. Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Speed Racer - The Wachowski brothers visual candy was panned by many critics, but I didn't mind the over-the-top cinematography and when I caught this as a preview at the Alamo South. The nearly perfect casting of actors and adorable Chim-Chim (non-CGI, thank goodness) rekindled my fondness for the bizarre animated series. Christina Ricci nearly wore out my last cuteness nerve as Trixie, but I now have a crush on Emile Hersch (Speed), and more respect for Matthew Fox (Racer X) who isn't content just resting in the paradise of "Lost". And the kid playing Young Speed is a scene stealer. The downside of watching this is the exact reason I can't recommend buying it - unless you have a jumbo flat screen or tricked out home theatre. The sights and sounds are best seen on the big screen, especially the unbelievable off-track sequences and wacky announcers. Rent it this week and enjoy.

KTC Rating: 3 out of 5
Avg. Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Young at Heart I'm imagining my beloved maternal grandmother singing covers of rock classics, and laughing. Not because it would be ridiculous, or adorable, but because she couldn't carry a tune with a handle. That expressed, I enjoyed watching the trailer of this movie at the Arbor, and wasn't happy about missing it in theatres. The independent documentary about senior citizens bringing the joy of living to others through the joy of music is inspiring as it is humorous. Or so I've read...Highly recommended to buy and add to your indie cred, or rent and rock out with the seniors thanks to Vulcan or I ♥ Video if the wait for Netflix is too long.

KTC Rating: 4 out of 5
Avg. Rating: 4 out of 5

And that's it for sweet releases - until next week.

~ diy danna

2008-09-16T15:57:00.007-05:00

Fantastic Fest 2008 Breaks Redundant Trailer Rules:

A Fantastic Bumper Frenzy With Talented Team BLACK MAGIC ROLLERCOASTER

As the hurricane winds blow outside with a whistle at my window, I've decided to take a break and simply blog about what's happening at this year's Fantastic Fest in between the official screenings.

I've attended a few film fests in my time, and I remember sitting and waiting for features to begin, usually watching boring slides, and trailers - commercials and previews that play over, and over, and over again. If the audiences were lucky, there would be a short film before the main feature. But most of the time there was nothing really happening on the screen to reward attendees who get there on time to get a good seat and not be disruptive.

Well, thanks to Filmmaking Frenzy, our patience through the long-suffering dullness will be rewarded. For those not familiar with this site, it's a cool way for filmmakers and film lovers to connect, thanks to Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and kind sponsors. The latest frenzy, 30-second bumpers featuring kids, advertises the filmmakers and festival.

Audiences unfamiliar with the depth of talent in Austin get a snapshot of what makes Austin a media arts mecca - besides the music. But if you want to compare the film and music scenes, BLACK MAGIC ROLLERCOASTER is a good way to do it, because this team rocks.

There are other amazing teams that I will mention a little later, but I got a chance to experience what it's like to work with committed filmmakers dedicated to their craft, and it challenged me to do something I thought I'd never do as an adult - act. The guys from BMRC gave me the greenlight to boast about the experience, and I'll do just that - briefly.

I watched and voted in my first Filmmaking Frenzy video in a Rewind Kindly contest sinceI knew one of the actors in BMRC's Beastmaster remake. It won first place, featuring a cute kid the camera seems to love. He's in the Jean-Claude Van Damme homage I Love You Jean-Claude... (See video at top.) Oh - and there was a dog playing the tiger in Beastmaster. "Never work with children and animals"? It does not apply to this team - they bring out the best in both. Just check out the latest Frenzy, Fantastic Fest Bumpers, and you will see what I mean. 2 of their 7 entries made the top 10, with an additional video selected for a Special Jury Prize. Winners were announced after midnight, and I'm proud to say although the video I participated in with the team didn't win anything, it will still play at this year's festival!

Thomas Humphreys and Nick Robinson are the leaders of BLACK MAGIC ROLLERCOASTER. There are other valuable team members who contribute ideas, costumes, props, acting ability, and enthusiasm, but Humphreys and Robinson are the core of BMRC. They participate in these contests for fun, but these young ones have promising film careers.

This summer I showed up with one of the actors for a couple of scenes, and like any director with little means but a lot of imagination, Humphreys used what he had, and asked me to read some lines. I thought I would be too nervous to perform. I dislike having my picture taken, and having a camera on me for more than a second seemed excruciating. But Humphreys and the actors present made me feel comfortable right away, and I said the lines without hesitation. Turns out, I was only in the final cut of Powder 2: Powder 2 The People (see the KTC Video Bar) for a split second, long enough to say "I want him!". What a relief!

They didn't win the grand prize in the Unnecessary Sequels contest, coming in an admirable 3rd place. But it's all about fun with filmmaking for these guys, because they produced an amazing bumper crop of seven 30-second videos for Fantastic Fest. Pun intended.

There are other cool teams who deserve props, and got it by placing in the top 10. Here is my personal favorite, which won 4th place, Tati Ca Un Bat (Batty Daddy):

Makes you want to see which team won 1st place, doesn't it?

Go to the Filmmaking Frenzy blog to find out, and watch other fantastic bumpers before they premiere on the big screen Thursday!

2008-09-13T23:59:00.001-05:00

Fantastic Fest Previews 5 Features & 5 Shorts

AMD Fantastic Fest Online: September 14-20

While we continue browsing the guide and consulting the magic 8-ball for picks and pans, you can take a peek at what's happening at this year's fest a week a few days early. Fantastic Fest 2008 just announced online viewing of 10 selections: 5 features and 5 shorts from Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Spain, and U.S. filmmakers. AMD has teamed up with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema to present uncut sneak previews, hinting at a knockout success for this year's fest.

"La Crème", directed by Reynald Bertrand (who will make an appearance at this year's festival), is the feature that gets my highest recommendation. The exciting description of illusion in this French farce and fantasy make it an automatic selection. I also highly recommend watching one of the short films, "Treevenge" by Jason Eisner, director of the (fake movie) trailer "Hobo With A Shotgun", winner of the SXSW/Robert Rodriguez Grindhouse Trailer contest. (There's a rumor going around that filming of the real movie will take place sometime next year.) The title of Eisner's latest film project about killer Christmas trees (?!) reads like the plot in what could be a warning against human crimes against nature.

Looking down the barrel of a full-length grindhouse worthy masterpiece.

To view these and 8 other films showing at Fantastic Fest, go to www.fantasticfest.com/online. You'll need to login (or register if you're not a FF site member) before you can watch full-length videos.

Don't forget the microwave popcorn and soda pop before you press play.

~ diy danna

Coming Soon: Bumpers and Bloodshots at Fantastic Fest 2008

2008-09-09T18:00:00.008-05:00

Austin Underground Film Festival Benefit at Ruta Maya - Friday, September 12th

The AUFF '08 is happening in November, hopefully with the support of local film lovers.

Our Fantastic Fest picks (and pans) will be online soon, but this isn't the only film fest in town, and KTC strives to bring you updates for all local film events, including the forthcoming Austin Underground Film Fest (AUFF). As the film community grows, festivals become an important part in sharing film projects and networking with other local filmmakers, and AUFF is the perfect opportunity for underground, experimental, or "alternative" filmmakers and film lovers to connect. 2008 marks the 3rd year of AUFF, and although I haven't had the pleasure of past screenings, I look forward to attending the fest in November. A local band I blogged about for our sister blog sent a show update today, which included taking part in a fundraiser for the AUFF this Friday night. Thanks to this email I decided to browse the AUFF web site. The following is their "mission statement":

"We seek to provide a venue for films that might not otherwise be exhibited for the public, and virtually no genre or concept is excluded from consideration. However, films of a radical, critical, disaffected, progressive, provocative, confrontational, controversial, subversive, seditious, irreverent, illicit, offensive, obscene, rebellious, profane, pornographic, conspiratorial, corruptive, psychotropic, phantasmagoric, volatile, violent, anarchic, blasphemous or otherwise irresponsible nature are especially encouraged."

I think I'm in love.

The entertainment schedule for Friday night's benefit is as eclectic and underground as the festival. Ruta Maya World Headquarters in South Austin opens its doors for the AUFF '08 benefit at 9 pm. The music starts at 10 pm with the blue-eyed acoustic soul of Lady Bell, followed by the full-frontal rock of The Little Gentlemen, experimental New York City style folk 'n' country outfit Charles Potts Magic Windmill Band, and benefit headliners The Little Morts plan to bury the audience of AUFF supporters with a fury of country/punk rock.

austinundergroundfilm.com | myspace.com/austinundergroundfilm

Filmmakers: Submit Your Film for the AUFF '08 in November (Date & Location TBA)

The film festival accepts shorts only, a maximum of 40 minutes, but in every genre and category imaginable. Want to make a freeform or improvised horror/pornographic short that involves puppets? Do it - and submit it to the Austin Underground Film Festival. The early deadline has passed, but you can still submit your disturbing work of art on film (in NTSC DVD or mini-DV format) with a submission form and $20 entry fee to:

Austin Underground Film Festival
1824 S. IH-35 #101
Austin, TX 78704

Kill The Critic does not represent or endorse the AUFF. Go to the organization's web site for information and updates regarding submissions and future events.

Maybe I'll see your film at the fest this year?

~ diy danna

2008-09-09T15:33:00.003-05:00

Sweet Release Tuesday: Battle of the DVD Rentals - Tina Fey's "Baby Mama" vs. Helen Hunt's "Then She Found Me"

DVD Release Today: Alternate ending of "Baby Mama"; An actor's directorial debut - "Then She Found Me".

I've been a fan of Academy Award winner Helen Hunt ever since "Quarterback Princess", when she won the game, the guy, and our hearts in a feel good family film that made the budding feminist inside me smile. I stopped watching "Saturday Night Live" religiously about the time Emmy Award winner Tina Fey became a writer for the show I grew up watching. I remember watching "Mad About You", wondering why Hunt wasn't on the big screen making me laugh. I'd occasionally grin at Fey's commentary on the faux news sketch "Weekend Update", and guffaw to see Will Ferrell do something completely insane on SNL (which may or may not have been written by Fey). Then I'd tune out until a quick comedy sketch by former Austin, TX based comedy trio Mr. Sinus (a.k.a. The Sinus Show). Two rising stars. Same network (NBC). Two different reactions to their talent.

Actress Helen Hunt went on to grab the Oscar for "As Good As It Gets" (1997), portrayed a powerful ad exec opposite Mel Gibson in "What Women Want", a hardened mother in "Pay It Forward" (2000), and starred in an overlooked Woody Allen comedy homage to screwball and film noir classics "Curse of the Jade Scorpion" (2001). But Hollywood, audiences, and time aren't always kind to its leading ladies, and it seems that Hunt is reinventing herself - as a director.

"Then She Found Me" is Hunt's directorial debut. She also stars in this independent production adapted from a novel by Elinor Lipman that has been praised for its take on romance, motherhood, and what it means to be a fulfilled woman. It has also been panned for the same reason - relegated to basic cable telelvision movie status. There are a few dull moments in this new indie release, which wasn't marketed as well as and spent less time on screen than Fey's major studio gem "Baby Mama".

Fey has been on the track to success, becoming SNL's first female head writer, which I respect. She penned the script for "Mean Girls" (2004), and makes a funny appearance as a high school teacher who gets caught in the crossfire of characters played by Lindsay Lohan and the scene-stealing, brilliant Rachel McAdams (see "The Notebook", "Wedding Crashers", "Red Eye"). I don't watch much of "30 Rock", which from what I have seen resembles SNL, but I hear and read nothing but rave reviews. But when it comes to performance and her latest popular release, "Baby Mama", I was a little disappointed with the lowbrow, juvenile humor. I love a good immature gag, and Amy Poehler is always interesting to watch, but the load of gags overwhelms the sensitive topic which could have used a lighter, literate touch at certain moments - something "SNL" is not famous for delivering.

I'm not begruding Fey's success. Although I have publicly admitted to not enjoying most of her performances on television, she makes a lot of other people laugh, and I appreciate her working as a writer, comedian, actor, and producer in male dominated media. But I am a little bothered by Hunt's struggle for respectability and success as a filmmaker in a market that doesn't respect a different comedic approach to women's lives and struggles. Why is it literate movies about women's lives are considered inferior to the broad comedy that pokes fun at our biological and personal needs as women? Luckily, Hunt is still considered "A-List" in Hollywood, and Fey is still running the comedy race. Maybe she'll spoof Republican V.P. candidate Sarah Palin as a guest on "SNL"? Maybe there is hope for more quality entertainment produced by women.

You may not want to dole out the extra money to purchase either DVD, but I recommend adding these to your Netflix or Blockbuster queues, or making a trip to your favorite local video store, like Vulcan or I ♥ Video.

Here are the DVD stats, with a KTC rating:

Baby Mama (2008) - A thirty-something businesswoman wants to have a baby, and a surrogate is found, with comical results. Read the studio synopsis @ IMDB.com.
Director/Writer: Michael McCullers
Cast: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler
U.S. Screen Release: 25 April 2008 (Universal Pictures)
DVD Release : 9 September 2008
Critics/Audience Rating Avg.: 2.5 (out of 4 stars)
KTC Rating: 2

Then She Found Me (2008) - "A New York schoolteacher hits a midlife crisis when, in quick succession, her husband leaves, her adoptive mother dies and her biological mother, an eccentric talk show host, materializes and turns her life upside down as she begins a courtship with the father of one of her students. " (IMDB synopsis by CartmanKun@aol.com)
Director: Helen Hunt
Writers: Hunt, Alice Arlen, Victor Levin
Cast: Hunt, Colin Firth, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler
U.S. Screen Release: 2 May 2008
DVD Release: 9 September 2008
Critics/Audience Rating Avg.: 3 (out of 4 stars)

KTC Rating: 3

Happy Sweet Release Day!

~ diy danna

2008-09-04T23:37:00.007-05:00

Fantastic Fest 2008 Schedule Is Official: September 18-25

92 pages of orgasmic film going. Ooh, yeah...

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, host of Fantastic Fest, announced the official schedule and we've got the link to the complete calendar of events right here, thanks to a recent update:

http://fantasticfest.bside.com/2008/schedule

The live schedule includes festival opener Kevin Smith ("Zack and Miri Make a Porno"), and Japanese 'pink' films, which seem like the perfect complement to Smith's American take on romance and the porno industry. Over the past few years, Fantastic Fest is one of the most notable film festivals in the world, and has grown to include more genres and more countries than any other film festival in the United States. So expect a variety of films to pique lovers of anime, fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and features that defy genre. (Eat your heart out SXSW.)

Next week we'll have our short list of picks and pans of the festival like most critics, but get a peek at the guide and make up your own mind now @ http://www.fantasticfest.com/guide.pdf.

Why? Because we love you, film lover.

~diy danna

2008-08-28T15:55:00.010-05:00

Out of Bounds Report No. 3: Get Up, The Premiere of Double Eagle Short Films Festival, and So Much More Tomorrow Night

The return of Get Up, Friday on the Apples Stage of the Salvage Vanguard Theater, 10 pm.

Out of Bounds Comedy Festival co-producer Shannon McCormick performs as one half of improv duo Get Up tomorrow night at the Salvage Vanguard Theater, Friday 29 August - 10 pm. McCormick and partner in comedy Shana Merlin deliver the unexpected with innate humor and acting ability. Nerdvana (Los Angeles, CA) mix up improv and sketch, making funny nerds funnier and sexier than "Beauty and The Geek". Before these two dynamic duos hit the Apples stage, audiences will be treated with the first Double Eagle Short Films Festival, which showcases comedic art on film at 6 pm, and improv by "smart, clean" 88 Improv (Omaha, NE) and the critically hailed Unexpected Company (Warwick, RI) at 8 pm. Tickets for the Apples stage shows are available here.

Let's not forget the Oranges stage and ColdTowne Theater...

On the Oranges stage: At 5:30 there's a panel discussion, "Improv Into Income", geared toward performers attending the festival, but free and open to the public. After the friendly panel, get ready for a rumble with Battle of the Sexes III - Improv Throwdown. It's the gals versus the guys in a series of scenarios and games where the audience decides the winner. The battle featuring improv pros from across the nation begins at 8 pm. Junk (Austin, TX) and pHrenzy! (Chicago, IL) make comedy chemistry with improv at 10 pm. (Get Tickets)

The OOB edition of Stool Pigeon plays at ColdTowne - Friday, 29 August @ 11 pm.

Friday night at ColdTowne: OOB expands its comedy repertoire to include stand-up, featuring the comedy of Austin comic Bryan Guttman (9 pm) and New Yorker Jamie Lee, of VH-1 fame (10 pm). Other comics include Kerri Lendo and Nick Ramirez, and one of the shows is hosted by Chris Trew (Terp2it). There's also a who's who of Out of Bounds performers teaming up for A Very Special Stool Pigeon I, in which the headlining stand-up comics encounter improv. These shows are expected to sell out fast, so get your tickets here.

Tomorrow: Out of Bounds Report No. 4 - More Comedy and More Stool Pigeons

~ diy danna

2008-08-27T12:45:00.004-05:00

Out of Bounds Report No. 2: Apples & Oranges at The Salvage Vanguard Theater

Austin's Look Cookie improvises on the Apples Stage of the Salvage Vanguard Theater Tonight @ 10.

The Out of Bounds Comedy Festival continues through Labor Day weekend, with weekend panel discussions, workshops, and performances on two stages - Apples and Oranges - until Sunday. By the way, it may not be too late to register for workshops starting tomorrow at the Hideout Theater. OOB reduced the number of classes and number of people to provide longer, more in-depth sessions. Go to http://www.outofboundsimprov.com/2008/workshops08.html for more info.

Today and tomorrow, Thursday, 28 August, enjoy improv and sketch comedy on the Apples and Oranges stages at the Salvage Vanguard Theater starting at 8:00 pm. The choice is tough, but depending on your comedy style preference, you can't really go wrong. Here's a KTC highlight of another exciting night Out of Bounds:

Today (Wednesday, 27 August)

Apples Stage - 8 pm

The Starter Kit (Austin, TX) gets things started with a variety of improvisational techniques, followed by another Austin troupe that should win an award for funniest name, You're Not My Real Dad, featuring four older guys who aren't afraid to talk about the chips on their shoulders. Scatter! (Houston, TX) is another testosterone filled troupe that offer an energetic, longer set of improv.

Oranges Stage - 8 pm

Taking cues from the audience, Austin improvisers Snackers aren't light on teamwork and fun. Murphy (Austin) is a long-form, Chicago style troupe from the ColdTowne Conservatory. $10 Bourbon is as adult as the name suggests, developing improv from audience ideas and their own reflections about life.

Apples Stage - 10 pm

Featuring two of my favorite improv comedians I had the pleasure of watching at the Hideout two years ago, Bryan Roberts and Kerri Lendo, Look Cookie (Austin, TX) is an oddball family of improv sluggers big enough for a softball team. Improv for Evil (Austin) plunder and pillage at random on stage, proving that tyranny can be funny.

Grandma June's Sewing Circle (Chicago, IL) - Thursday @ 8pm on the Apples Stage

Tomorrow (Thursday, 28 August)

Apples - 8 pm

Forming from a large Austin troupe "Think Tank", and obviously inspired by The Three Musketeers, The 3 Actorteers take sketch comedy seriously. Grandma June's Sewing Circle (Chicago, IL) has been performing excellently crafted sketch comedy for five years.

Oranges - 8 pm

Austin's Skipfield doesn't skip lightly through comedy with engaging long-form narrative improv. They're followed by the talented foursome Curtis Needs A Ride (Fort Worth, TX), determined to become an improv staple of Austin. Far way from the islands, the long-form improv troupe Galapagos (Phoenix, AZ) takes a single suggestion from the audience and runs an entertaining marathon with it.

Apples - 10 pm

A band of improv performers from Camden, NJ called Quaint Little Coffee Shop runs on a platform of universal free coffee, while sketch duo from NYC Rue Brutalia provide sharp wit honed from biting the big apple.

Oranges - 10 pm

Improvisational troupe Midnight Society (Austin, TX) is described as "a blind date at ColdTowne Theater that worked". The Victims of Dallas, TX perform an indescribable long-form set of improv.

If you've liked what I've described so far, what the heck are you waiting for? Buy individual or package tickets here!

~ diy danna

2008-08-26T15:45:00.002-05:00

The Out of Bounds 2008 Report No. 1: Inaugural Event Tonight With Comedy Representative Maria Bamford

Tonight you can Tivo/DVR that other event happening in Denver, CO.

Since 2002 Out of Bounds has campaigned as one of the very best comedy festivals in the U.S. Co-produced by actor/comedian Shannon McCormick and founder/comedic mastermind Jeremy Lamb, the event has expanded from a comedy improv weekend on one stage to a two stage, seven-day event with panel discussions, workshops, and stand-up and sketch comedy performed by the finest comedic talents in the country. Oh, yeah - and there's a miniature golf tournament for fest performers.

The workshops and panels don't start till this Friday, but there are some exciting performances happening every day through Labor Day, September 1st in the capital city of comedy. Kill The Critic will highlight each day, starting with tonight's inaugural event:

Local comedy gem Matt Bearden is the MC for the opening show at Esther's Pool, with stand-up comic Maria Bamford, star of the SuperDeluxe.com sitcom appropriately titled "The Maria Bamford Show", and one of the funny ladies of Comedy Central's new series "The Comedians of Comedy". According to OOB's official portal to the comedy dimension, you can rent the first season from Netflix. Bamford's hair may be less pink these days, but she's still funny. (Not Dane Cook funny, but she's really trying to hack away at it.) Sketch 'n' improv duo Lovey Lovey - ColdTowne Theater's Michael Jastroch and Tami Nelson - also stars. (Think Nick and Nora Charles meet Mike Nichols and Elaine May for cocktails in Austin.) The smart comedy starts at 9pm. Get your tickets here.

Tomorrow: Report No. 2 - Apples and Oranges at The Salvage Vanguard

2008-08-25T17:30:00.001-05:00

Filmmaking Frenzy's Unncessary Sequels Contest Winners Announced Sunday

I wasn't able to attend, but I got the news from one of the stars of the video I took part in ("Powder 2: Powder 2 The People" by Kung Fu Halloween).

Here is a video from one of the local competitors:
"5 to 9: It's No Way to Make A Living" by Short Bus Attack

And the winners are...

Unnecessary Sequels Results

I'd like you to visit the site, maybe check out a few videos. And I like building a little suspense...

2008-08-22T20:30:00.003-05:00

Filmmaking Frenzy's Unnecessary Sequels Part 2: Only 4 Hours Left to Vote!

Ulf Kastner in Kung Fu Halloween's "Powder 2".

"This time they're back again for more."

Filmmaking Frenzy, the site sponsored by Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, tests the talent and movie-making skills of film fans around the world, is hosting a few contests coinciding with the upcoming Fantastic Fest. held annually at the South Lamar theatre. The rules were changed for Unnecessary Sequels in 2008, and the is competition stiffer, making it a successful contest - despite the dwindling number of contestants. There were about 90 applicants but only 24 official entries and one official screening, compared to one of the last contest's 140+ entries and multiple screenings. (See Rewind Kindly.)

I attended the single screening at the new downtown location, Alamo Ritz, and was impressed with most of what I saw on the big screen. I even got my 15 seconds of fame as a participant in one of this year's entries. Powder 2: Powder 2 The People is facing tough competition with other entertaining videos for best short/trailer in the latest frenzy. Last time I checked, Powder 2 was in last place, which is a shame because it's truly unnecessary and brilliant.

So I won't be accused of favoritism, I'd also like to point out some other favorites worth checking out. Actually, they're all worth viewing, with a word of caution to younger or sensitive viewers. There is adult content and language in several entries that may be unsuitable for some. My Picks (in alphabetical order): Alien v. Predator v. Rocky, Bonnie & Clyde: Resurrection, Charlotte's Web 2: All the Pig's Men, The Eighth Seal, It's A Wonderful Life 2: Wings of Vengeance, Monster Squad 2, Over The Top 2: Armageddon (about arm wrestling, featuring those funny Master Pancake guys), and Willy Wonka - Requiem for a Cocoa Bean. Worthy Mentions: Close Encounters of the 4th Kind, Clue 2: Hint, Harold & Maude II: A Love for the Ages, and OTT: The Rise of Mike Hawk.

Curiosity piqued?

Start watching now by clicking on this Filmmaking Frenzy link.

2008-08-13T22:01:00.008-05:00

Newsflash to "Tropic Thunder" Director, DreamWorks and Hollywood: The "R" Word Can Be As Offensive As The "N" Word (And Blackface)

The trailer most of us have seen.

The movie some were afraid was racist is instead viewed as derogatory toward people with mental disabilities. Since all the controversy began, two days before the scheduled opening, Special Olympics chairman Timothy Shriver is calling for a ban of the action comedy "Tropic Thunder", even though he hasn't seen it.

"Special Olympics and Coalition of Disability Organizations Protest DreamWorks' 'Tropic Thunder'"

DreamWorks is marketing the movie as a satire of Hollywood actors and the industry, including Robert Downey, Jr. portraying a white Australian actor Kirk Lazarus portraying a black soldier in a movie. The premise? A group of actors (including director Ben Stiller as action star Tugg Speedman and Jack Black as comedy actor Jeff Portnoy) becomes involved in a real guerrilla battle, mistakingly believing they are being filmed. The word "retard" is used in the movie, and the Special Olympics, in a joint protest with a coalition of American disability organisations.

The picket signs are reading "Tropic Thunder = Tropic Blunder".

The groups protesting are taking offense to the words "retard" and "retarded" used in the trailer and poster promoting the now released movie. I have been unable to find the originally offensive clip and poster referring to the "Simple Jack" bits (which have been removed by DreamWorks marketing as a result of the alleged insensitivity). However, I was able to locate quotes from the movie that could almost make me forget that other DreamWorks blunder (also starring Stiller and Black) "Envy" (2004).

"Once upon a time … There was a retard." (On one of the promotional posters. It refers to Stiller's character, action star Tugg Speedman, who receives harsh reviews for his performance in a previous movie as a mentally disabled character.)

"Nobody goes full retard." (Clip featuring Downey's character Lazarus commenting on Speedman's performance as Simple Jack.)

One of the film's critics, a writer for BuzzFlash.com wrote an open letter to a DreamWorks spokesman. This article in letter format was forwarded to DIY Danna by a fellow film lover, and she forwarded it to me, stating "it could help the piece you're writing about the Tropic Thunder controversy". It does. Tony Peyser's letter to Chip Sullivan could add more heat to to the debate between the behemoth filmmakers and disability activists, and keep some revenue away from the box office. "The Dark Night" could remain the #1 draw in the U.S.

"Tony Peyser: Open Letter To DreamWorks About Ben Stiller's 'Tropic Thunder'"

I realise this is only part of the story, and we have not heard much from DreamWorks in response. And maybe that's a good thing.

For the record, I would like to include the definitions of retard according to the American Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Please note that the definition used in this context contains the asterisk (*):

Main Entry:: ¹re·tard \ri-ˈtärd\
Function:: verb
Etymology:: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French retarder, from Latin retardare, from re- + tardus slow
Date:: 15th century
transitive verb 1 : to slow up especially by preventing or hindering advance or accomplishment : impede
2 : to delay academic progress by failure to promote
intransitive verb
: to undergo retardation

²re·tard*

Function:: noun
Date:: 1788

1\ri-ˈtärd\: a holding back or slowing down : retardation2\ˈrē-ˌtärd\often offensive : a retarded person; also : a person held to resemble a retarded person in behavior

I am aware the word is used in slang, usually in a derogatorily humorous way, but even here the connotation seems limited. In or out of context, this reviewer and new blogger is curious to see the outcome of the protests, politically correct or not.

Elvis Hubert

2008-08-01T12:59:00.022-05:00

Fans Are "Wondering About Wonder Woman"

How long must we wait?

While working on a film article about the dumbing-down of American films and audiences, I came across the following timely headline on Yahoo! News:

Wondering About Wonder Woman by Claudia Zap

The numbers of internet searches for "Wonder Woman" since the start of the summer blockbuster movie season (see "The Incredible Hulk", "Iron Man", and "Hancock") is staggering, justifying Wonder Woman fans like me who have been waiting for a movie since the first "Spider-Man", "X-men", and "Hulk" movies. DC Comics answered with two stellar Batman movies featuring one of my favorite actors, Christian Bale, and the moody blockbuster "Superman Returns", which I understand based on the popularity of the characters, but Marvel had already given Hollywood the greenlight for two Fantastic Four movies, while Joss Whedon's development of the Amazon Princess with a lasso was being stunted. I realize Hollywood has a problem with Wonder Woman, and it may have a lot to do with the marketing of singularly heroic women in movies.

Does anyone else remember the excitement about the news of Joss Whedon writing and directing a "Wonder Woman" movie? I had it posted on my MySpace profile for a couple of years before it became apparent it wasn't happening anytime soon. And then began the buzz about a live action Justice League movie, which would precede Whedon's adaptation but prominently feature Wonder Woman. Another reason for a fan to rejoice!

And to be let down again.

Whedon quit the project early last year due to "creative differences", and according to one online article about the Justice League movie, that idea was shelved indefinitely, allegedly due to the writer's strike. But maybe that was a smart move, with all the inferior CGI fodder since the ill-fated "Catwoman". Wonder Woman movie rights holder and producer Joel Silver seems to think putting it on hold is the best idea. It may be all about economics, and wanting to get top dollars in the box office competition. But if you look at successful movies featuring strong female characters (Sex in the City, Mamma Mia, and the potential of Sisters of The Traveling Pants 2), you would think Hollywood types like Silver would see the money is already there. Wonder Woman is still as familiar as Carrie and her three gal pals, and she's been around longer. And if we took a poll right now, I suspect a movie featuring the Amazon Princess would have more male fans in attendance than another movie featuring the four Manhattan princesses. Yet fans of Wonder Woman - men and women - are disappointed to find out the Justice League and Wonder Woman movies have been put on hold indefinitely.

Wonder Woman Trivia Questions

The following 5 questions will test if you're a true fan of the almost 67-year-old superheroine. (Answers at the end of this post.)

1. You probably already know who invented the DC Comics superheroine, William Moulton Marston, and when, in 1941. But do you know how the lasso she uses became legendary?

2. Do you know when the first Wonder Woman movie came to be, and who starred as the powerful princess?

3. Which famous actress was featured as Lynda Carter's sidekick in the 1970s television series "Wonder Woman", portraying a young Amazonian princess known as Wonder Girl?

4. Wonder Woman was featured on the long-running animated series "Super Friends", but this wasn't the first time she was broadcast on television. What and when was her animated debut?

5. How did the invisible airplane become a visible fixture in the Wonder Woman TV series and animated Super Friends?

But there is some good news for Wonder Woman fans: Comic-Con 2008 revealed a trailer new animated feature to be released on DVD. It's better than nothing. And Keri Russell (TV's "Felicity" and the late Adrienne Shelley's "Waitress") voices the superheroine.

Find more videos like this on ENewsi.com

Courtesy of ComicBookMovie.com

I can't wait to see it. And the list of possible leads for Wonder Woman will keep the myth of another live action movie alive. Just google "Wonder Woman Movie Lead Contenders" and you'll have fun speculating if you're a true fan.

~ Danna Williams

Trivia Answers:

1. The lasso of truth is based on the lie detector, invented by Wonder Woman creator. Her lasso became a symbol for truth and justice.

2. It's complicated: Technically, the first time fans saw Wonder Woman on film is when Ellie Wood Walker starred as the superheroine in the short (4 minute) feature "Wonder Woman: Who's Afraid of Diana Prince?" in 1967. She was cast as Diana Prince, and Linda Harrison was cast as her Wonder Woman alter ego. The first full-length "Wonder Woman" was a test, or pilot film for the eventual live action series. It was a 1974 movie airing on TV, starring Cathy Lee Crosby as Wonder Woman. (So if you guessed either one, consider yourself correct.)

3. Debra Winger. The academy award nominated actor made her debut as Wonder Girl in two episodes.

4. According to Wikipedia, "‎Wonder Woman's first actual broadcast appearance was as a guest in an episode of The Brady Kids cartoon series in 1972, entitled "It's All Greek to Me". The Brady kids meet Wonder Woman and together they find themselves accidentally transported back to the time of the Ancient Olympic Games. " Groovy...

5. That's a trick question: The invisible plane was invented early in the comic book series, 1942, not on television. It's not featured much in the recent comic book and animated series.

2008-07-30T17:11:00.001-05:00

Free Form Films Presents A Live Film Score: "Tetsuo: The Iron Man" - Thursday 31 July

Thanks to Ben Aqua for sending the following announcement our way yesterday.

This Thursday:

Free Form Films Presents:
Tetsuo: The Iron Man live film score performance

Ben Aqua and his group of tiny machines will perform a live synth-filled, mechanically-manipulated score to the 1989 Japanese film "Tetsuo: The Iron Man" as part of the Free Form Films live film score series.

Thursday, July 31, 10pm
@ Red 7 (patio)
611 E. 7th, Austin, TX

$5 21+/$8 21-

Performers include:

Chad A (ex-Zom Zoms, Low Red Center)
Ben Aqua (ASSACRE, MVSCLZ, Totally Wreck)
Johnny Cisneros (aka VC Chldkrft, Totally Wreck)
Matt LaComette (Low Red Center, Aunt's Analog)
Erich Ragsdale (Low Red Center, TJ Laserphone)
David Salinas (Totally Wreck)
Sam Vandeliner (aka Gary B, Night Viking)
Eli Welbourne (Belaire, Totally Wreck)

View event on Facebook

From the list of performers, it looks to be a delightful night of experimental film scoring.

2008-02-13T10:43:00.007-06:00

So Much to Do, So Little Time

Wednesdays in Austin are the best humpdays you'll ever know, especially after work. You can relax and unwind with a happy hour at almost every downtown club with a bar, catch a movie downtown at Alamo Drafthouse Ritz on 6th Street and still have time to see an opening act on Red River, then return to 6th Street for free midnight movie madness if you don't care to stick around for the headliner. To quote an old jazz standard - who could ask for anything more?

Well, sometimes I wish teleportation was available. It's getting tougher and tougher to decide which show you'll be attending on a Wednesday. And sometimes it's the same for Monday and Tuesday. Geez...

I'm keeping the synopses short and sweet this time. You can read the fliers and get a good picture of what's happening around town that may hold your interest.

Recommended Movie

The NY Times and All Movie Guide summarize "Dixie Dynamite" without filling in all the eccentricities you're sure to witness on the screen: "Two sisters (Jane Johnstone, Kathy McHaley) seek vengeance when they are evicted from their farmhouse and a gunslinging sheriff shoots down their moonshining father." ~ John Bush

Yee-haw!

Alamo Weird Wednesday happens every Thursday. Lars, the programmer for this original film series introduces every film, giving us a 5-minute (or less) lecture in odd cinema history.

"Dixie Dynamite"
11:55 pm
Free
Alamo Drafthouse Ritz
320 E 6th St.
Austin, TX 78701

Recommended Music

Here's what one brilliant blogger wrote @ do512.com:

"Recently featured on NPR's Latino USA, San Antonio's Girl In A Coma returns to Austin, TX - the night before the day you realize you don't have a date - February 13th. This will be an inside Emo's show with outside show caliber performances from these ladies, plus local classic rockers Adrian & the Sickness, and punk darlings The Sweethearts, who open. Girl In A Coma's first full-length album Both Before I'm Gone was released on Joan Jett's label Blackheart Records. They've been building a steady fan base across Texas and the nation touring for years, as well as in the UK and France - opening for Morrissey. It only seems these talented Texas grrrls are becoming an overnight success. GIAC makes it look so easy, with melodic, thoughtful rock and sweet as honey vocals. Don't sleep on this one..." - DIY Danna

Girl in A Coma (San Antonio, TX)
Adrian and The Sickness
The Sweethearts
Emo's (Inside)
613 Red River
Austin, TX 78701
All Ages: $5/21+ $8/21-
Doors: 8pm
Show: 10pm

Also Recommended (Music)

See Darling New Neighbors (not a remake of "Children of the Corn") tonight @ The Mohawk.

After a long hiatus (guitarist Amy Moreland suffered an injury that prevented her from playing until it healed), Darling New Neighbors have returned with their own quirky... No, wait. I'm tired of using this word to describe bands that don't fit in neatly in our Top 40 Pop box. Here's a new phrase: The idiosyncratic trio that somehow falls into sync... Oh, well... Basically, DNN is a quirky band opening an all local show that may end up being one of the best nights for live music this week.

Darling New Neighbors
w/The Pillow Queens
Militant Babies
The Mohawk (Inside)
912 Red River
Austin, TX 78701
All Ages/Cover ? (Probably not more than $8 if you're under 21.)
10 pm (DNN opens the show!)
map & directions

Pase Rock (The Mohawk - Outside)
w/Prince Klassen
DJ Orion
10 pm
All Ages
21+ $6/21- $8

From what I could decipher from their last MySpace bulletin, Party Ends presents Pase Rock, one of the hottest new MCs straight outta Brooklyn. He happens to rap one of my new favorites "So Fucking Disco", a tongue-in-cheek rap attack on house with one of the tightest beats I've heard in a while. Oh, and there's the Lindsay Lohan song. Also Starring: Prince Klassen, and Party Ends darling DJ Orion.

Have fun and be safe tonight, no matter what (or who) you do.

2008-01-30T00:39:00.000-06:00

KOOP Was Up in Smoke: How We Can Help Rebuild Our Community Radio Station (and How An Arsonist Was Brought to Justice)

First the good news you probably already heard on Friday, January 25th: KOOP 91.7 FM is back on the air.

And now it's time to make sure we continue to show KOOP how much we support "radio de la comunidad" - "community radio".

The rebuilding of KOOP radio is a touchy subject with Kill The Critic. As a former volunteer, I have had some wonderful times at the station, and gained a lot of experience thanks to dedicated volunteers. Whenever I login to MySpace, it warms my heart to read a a post or re-post of a bulletin about local venues, magazines, bands, and station volunteers coordinating fundraisers for KOOP. This confirmed that other people missed one of Austin's premier community radio stations, one of our community stations; it also reminded me that someone who intentionally set a fire at our station was somewhere out there walking around, free. And when I heard negative criticism about KOOP programming after all we've been through with another fire, it compelled me to take action. Not to mute the critics (I say let the asses bray), but to embrace a station that has never striven for perfection, but has always striven to bring diverse music, news and information you won't hear on commercial radio.

Now act like you know.

For 19 days, the station was off the air, and it was 19 days too long. Tomorrow at 1:00 pm on KOOP's "Inner Views", you can hear an interview conducted by host Abigail Mahnke, with KOOP officers and the Austin Fire Department. KTC will be listen for an update in the investigation, and about the safety measures KOOP will be taking to prevent another nut from trying to silent their voices, which represent so many of our voices. And I can hardly wait to hear about the fun events planned to raise money to help pay for the repairs and replacement of equipment. Perhaps a few "big brother" type surveillance, motion detector cameras*, as well as topnotch smoke detectors and sprinkler system? Of course, money raised should go to day-to-day station operations too.

And later in the evening, "Now Playing Austin" DJs RGDG (Rebecca and Deidre) are guest bartenders at The Mohawk Happy Hour. Besides getting the hottest drink specials ($1 whiskey shots, $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon and Miller High Life, and $2 16-oz. Stone Lar - I mean Lone Star) from 5 to 8 pm, you'll also be hearing the hottest slection of tunes that have a lot to do with... fire.

What is that creature? Looks like Gorilla vs. Bear decided to mate instead.

And on Monday February 4th it's a party with Soundcheck in residency at the Beauty Bar, which features electronica freaks from John McCain's home state, Peachcake. The show opens with Ian Orth of Learning Secrets, and perhaps the only black guy at the indie rock show, The Cocker Spaniels. Donations will be taken at the door for KOOP, so be generous (the cover is a mere $3).

But the fun doesn't end at the beginning of the month of love and black history. KOOP is throwing a shindig that will make all of us mutants who didn't get a Valentine feel a lot better, or at least a little less like freaks and geeks.

Because it's not easy being green.

See a few of my favorite mutant bands and dance with that guy who has been giving you the eye all night, the one in the middle of his forehead. And according to my favorite KOOP blogger Paul Borelli:

"Beings of all species can make meaningful connections and engage in highly charged information exchange while dancing the night away to the sounds of KOOP DJ Scott Gardner of Stronger Than Dirt and the following electronically enhanced live music performers: Alright Tonight, The Carrots, and Pataphysics."

No suggested donation was mentioned, but I plan to give $10 at the door. I may even have a date with a tall and sexy mutant who enjoys listening to KOOP too.

If you have any information that may lead to the arrest of the idiot(s) that set fire to our radio station, the Texas State Arson Hotline is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.

The hotline may be reached 24-7 at 1-877-4FIRE45 (1-877-434-7345).

KTC is happy to report that an arrest has been made. For more details, please tune in to KOOP 91.7FM at 1:00 pm today, or listen online @ koop.org.

For more information about KOOP Radio, contact KOOP at (512) 472-1369 or online at www.koop.org and www.myspace.com/koop917. KOOP is still acccepting donations. If you don’t have money, donate time, if you don’t have time, donate money here.

~DIY Danna

*Kill The Critic does not support the use of spy equipment in the name of security, but a few after hours cameras couldn't hurt.

2008-01-25T16:03:00.000-06:00

Looks cool... But would it have killed them to add an "s"?

I have a love/hate relationship with dance movies. I simply wanted to express where I'm coming from before I give my two cents about the new release that is plastered on the MySpace login page - "How She Move". (I'll save my opinions on "Meet The Spartans" and "Semi-Pro" after the paid critics roast both, well done or burnt.)

Long before "Dirty Dancing" swept me off my feet (then made me gag a few years later), I was mesmerized (and then nauseated) by "Flashdance". What a feelin'! No offense against my sister Jennifer Beals (who shines in "The L Word"), but she wasn't winning any academy awards with her first starring role in a feature film. But I thought her day gig as a welder was hot. Feminist hot, believable to the average blue collar worker or not... But this blog isn't about "Norma Rae" - it's about dance movies. A year later there was the modern dance masterpiece "Breakin'". And who can forget the urban legend sequel, "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo"? I tried breakdancing for a while, but my career never took off after being dissed by my family during a dance-off with my sister. There's a laundry list of them, the dance movies we love or hate - or both - from the forbidden waste of dance fad flick "Lambada", to my all-time favorite that revels in underdog feel-goodness, "Strictly Ballroom". And I'm not ashamed to admit "Save The Last Dance" is in my DVD collection. It's ironically bold that MTV recycled this plot, featuring a young black female lead on the screen.

But when I first watched the preview for "How She Move" on television, I couldn't help but hear the "ch-ching" of cash registers (do they still make that sound?) and my high school English teacher Mrs. Gonzales sighing in exasperation. And it made my heart lurch. Street slang now pervades pop culture, and this culture - our culture- loudly proclaims that it's alright to be grammatically incorrect. No - it's the cool thing to do. Nevermind all the connotations of racism and illiteracy, two things a lot of people loathe. At least in my house.

Well, I'll never be one of the cool kids, spouting urban street slang even if I'm suburban or rural offspring. That time has passed, so I can be that corny old broad who insists your kids get off the street and play in their own backyards.

Would it kill them - the writer(s), director, producer(s), and post-production - to have added an "s" to the title? "How She Move" definitely grabs your attention. You read it and say it to yourself just once. You sound like a street hustler, or most likely a wannabe urban white hipster with one black friend. (Yeah, I went there.) Now say it with the "s". "How She Moves" doesn't sound so bad. It still flows like a rappers rhyme. Maybe it's a little softer... Too soft? Too romantic?

Almost makes you want to watch MTV again, right old folks?

As I write this critique, the words sounding off in my head, I wonder if the filmmakers were having the same debate.

I'm not admitting defeat about the "s". I'm sure the movie would still find an audience. I'm just not sure if that audience would be teenagers with expendable cash, searching for the freshest dance moves to bring to the Valentine's Day dance, or Prom floor. If they would have added the "s", would the majority of the audience be older men escorting women on dates?

The world may never know.

Here's the IMDB.com description of "She Hate Me" - I mean "How She Move": "Following her sister's death from drug addiction, a high school student is forced to leave her private school to return to her old, crime-filled neighborhood where she re-kindles an unlikely passion for the competitive world of step dancing."

Here's my one sentence review: A black teenager exiled from suburbia searches for social acceptance with her old neighborhood's step team.

And here's the trailer for "How She Move", which opens today in theaters across the U.S.A.:

Enjoy the movies this weekend, whatever you watch.

~ DIY Danna

2007-09-14T16:46:00.000-05:00

Rosario Dawson in Desccent. ACL Music Fest? What music fest?

If Music Fests Aren't Your Thing - See A Movie!

Since I'm trapped at work for the next few days during ACL this year, I've decided to attend a few ACL Aftershows. But for those who already get the limit of music in Austin 362 days of the year, may I recommend seeing a movie? The summer blockbuster seems to be a thing of the past, but the offering of small budget but well-made documentaries exposing the injustices around the world in our own backyard, independent and upscale revenge dramas, and comedy and action flicks based on a popular TV series and a bestselling novel are resplendent.

Instead of lengthy movie previews, I offer a one sentence synopsis of some movies I recommend this "holiday" weekend.

ACL is a holiday now, right?

Anyway, if you aren't attending ACL Fest or a plethora of aftershows (official and unofficial), here are my glowing recommendations. Simply click on the titles for a better synopsis or review, and for theater listings.

Documentary

Someone dares to question the policies of Bush?!

The Devil Came on Horseback: The controversy of the Darfur crisis in the Sudan and U.S. (lack of) intervention is explored through the p.o.v. of a dutiful soldier turned social activist.

Drama

(See top photo of hot actress.)

Descent: I know everyone is going ga-ga over the Jodie Foster revenge drama, and I expect an Oscar buzz about it, but I'd like to mention another revenge drama, an independent film featuring Rosario Dawson as a rape victim who blurs the line between vengeance and self-destruction.

Comedy

Better than the Flintstone Movies combined. Ha-ha.

The Simpsons Movie: While the thought of seeing a comedy about a nasty gym teacher named Mr. Woodcock, and a comedy about a washed-up ping pong ball prodigy avenging his father's death are oh-so appealing*, I'll have to pass on these flicks and recommend a movie I can't believe I haven't seen yet that may actually be a well-plotted extension of the famed animated series.

Action/Adventure

We've officially lost our indie cred.

The Bourne Ultimatum
I've seen it with my *BFF*, and we both agree that it was like a fast paced carnival ride - thrilling and entertaining for a moment, but lacking the depth of a theme park ride.

I'm probably going to some aftershows, but I had to buck against the local entertainment establishment. That's just how I roll...

~ DIY Danna

*Sarcasm is a lost art online.

2007-09-03T19:30:00.001-05:00

In Memory of Damon O'Banion: A Music Benefit at Trophy's
Saturday September 8, 2007

Damon O'Banion w/The High Divers at the club formerly known as Velvet Spade - July 13, 2006.

The music benefit featuring an amazing line-up of solo artists and bands - including Gibby Hanes (Butthole Surfers), Jad Fair and Pong, will be a bittersweet affair. It's a music celebration, and a benefit for the family after the death of a loved one who contributed a lot to two music communities during his brief life. Less than 6 months ago, singer and music journalist Damon O'Banion died, leaving a wife and young ward for whom a college fund has been established. In August, musicians in his hometown of Houston, TX, held a benefit for O'Banion, who was in electrifying rock bands like Dixie Waste, and Austin's own The High Divers.

Toof: One of many talented local artists to perform this Saturday.

According to an unreliable but sexy source (Toof), and the wonderful Austin, TX Showlist, the line-up for the benefit dubbed Damon Fest will include:

The High Divers (featuring Gibby Hanes on vocals)
Honky
Dixie Waste (Houston, TX)
Unicorn Magic (11-year reunion)
Drunken Thunder
Toof
Pong
Jad Fair

The cover is $5 and doors open at 4:00 pm, with the show starting at 5:00. I will publish more pertinent details about Damon Fest as soon as I receive them. Here's the OFFICIAL Damon O'Banion Tribute Space.

2007-08-27T13:52:00.000-05:00

Out of Bounds! The Return of The Best Comedy Festival in Texas

I'm really excited to present Out Of Bounds 6. Hosted by the bodacious and outrageous Shannon McCormick, the original improv comedy event promises to be "the best week of your life". Out Of Bounds originally started right here in Austin, TX, and has expanded to an annual festival in the deep, ferocious entertainment jungle of Los Angeles, CA.

Token Diverse Comedy Group Shot: Knife Fight (Hollywood, CA)

But don't expect the festival to pack up and leave Austin in pursuit of fame and fortune in LA any time soon. Out of Bounds is still keeping it weird and hosting a Labor Day festival. Thanks to the contributions of many sponsors (too many to list), the improv comedy fest has expanded to include three venues this year, and even more comedy groups have signed up for the fest, which promises to be a treat for locals, students, and tourists looking for exciting comedy entertainment.

Out Of Bounds (Tuesday, August 28th through Labor Day Weekend Monday, September 3rd)

Free Opening Night: Tuesday, August 28, 2007
7:30 pm
University of Texas
Calhoun Hall (The 6-pack on 21st St.)

Additional Venues:

Esther's Pool (Home of Esther's Follies)
525 E 6th St.

Hideout Theatre
617 Congress Ave.

Visit the official web site Out Of Bounds 2007 to learn more about the seven nights of unpredictable behavior and laughs, or to buy $10 tickets (per night) online.

See you there this weekend!

2007-08-08T16:38:00.000-05:00

Don't Let The [Indie] Music Die! Screening Party Tonight

Another screening party is happening for the acclaimed documentary Before The Music Dies, featured at SxSW Film Fest. Tickets are $10, benefiting KOOP 91.7 FM, a radio station known for supporting independent music.

Here's the 4-1-1 from a bulletin posted by experimental indie rockers Red Book Audio:

Celebrating independent music, artists and media with -

Who: 91.7fm KOOP Radio (www.koop.org)
and SweatBox Studios

What: Before the Music Dies movie screening and live music from Tito & the Man, Red Morous and Slow Train –
plus FREE FOOD AND BEER!!!!

When: Wednesday August 8th @ 6:30pm, movie @ 7:30pm

Where: Sweatbox Studios, 1406 Smith Road (off Bolm Road east of Airport)…

**********************************************************************

BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES tells the story of American music at this precarious moment. Filmmakers Andrew Shapter and Joel Rasmussen traveled the country, hoping to understand why mainstream music seems so packaged and repetitive, and whether corporations really had the power to silence musical innovation. The answers they found on this journey–ultimately, the promise that the future holds–are what makes BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES both riveting and exhilarating.

At the heart of BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES are interviews with musicians, industry insiders, music critics, and fans that reveal how music has reached this moment of truth. Featured performances from a truly diverse group of artists, ranging from The Dave Matthews Band and Erykah Badu to Seattle street performers and Mississippi gospel singers show us that great music is always out there… as long as you know where to look. BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES will renew your passion for great music, and inspire you to play an active part in its future.

*********************************************************************

For more info on the event go to www.koop.org
Info on the film at www.beforethemusicdies.com
Musicians info and schedule at www.freetito.com

2007-07-04T13:13:00.000-05:00

Happy Independence Day! Rain or Shine...

Click for larger view of flier.

In a few hours, despite the 70% chance of rain, or 30% chance it won't rain (for the glass half full thinkers), the party begins in Austin with the benefit for local musician Billy Steve Korpi, who is still undergoing treatment for cancer. He's still beating the disease and needs our help to pay the medical bill. I'm not sure of the suggested donation, but I think $10 would be a good number to start with, especially since the fireworks celebration at Zilker Park is free. I can point out three other reasons to attend the benefit party, besides it being a good cause, and the beer: Americana meets World Beat wonder Ralph White; the hard rock 'n' jam frenzy of Australian Cattle God Records export Tia Carrera; and experimental label mates Attack Formation. If you love a show with variety, you won't be disappointed.

I've blogged about a previous benefit for Korpi, so here's the mailing address and a link to more info to make a donation if you can't make it out to Scoot Inn for today's festivities:

Send your donation (check or money order) to the
Billy Steve Korpi Benefit Account
c/o SNB Bank of Austin
3600 Bee Cave Rd.
Austin, TX 78746

Go here for more donation info.

4th Annual Beer Bob
Scoot Inn and Bier Garten
4:00 pm
1308 E 4th St.
Austin, TX
All Ages/21+ for Beer Bob

And After the Fireworks: More Fireworks with Horse+donkey

Horse+donkey: Jaime Zuverza at Scoot Inn, 24 March 2007. Photo by Danna Marrón Williams.

Head downtown to Beerland for a band that never ceases to blow my mind: Horse+donkey. It's another otherworldly psychedelic rock experience with Fire vs. Extinguisher, Headdress, and a new addition to my short list of best band names ever, The Aimless Never Miss (Oakland/San Francisco, CA). If you don't have to get up early for work tomorrow, or you're used to living on four hours of sleep, don't miss this one!

Beerland
10:00 pm
711.5 Red River
21+/$5
Austin, TX

Joining the mp3 Blog Bandwagon- Sort of...

Although I'm still opposed to the idea of becoming an mp3 blog, After having a positive Yip-Yip download experience, I've decided to post one free mp3 a week featuring a favorite local artist. Most selections will be streams you can enjoy online, but I hope to get permission from the artists to offer one free download per month soon.

This week I thought it would be fitting to feature a track from a CD I reviewed in last month's INsite, which was also our MySpace page theme song for a while:

"Favorite Movie" mp3 - Favorite Movie by B A S I C

And check out some brand new stellar tracks @ myspace.com/basicaustin.

Coming Soon:

Expect a weekend blog update soon, featuring a band recently signed with Joan Jett's Blackheart Records Group.

Have a happy 4th of July, everybody!

2007-06-24T22:43:00.000-05:00

Horse+donkey: On The Radio- Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh...

The Daily Fix in The ATX is on hiatus until I find more time during the week to update the blogger. So I'll keep this short and sweet- like me. (Ha-ha...)

In a matter of minutes, experimental psychedelic rockers Horse+donkey will be performing live on KVRX 91.7 FM right here in Austin, TX. You can hear them online @ kvrx.org.

Good Samaritans Rock Club DeVille Tonight

At the very last minute, Youngmond Grand, the band that recorded my favorite radio-friendly indie rock song of 2005, "Pressing The Holes" (The Sculptures Fall), is having a benefit show for Tuscon, AZ natives The Solace Brothers, who fell on hard times when the transmission on their van went kaput. So show some love if you can and make your way to Red River and make a donation. Zookeeper opens the show.

The Solace Brothers Benefit Show
11:00 pm
Club DeVille
900 Red River
Austin, TX

2007-06-18T19:36:00.000-05:00

Sing "Rock The Casbah" Outside The Shower Tonight:
Rock & Roll Karaoke @ Beerland

This is probably my shortest blog ever, after an 8-day hiatus from the exciting world of entertainment blogging. But I'm back to announce something besides the last days of The Original Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. (Alamo's actually moving to the location formerly known as The Ritz on 6th Street). I'd like to announce that other cool event that gives most Austin musicians a break.

I spy a trademark copycat pattern here...

Hosted by Nathan Black (Dr. Sketchy), Rock & Roll Karaoke Night at the indie rock hot spot Beerland is going strong with 1000+ songs. There's no cover, so you can afford to splurge on a beer or a frozen mojito- and you can impress your friends with your uncanny ability to sing. Or not...

I love this guy- actor Sam Rockwell.

Rock & Roll Karaoke
w/Nathan Black
9:00 pm
Beerland
711 1/2 Red River
Austin, TX
21+/No Cover

2007-06-10T12:12:00.000-05:00

The Daily Fix in The ATX:
Sweatbox Reopens and Austin's Adult Swim Party Returns!

Since I'm still recovering from my day job training (still in progress), I've decided to restrict my Sunday entertainment updates to one or two event mentions, instead of the 7-day scoop.

I can hardly wait to review stellar local CDs produced here! (Click on image to get a better view.)

Sweatbox Recording Studio in Austin, TX Reopens and You're Invited to The Party- Today!

I got the official word from one of my favorite bands, Cat Scientist. Ever since reviewing their stellar CD Cicada (Australian Cattlegod) which features Austin's own partylife theme song "Precipice"), I've been a fan, and hope to see and hear a lot more of them this summer. You lucky Austinites will get to hear them in a free show today featuring a dozen other bands I adore, such as labelmates Attack Formation, and some other bands I enjoy hearing live- Tia Carrera, Youngmond Grand and MonkeyTown (San Marcos, TX).

These bands are celebrating the re-opening of the world-renowned Sweatbox recording studio, in a wonderful new East Austin location. You can read the official news in Austin360.com.

This is the line-up with approximate performance times, subject to change:

American People 6:00
Meat Purveyors 5:40
Attack Formation 5:20
Tia Carrera 5:00
Cat Scientist 4:40
Youngmond Grand 4:20
Good Times Crisis Band 4:00
Peglegasus 3:40
the Easies 3:20
Emily Sparks 3:00
Monkey Town 2:40
Snake Trap 2:20
Sisterunaked 2:00

Sweatbox Reopens!
2:00 pm
1406 Smith Road
Austin, TX
All Ages/Free

And according to Cat Scientist, besides "a shitload of bands", there will be 5 kegs! (Please drink responsibly and have a designated driver on your way to the next event.)

And later today...

Click to view larger image of flier.

The Compound Presents The Return of [austin swim] Tonight

I'm excited about it, but until my schedule allows me to stay up later, I'll be recording [adult swim] on Cartoon Network instead of attending the Austin's [adult swim] party. For those who can stay up a little later than the rest of us working stiffs, this is the 4-1-1 from the [austin swim] MySpace bulletin:

1) We're at the original location again
2) Paris Hilton WILL NOT BE THERE
3) Hellapeño @ 9pm, Lucas Molandes @ 8:30, and Troy Dillinger @8pm
4) You can TiVo the Sopranos and watch it later
5) Free Pizza from Rockin' Tomato @ 8pm
6) [adult swim] @ 10pm
7) You'll be done in time to get to Elysium

See ya there!!!

Austin Swim
When: Sunday Jun 10, 2007
at 8:00 PM
Where:
The Compound
1300 E 4th St
Austin, TX 78702
Click Here To View Event

The Compound is actually outside Scoot Inn in East Austin. It's the perfect new home for the [adult swim] summer parties here in th. Get there early to get a good seat, for free pizza (now ever Sunday!), to hear live music from Texas rockers Hellapeño and Troy Dillinger, and comedy from Lucas Simon Molandes. And of course, view [adult swim] on a jumbo screen. Don't quote me on this, but I think the cover is just a couple of bucks more than the cost of a gallon of petrol- $5.

2007-06-05T20:46:00.000-05:00

The Daily Fix in The ATX: Moses and the Burning Bush "Sings Off Key and Says F*ck A Lot"

Moses and The Burning Bush @ Beerland(?). Thursday, 31 May 2007.
(Wow. Somebody's a worse photographer than I am.)

I'm so tired from my day job today, I was tempted to paraphrase a CD review. (One I actually wrote.) But I will take the high road and give you three reasons why you shouldn't miss the next Moses and the Burning Bush show.

1.) It's at The Beauty Bar. A really cool franchise I've never had the pleasure of visiting locally, but obsess about a lot these days. I've made a few attempts, in vain, to attend shows at the downtown cocktail party spot for indie rockers and DJs. But for different reasons, the gods don't want me to be there until I'm ready to rock with the beautiful people.

2.) There's no cover. Or at least it's not advertised anywhere. So you can knock back a cocktail or two and not break the bank.

3.) I recommend it. I was going to type "because I said so," but I thought that would be facetious. Just go and have fun this Tuesday!

Moses and the Burning Bush @
The Beauty Bar
617 E 7th St.
Austin, TX
21+/No Cover(?)
Call 512-391-1943 for more info.

2007-06-04T20:16:00.000-05:00

The Daily Fix in The ATX: Music Monday at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

This Week's Trailer!

I was busy getting baked by the sun on a party boat yesterday instead of doing some reading and internet research to post my picks for the week, so I'm still playing catch up about a lot of events. The description of this weeks so movie is so well-written and succint, I thought I'd save readers the agony of my writing for one day and simply post the link that describes this epic french new wave music flick:

Le Brune et Moi (1979)

For $2, you also get to hear local rockers The Teeners play before the movie. So call your friends, reserve some seats online, and get there early!

Le Brune et Moi
NR; 60min; Director:Philippe Puicouyoul
9:45 pm
Alamo (Downtown)
409 Colorado
Austin, TX
$2

2007-06-02T20:53:00.001-05:00

The Weekend Fix in The ATX: Breaking Up and Getting Back Together in One Weekend

Taken the first night I met The Cocker Spaniels.
Photo by Merrick Ales (merrickales.com)

There are so many cool shows tonight with The Cocker Spaniels at The Parlor, and the big showcase @ Emo's outside stage with The Octopus Project announced in The Austin Chronicle, featuring Peel, Palaxy Tracks, and For Those Who Know. But there is a little bit of sad news I'm compelled to report.

For Those Who Know recently announced break-up. And they look so happy in this photo...

I'm sad to report that For Those Who Know, one of the first bands I interviewed for INsite, will be performing their last show tonight. James Vehslage, amazing drummer and manager, is moving on to pursue other music interests. He has performed with Ringo Deathstarr and Peel, filling in percussion sounds for the latter band's self-titled debut album (Peek-a-boo Records). So tonight's showcase is a goodbye for one more entertaining band.

But inside Emo's, it's hello again. After a 10-year hiatus, ska-punk legends Gals Panic reunite. I won't go on and on about how much I love and miss the band. You can read about it in this month's issue of INsite Magazine.

And here's the flier:

Don't miss the opening acts starting at 10:00, including the experimental rock 'n' blues band The Catfish Hunters featuring GP guitarist/songwriter Jerm Pollet (also of The Total Foxes) on piano. The nostalgia and mosh pit action og Gals Panic headlines the show.

Since The Cocker Spaniels is a one-man band, I'm happy to report they aren't breaking up or reuniting for a show. Unless he has some other issues I'm unaware of... Anyway- you can't go wrong no matter where you are this weekend. Just plan for crazier downtown traffic (more than usual) since the ROT/Biker Rally is still in progress.

The Cocker Spaniels w/The Grass Fight (Denton, TX)
9:00 pm
The Parlor (North Loop)
Austin, TX
Free/All Ages
(But bring $ for tips, pizza, and beer)

Gals Panic (Reunion) w/The Tricker Treats (ft. Dan Potthast of MU330), The Total Foxes, and The Catfish Hunters
10:00 pm
Emo's (Inside)
603 Red River
Austin, TX
$8/All Ages Pre-sale
$10 @ The Door

2007-06-02T03:38:00.000-05:00

Free, High Quality, Uncompressed mp3s? Yip-Yip Hooray!

Yip-Yip: Either Yip 1 or Yip 2... Awthum Fetht, 18 March 2007.
Photo by Danna Marrón Williams

I couldn't resist the pun. Today I neglected to read some MySpace bulletins or post recommended shows (besides Whoopsy! Night), and nearly missed one golden bulletin from a certain Winter Park, Florida duo. I feel like a gossip columnist, but I will freely admit that I was ready to be unimpressed, even after hearing Zom Zoms brag about touring with zolo soundscape artists and friends Yip-Yip (SAF Records). I finally got to hear them live at 2007's Awthum Fetht in March (the last day of SXSW) expecting an instrumental set dull from a week of overexposure to the behemoth 5-day music fest. Instead of being unimpressed I was flabbergasted. Yip-Yip could've played for hours and I would've sat there listening to every note. "Club Mummy" stole the show - no, the festival. (No disrespect to the other bands, including ASSACRE.) Kill The Critic is not an mp3 blog, but I had to share my thoughts about Yip-Yip, and links to all 6 available downloads mentioned in the bulletin. (Not that anyone cares, but that's my lucky number, 6.) And one of these 6 free mp3s is "Club Mummy". Oh, joy! And they've got the original track and a remix of "Candy Dinner" for In The Reptile House fans. It appears that a lot of people were complaining about not being able to properly download the free MySpace downloads they offered, so the guys put their checkered heads together to come up with a great alternative. OK - less blog and more mp3 file sharing:

Club Mummy mp3

Audacity Beach mp3

Candy Dinner mp3

Candy Dinner mp3 (Casio Remix)

High Heel to Mammal III mp3

Munch Much Mush? mp3

Yip-Yip: Candy Dinner

After downloading the tracks I didn't have without any trouble, they sounded great on my iTunes player. I recommend upgrading to the latest version of your mp3 compatible player of choice, and a high-speed connection (i.e., DSL, Cable) to ensure a successful download. There should be no need to disable your firewall or other internet security software if you're using a PC.

If you're reading this and will be on vacation in Orlando, or live in the area, forget the amusement parks for a couple of hours and don't miss their next live performances with Dan Deacon (Baltimore, MD) on Saturday, June 2nd, or Melt-Banana (Tokyo, Japan) on Sunday, June 3rd. A lot of us fans in Austin, TX eagerly await Yip-Yip's return.

mp3 Rating:

(4 out of 4 Joysticks)

I'd also like to add that I really think this dynamic duo needs to score movies and video games. My Nintendo DS-addicted nephew would probably agree. After I explain to him what a joystick is, I'll play a few Yip-Yip mp3s for him so he won't think I'm a fossil.

Yip-Yip* is
Yip 1: Jason Temple
Yip 2: Brian Esser
myspace.com/yipyip

*Kill The Critic's pick for best band web site.

2007-06-01T19:14:00.000-05:00

The Daily Fix in The ATX: Get a HUG @ Whoopsy! Night

Click image above for larger view of hot green woman kicking ass.

I only have one minute to post this before I head out for the night, so I will just express that Whoopsy! Magazine is having their monthly fundraiser, and the line-up of bands is the bomb.

HUG headlines, but be sure to get there early to listen to all the bands. (Including Cry Blood Apache.)

Mohawk
912 Red River
Austin, TX
$5/o.b.o.

2007-05-31T02:00:00.000-05:00

The Daily Fix in The ATX

Moses and the Burning Bush: I guess the hat is useful for those desert sabbaticals too.

Set Thursday Night on Fire at Beerland with Moses and The Burning Bush

There are a lot of great shows happening this weekend, and the weekend starts today. A lot of folks will be headed to Emo's and The Mohawk, but I'd like to point out the show at Beerland that features a band I recently reviewed for INsite Magazine's Local Trax (which will be in locations all over Austin Friday): Moses and the Burning Bush. I've referred to his sound and eponymous EP as "raw and refreshing", and although I haven't heard the band live (which is sometimes simply soloist Paul Raila), according to La Snacks vocalist Robert Segovia, Moses is badass. The band plays around midnight.

The Dirty Sound @ The Carousel Lounge, circa 2006.

Headlining the show at Beerland is the country/folk/punk good time boys The Dirty Sound, who have declared themselves the "drunkest band in Austin".

The New Pills: The newest garage rock prescription.

Guitarist "Don't Kill" Bill Rhodes of The Naysays.

I was impressed with the rock'n'roll garage vibes I caught at the bluesy The New Pills and lo-fi indie pop The Naysays MySpace profiles. Have these kids been listening to KOOP's "Stronger Than Dirt"?

The Dirty Sound, Moses and the Burning Bush, The New Pills, and The Naysays
10:00 pm
Beerland
711 1/2 Red River
Austin, TX
21+/$5/6(?)

2007-05-30T12:41:00.001-05:00

The Daily Fix in the ATX: Mr. Brown's Last Reggae Wednesday at Flamingo Cantina

Diedrich Jones of Mr. Brown

Tonight is the last night reggae band Mr. Brown will perform at Reggae Wednesdays. I hope the hump-day tradition continues with another solid band. I enjoy listening to the reggae, rock, and hip hop at Flamingo Cantina, and for 15+ years the club has proven to be my favorite club on 6th Street. (The Parish is a close second.) But don't be sad about this last performance at the Cantina. Mr. Brown will be performing around Austin in the near future, and I hope to catch one of these shows so I can ask them if their name is indeed inspired by the Bob Marley song. Just another trite interview question...Also: Dance to the afro-beat music of Rattletree. White musicians performing music inspired by traditional African music never sounded so good. Music is indeed a universal language. You can hear the universal band every Sunday at the rear entrance of Barton Springs from 4-6:00 pm.

Mr. Brown and Rattletree
live @ Flamingo Cantina
515 E 6th St.
Austin, TX
$5/Doors 8:30 pm (18+)

2007-05-29T14:19:00.000-05:00

Rio Rita Cafe y Cantina Art Auction Benefiting Local Musician Billy Steve Korpi

Billy Steve Korpi: Guitarist for The Crack Pipes, Victims of Leisure, and The Bloody Tears.

Here's an update about the auction from sister venue Beerland:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Rio Rita Art Auction Benefiting Austin musician Billy Steve Korpi is underway.

Artists who have contributed include Win Wallace, Tim Kerr, Alfonso Rabago, Alex Cuervo, Lisa DiRocco, Michael Schliefke, Brettany Boozer, Billy Bishop, Everett Lamb, Shanti Deva, Jeff Swanson, Jerry Czyzak, and Caioneach. A wide variety of styles and media are featured.

Please stop by and bid soon as this auction is ongoing and ends the middle of this week.

Billy Steve Korpi is our dear friend and beloved guitarist of The Crack Pipes, Victims of Leisure, and Bloody Tears. He is winning his fight against leukemia but needs everyone's help to offset the enormous expense he is incurring.

Rio Rita is located at 1308 E. 6th on the eastside at Navasota.

Thanks for all your help.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Mild-mannered coffee shop by day, swanky lounge by night."

Other benefits for Billy Steve will be announced soon. There are other ways you can help too:

Mail a donation (check or money order) to the
Billy Steve Korpi Benefit Account
c/o SNB Bank of Austin
3600 Bee Cave Rd.
Austin, TX 78746

Make a donation online via PayPal @ leukorpia@hotmail.com

Donate Blood in Billy Steve's name at
Blood Center of Central Texas
4300 N Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX
You will receive a voucher that can be dropped off at Rio Rita and will help defray the cost of his upcoming transfusions.

Send Billy Steve a note through stillybeve@hotmail.com or solidgold@thebloodytears.com.

Our positive thoughts and prayers are with Billy Steve as he wins the battle with cancer.

Rio Rita Cafe y Cantina
1308 E 6th St. (at Navasota)
Austin, TX

2007-05-29T12:57:00.000-05:00

The Daily Fix in The ATX: Urban/Folk Music?

Singer/Songwriter Suzanna Choffel May Surprise You Tonight @ Momo's

I'm finally going to admit something that's bothered me for a long time: I find most singer/songwriters who play solo sets with just a microphone and a guitar almost as boring as that guy making music with his laptop in front of a large audience. (That boring!) But one night, over a year ago I heard singer/songwriter Suzanna Choffel perform at Writers Who Rock, a Tuesday evening showcase hosted and booked by Melissa Mullins. Choffel's voice rang out with soulful - and dare I mention this - sexy assurance, and I've been a fan of hers ever since.

Suzanna Choffel seems comfortable with so many different music genres, performing with Hip Hop collective The Word Association's Omari Kamau, flying solo with her blend of folk and urban/street influences, or jamming with a band that compliments her urban meets folk voice and musical arrangements. You can hear elements of R&B, folk, rock, and jazz in her sound that meld into a unique sound that is comfortable headlining an intimate lounge setting, or opening the show at a stadium packed with a rowdy crowd ready to rock. Tonight Ms. Choffel shudders and rings with her Tip-Top Band at Momos - 9:15, after Kacy Crowley graces the stage at 8:00. I recommend hanging out and listening for a few hours too. You can thank me later.

Momos (Above Katz's)
618 W 6th St.
Austin, TX
$5/18+

2007-05-28T12:54:00.000-05:00

The Daily Fix in The ATX: Movies and Music @ The Alamo

Music Monday Presents: Zachariah and The Weird Weeds

Sandy Ewen of The Weird Weeds @ The Mohawk, March 2007. Photo by Danna Marrón Williams

Tonight Music Monday presents Zachariah: The Electric Western (1971), a roundabout music-filled adaptation of Herman Hesse's Siddarth, with homoerotic overtones. Besides the interesting appearance of pop music culture icons, this flick boasts a script penned by the Firesign Theatre. The world famous comedy troupe celebrated 40 years of entertainment last year. One of my very favorite bands, The Weird Weeds, performs before the movie! This could only happen in Austin... And maybe San Francisco. Visit the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema link below for more information.

Zachariah (Unrated 35 mm print, 93 min, dir. George Englund)
w/The Weird Weeds
9:45 pm
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
409 Colorado
Austin, TX
General Admission: $2

2007-05-27T12:48:00.001-05:00

The Daily Fix in The ATX: Seven Days of Music in "The Live Music Capital of The World"

The Up and Coming Zeale32 [ zeal-ee thirty-two] (One of my first and best interviews.)

News Flash: Hip Hop is alive and kicking it in the ATX, and I found the blog to prove it.

Thanks to fellow blogger Minto Tsai's Austin Hip-Hop Scene, I discovered that live hip hop isn't just a myth. After catching a few shows with Austin's own Zeale 32, Mr. Bavu Blakes, and San Marcos, TX collective The Word Association, I was a little disappointed that more hip hop acts weren't choosing to stop in the ATX. Pardon all the the name dropping, but I did catch memorable shows with Tha Fucking Transmissions (Houston, TX) at The Mohawk and Little Brother (Durham, NorthCarolina) at Emo's. I've interviewed most of these solo artists and bands for local press, and I'm really looking for more "alternative", or underground artists to play more shows in Austin by word of mouth and blogs- like Cali Agents and The Alias Brothers (formerly known as Asamov). Thank goodness for Tsai's ear to the ground. I look forward to posting about local and touring hip hop acts.

Sunday, May 27th

El-P or El-Producto (Jaime Meline, one of the masterminds behind Definitive Jux)

El to the P at the E to the Mo: EL-P, a.k.a. El Producto, hits the stage with Hip Hop at Emo's Tonight

Brooklyn, NY native EL-P is now on the pop culture radar with his track on the free Definitive Swim album, which is currently hyped on Adult Swim. But I was really impressed with the fact that he operates his own label, Definitve Jux, which seems to have a penchant for indie hip hop that is smokin'. He's made a bold marketing move by producing the album with Williams Street, and premiering the "Flyentology" video on the Adult Swim site. It's a "f*ck you" to corporate labels, commercial radio, and MTV who don't seem to get it that hip hop isn't a trend. (And yeah, there's an explicit version.) My favorite track is "Smithereens (Stop Cryin')", which is also available on his LP-CD I'll Sleep When You're Dead. EL-P performs with a crew - DJ Mr. Dibbs & The Mighty Quin, Hangar 18 (N.Y.C.), Yak Ballz from Queens, and Slow Suicide Stimulus (New Jersey), so expect some stage antics, and not just two turntables and a microphone.

Emo's (Outside)
603 Red River
Austin, TX
All Ages/$15

2007-05-26T13:29:00.000-05:00

The Daily Fix in The ATX: Melt-Banana, with XBXRX and Finally Punk!

A lot of people slept on the Aviador Dro appearance at Flamingo Cantina last year (shame, shame). But I'm sure that won't be the case this time with the legendary noise band from Japan. Perhaps due to the American fascination with Japanese pop culture. Melt-Banana's appearance was briefly mentioned in the Music Listings section of The Austin Chronicle:

"Melt-Banana, xbxrx, Finally Punk
Emo's, Saturday, May 26
Music for breaking things."

I made a bet if they weren't listed in the Recommended or Roadshows section, then I would buy and listen to the next Killers album. Damn. Anyway... Melt-Banana is touring the west with Oakland punk phenomenon xbxrx.

xbxrx defies the bubblegum punk trend- and gravity. Photo by Chris Woo.

One day I hope to have time to sit down with them for a nice chat and interview, because they have made punk an exciting genre again. After stopping in the DFW area last night (at Rubber Gloves in Denton, TX where Austin's experimental heavies Count Dracula's Weed Smuggling Jam Engine opened the show Friday), Melt-Banana continues the western leg of their Bambi's Dilemma U.S. Tour at Emo's. The album brings a quick-paced fury to the band's controlled chaos. Local little darlings Finally Punk open on the outside stage tonight.

Finally Punk live at The Parlor in Austin, TX (2006). Photo by Ben Aqua.

Finally Punk will be on KVRX's Local Live the following night, and have already announced a tour of the west and mid-west in June, and the release of Primary Colors (7" EP). I'm crossing my fingers that "Environmentality" and "Boyfriend Application" make the cut.

Crazy fan art: You could say I went a little bananas with this.

Emo's
603 Red River
Austin, TX
Doors: 8:00 pm
Show: 10:00
$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. Or I just couldn't find it.

The Backyard
Austin, TX
Tickets Still Available

2007-05-25T16:24:00.000-05:00

For Those Who Slept: 3 Shows We [Almost] Overlooked

Don't try this at home either.

So I reported the LP release party for Voxtrot at Emo's, and the Metal Mayhem fest happening at Red 7, but I feel like such a jerk - neglecting the other shows you shouldn't miss tonight. I'm overdosing on theatrical and DVD releases this weekend with my family and friends (more about that later), but I wish my favorite former co-worker at iTunes would hurry up with that Trans-Teleportation invention so I can attend more than one or two live music shows in one night. Yes, Austin is living up to it's reputation for bringing you the best live music. The competition is fierce tonight, but we're not supposed to call it a competition. You can't lose with these three "sleepers", no matter where you go this holiday weekend.

#1: The Mary Timony Band, LaLaLand, and Horse+donkey @ Club DeVille

Mary Timony: File under "Indie Rock Legends"

Mary Timony (of Autoclave and Helium fame) is touring the U.S. with her band and making a stop at one of my favorite places for amazing "sleeper" shows. Club DeVille is the same place where I heard Heartless Bastards for the charming third time, before they became a buzz band. Mary Timony is releasing her songs with Kill Rock Stars, a label known for having an ear for music that is avant-garde and avoids being trendy, nevertheless pleasurable. LaLaLand had me convinced it was a lackadaisical band from California. But it turns out they're indie rock slackers from right here in Austin, TX. One of my local favorites, Horse+donkey, opens the show with stunning psychedelic rock that will take you places you've never been. I just had a crazy thought. What if Horse+donkey's first album (now in progress) was released on Kill Rock Stars?

Club DeVille
900 Red River
Austin, TX
Doors: 9:00 pm
Show: 10:00 pm
21+ (?)/Cover (?)

#2: Tonight in the Emo's Lounge, Tune In and Drop Out with Cavedweller

I had an Indian Jewelry flashback with this re-designed Business Deal flyer. (Props to "Bobcat" and "Pops".)

At the moment I feel like a journalist writing about Tori Amos performing in an airport lounge way back when. I am a biased fan of Cavedweller's music. Music which could immediately be compared to Devendra Banhart. But let's give the man a chance. Performing live since the mid 1990s, Cavedweller (a.k.a. Dirk Michener) has a gift for imaginative songwriting and a voice with an octave range that will make you wonder why he never trained for the opera. Sometimes he performs with a band, sometimes he doesn't. Who cares? See him open for local indie folk rockers Cartright (more about them at a later date), and The Willowz, an amazing folk rock band from California on a limited tour that touts the newly released CHAUTAUQUA (Dim Mak). A little movie soundtrack trivia: The Willowz have a song featured in the soundtrack "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". Yeah, I had to bring it back to movies. If you miss the show, check out The Willowz album and Cavedweller's psychedelic touch in his latest release, The Best Version of 'Gloria" Ever There Was (Business Deal).

Emo's Lounge
603 Red River
Austin, TX
All Ages/$5-10 (?)

#3: Music at The Parlor with MrandMrsMays, The Dirty Hearts, and Manager's Choice

The Parlor: Family Owned Pizza, Beer, and Live Music Joint Since 2000.

I won't bore you with a lot of details about this one. I just learned that Manager's Choice is playing a short set to open the show. One hot band on the scene, The Dirty Hearts, is playing tonight - and it's a birthday performance by Misti Watkins (also of Mr. Lewis and The Funeral Five) And Sometimes I disappointment myself. I pride myself on knowing about most of the popular locally based bands with punk sensibilities. MrandMrsMays is not one of these bands. I visited their MySpace profile for the first time today, and got goosebumps. So don't sleep on the Mr. and Mrs. I'm crossing my fingers that they'll do more live shows this summer. The Secret Weapons may still be playing, so get there early - 8:30?

The Parlor
100-B E North Loop
Austin, TX
8:30 pm
All Ages/No Cover

And that's all she wrote. Have a great and safe Memorial Day weekend - no matter where you go and what you do.

2007-05-25T15:58:00.000-05:00

The Daily Fix in The ATX: Lose Control with Metal Mayhem at Red 7 or
Start The Holiday Weekend with the Voxtrot LP Release Show

New Orleans Metal Kingpins: Crowbar

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.

2007-05-23T11:30:00.000-05:00

A Musical Fundraiser for Senator Barack Obama

Wait a minute... It's not a dirty campaign trick or Photoshop magic, it's Sen. Obama with former President Bill Clinton.

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

2007-05-22T19:28:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-21T13:25:00.000-05:00

Get Your Daily Music Fix in The ATX

The Soul of John Black: The Dark Side

Black on A Blue Monday: The Soul of John Black at Flamingo Cantina, and Karaoke w/Nathan Black at Beerland

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.

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.

The Soul of John Black
Flamingo Cantina
515 E 6th St
Austin, TX
Doors: 8:30
Minimal Cover

Rock & Roll Karaoke
Beerland
711 1/2 Red River
Austin, TX
10:00 pm
No Cover

2007-05-20T18:54:00.001-05:00

The Daily Fix in The ATX: Seven Days of Music in "The Live Music Capital" (May 20-26)

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.

2007-05-18T17:06:00.000-05:00

Saturday Night Beatdown: Manager's Choice Opens for Rescue Mission and Cassette, May 19th @ Emo's

I mentioned Chaos In Tejas earlier this week in the Daily Fix for the ATX, but if you're in Austin this weekend and in the mood to master the robot while you rock, I highly recommend catching this show at Emo's Lounge this Saturday. Manager's Choice is Austin's own New Wave 'n' Reggae band that will have you moving and spazzing out - just a little bit. I won't bore you with wordy comparisons to The B-52's, Talking Heads, The English Beat, etc... But I will state this: Manager's Choice is my choice for a party. And when I listen carefully I hear something amusing, intelligent and subversive all at once. My kind of party - with a "Galactic Suckerpunch".

Rescue Mission appears to be quite proficient in channeling the best of the 80s. I will dare to compare them to Simple Minds. No, it's not an insult, but a compliment. It's that song that I enjoy hearing so much on their MySpace page - "Among The Trials" - that reminds me of The Breakfast Club "theme song". You know the one... (Hey, at least I didn't compare them to Blue October). I want to dress in black and wear eyeliner just to hear them.

Now about Cassette... I wonder why they don't have thousands of adoring fans. Maybe it's the name that puts the young hipsters off. Although I wasn't immediately impressed by my first listen (you can download four tracks for free on MySpace), by my second listen, I was hoping that by the time the LP drops, I won't be the toothless soothsayer. Until then, the kids are alright with me. Check them out Saturday. I'm not sure about the cover charge, but it should be less than the cost of parking downtown.

Emo's (Lounge)
10:00 pm
All Ages/Cover $?
603 Red River
Austin, TX

2007-05-18T16:53:00.000-05:00

Forget Girls Gone Wild - The Lovely Ladies of Girls Gone Funny + Live Music from The Nematoads = A Helluva Good Weekend

I'd like to introduce you to some of the funniest women in Austin, TX: Host Phyllis Masters is one of the funny members of the Austin comedy troupe It's Just Wrong, formerly The Austin Live Show. Emcee Suzanne Brown appeared at The Cap City Comedy Club's 22nd Annual Funniest Person in Austin and performs at various venues throughout Austin. I haven't seen or heard Allie Robison, but if she's performing at Girls Gone Funny, I suspect she's going to bring it on. Hairy Melon, a.k.a. Mary Helen McCarthy, is an hilarious comedy writer, stand-up comedian, and one of the founding member of It's Just Wrong. She also hosts a show called Radio Comedy for the Soul on Talk Radio 1370 AM. Kat Williams (not to be confused with Katt) is an Austin, TX comedian with a day job. I was going to guess exotic dancing, but I think it's actually "fire dancing". Hot. And lets not forget the music... The Nematoads are a Third Coast surf rock band from Austin, TX. Their new album out on Deep Eddy Records, "Five Guns West", could be described as a Spaghetti Western scored with a Texas twang and surf-punk twist. Sounds like a party to me.

Girls Gone Funny
w/The Nematoads
Saturday, May 19th
Woody's South
321 Ben White Blvd
Austin, TX 78704

2007-05-18T16:00:00.000-05:00

Tonight, Tonight, Tonight at The Parlor: Transmography, La Snacks, and BASIC

Good pizza, good beer, and good music on a Friday night? What a concept. Instead of a normal preview where I describe each band and what to expect, I will explain what not to expect at The Parlor, with the assistance of photos that have nothing to do with each point:

BASIC's debut album, Favorite Movie. My favorite song.

Don't expect to be bored. It's live rock 'n' roll.

La Snacks - Not quite normal.

Don't expect to pay a cover. But tipping the bands would be lovely.

If you're late, you might be expected to lick that same Transmography arm. Ewww - gross!

And don't expect a really late show. It starts at 9:00.

B A S I C opens the show!
The Parlor
100-B E North Loop
Austin, TX

2007-05-17T22:57:00.000-05:00

Before and After (2005 and 2007): The Wendell Baker Story is coming to theaters - again - and it's already on DVD. So does this mean a re-release of the DVD?

The Wendell Baker Story: It's Not Déjà Vu or A Time Warp, It's A Re-Premiere

3 out of 5 Time Machines

After catching a glimpse of a vaguely familiar movie poster online which prominently features Luke Wilson, I had to do a little digging. And when I found two versions about the same movie, I knew it wasn't déjà vu. I remembered that I had enjoyed attending the world premiere of "The Wendell Baker Story" at The Paramount Theatre at SXSW 2005. After I noted the flashing movie banner while browsing two of my favorite mega-blogs, The Chronic and The Austinist, I wondered if I was experiencing a time warp. Instead of a time warp I discovered that this overlooked indie film is getting second life. The premise of this story, a comedy principally shot in Austin, TX and throughout the state three years ago, is simple one: A good-natured conman Wendell Baker (screenwriter, co-director and hottie Luke Wilson) loses his freedom and his girlfriend Doreen (hottie Eva Mendes) in an illegal identity scam. The likable ex-con Wendell has paid his debt to society and when released attempts to win his girlfriend back with the help of his old partner Reyes Morales (Jacob Vargas) while working at a retirement home, run by the corrupt Neil King (UT-Austin alumnus and hottie older brother Owen Wilson). The best part of the movie is the supporting cast and the eccentric wit they bring to a movie that could easily be relegated to the so-so date movie category. But when you have actors like Eddie Griffin playing McTeague, King's right-hand man, and Seymour Cassel, Kris Kristofferson, and Harry Dean Stanton portraying oppressed retirees, you know you've got a movie worth watching. Oh- and Will Ferrell shows up in this one, too.

The Wendell Baker Story
(99 min., Rated PG-13, dir. Andrew Wilson & Luke Wilson)
Cinemark Barton Creek Cinema
2224 Walsh Tarlton at Loop 360
and
Regal Arbor Cinema at Great Hills
9828 Great Hills Trail
Austin, TX

2007-05-16T16:01:00.000-05:00

Daydreaming About Weird Wednesday at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Finally - a blog that has nothing to do with music. The "Japanese psychosexual 'pink'* movie" Daydream (1964) premieres in Austin at Alamo Weird Wednesdays , presented by KVRX 91.7 FM, and is more psycho than sexual according to Lars' description. As always the movie is free, and challenges viewers to leave expectations of an understandable plot, setting, and/or characterization outside the theater for about 90 minutes. And I love a challenge. Go see Daydream after you pay $1.01 at The Parish to hear three homegrown bands live tonight at 9:00 (See Sunday, May 13th). I just planned your ultimate cheap date night, so go for it!

Daydream (Approx. 92 min., Rated "R", dir. Tetsuji Takechi)
Wednesday, May 16th - Midnight
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Downtown)
409 Colorado Street
Austin, TX

Join Weird Wednesday on MySpace here.

*According to Wikipedia, a "pink" flick is "a style of Japanese softcore pornographic film". You've been warned.

2007-05-13T20:35:00.000-05:00

The Daily Fix in The ATX: 7 Days in "The Live Music Capital of The World" (May 13 - 19)

Bright Eyes: Don't It Make Your Bright Eyes Blue?

Sunday, May 13th
The Return to Texas: Bright Eyes at Bass Concert Hall

So what if he hates Texas? I'm sure the indie music songwriting genius Conor Oberst still loves Austin. Or at least tolerates our mediocrity. Otherwise, why would he step foot on Texas soil? On behalf of musicians who loathe Texas but want to play in Austin, I would like to petition the government and asked that Austin be declared a state, independent from the rest of Texas. We're pretty much a lone star when compared to the rest of the state, especially when it comes to our music taste and voting record. But this blog is supposed to be about Bright Eyes appearing tonight at Bass Concert Hall on the UT-Austin campus. If you can afford the ticket or can score a press pass, unlike me, don't miss this show.

w/Oakley Hall and McCarthy Trenching
UTPAC - Bass Concert Hall
8:00 pm
For ticket info go to utpac.org.

Awesome Cool Dudes: They don't like talking about the abduction.

Monday, May 14th
King Kong, Awesome Cool Dudes, and LaLaLand @ Emo's: No, We Haven't Become Hollywood, CA

I'll be honest and admit that I have never heard the bands King Kong (Louisville, KY) and LaLaLand. But I finally listened to both bands on MySpace last night and decided that it was worth mentioning that the Awesome Cool Dudes were playing with another great line-up at Emo's, and then I decided to write a preview instead of posting a bland bulletin. And this is a good excuse to post the alien abduction picture from MySpace that once included the headline "Take me to your dealer."

Emo's (Inside)
603 Red River
Austin, TX
$7/$5 21+
Buy Tickets Here (Service Charge Incl.)
Doors: 8:00 pm
Show: 10:00 pm

Hans Hinrich, Cry Blood Apache Guitarist. Cigarette?

Tuesday, May 15th
An '80s Music Lover's Dream (and More): Cry Blood Apache, Ghosthustler, and Finally Punk

That, um, occasional percussionist, Pahn Zhram, looks a lot like the bass player who stole Cry Blood Apache's master tape for their next album. Since I reviewed the last year's promising debut Performing Diversion Acrobatics (INsite) and interviewed the band for Whoopsy! (February '06), the mystery of the stolen tape remains unresolved. Was it a grand hoax orchestrated by the band, the doppleganger Zhram? Who really cares? If you haven't heard the band live lately, visit the MySpace page and you will notice CBA has dropped the almost funk bass lines in favor of more atmospheric loops and drum sound f/x courtesy of Zom Zoms alumnus Seth Nemec and the newest addition of the busking band, Maxx Hole, a quiet electronics madman ("Let Fantasy Begin"). Kaspar Glass still delivers the discombobulating lyrics, with an ode to the offspring of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes ("Silent Birth"), and Hans Hinrich still favors the guitar above attending handsome boy modeling school ("Master of the Quarantine").
Ghostlhustler is red hot electronica that might replace my fascination with the success of Ghostland Observatory. Oops... Yeah, I went there. The Denton, TX trio has an edgier, sexier approach that makes me want to give the green light to that strange boy on Red River who keeps giving me "that look". You know who you are... I've never heard the band live, but they had me hooked when I heard "Busy Busy Busy" online.
I would like to claim that I was the first person to interview Finally Punk, when they were still swapping out instruments and playing crazy one-minute tunes about manatees and Johnny Depp. Oh, they're still doing that live? Well check out some of their newer tracks on MySpace, which include the tongue in cheek tune "Boyfriend Application" and the more complex, mature "Environmentality" - sounding less reminsicent of the riot grrrls and more representative of female musical pioneers from the 1970s and 80s, like The Slits and The Raincoats. Every time I hear these ladies live, I get goosebumps, wondering when everyone else will realize they are witnessing a great band in the making? Whatever...
If you miss Finally Punk at Beerland (Tsk-tsk...), don't make the same mistake twice - they're opening the Melt-Banana (Tokyo, Japan) show on Saturday May 26th at Emo's. The reunited XBXRX (Oakland, CA) is also playing.

Beerland
711 1/2 Red River
Austin, TX
21+ Only/$5
10:00 pm

Darling New Neighbors: Austin's musical version of "Children of the Corn"?

Wednesday, May 16th
The Odd Coupling: Darling New Neighbors and 101X Homegrown Live

When I heard about Darling New Neighbors playing at The Parish I was, to put it simply, a happy fan. One of my favorite bands performing at one of my favorite live music venues. Besides boasting a sweet bar, the acoustics are great due to the lofty space, and it's easy to view the stage from every angle and distance. And then I graduated from contentment to excitement when I heard that the sponsor of DNN's next show was KROX 101.5, which hosts the Homegrown Live series, shows featuring promising local talent.
The line-up is a grab bag of Austin's stellar bands, with one non-surprise: The Lemurs. The buzz surrounding this band has grown to an electric saw's roar, as they cut through danceable rock beats. I've heard them at Emo's last summer and witnessed the hype myself. The Lemurs started off strong and sounded very radio-friendly, but I became a little bored somewhere in the middle of their performance. The arrangements of songs and lyrics sounded a bit too familiar, and at the end I couldn't remember what they sounded like. I got a reminder on MySpace with a new track "Breaking You Down". When the singer begs "Have I broken you down?" I can't help but reply, "No, not yet." Maybe they'll blow me away this Wednesday.
Also playing: the effervescent Oh No, Oh My!, who make it alright to like taking walks in the park and saying hello to strangers - with a wink.

The Parish
214 E. 6th St.
Austin, TX
Homegrown Live
All Ages - $1.01 (But I don't think they'll mind if you don't have the penny.)
8:30 pm

Music or Medicine Head?

Thursday, May 17th - Saturday, May 19th
Chaos in Tejas Fest: It's Not The Thrilla in Manilla, But...

18 touring punk, thrash, and hardcore rock bands descend upon Texas in three days equals...Musical chaos - the good kind. The line-up is subject to change, but the highlights include reunions, ex-members of ex-bands and side projects, and of course, legends. I wish that the festival included local Texas hardcore bands like When Dinosaurs Rules The Earth and Total Abuse, because they live in Tejas too, brah, but obviously the folks at Emo's think punk rock in Austin sucks. Kidding... You can probably hear the local thrashers at Headhunters, Room 710 and Red 7 any night.

It was tough finding MySpace links, but I did my best...

Round One - I mean Day One (Thur. 5/17):

La Fraction (Vive Punk Rock! Vive La France!)
Pisschrist (Aussie thrash)
Dropout (Jacksonville Beach, FL - reunion show?)
Spazm 151 (Harcore Dallas Style - Sho'nuff!)
Bastard Sons of the Apocalypse
+ One Band T.B.D. (Deep Sleep Punk 'n' thrash from Baltimore, MD, maybe?)

Day Two (Fri. 5/18):

The Kids (Punk from Belgium since 1976 - fan site)
The Persuaders
Government Warming
Complications (Quebec, Canada)
Punch In The Face (Hardcore from The Windy City)
Sex/Vid
Repercussions

Day Three (Sat. 5/19):

Gordon Solie Motherfuckers(OHIO!)
Dropdead (Providence, RI)
Born Dead Icons (Montreal, Canada)
Peligro Social (San Francisco, CA)
Brain Handle (Pittsburgh Pennsylvania)
Mind Eraser (Hardcore from Boston, MA)
American Cheeseburger (Athens, GA)

Click on the thumbnail above for show times.

Emo's
603 Red River
Austin, TX
All Ages $11/$13
Ticket Pre-sale
Go to emosaustin.com for show times and festival updates.

Look for another edition of the daily fix next Sunday, May 20th.

~ sayanythingrrrl

2007-05-13T17:05:00.000-05:00

Bayside Austin Recording Studio Is Now

(Austin, Texas US)--Formerly Bayside Austin Recording Studio, Bundy Hill Recording & Post-Production is now open for your next project - live and studio recording, video post-production, photography, and graphics.

The hourly rate for your quality recording is only $35.

"That cost is low compared to other studios does NOT reflect less quality on our part. Some cheap studios charge cheap prices because they know they do cheap work with cheap equipment. We simply wish to pay our bills and expand our studio, not get rich from already starving artists..." T.W. Bond - Owner & Recording Engineer

Lucky Dukes of Satan's Cheerleaders - Photo by Pataphysics

Bundyhill is located in the heart of "the live music capital of the world," minutes away from 6th Street and Red River live music venues. The studio specializes in working one-on-one with artists who want more depth and versatility than is available from average production, because "sometimes DIY projects need a little help..."

To listen to diverse samples of their work, go to myspace.com/bundyhill. For more information about the studio, including special recording capabilities and hours of operation, visit www.baysideaustin.com/moving.htm.

Danna Marrón Williams
DIY Revolution Communications

2007-05-11T14:53:00.000-05:00

Björk's "Post": The Greatest Album in The Universe - Ever

Björk Will Return to Austin, and I Can Die Happy Now - After ACL Fest

On my personal MySpace page, I have previously posted that I would like to meet Björk Gudmundsdottir. After seeing her live during her 1995 Post Tour at Liberty Lunch (an event that changed my life) I have wanted to interview her. Now, 12 years later, I have a good excuse to contact Björk's management and do my best to talk with her for a few minutes - or maybe half an hour? Possibly maybe... Björk is returning to Austin, TX this summer for the Austin City Limits Music Festival! I wanted to be fair and balanced like Fox and report the more "normal" participants in this year's festival, but I just couldn't. I'm a loving fan of her music, and as I imagine the press hounding her in September, I also hope to do some of that hounding. Tactfully, of course.

And here's a list of the other major headliners for ACL 2007, September 14-16 (with my typical snide and sometimes sincere commentary):

Bob Dylan & His Band (Shame on me - I've never seen him in person. Seriously.)
The White Stripes (Meg White is the best bad drummer out there. Although it would be badass to see Cindy Blackmon with Jack White. They could call themselves The Swirl. Get it?...Anyway...)
The Killers (I've heard them on the boob tube and wasn't impressed. In fact, I wondered why everyone at iTunes was so crazy about them last year.)
Wilco (Tweedy & Co.? Nice choice.)
Arcade Fire (Merge Records darlings. Indie rock kudos.)
Muse (Bring on the U.K. rock!)
My Morning Jacket (Solid ACL performers.)
Queens of The Stone Age (Surprising. I hope they make fun of The Killers.)
Bloc Party (Why do we need The Killers?)
Arctic Monkeys (Why do we need The Killers, again?)

http://www.aclfestival.com/lineup.aspx

"Volta", Released May 8, 2007 on Atlantic Records... I'm using my petrol money to buy it next week.

I'm posting special pre-ACL Fest blogs in September with a Björk discography, which will include a brief review of her latest album, Volta. And I'll definitely announce whether or not I landed that interview. Let's keep our fingers crossed...

In the meantime, I'll have more announcements of local shows posted, as well as my Austin EP reviews. The shortlist includes: AUX, The Evildoers, The Lonesome Heroes, Manager's Choice, Red Book Audio, Shapes Have Fangs, Smoke Detector and Zom Zoms. And a few of these reviews will be in print this summer - revised, of course. And expect more drunken photos of shows I attend. Yay!

But I will be sober when I take photos of Björk's performance in September.

~sayanythingrrrl

2007-05-10T16:56:00.000-05:00

Smokey Farris - A vocalist who sings like a surrealist painter. So it's OK to laugh at his name.

Count Dracula's Weed Smuggling Jam Engine:
Funny Name, Serious Music (or, Schlotzsky's™ Craving, Anyone?)

Review: Live @ The Carousel Lounge
w/Cavedweller
Zest of Yore

Saturday April 28, 2007

(3 out of 4 bottles of Tito's Handmade Vodka. But so much fun I can't remember if it was really 4 bottles.)

Due to "creative differences" (including my ridiculously funny - or just ridiculous - "banana in a slingshot" idea for a Melt-Banana show flier) and other valid reasons, I was dismissed as "band manager" earlier this week. And it was the best thing that could've ever happened to me for two reasons: 1.) Count Dracula's Weed Smuggling Jam Engine really doesn't need to hire a manager at this point in their music career - but they do need more press and music blogs, and 2.) I should never be allowed to "manage" a band I enjoy hearing because it makes listening to the band's music less enjoyable somehow. Now I can write about the band without an ulterior motive, and listen without worrying about the band's business. I actually quit days earlier before I got the official news, but who really cares - this blog is supposed to be about a band I enjoy listening to live - and not one of the factors of a decision to focus on what I'm actually competent doing - like writing music blogs.

Now I'm tired of all the "manager" and "" business. On with the show - I mean the review...

On the last Saturday in April I decided to celebrate the fact that it was the last Saturday in April with Tito's Handmade Vodka. And it was also dubbed my early Cinco de Mayo celebration. I can't remember a lot of specifics from the show as a result of this early celebration, but from what I do remember, I really enjoyed all three performances from Cavedweller (Business Deal co-founder Dirk Michener going solo and still in Austin, TX - so it's still not too late to ask him to be my future ex-husband), Austin-based experimental quartet Count Dracula's Weed Smuggling Jam Engine, and Denton/Austin indie part-timers Zest of Yore.

Cavedweller - Sexier Standing Up

I was already on my second Cape Cod and debating whether or not to sneak a piece of someone's birthday cake when Cavedweller took the stage, or rather the floor of The Carousel. The crowd in front of me sat at a long table and was polite enough to stay through his performance. He has started this interesting habit of standing up while playing his solo sets on acoustic guitar. I have a great example of this in a photo I posted on Cavedweller's MySpace comments section. Although it seemed odd at first, I'm getting used to his stand-up routine, and found myself enjoying his performance more. He played one song that was unfamiliar to me as a new fan - "That Boy's A Hitler". Originally released on 2000's "School Boys Charm", the song has been revived on his set list and is now available for download on MySpace. On record and live, Cavedweller proves he has the octave range that can go from sexy deep to spine-tingling castrato. The set seemed too short, but he did take a request - for his sexy rocker "Eyez".

By my third Cape Cod, Count Dracula's Weed Smuggling Jam Engine had played more than a few familiar songs, and I will have to admit I don't remember exactly what they played. But the crowd was charged at the end of each song, and vocal frontman Smokey Farris was less talkative than usual between songs. The Jam Engine was running fast and smooth, and the climax of their performance was received with a warm round of applause, and a request for one more song. There were no encores, but the buzz I felt after the last song seemed more from the music than the liquor.

Stephen Pierce - Zest of Yore. I love saying the name, Zest of Yore.

This was my first attendance of a Zest of Yore performance. The headlining band's set began with three solo, mid-tempo songs performed by lead vocalist and guitarist Stephen Pierce. I was immediately impressed, although I couldn't identify any of the songs or distinguish the newer songs from the tentatively titled Quality of Life CD and 2004's Throw It At The Moon. But now that ZOY plans to spend half their time In Austin, I get the feeling I will become more familiar with their songs. I'm already a fan of "I'll Do The Thinking" from Admit That It's Christmas (You've Got To) (2003), another song currently available for download on MySpace.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next Performances:

Cavedweller: June 9th @ The Mohawk (Austin, TX) w/Ryan Anderson and The Lovely Sparrows.

Jam Engine: May 25th @ Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio (Denton, TX) w/XBXRX and Melt-Banana - U.S. "Bambi's Dilemma" Tour.

Zest of Yore: Go to www.zestofyore.com/livezest.html or myspace.com/zestofyore for show updates.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Overall, it was an entertaining night, and I regret not taking notes at the performance. The pictures I did manage to take are a mess, but expect a sharper review at future shows. Starting this weekend, perhaps?

Cheryl Bliss performs at Cafe Caffeine on W. Mary St. in Austin, Saturday May 12th, and I'll be there with RadioMike.

And later that night:

Scoot Inn is located in East Austin, on 4th Street.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

End of transmission.

~ sayanythingrrrl

ADDENDUM: To prove there are no hard feelings between me and the "fab four", Smokey Farris (vocalist and Business Deal Records co-founder) called me Count Dracula Weed Smuggling Jam Engine's "biggest fan" after my departure, and hopes that I will attend future shows. I'm not sure if he meant physically big, psycho stalker big, or most supportive fan big, but I assured him I would attend their shows with my usual zeal, but I would not throw bananas at the new "manager", Jam Engine guitarist and Bundyhill Recording & Post-Production Studio engineer Preston Dukes.

2007-02-04T11:31:00.000-06:00

One Regret: Not solving the case of the missing Lemurs drummer.*

Top 10 (Musical) Regrets of 2006: It's All About The Love in 2007

Last night I had a weird conversation with a local musician about the lack of seriousness regarding coverage of local music and the overwhelming coverage of underwhelming bands. It made me a little self-conscious and introspective. Sure, I would love to write reviews for The Onion (if they think I'm funny enough). But maybe it's time to write more serious articles and reviews of local bands, besides the occasional CD review in INsite or Whoopsy! Magazine. So this is probably one of the most serious blogs ever posted on Kill The Critic.

Yes, some of the details in this list may inject humor, but it is purely coincidental. 2006 was a wacky year.

10. Missing Heartless Bastards on New Year's Eve - December 31st 2006. Yes, I finally got to see and hear The Blow live at The Mohawk, and I've already seen Heartless Bastards live, and talked with them in person. In fact, I interviewed singer Erica Wennerstrom in 2005, before all the well-deserved hype about HB's second release in 2006, "All This Time". But not being able to see them that night was something I regret.

9. Recording the Field Music interview with a defective tape at Emo's before their SxSW and Austin, TX debut. I still have the microcassette, but I still haven't figured out what we were saying, and I was so nervous my notes consisted of a few incomplete sentences. (Yes, ladies, these three handsome gents from Sunderland, UK are more gorgeous and gentlemanly - and distracting - in person.)

8. Getting scooped on an interview with Horse+donkey y Audra Schroeder of The Austin Chronicle. This is actually a prime example of not following my journalistic instincts last year and finally interviewing them after a series of coincidental run-ins with all three band members in late 2005 and throughout 2006 on Red River, and at various local clubs around town. I even had a chance to interview them a couple of months before Horse+donkey's interview hit stands around Austin in the January 19, 2007 issue of The AC.

7. Walking out of the Dosh show after Sole/Anticon performed because the bartender at Emo's Lounge pissed me off while I was waiting on being served. I've saved the details for LiveJournal, but I will state for the record that now I know how The Invisible Man feels. I have banned Emo's bar - not the club. I just won't be wasting my money on Dos Equis and Tito's. I feel justified because I've been a courteous customer and generous tipper, and their poor, discriminating service was unjustifiable.

6. Not submitting articles to Soundcheck and Austin Music Magazine. I have been ahead of their publication in terms of hot artists by months, and years even, but I have been reluctant to submit articles to the magazines for fear of rejection. But after reading some of their articles and reviews, and reading my own work, I realize that fear was unjustifiable. So expect more in print from me in 2007. (My fingers are crossed.)

5. Not keeping all of my writing samples on back-up disks. My old computer crashed, and on it I have many interviews and reviews from print publications that are now lost. I have some old magazines, however, and will scan and save them - after I find a record of my purchase for a scanner and finally have it fixed or replaced.

4. Procrastinating and not posting blogs as frequently as I should. Sometimes daily music blogs aren't going to happen. But I will change this soon, this summer in fact when I will be attending more shows. So bookmark this blog as one of your new favorite music reporting sources.

3. Not purchasing a digital camera sooner. Now that I have one, I don't know how I ever lived without one. I regret missing some cool shots of bands because I didn't have a camera or couldn't find a photographer.

2. Letting local CDs pile up and collect dust. My resolution is to review most of the CDs I didn't review in 2006. Word is bond.

1. Not getting a final interview with the band Zom Zoms. See previous post.

~ diy-danna

*The Lemurs drummer isn't really missing. But Number 11 on the regrets list would've been not being able to figure out why I can't remember what The Lemurs sound like after hearing them live. Especially after all the hype. I just don't get why they are so amazing. I'm not a hater, and it's all about the love in '07, but I still have ears and individual taste...Kill me. Or whatever...

2007-01-13T16:10:00.000-06:00

The Last Zom Zoms Show Ever
December 19, 2006
Flamingo Cantina

(4.5 slices out of 5 - because nothing is perfect)

Four months and three days before it happened (sort of), I predicted that Zom Zoms would move back to Tuba City, AZ. It seems that the stress of perfectly insane performances of the experimental new wavers finally took its toll on the expanded pizza delivery franchise.

I won't waste time with a lot of sentimentality, but I would like to recommend buying all of their CDs, some of which are available for sale online. Click on the screenshot (above) of their web page for more info. They still maintain a MySpace page for their diehard fans, so check it out: myspace.com/zomzoms.

I've included a two sentence review of their last recording, a self-titled EP with a cover designed by my pookie bear Gene Defcon*, and you can make up your own mind whether to buy it or not. Although you really should buy it.

The self-titled EP hints at the great band they were becoming, and the songwriting, synthesizer and drum executions sound like less of a ripoff of early Devo and more like Zom Zoms . It's a shame for all the fans and naysayers who won't get a chance to listen to the evolution of a zolo, performance art punk band.

~ diy-danna

*Gene Defcon is the artist who is Moby to diy-danna's Ahab. But one day she hopes to get a whale of an interview with one of her favorite indie songwriters.

2006-09-13T01:59:00.000-05:00

Crazy Country: Charles Potts' Magic Windmill Band

You think you've got problems?

Room 710 Presents:
"New York City Style Country: Charles Potts' Magic Windmill Band"
Thursday, September 28, 2006

Also Playing:

Little Aurora
Yellow Fever
Night Viking

ROOM 710
710 RED RIVER
AUSTIN, TX USA

(3 out of 4 Non-Pace Picante Sauce Bottles.)

The original title for this review - excuse me, preview - was "I'll Never Really Love Country, But These Crazy Guys Made Me Like It A Little More". But then I thought that was dumb and unsearchable on Google. Besides, I plan to post a link to this wonderful preview at my sister blog, diy-music, and want to seem professional.
Anyway...

Believe it or not, I've had a conversation about music with all five Windmill boys in Charles Potts' Magic Windmill Band. (I'll mostly refer to them as CPMWB or Windmill Band from now on - to avoid a hand cramp.) Some of their musical influences may surprise you. I was pretty sneaky about it, pretending like I was some curious fan. But the truth is I just wanted them to admit that they loved Garth Brooks, or that annoying guy everybody thinks is hot (Kenny Chesnutt?), and were just waiting to sell out to a major label, move to Nashville and forget Austin and New York City. Then I could go back to hating country music (with the exception of the old classics). But they ruined my gameplan. I won't give away their secret loves, but I dare you to ask about their favorite bands at the next CPMWB show, this Saturday. (Not every influence is revealed on MySpace.)

I had never heard of experimental, New York City-style country until listening to The Lonesome Heroes at The Carousel Lounge last year. Now I can't seem to hear enough of yankee band leader Rich Russell's solo album Scattered Thoughts. I like to avoid making petty comparisons, but Charles Potts' Magic Windmill Band seems a lot more experimental than the Lonesome NYC native. Maybe it's because CPMWB are mostly Texas born and raised good ol' boys. (No - they aren't like that other brand of salsa from New York City...) I suspect that Windmill Band's co-founder Dirk "Cavedweller" Michener spent enought time in NYC to learn that Nashville was full of crap. No offense to KASE, but if I hear anymore trite love songs with predictable, hum-drum melodies, I will shoot my radio and blame companies that own stations like theirs. I would have liked to been in that room with co-founders Michener and Travis "Bobcat" Catsull decided to form a country band and their chosen genre a little less boring. Yeehaw!

I guess I should describe the music now, to entice my reader to see CPMWB on a Thursday night, instead of getting drunk on Stone Lar beer and hitting on Mexican men outside an east side bar... The lyrics are crazy and all over the map - from white trash angst that avoid the country cliches of heartbreak and dying dogs, to poetical larks about familial ties. And it all seems to be done with a wink and a nod. And a middle finger.

Catsull & Michener: Not actual size.

And the melodies and harmonies are sweet. Those Windmill Band boys sure can sing. And somehow they get by without the electric gee-tar. While Catsull croons, Michener sings along and strums on his acoustic, amped of course; Reed Posey adds low-keyed harmony and occasional percussive charm, while Preston Dukes provides plunky hoedown bass lines from bass guitar. (No upright needed with this outfit.) The band recently added drums, courtesy of Tim "T.W." Bond, who completes the band's crazy, experimental fits. Some of my favorite songs in the CPMWB repertoire include include a fantastical yarn, "Gatlin Bros.", and the oddball "Finish Malaysia", which sometimes segues into "Airwolf" (which I've played on the radio twice already). The subdued mocking of "This Ain't California", and redneck goodie "Run, Johnny Run" are also standouts.

The music of Charles Potts Magic Windmill Band just works for me. I don't have a clever ending. I wanted to end with "And a middle finger", but I guess I ruined another blog. Darn it!

Just see the show, OK?

~ sayanythingrrrl

WOOPS!

I forgot some important band info:

Charles Potts' Magic Windmill Band is:
Tim Bond - Vocals & Return of that ol' Boom Bap
Reed Posey - Vocals & Grit Spit
Preston Dukes - Vocals & Slap 'n' Tickle Bass Guitar
Travis Catsull - Vocals & Badass Aura
Dirk Michener - Vocals, Guitar & Macho Sweetness

Short Attention Span Bio: PAY ATTENTION, DUMMY! Charles Potts' Magic Windmill Band plays New York City-style experimental country in Austin, TX. The band is named after an actual person they know and love who is a poet and landlord. WHAT IS THAT MAN'S NAME?

"Discography":

They have a 7" for sale - only $5.

CPMWB released an album in 2004 called Becky (above). It's still available on CD-R - also $5. They also have an obsolete cassette (2001?), all through Business Deal. Collect 'em all!

The Officially Dated CPMWB Web Site

The site they really use.

Someone recently informed me that I am a country music moron. I confused or combined the names of superstar Kenny Chesney with Mark Chesnutt. My bad.

2006-08-21T18:10:00.000-05:00

What's Up with Gene Defcon?

It's Gene Defcon's world, and we just happen to live in it.

4 out of 5 Elmos agree, Gene Defcon is good for your health.
(I originally wanted to go with 4.5 Elmo's, but you try to cut off Elmo's legs!)

Why all the frou-frou and fluff in today's review?

Today I was doing "research" (fooling around on Google, Ask Jeeves, Mr. Belvedere, or whatever), and making up stuff for an artist profile because the music recording artist still known as Gene Defcon refuses to condescend to my mere mortal questions. Either that, or he simply didn't think it was worth the effort. Whatever his reasons, When he formally protested my dumb interview questions with a vow of silence, I decided to start a flame war through this blog.

That was a bad joke. But hypothetically, if I was going to start a flame war, it would begin like this:
Like white whine, Gene Defcon seems to go best with fish schtick.

Don't worry all you Gene Defcon fans who stumble upon this review - I simply want to post a bio with more recent information, and mention his recordings. (And also re-post that picture above on the world wide web. It's priceless and I hope you appreciate it.)

When it comes to making music, Defcon is serious about being fun. Even his debut Lover's ESP Blues way back in 1998 (occasionally more depressing than most real blues LPs) is a stroke of cool jerk-off genius. Defcon started his musical journey in Austin, TX, relocating to Olympia, WA for a while. He's got a lot of music history and aliases behind him, from his days as Otto Matik in The Prima Donnas, to opening for Sleater-Kinney as Gene Defcon - the band. My favorite garage rock 'n' soul band The Gossip opened for him! And I'd like to shake his hand (or maybe just give him a nod) with respect and admiration just for bringing the party back to music. His band mates under the Gene Defcon moniker included members of bands like Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, and Frenchie and The German Girls. And they genuinely seemed to have a good time with their pal Gene in Olympia, Washington.

But like all good parties it came to an end, at least as a band. After Come Party With Me (1999) Gene returned to Austin, TX to work closely with the other co-founders of Business Deal Records (which is more like a collective of recording artists than a record label), where he was already co-producing artists like Cavedweller. After a five year recording hiatus, he released Throw Up And Die in the summer of 2005 on Retard Disco.

The Obligatory Anticlimatic Discography:

Throw Up And Die (2005) - At over 70 minutes, you'd think it would be challenging to listen to at times. It was. But Defcon had a lot to say since the last album, and a lot of us were ready and willing to listen.

You can buy this, plus a special 7" collection (which I think includes one of my favorite songs, "Liz") with Gene Defcon artwork @ retarddisco.com.

Come Party With Me (1999) - Considered by me to be the pinnacle of partydom.

Lover's ESP Blues (1998)- Considered by most critics as his masturbatory masterpiece. I thought it was a little too long and a bit premature, but satisfying overall. (Puns intended.)

You can purchase his older records at local record stores throughout Austin and Olympia, or online:
Business Deal
CD Universe
Kill Rock Stars

The official Gene Defcon web site is a bit dated, but you can read more about Gene not at your local library, but at his label's web site, retarddisco.com. He's also got a myspace.com/genedefcon page with ill instrumentals courtesy of former band mate DJ Nick Nax. Will there be another Gene Defcon out soon?

In the meantime, Gene keeps busy as a bassist and vocalist in The Old-Timerz and The Carrots, a '60s girl group inspired band. He also produces recordings with Smokey Farris (Count Dracula's Weed Smugglin' Jam Engine), Dirk Michener (Cavedweller), Jason "Chef" Pittman (The Old-Timerz, The Carrots), and a host of other talented artists on Business Deal Records. You can check them out @ businessdealrecords.com.

Have a good time with Gene!

~sayanythingrrrl

Some crazy fan stuff - by me.

2006-08-20T10:41:00.000-05:00

Will Zom Zoms Move Back to Tuba City, AZ?

Zom Zoms Pre-SxSW Show - March 14, 2006. Photo: Ben Aqua

A Special* Live Show Review
Emo's Wednesday Night
August 16, 2006
Zom Zoms
Manager's Choice
Chad Raines and The Simple Pleasures

2.5 out of 4 tubas for those who can't count.

Austin, TX doesn't deserve Zom Zoms.

There. I "said" it. It's out there, and I won't take it back. But this review isn't all about one band's short but entertaining performance that was all but ignored by drunken Austin music lovers. I must give time and space to all the bands on the bill who made this show almost completely enjoyable. I'll get to the crux of this "article", the "almost" part, in a moment. So please keep your pants on, people. (That means you too, Mike.)

I got a screen print poster from Manager's Choice. Print by Rural Rooster. Nice.

The show started later than I expected for an all ages venue (almost 11:00!), and Emo's surprised me with a cover that would keep most teenage fans away on a weeknight. I mean, I know they can't [legally] drink at the club, but I think charging the young ones $3 a head extra (during the summer) is a bit much. Or maybe I'm just a stupid ho with no business acumen.
(I gotta be fair and balanced like Faux News because I live in fear of getting kicked out of the club by that guy wearing the "Guilty" shirt. Everytime I see him, he looks at me like I'm gonna start a drunken riot, even when I've had plain water instead of the fire water. And just what is he guilty of, anyway?)

Back on course... I met Chad Raines of Chad Raines and The Simple Pleasures minutes before they hit the stage, and he is an engaging young fellow. He's lived in Austin and now calls New Haven, CT home. When the band finally got on stage, I had to do a double take. Mr. Raines had somehow transformed from a black to grey t-shirt and jeans to a pimped out white suit (complete with a striped poly or silk shirt) and he goes into disco dance mode. The band's South Side member Jessie England, bubbly keyboardist of Manager's Choice, was clad in white too. It was a solid performance minus the early technical difficulties - mainly an uncooperative computer. (According to Raines, "This is what happens when you fuck too much with machines.") the bass lines were a but too heavy for my taste, and I love my hip hop. The speakers were popping, literally. Damn!

And now for the simple pleasure: The party finally got started when he introduced three members of Hill Country Strings (WTF?), and Jeff Merrill, another member of Manager's Choice who did his thing on trombone. The sax player/violinist was a definite plus to the performance. I won't go into too much detail because this review is already long enough (and I didn't take notes), but there was a little bit of soul and reggae mixed, with danceable rock beats, and I enjoyed the strings attached. (Please don't sue me Will Taylor.) Toward the end, Chad Raines and The Simple Pleasures won me over; even when Raines went back to a simpler set up, sans strings and brass.

Manager's Choice brought a new wave reggae/dancehall vibe to Emo's that would probably bore young Austinites already hooked on rock with frenetic disco beats. All four shared vocal duties and it didn't overwhelm me. Lead vocalist/bassist Lee Davila's robotic moves, England's deliriously fun keyboards, Merrill's whimsical guitar & heavy brass chops, and J.J. Campbell's rhythmic playfulness on drums are a pop treat. But don't think this foursome was too sweet. Listen to the lyrics on the new s/t demo/EP (now available at local stores like Cheapo's) and you'll know what I mean.

And now, to remain emotionally detached from how pissed off I was that the crowd was so damn thin to see a headlining performance from Zom Zoms, I will now refer to myself in third person.

And will Zom Zoms release an unplugged album someday?
Photo: Richard

A little background info about diy-danna's live and recorded experiences with Zom Zoms: She met these guys, three of them anyway, a year ago at a sweaty but somehow cool venue called Flamingo Cantina, and she hasn't been the same ever since. Zom Zoms are that special*. Although she tries to avoid playing favorites (at least publicly) these four Devotees are diy-danna's favorite live band in Austin, simply because you can feel the strange love of music oozing out of their pores, even during the most painful performances. And it was oh so painful to see and hear them play for less than a dozen people the other night, when you know anywhere else outside Austin, outside the state of Texas, they would probably deal with more insane fans, and people walking out in disgust, pity, or amusement in the middle of the performance. Only a few people walked out of Emo's that night, and it seemed that it was only because it was so darn late. The rest of the "crowd" remained to be zonked out by the synthesizer and drum heavy polka-dotted rhythms. At one point, Zom heckled the crowd, and diy felt special* when he singled out her lack of physical attractiveness and fashion sense - "Yeah, I'm fat-ass black chick who carries a droopy purse. Let's all stop and watch another freak show!" That was the sarcastic comeback diy-danna came up with two minutes ago. (Somehow it seemed funnier two minutes ago.)

Back to first person narration: I left Emo's with the title song of their latest album and a new found respect for Zom Zoms in my heart. Their sound gets more incredible, and less "RIYD: Devo" everytime I hear them. Yeah, they love Devo, but they've got their own bizarre zolo sound. It's a shame Austin hipsters just don't get it, and they will kick themselves someday for not being seen at one of their shows before (if) Zom Zoms leave town for good.

But then again, maybe that's a good thing. I think Zom Zoms will kick ass back in Tuba City, Arizona. Or Japan.

In hindsight, maybe this show deserved 3 whole tubas. This humpday show got me excited about witnessing three bands on the verge of success. Let's hope they don't become spoiled and lazy when the local hipsters or scenesters take notice. But on second thought, two-and-a-half tubas seems fair enough. I can't get over the lack of interest from the citizens of "the live music capital of the world" in a band that has worldwide appeal. Check myspace.com/zomzoms for proof. They're playing the Devo & Psychedelic Furs Afterparty Friday August 25, 2006 in San Antonio, TX. If you aren't worried about running out of petrol (like me), check them out!

OK. You may now continue listening to The Lemurs.

~ Eat Me

*By "special", I don't mean retarded or nice.

Eat Me is currently listening to:
Optiganally Yours
"Geppetto"
from the still unreleased Exclusively Talentmaker**
and VU featuring Lou Rabinowitz
an Absolutely Kosher Records Sampler

**Optiganally Yours: Please release this album, if you are a real band. I've already heard that same song on another sampler. It's a fly song, but I want to hear more!!!

2006-02-04T11:24:00.000-06:00

WHOOPSY!: The Best Magazine in These End Times

(www.whoopsymagazine.com, myspace.com/whoopsy)

Have you read Whoopsy! today? You really should - and I'm not just writing that because I'm an occasional contributor. February's issue even has something for comic book geeks, "Happy End of The World" by one of my favorite artists, Riki Dozan, co-written by someone I really want to meet - J. Angus. I missed the issue party at Room 710 because the Nervous Exits vs. Attack Formation held me prisoner with some mind-blowing sounds. I wanted to thank them for letting me share a story about a young band I happen to like, and of course making me *lmao* and think. The features and interviews are all stellar, and the columns are sharp, from Pisspot talkin' shit about the bloated Hollywood, Inc., to "Yesterday's Swill: Chronicle vs. The Band". There's something new going on too: Al Im's Hip-Hoppin' section took a gamble on Christian Rap with "Bigg Moose" and wins big, much props to "On Point" by smizNO. I'd also like to thank Chad Holt for "reviewing" one of my favorite local alt. rock bands - to my unexpected pleasure - and bringing back "Offsides". Beky Hayes' great interview with fillmmaker Chris Metzler reminds me that Austin is still a great place to watch independent cinema. I could go on for hours mentioning what I really enjoyed reading in this month's issue, but instead I've written another windbag essay, this time about why Whoopsy! is the best alternative entertainment rag in Austin.

The best entertainment writing rests on the pages of a magazine that pulls no punches when it comes to the only thing that may save some of us from the misery of soul-less corporate and government controlled media - arts and entertainment. I enjoy reading Whoopsy! as much as hanging out in cyberspace because it reminds me that I'm a free human being - although my outlook is pessimistic about this freedom lasting much longer thanks to the Patriot Act and fascism showing it's ugly face in the form of an intolerant conservative executive branch and legislative majority. The moral majority that is neither moral or a majority. But I digress. This is about the a magazine in Austin, TX that dares to tell the truth, to shed light on everything that is good and bad about art in all its forms - from the beauty to the perverse excesses. Who needs The Austin Chronicle if you need to be reminded that artists and entertainers are some of the most enlightened or doomed people on this doomed planet. Just look around this dark city and enter a live music club on any day of the week without relying on someone telling you what's hot or not. Duh. I read the Chronicle almost every week, and I'm a dork when it comes to music. Meaning I like noise, and if it has a good beat and a groove to it, I may love it. And who needs the billion dollar internet porn industry when you can read "Offsides w/Chad Holt"? Maybe that's a bit if a stretch for some perverts; but the point is, you have an alternative to digested and regurgitated information about what's going on in the city that was the only city in Texas that didn't overwhelmingly vote for our nation's first mentally challenged President. I love Texas, but there are too many idiots breeding idiots blindly devoted to Bush and the yellow journalism in most newspapers who would never report Bush's "alleged" commands to bomb foreign news agencies that were telling the whole truth and nothing but...

Whoopsy! is not a newspaper in the traditional sense, but it cleverly shares news and information about how screwed up our policies, elected officials and the bureacrats are, without all the muckraking. This is what I apppreciate most about the magazine. The opinions expressed in Whoopsy! are necessarily the opinions of the Publisher. Of course, his opinion isn't the only one expressed. Nothing is really sacred with Whoopsy! - not even what the writers like themselves. As much as I love contributing to Whoopsy!, writing about the musicians I like, even I enjoy poking and prodding them with questions, and even making fun of them, because no one really embraces the artist who is too serious. People with no sense of humor scare me more than Bush bombing free press like Al-Jazeera. And even Bush has a sense of humor. It just happens to suck, in my humble opinion.

I also appreciate the fact that Whoopsy! knows mankind - excuse me, humankind (because women are just as capable as men of commiting heinous acts as we have seen demonstrated by the U.S. government and terrorists) - is setting itself up for destruction. People are becoming so lazy, relying on the major media outlets to tell the truth, when we all know it's not going to happen. It's time to question conventional wisdom, and what a new favorite blogger of mine calls "neocons, which includes those ex-druggie fundamentalist whack jobs who shouldn't and wouldn't affiliate themselves with a revival of "Jesus Christ Superstar".

I will now randomly misquote one of my favorite maxims: "You can judge a society by how it treats its lowest citizens." Which of course means the poor. Our country treats the poor like a black man treats a woman with no ass - like they don't exist. And about black people, or African-American. Personally, I prefer being called a person, or if you're comparing me to a white chick, a black chick. I'd like to thank Whoopsy! for having the gumption to throw a party at a club called The Velvet Spade during Black History Month. The flier is awesome, a throwback to Soul Train. So get on board and read this issue!

Whoopsy! is available at many locations throughout Austin, TX. There are probably more copies at Room 710 than anywhere else. Pick a few copies and share them with friends, or someone you'd like to offend.

~ diy-danna

Addendum/Shameless Plug: I had to show my four-year-old punk rock loving niece ("The Extortionist") the story/interview with Cry Blood Apache (p.27), and she thinks they look cool. I just noticed Kaspar Glass, the one in the middle, looks a little like Salvador Dali in the pic they selected. That is cool. My story is the only weak link about this issue, but I'm not a real music journalist, so who really cares? It was just fun talking with and writing about a band I like.

2006-01-13T11:05:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday The 13th! Aww - I didn't forget this special day. *faking tears of joy*

If you are feeling oppressed by this dry, sunny, gorgeous unholiday weather like me and are stuck indoors (due to the allergy known as cedar fever), I recommend renting a movie like "Freaky Friday" (both versions) and "Friday The 13th" - the first one. And listen to a cool radio show online from 8:30 to 9:30 PM (cst), hosted by a MySpace friend of mine, Marinho. He plays a great mix of indie rock, experimental and popular music in English and Spanish. Here's Marinho's blog: SONIDOS EN EL AIRE, and the show link: http://www.edomexico.gob.mx/portalgem/tvmex/

If you aren't a severe allergy sufferer and love good local music, check out Ivison tonight - they open for Dexter Freebish at Momo's in Austin, TX. If you live outside the live music capital and are able to enjoy the weather wherever you are, support your favorite local musician. And if you don't have one, adopt one - or an entire band!

That is all.
~ diy-danna

2006-01-13T08:58:00.000-06:00

For Those Who Know of Austin, TX and Get Him Eat Him from Providence, RI and More! Beerland - Saturday, January 14, 2006. PREVIEW: Before I begin, let me apologize for not having a cute flier posted advertising the show. Instead, gaze at pictures of the bands below.

OK... This blogger/columnist was fortunate enough to interview For Those Who Know for a legitimate magazine based here in Austin (INsite, November 2005). I'm not accusing the publisher of diy revolution of not being professional before the first issue, because that would be a poor reflection of me. If forced to describe this music in terms of genre/sub genre I would categorize it as indie rock/shoegazing. They describe themselves as "psychedelic/indie/shoegaze". (Wow, I almost nailed that one to the wall!) The Austin Chronicle, another legitimate publication compares shoegaze to "sex music". So are they trying to say these musicians are trying to get laid, or that they are getting laid? (I get the feeling one day I may wish to delete that last sentence, but it is implied...) Regardless of this corrupting influence (;-), I love these guys. (Not that way, but you, know...) Don't be fooled by their proper shirts and ties and professional demeanor when you see them. For Those Who Know is down to earth, funny, and not afraid to be as dorky or transcendental as Death Cab For Cutie - But with less vocal dominance. They've been compared to Jesus Mary Chain, and rightly so, but the younger crowd may not identify with this music. Although it is a fairly weak vocal comparison, Death Cab has a lush sound that FTWK listeners may find similar. The low-key vocalist Stephen Hablinski will charm you with that soft morning after voice that is woven in a flag of almost overpowering sound. So I guess the critics are right on this one. Damn. I also highly recommend buying their eponymous ep/lp/whatever FTWK wants to call it today, which I will formally and finally review this Sunday for the March issue of diy revolution.

Now as for Get Him Eat Him, I will admit even more bias. I am interviewing them and have already heard them live once, with the band that headlines tomorrow night. I will confess to everyone that I am starting a campaign to convince these Rhode Island rockers to move to Austin, TX, and be my Valentine. I think our polyamorous, groupie/fan, may/december relationship could work, but not long distance. That should give you an idea of how good I think this band of young ones is. They aren't afraid of sounding pop radio friendly or completely offbeat, and the complex compositions and quirky sogwriting just work. Very rare among their generation of musicians trying so hard to look hardcore. My favorite track from their first full-length album Geography Cone is "Mumble Mumble". If you, lucky you, are at Beerland tomorrow night, you will hear some crazy woman shouting after every song "Play Mumble Mumble!" - unless they have already played it. They describe their music on MySpace as Indie/Rock/Alternative". I also love the way they poke fun at themselves. A little self-deprecating humor will take you far in a business where some bands take themselves too seriously, and should stop - playing music, that is. *Ouch* (The truth hurts, but it can set you free.) Get Him Eat Him, or "Get Hi Meat Him" can actually get away with these crude jokes because they are talented young musicians. And they are fortunate to be affiliated with a large indie label that appears to have a good track record, Kosher Records. But this blog is about a live performance preview - so listen for yourself online and make a kosher music choice to see them live for one night only.

Other bands playing tomorrow night that I am once again too lazy to research at this time are The Interest Kills, and Ink.

See you at Beerland!
♥ sayanythingrrrl

Preview rating: 9 (out of 10)
(Pairs of Sexy? Shoes)

2006-01-12T22:54:00.000-06:00

JOE JITSU SHOW - SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2006 - YOUR LUCKY DAY.
Wow, I can't belive it's been 4 months since my last toast - or roast.
Now it's time to get back to the business of being a blog critic disguised as a deconstructive musical genius. Ha-ha...

WARNING THAT'S NOT REALLY A WARNING BUT A CLEVER INTRO: This is a re-review of a band I dissed nearly 2 years ago in my very first live show review (Awww!) - Joe Jitsu. They can tell you their side of the story, about how I kissed "you know what" in remorse after listening to one of their CDs. Yes, it's true - I have already apologized to the band. I'd also like to apologize to Green Day. (Or is it Greenday? Whatever.)I'm still not a fan and will probably never own one of your CDs. (Not even if it was a freebie for review *you gasp in shock*) But I will admit that your last album wasn't bad. I just adore The Clash too much to ever like you. But why am I apologizing now? Green Day will never read this trivial blog. ANYWAY...

Click on the flier above for a closer look.
I joke about my hometown of Boremont, I mean Beaumont, TX a lot. ;-)
But it's still one of the best places to hear indie rock bands that are better than most of the bands you will hear in the live music capital.
One great example - Joe Jitsu. The first time I heard them I'll be honest - I wasn't impressed and wrote so in a review on the extinct web site Southeast Texas Music & Arts Review (SETMAAR.com). But I'll mention they did have a handicap - the acoustics at the also extinct Graffiti's on College Street in Beaumont were horrible, and I was on an anti-pop/punk crusade at the time. This happens, and this "critic" is now making amends. I believe in second chances, and Joe Jitsu proved themselves worthy of praise with a stellar cd. Not bad for a band that has been around over 8 years and still manages to reveal something new and refreshing. I'd also like to thank them for not bailing out on Boremont after Hurricane Rita like La Snacks or Small Town Massacre. Sell outs! (I'm joking - welcome to Austin ;-)

I won't be attending because I'll be getting tipsy at another show in Austin, TX, but FYI: The show includes a Houston Press Award Winner 2005 - Best Pop Punk, O'Doyle Rules (Remember Billy Madison anyone?) By the way, according to another HPA 2005 winner (who shall remain anonymous) the award makes a great paperweight. Ha-ha... There are two other bands playing (see above flier) I haven't researched yet that may actually be worth listening to this Saturday.

Did I forget to mention I love the headlining band's name? Joe Jitsu just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?

Wow - I will need one powerful breath mint after that much ass kissing. Kidding...

Already Puckering Up For Count Dracula's Weed Smuggling Jam Engine's Show Next Week ;-),
♥ sayanythingrrrl

For Anal Retentive Review Junkies:
This Show Receives A Preview Rating Of: 8 (out of 10) Cool Points, with a one point deduction for being in Boremont, and another point deducted for listing Green Day as an influence on MySpace. Duh.

DIY REVOLUTION PREMIERS ONLINE DURING SxSW MARCH 2006. IN THE MEANTIME, JOIN THE REVOLUTION @ MYSPACE!
Please post comments and idle death threats here so we know that you really care.

2005-09-07T11:06:00.000-05:00

The Bottom Line: Why Some Nice Guys Should Finish Last

Bottom Line
Eloquence
2005 Nice Guy Records

I'll start this review off nicely: These nice guys are not in short supply of talent. Now for the mean part: But I wish they wouldn't play such bland, formulaic (for the most part) pop punk. Maybe because I've been educated by the old school punk of Dead Kennedys and Misfits, and would rather listen to The Clash more than Green Day any day, but Bottom Line's debut CD Eloquence sounds too much like the bubblegum "punk" of Sum 41 and a band whose name I can't remember that everybody - and their mom - thought was hardcore back in 1999. (I'm certain I'll think of it by the end of this review.) Anyway, their name alone rings the capitalist alarm bell immediately - "Cah-ching!!!" And they named a supposedly punk album Eloquence? To be fair, there were a few interesting moments listening to this album. The musical interlude "Saddle Oxford" sounds like a swinging sock-hop, and is the reason why I can't totally hate this band. It was actually good. "False Alarm" (the irony scares me) starts off with the same technically sound but uninspired performance and nice vocal hooks that remind me of Goldfinger. In the middle of the song it starts to swing with a big band. Woops! False alarm, this song will conform to the formula. I actually enjoyed the vocals, but the musical composition makes it radio friendly but nothing unique. From the next track on, the album goes downhill. I wanted to take "Desperate Measures" and eject the CD without giving it another chance. I understand that band members may have different musical tastes and like to experiment every now and then, but the Radiohead-esque musical interlude "Mystique" only made listening more frustrating. The finale, "Autograph" is over-produced, with an uptempo sappy string arrangement and what sounds like synthesizer. (Or is it a guitar?) It ends abruptly, and you may wonder "What just happened here?"
The vague cover art may deceive you into thinking this is a band worth listening to, but you may want to reconsider that. This is not punk. I won't resort to name calling because these guys look like they're sincerely smiling on the photo inside the CD cover and the name of their record label is Nice Guys. Call me a retard, but they remind me of Donny Osmond. And I like Donny Osmond. I just wouln't buy his music. I just wished they would cut out the last word in their web site: www.bottomlinepunk.com. It's insulting. Nothing is wrong with making a living, but not at the expense of bankrupting a genre. This 12-track CD is just over 35 minutes, but for some people it may seem like an eternity. I tolerated it because it had a few bright moments, and it wasn't my worst musical experience. However, unless you like a polished but boring pop record that has a severed umbilical cord attached to punk, don't spend your money on this. By the self-titled Goldfinger album, the one with "Here In Your Bedroom". I've considered selling this CD, or donating it to Goodwill, but the thought of someone actually listening to this depresses me. Maybe I'll start my own museum of musical mediocrity.
Oh, I remember the name of that band that was so hot in the late 90s - Blink 182. Maybe the band I'm reviewing should add a number to their name - Bottom Line 99. It sounds very marketable to me...
Grade: C- (Because they're nice guys who tried hard, I couldn't flunk them.)
Rating: 2.5 Blow Pops

2005-09-03T18:19:00.000-05:00

John Waters Would Probably Love This Band: HUG

HUG

Zom Zoms

Brown Sunset Riders

Halo Rings Her Head

September 2, 2005
Room 710
710 Red River
Austin, TX

(4 John Waters Pics Circa "Pink Flamingos" Out of 5)

I originally attended this show to see Zom Zoms, and thank them in person for a great interview and story. (They're also playing at CMJ 25 Music Marathon in New York City.) And from what I heard of the opening bands, I wasn't impressed. But after getting zonked on the head by Zom Zoms again later that night - even with 2 broken guitar strings - I ended up listening to a great headlining band. A band with a hyper-kitschy (is that a word?), post-punk, really dirty south sound and look. The bands' name is HUG. The singer Blair, who reminded me of Drew Carey dressed in a pornography littered jumpsuit (big glasses and all), welcomed the audience by proclaiming that they (the band) were all retarded. But I suspected we were all in for a treat when two folks dressed like extras from a John Waters movie littered the stage with stuffed animals and dolls bound and gagged with electrical tape. The keyboardist and drum machine operator, Scott, had on a giant sombrero, and Jack the guitarist wore a groupie-style "Hug" tank and a silver sequined skirt. Sexy... The vocalist began the set with an almost a ska/skat like vibe, and the two movie extras with stage props become go-go dancers. Both are dressed in black lingerie, one a rubenesque woman with a red wig with devil's horns (I'd like one of those for Halloween) and the other a man in drag who bared a striking resemblance to Leslie*. At first it distracted me from the music. But by the second tune, which was about sex and shit (the singer was literally shit-faced by the end of this song) I was hooked like a junkie. I also hoped that was just chocolate pudding on his face. Before I picked up my jaw from the floor in the middle of the same song, I noticed one of the members from the previous band, Zom, was dancing like a maniac. A fan maybe?
There were some playful moments of audience participation, and once I picked up my jaw I was part of the action. We all had a chance to throw a beachball back and forth, and avoid a stuffed animal the guitarist wiped his nose with. Yuck. There was even confetti. And the music was a sleezy carnival ride. One of the best songs of the night was a Big Boys cover, "Fun, Fun, Fun"**, in honor of the recently departed Randy "Biscuit" Turner. Of course, biscuits were tossed around in his memory. We also witnessed some simulated sex acts performed by the go-go dancer sideshow freaks that at once repelled and intrigued me. And it all coincided with the freak lyrics that spewed frankly about sex, drugs and having fun. The stage show antics reminded me of a John Waters movie, perhaps an earlier flick of his - "Pink Flamingos". And the music felt like a big hug from a completely creepy stranger you grow to love. I'm seriously considering buying Lickable*** today and mailing it to John Waters.

HUG is:
Blair - Vocal Pornographer & Theremin Player
Jack - Cross Dressing Guitarist
Scott - Sombrero Wearing Keyboardist
PLUS Sideshow/Go-Go Freaks!

Visit the official web site: www.hugmusic.com.
Photo by Caroline Homer, used by permission of hugmusic.com.
* Leslie Cochran Austin, TX - Google it!
** "Fun, Fun, Fun" is on the Big Boys brilliant record The Fat Elvis. You can buy it here.
*** Listen, download and buy the Lickable CD @ hugmusic.

2005-08-28T12:38:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the new CD blog review, Kill The Critic, which was formerly located @ www.diy-music.blogspot.com.
Come back soon to see reviews of new releases, late discoveries, and classic reissues. Sometimes we even feature live shows worth mentioning.
All material © 2005. Copying, redistribtution, orany other use unauthorized by online publisher is prohibited. Submit all requests regarding this blog site to diy-danna publishing, inc. c/o killthecritic@diy-danna.com.

[Kill The Critic] The Independent Entertainment Blog [Film-Theatre-Comedy]

The Austin Cinematheque presents a free 35mm screening of Claire Denis' BEAU TRAVAIL @ Texas Union Theatre - Mon. 10/17, 8pm

Crazy Country: Charles Potts' Magic Windmill Band

Room 710 Presents:"New York City Style Country: Charles Potts' Magic Windmill Band"Thursday, September 28, 2006

Little AuroraYellow FeverNight Viking

What's Up with Gene Defcon?

Will Zom Zoms Move Back to Tuba City, AZ?

A Special* Live Show ReviewEmo's Wednesday NightAugust 16, 2006Zom ZomsManager's ChoiceChad Raines and The Simple Pleasures

The Bottom Line: Why Some Nice Guys Should Finish Last

Bottom LineEloquence2005 Nice Guy Records

John Waters Would Probably Love This Band: HUG

HUG

Zom Zoms

Brown Sunset Riders

Halo Rings Her Head

September 2, 2005Room 710710 Red RiverAustin, TX

Room 710 Presents:
"New York City Style Country: Charles Potts' Magic Windmill Band"
Thursday, September 28, 2006

Little Aurora
Yellow Fever
Night Viking

A Special* Live Show Review
Emo's Wednesday Night
August 16, 2006
Zom Zoms
Manager's Choice
Chad Raines and The Simple Pleasures

Bottom Line
Eloquence
2005 Nice Guy Records

September 2, 2005
Room 710
710 Red River
Austin, TX